Healthy Hair Beauty Supply

This is a question that you would not typically think twice about. But, shampooing can make a big difference in hair length retention. The shampoo that you may be using maybe slowly break down the cuticle layer which is the outer most layer and is the first line of defense for the hair shaft. In this article we will discuss the chemicals that help to damage that cuticle layer and what type of shampoo you should be using to obtain and maintain healthy hair.

One of the main ingredients you should stay clear from is sulfate based products. Sulfate based products tend to be harsh on the hair creating damaging friction to the hair. For example when washing your hair, it may have a matted feeling to it which is a good indicator that it has sulfates such as ammonium lauryl sulfate, which in a large amount is very harsh and damaging to the hair. Sulfates also can irritate the scalp so if your scalp itches, that maybe the source of your hair itching as products do have a tendency to coat the scalp, which is something that you don’t want to happen. If that occurs, using Sea Breeze (scalp astringent) by leaving it on the scalp for 15 min before shampooing can alleviate that immediately. Also Sea Breeze is good for hair growth as it helps to circulate blood flow to the scalp, which is a major factor in hair growth. With all of that being said we can look at the effects of sulfate based shampoos on the hair below:

Ø Makes hair fibers tangle (making hair hard to comb and prone to breakage)

Ø Increases static charge (sign of dry hair)

Ø Irritates the scalp

Ø Strips the hair of natural oils

ØAccelerates the shedding of the cuticle layer

Ø Lose of tensile strength (loss of elasticity)

Ø Depletion of protein in the hair

ØExcessive swelling of the hair which lead further cuticle damage

Ø Dissolves natural lipids present in the cuticle

Ø Dries the Scalp

Some of the ingredients to steer clear from are ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl ether sulfate, and alpha olefin sulfonate. It is a good rule of thumb to eliminate shampoos that have the word “sulfate” in it all together!

Now that we have discussed some of the problems that washing hair with sulfate based shampoos cause, now we can talk about solutions. Here are great healthy hair shampoo tips to follow:

Ø Don’t excessively manipulate that hair when washing it – focus on the scalp

Ø Detangle with a large detangling comb or brush (Denman Brush – no hard bristles)

Ø Use Sulfate Free Shampoos (Curls Sulfate Free)

ØLook for Ceramids or fruit abstracts for hair strengthening (Curls Shampoo w/Fruit Abstracts)

Ø Note that Polyquaternium polymers and Amine Oxides reduces scalp irritation and makes the hair easier to comb (good ingredients to have in your shampoo)

Chances are that if this information is new to you, you probably are thinking the same thing when I found this information out for myself, panicked. And you probably felt this way because the symptoms of a dry itchy scalp, dry hair, and the matting of your hair when washing it were the tattle tale signs and you never knew the damage you were doing to your hair! But the key thing to keep in mind is that knowledge is power and you now have the ability to stop further damage and with a good protein regimen, constant moisturizing of the hair, and using sulfate free shampoo, you will be destined to have healthy hair!

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