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Many people struggle with hair loss and do not know why. Although a variety of factors can contribute to hair loss–from genetics to stress–one of the first things you can check is your shampoo. Specifically, some shampoos contain harmful ingredients that can lead to hair loss.
Keep reading for what shampoos you should watch out for if you are worried about hair loss!
According to Huff Post, Gail Federici, hair care innovator and CEO of Color Wow, spoke on "The Doctors" about how certain shampoos can affect hair loss.
Specifically, she spoke about how thickening shampoos can actually have the opposite effect: "More and more ingredients have been added to shampoos that have nothing to do with cleansing. So if you have thinning hair, you're massaging these ingredients into your scalp and they can stay behind and leave build up. They don't easily rinse off."
In addition, certain chemicals in shampoos can add to hair loss. Specifically, shampoos that contain sulfate can contribute to hair loss.
Dr. Joshua Zeichner, Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at the Department of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, explains, "While sulfate-based surfactants can effectively clean the hair, they can cause significant dryness and irritation of the scalp and lead to hair brittleness."
By using shampoos with sulfates, you might be unknowingly contributing to your struggle with hair loss. By stripping hair of its natural oils, sulfate makes your hair more weak and susceptible to breakage.
With that in mind, if you are worried about hair loss, checking your shampoo for these potentially harmful ingredients is a good first step.