Learn about some of the most common toxic ingredients contained in hair care products.

Ever looked at the ingredients list of a shampoo bottle and give yourself a headache? With all sorts of chemical names, they can be difficult to decode. While not all chemicals are bad for you, there are certainly a number to look out for. Unfortunately, there are still many <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/at-home-hair-care-covid-trend" target="_blank">hair</a> products on the market that&nbsp;contain chemicals that may be harmful to our overall&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/wellness/how-to-detox-body-wellness-2021" target="_blank">body health</a>. With class action lawsuits currently filed against companies like Unilever (owner of Tresemm&eacute;) and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/style/deva-curl-hair-loss.html" target="_blank">DevaCurl</a> for using ingredients that damaged their customers&#39; hair and scalps, the concern over vetting hair care products is warranted. To help you navigate the seemingly intricate world of product&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/07/well/for-cosmetics-let-the-buyer-beware.html" target="_blank">label reading</a>, L&rsquo;OFFICIEL shares a list of 13&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/at-home-haircare-guide" target="_blank">hair care</a> ingredients to steer away from in your next purchase.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate

Also called sulfates, these ingredients are very aggressive detergents and should be avoided as much as possible. They strip oil and dirt out of your hair so well that they deplete the naturally produced sebum that moisturizes your <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/scalp-hair-care" target="_blank">scalp</a>. They can cause <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/avocado-for-hair-beauty-home-recipe-natural" target="_blank">dandruff</a>, flaking, itching, excessive dryness, or the rapid tendency of some hair to get dirty quickly. They are found in shampoos, shower gels, and pretty much any product that foams. They can also cause dermatitis and eye irritation.

A&nbsp;common preservative in hair products, it is linked to lung toxicity, allergic reactions, and possible neurotoxicity.

This&nbsp;is another preservative which can cause eye, nasal, and throat&nbsp;irritation. It is a known animal carcinogen&nbsp;and may increase cancer risk in humans as well. It can be found in <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/how-to-grow-nails-fast" target="_blank">nail</a> hardeners and nail polishes and also in hair straightening products. There is currently a class action lawsuit filed against Tresemm&eacute;&#39;s manufacturer Unilever for using&nbsp;DMDM hydantoin in the brand&#39;s&nbsp;Keratin Hair Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner. DMDM hydantoin is a preservative &quot;known to release formaldehyde.

These substances create a waterproof film on your <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/vidal-sassoon-hair-cuts-history" target="_blank">hair</a> and they dehydrate it, weakening it even further and causing&nbsp;split ends and frizz. Together with the sebum produced by the scalp, silicones can quickly grease the hair and make it look dirty shortly&nbsp;after washing.

These were banned from use in toy manufacturing in California in 2009, because of links between Phthalates and cancer. Nonetheless, they are still often used in hair products, such as hairspray, to give a flexible hold.&nbsp;

If the manufacturer puts this on the label, it means they don&rsquo;t want to tell you what else is in the product&mdash;and fragrance is often a term used to hide Phthalates as an ingredient. You can find it in most <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/10-most-popular-perfumes-of-the-season-2021" target="_blank">perfumes</a>, colognes, and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/09/opinion/cosmetics-safety-makeup.html" target="_blank">personal care products</a>. Fragrance can create allergic reactions.

You&rsquo;ll see them labeled on hair products as terms ending in -paraben, for example propylparaben and benzylparaben.&nbsp;Parabens are included in <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/best-purple-shampoos-blonde-hair-at-home" target="_blank">shampoos</a> as a preservative to deter mold. While the FDA has not found any alarming information about parabens and health, they can dehydrate the hair.

These are substances derived from&nbsp;<a href="https://goop.com/beauty/makeup/whats-up-with-petroleum-in-beauty-products-7-days-of-goop-clean-beauty/" target="_blank">petrochemicals</a>. Even if purified, their origin remains the same. Petroleum and mineral oils can&nbsp;coat your hair and scalp so effectively, they suffocate them. These ingredients can cause acne, difficult <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/seaweed-skincare-benefits-algae" target="_blank">skin</a> respiration, imbalanced oil levels in your scalp, and skin irritation.

Cocamide MEA - Diethanolamine (DEA) - Triethanolamine (TEA)

These cleaning agents are potentially carcinogenic and therefore should be avoided.&nbsp;They stabilize the pH of hair products, and are common allergens and eye irritants.

This does its job of stripping away oils from your scalp a little too well, leaving your hair dry and brittle.&nbsp;Ethanol Alcohol,&nbsp;Ethyl Alcohol,&nbsp;Isopropanol Alcohol,&nbsp;Propyl Alcohol, and&nbsp;SD Alcohol&nbsp;are also known to do this.

It can be found in hair dyes, anti-dandruff shampoos, and anti-itch creams, and it can cause irritation, skin rashes, photosensitivity, and folliculitis.

Used as a&nbsp;solvent that can dissolve paint and paint thinner, it is also&nbsp;found in some hair color/bleaching products. This chemical can affect the respiratory system, irritate the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/best-skincare-ingredients-dry-skin-products" target="_blank">skin</a>, and even cause developmental damage in the fetus if expecting mothers are exposed to it. It is commonly labeled as benzene, tuluol, phenylmethane, or methylbenzene.

It is found in skin <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/how-to-lighten-hair-at-home-best-products" target="_blank">lightening</a> products and hair dyes. It can have irritating and harmful effects on the skin and can cause photosensitivity.

13 Unsafe Hair Care Ingredients to Avoid

Tags

Related Articles

Beauty

How Hair Care Became the New Skincare

Be Well

How to Use Rice Water for Hair Care

Beauty

The Ultimate At-Home Haircare Guide

Recommended posts for you

Music

Shakira's Superstar Moments, From "Hips Don't Lie" to the Super Bowl

Fashion

Who is Sabato De Sarno? Get to Know the New Gucci Creative Director

Fashion

#LOFFICIEL100: Remembering the Legacy of Pioneering Black Model Sandi Collins

Fashion

Julia Fox’s Best It Girl Fashion Moments

Fashion

Alexander McQueen Returns to Formality With Fall/Winter 2023 Men's Collection

Music

Everything To Know About the 2023 Grammy Awards

Film & TV

Everything to Know About 'Stranger Things' Season 5

Pop culture

Stormi Webster's Cutest Moments on Instagram