Healhier hair, Oils & Chemical shampoos

So... I cant deny how obsessed I am with healthy, natural and beautiful hair. I have been using natural oils for a while now and I can truly say it is the only product that has really worked for me. Before I became educated on what these expensive hair 'repair' products really had inside them, I used to spend hundreds of pounds on high-end brands. Little did I know about the ingredient list on the back, which is of course labelled in scientific words that none of us actually understand unless we take the time to research them. This is a post for people who are not yet aware of the ingredients that are put into the products they are using and want to switch to a more healthy hair care routine...

SULFATES. (Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate; SLS, SLES etc.) Sulfates are found in many shampoos on the market today, even the brands that claim to be chemical free and 'healthy'. They are usually the second most concentrated ingredient in shampoo, and can cause a great deal of damage to our hair and scalp. The reason for them being in our shampoo is to create suds. Suds are an inexpensive foaming and lathering agent which is, believe it or not, used as an engine degreaser... Yes, an engine degreaser. What you are actually removing and cleaning is the natural oils that your hair wants and needs to stay healthy. There are many different types of sulfates, and they are each drying your hair out in their own ways which eventually causes breakage. Not only that, they also damage hair follicles which can result in hair loss. The absence of natural oils in your hair can cause your hair to feel dry, frizzy and leave your scalp itchy.

Most shampoos on the market today contain some type of sulfate, so just be sure to read the ingredients (even if the brand claims that they are chemical free.) Here are a few ingredients to look out for below:

Amonium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Selenium Sulfides, Ammonium Xylene Sulfonate, Sulfer, TEA Lauryl Sulfate... Pretty much anything ending in sulfonate, sulfide or sulfate. 

The first 5 ingredients listed on the back of your shampoo is what the product contains most of. 

I do not think or know that all of our hair is going to fall out if we use a chemical shampoo, I just know the improvement in my hair since switching to chemical free and natural products.

Other ingredients to look out for-

Parabens, Sodium Chloride, Polyethylene Glycol, Diethanolamine DEA, Triethanolamine TEA, Formaldehyde, Alcohol, Fragrance or Parfum, Synthetic Colours, Propylene Glycol, Lanolin, Petroleum, Mineral and Dimethicone.

Your skin produces sebum. Sebum is a greasy substance that coats and protects your hair and the hair follicles. It coats the hair and gives it a natural healthy shine. Detergents in your shampoo are actually strong enough to strip away the sebum from your hair, leaving the cuticle exposed and susceptible to damage. Chemical shampoos contain ingredients that replace the protective layer on your hair, which is why some shampoos and conditioners leave your hair feeling amazing, but only for a while, until it is next washed. Your natural hair underneath may actually not feel so good. Try to go for a shampoo with low pH. 

Of course I don't mean read every single shampoo bottle ingredient list on the market, just know what you're using and go for Sulfate, Paraben and chemical free!

There are many shampoos and hair products that are chemical/sulfate free. I use J.R. Liggett's 'old fashioned' shampoo bar, which works perfect for me. Completely natural but still lathers and cleans my hair like a liquid shampoo. I also don't use a wash-out conditioner, I use Rosemary Essential oil mixed with warm water. I spray this all over my hair whilst wet and leave it in. Both of these products have left my hair feeling amazing with so much more volume than normal shampoos and conditioners ever did. I do a 'deep' condition once a week using 100% cold pressed natural oils (Sweet Almond, Grapeseed, Coconut etc.)

The packet reads 

"Each bar is hand-cut, so no two bars are exactly alike. The way they did it over 100 years ago, here in New England. No synthetic oils, No chemical concoctions, No plastic bottles, No Detergents... This shampoo will not strip the natural oils from your hair so most people do not need a conditioner. Good for permed or coloured hair, and hair with natural curl."

Bad quality picture.

This is the most recent picture of my hair. My hair has not only grown from using natural products but also gained so much more thickness and volume. This picture was actually straight after I tried the 7 day 'Inversion Method' which, believe it or not, actually worked for me... I will post a before-and-after picture in my next post a long with a link for information on the inversion method.

Emma xo