Is Hair Shampoo a Detergent ? Shocking FACTS that no one knows!

Thin, curly, fine, thick, wavy, straight, no matter what type of hair you have there is one thing in common – bottled shampoo. We reluctantly use this hair product on a daily basis but is it a boon or bane?

There wouldn’t be a single person reading this who hasn’t tried or who isn’t still using over-the-counter shampoo to wash their hair. It is a very important part of everyone’s routine, adult or child. Shampoos are readily available in the market in bottles, sachets, travel-friendly packages, etc. and of course the colorful bottles catch our eye. There is a lot of variety to choose from, each brand marketing the same product with a different tagline.

It is a consumerism cycle where in the suppliers just fulfil demands of the consumers, further benefitting their pockets by selling detergent to the masses. Yes, you read it right – detergent! The only time we use this word is when it’s laundry day but did you know that the ingredients in bottled shampoos are very similar (almost too similar) to the soap we use to clean our clothes?

 Is Hair Shampoo a Detergent? Shocking FACTS that no one knows!

Shampoos are made with the sole purpose of cleansing the scalp and hair while neglecting the danger it may cause to the person using it. The ingredients in shampoos are not the healthiest, especially when children are taught to use these products at a very young age. It may classify as a slow poison which threatens the human body by exposing it to chemicals.

Sulphates:

Everybody has heard this name repetitively in the last few years through commercials of shampoos which are marketed as “sulphate-free”. But if you read the ingredients, they take away the SLS and replace it with SLES, which is no better! Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a commonly found surfactant, meaning it only does the job of cleaning the surface of your hair or scalp.

Guess what else is a surfactant? Your laundry detergent! Yes, you are literally rubbing your hair with detergent every other day. SLS or SLES are also insecticides. These two ingredients have cancer-causing properties. They also cause liver damage, skin rashes, depression, diarrhea and eye damage if consumed. They can cause an allergic reaction on your scalp and cause frizzy hair. Besides, they can be hormone disruptors when used for prolonged periods. Sulfates are also harmful for the environment and aquatic species.

Parabens:

Parabens are xenoestrogens, which means that they have a similar composition to hormones found in the human body. Xenoestrogens are thought to disrupt hormones and could even pose a cancer risk. They are mixed in shampoos to increase the shelf life of the product thus acting as a preservative.

Polyethylene Glycols (PEG):

PEG is a derivative of petroleum which is used as a thickening product in shampoos. As we all know, petroleum is definitely not good for the hair or our health.

Triclosan:

Triclosan is thought to be an endocrine disruptor, which means it can be harmful in the same fashion as xenoestrogens. It’s also been linked to immune system problems, weight loss and uncontrolled cellular reproduction, says research. Triclosan is believed to get accumulated in your fat cells and keep the body in a state of toxicity.

Fragrance:

Don’t we love a good fragrant product which makes our hair smell like flowers for days? But these added fragrances are not naturally derived. These are derived from a variety of toxic chemicals which prove to be fatal in the long run.

Color:

You would probably look at a bottle of shampoo and gasp “wow” looking at the pretty color of the product. These colors don’t just happen to be present in the shampoo naturally. They are synthetically made from coal and petroleum!

Alcohols:

Alcohols like isopropyl alcohol and propanol are added to shampoos to make them flowy and thick. These ingredients dry out the scalp and make them brittle. Alcohols are also famously used in the medicine industry as a strong disinfectant to clean wounds, thus making it a form of detergent.

 All these things are present in that shampoo you chose to buy for yourself or your family. No one takes the time to put thought into what they’re purchasing because us humans tend to follow the herd like sheep. But we are sure that the next time you plan on buying a new shampoo, you will make it a point to read the ingredients and check if it really is an all-natural organic product or just a hoax for the sake of marketing. Switching to herbal products will be the best decision of your life and that’s a promise from our side. Always look out for the following symbols on any self-care product along with the ingredients.

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