12 Toxic Ingredients in Shampoo and Conditioner You Should Avoid
Have you ever read the ingredient list of your shampoo or conditioner? If you haven’t, then let me tell you this: it’s scary!
There are over 12 toxic ingredients to avoid in shampoo and conditioner, mainly because they have been linked with causing cancer, and other disease and illness.
Even shampoos labelled as containing “all-natural ingredients” aren’t safe. They still contain things like DMDM hydantoin and ammonium laurel sulphate. Not things that sound all-natural, right? My rule is – if you can’t eat it, then you shouldn’t put it on (or in) your body.
That’s why I recommend truly all-natural shampoo and conditioning products like Pure shampoos and conditioner. We create top of the line, mineral-based shampoos and conditioners that are chemical-free. This makes them great for anyone wanting to live a more natural, chemical-free lifestyle (or those who simply want a product that works and won’t kill them in the process).
My hair hasn’t felt more luscious and beautiful since using natural products. It’d be safe to say that it has saved my hair. Products like those from L’Oreal, Aveeno, Garnier, Herbal Essences, Pantene, Dove (and all the rest) do nothing but strip your hair of natural oils and infuse it with harmful chemicals.
Here are 12 toxic ingredients to avoid in shampoo and conditioner:
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS)
A surfactant found in many cleaning products. Also an insecticide. The sodium and ammonium laureate sulfates are known cancer-causing ingredients. Also causes liver damage, skin rashes, depression, diarrhea and eye damage.
Fragrance (Synthetic perfumes)
Fragrance of any kind isn’t good. It clogs the lymphatic system and induces major organ system toxicity. Also causes endocrine disruption.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
This foaming agent has been associated with skin and eye irritation and allergic contact dermatitis. Although the government regards it as safe, many people have negative reactions to it.
Triclosan
With a moderate hazard rating, triclosan should be avoided at all costs. It can accumulate in our fat cells and keep our body in a state of toxicity. It causes irritation of the skin, eyes and lungs, and causes endocrine disruption and organ system toxicity.
Polysorbates
Used to dissolve fragrance or other oil additives. Often found in conditioners. It leaves a residue on the skin and scalp, disrupts the skin’s natural pH and destroys the natural protective barrier of our skin and scalp. Polysorbate-80 is the worst of the bunch – but stay clear of all!
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
Often found in conditioners, PEG contains dangerous dioxin levels, often found as a by-product of the ethoxylation process in manufacturing. Dioxins have a direct link to cancer, and also cause organ system toxicity.
Potassium Sorbate
Potassium sorbate is used as a preservative in hair-care products. It causes skin and organ system toxicity.
Phenoxyethanol
Another preservative used in cosmetics and hair care products. Causes organ system toxicity, and is an irritant to the skin, eyes and lungs. The FDA even warned that phenoxyethanol can cause shut down of the central nervous system, vomiting and contact dermatitis.
Retinyl Palmitate
Retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A, can speed the development of skin tumours and lesions, making it a possible carcinogen. Causes reproductive toxicity and organ system toxicity.
Dimethicone
Dimethicone is a silicone oil that can make the scalp and skin incredibly dry and irritated. It forms an almost plastic-like barrier on the outside of the skin and traps bacteria, sebum and impurities with it. It is also an eye irritant and is non-biodegradable and horrible for the environment.
Behentrimonium Chloride
Behentrimonium Chloride is a type of ammonium salt used as a preservative and surfactant. It is a toxic compound, with concentrations of 0.1% and higher having been shown to damage the eyes. It is irritating to the skin and causes inflammation.
Quaternium-15
This lovely chemical is another quaternary ammonium salt used as a surfactant and preservative in personal care products. It acts as a formaldehyde releaser and is definitely not safe. Formaldehyde is extremely carcinogenic, and should be avoided at all costs.
Since about 60% of the products your on your body and hair dissolve into your blood and organs, you should always choose the safe and toxic-free products for you and your family!
Please suggest me a shampoo for dry, dandruff hair .. I have also hair fall.. I don’t know which shampoo I can use for those problems..
Hi Riya,
You can try This shampoo:Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
My hair grow again, no chemicals in my Shampoo conditioner
My hair grow again, no harsh chemicals in my hair
Amazing product, would recommend
Thank you!
Dear Nirit.
Thank you for your informative article.
I have dry thin hair and find my hair won’t grow. I stop using any shampoos and conditioners awhile ago. But my hair still don’t grow. I’m also pregnant. Can you please suggest some safe products I could try?
Thank you for your comment, yes of course, i can create a custom made shampoo and conditioner for you plus i advise you to check zinc and iron ( i am not a doctor but blood test in general)
Dear Carolyn, Thank you for your comment.
1) first, during pregnancy our hair and skin are changing…
2) You can order this set and i will make it specially for your hair conditions:)
https://www.purecosmetics.info/product/shampoo-and-conditioner/
Regards
Dear Carolyn, i will be happy to create a pregnancy safe product for you:)
info@purecosmetics.info
https://bit.ly/Shcoset
Thank you so much for your kind words, i’m so happy to help!!!
Thank you so much for your kind words, i’m so happy to help!!!
https://www.purecosmetics.info/product/anti-dandruff-shampoo/
Could you please suggest a safe and toxic free shampoo that I can easily find at at most stores and isn’t too expensive? I’ve been researching a lot and want to start paying attention more to the products I’m using. I have very oily thick hair!!! Thank you for this informative post.
Dear Ariel.
you can buy directly online https://www.purecosmetics.info/product/shampoo-and-conditioner/
Hi I have been through too much my hair started to hv perms on 10th March 2019. What happened to my hair before have beautiful silky, soft, shine natural straightened hair and now this my hair curlys damage for five months now. I’m very upset my hair is very dry, damage, thinner, hair loss because of this stupid Chinese salons put too much shote bottle inside with chemicals they didnt tell me what names brand n do what they want. I never asked for perms plus head heater plus double chemical bottle without my knowledge. I’m too scared my hair badly hurt how can I return back my straight hair with soft silky shine sighs?
I’m sorry to hear that, you can switch to natural hair care, use a mask (you can find many DIY in my blog) and go to you hairdresser to start cutting slowly the hair a bit shorter every time and let the new hair grow.
Plus, use this serum:https://www.purecosmetics.info/product/hair-serum/
What are all the ingredients in the shampoo and conditioner for dry hair?
ONDITIONER
Organic Standard,Free from Sulfates, SLS, SLES and parabens
Ingredients: Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerine, Phenoxyethanol, Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Hydrolysed Sweet Almond Seedcake, essential oils (different on any type of shampoo/comditioner)
SHAMPOO:Free from Sulfates, SLS, SLES and parabens.
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice Powder*,essential oils
Hi,
ONDITIONER
Organic Standard,Free from Sulfates, SLS, SLES and parabens
Ingredients: Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerine, Phenoxyethanol, Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Hydrolysed Sweet Almond Seedcake, essential oils (different on any type of shampoo/comditioner)
SHAMPOO:Free from Sulfates, SLS, SLES and parabens.
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice Powder*,essential oils
Hello~
I struggle GREATLY with my hair. I currently have highlights in it, after 14 years of coloring it brown. I can’t find anything that will work with my hair because the roots get very oily, but the rest of my hair is dry and breaks so easily. I can’t comb it out of the shower without coating it in a detangleing spray, which is helpful, but still has tangles. My hair is also very fine, and thin. What do you recommend?
My second question is, where does this ship from? I live in the United States and need to know how long shipping takes, and how returns would work if this doesn’t work for me….. as most things aren’t working now. I have only ever used salon-quality products, being very careful about the ingredients I will allow in my products.
Thanks so much!
Daphney
Dear Daphny, Thank you for your message.:)
I can recommend the dry hair shampoo and conditioner, plus a homemade mask (i will go for castor oil, olive oil and avocado/banana) once a week.
https://www.purecosmetics.info/product/shampoo-and-conditioner/
I ship from The Netherlandswith dhl, so it can take up to 2 weeks.
Is there someplace to get the shampoo in the USA?
Thank you for your comment. i make the products in The Netherlands, so only by shipping them to you
please suggest me one shampoo in india which is anti dandruff and sulfate free because i also have hair fall and dandruff
Thank you for your question!
I make the products in the Netherlands and unfortanantly, i do not know indian brands. You are welcome to order online and i will ship it toyour adress:
https://www.purecosmetics.info/product/anti-dandruff-shampoo/
I absolutely love this and would love!!!
We’re a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community.
Your website provided us with valuable info to work on. You have done
a formidable job and our whole community will be thankful to you.
Thank you so much for your comment, i am very grateful to give values and happy to hear it helps!