Do you like to take care of yourself and dream of visibly healthy hair?

Between the hair products recommended in salons, those touted by bloggers and beauty influencers and the ones available in stores and pharmacies, it can be challenging to make an informed choice tailored to our hair type. 

But don’t stress, we've got you covered! We've put together a handy little guide to help you get a better understanding of what to look for when it comes to hair products.

You’ll soon be able to hair flip that beautiful mane of yours with pride!

Why are concerning ingredients found in so many shampoos?

The question arises: if so many ingredients are recognized as being potentially concerning, why aren't they simply banned?

Although several organizations, such as the EWG or the American foundation Breast Cancer Prevention Partners with its Campaign for Safe Cosmetics denounce the risks associated with certain ingredients,  it is authorized to use them in trace amounts in household and personal care products.

On the other hand, consumers wonder (and are right to do so): if the use of these products is frequent, and that we use several of these products containing contaminants daily, should this be cause for concern? Indeed, there is food for thought.

It is the consumer's role to educate themselves and learn to read product labels carefully, much like reading the list of ingredients of a food product.

The beneficial ingredients to look for in a shampoo

With all that being said, we might wonder what to look for on these seemingly unreadable labels that seem written in a language we don’t understand.

Generally, vegetal butters, oils and herbs are all natural and effective ingredients. Keep in mind, these ingredients of plant or natural origin are often listed according to their scientific names, which makes them more difficult to identify and recognize.

To guide you and help you find the best shampoo for you, here is a list of natural origin ingredients * as found on most labels:

• Sodium coco-sulfate: a surfactant derived from coconut oil with excellent cleaning power and which adds consistency to the shampoo.
• Coco-glucoside: a foaming agent (surfactant) of plant origin derived from coconut oil and composed of glucoses (sugars). In shampoos, it cleanses and smoothes the hair fiber.
• Decyl glucoside: a surfactant composed of glucose and derived from cornstarch and coconut oil.
• Lauryl glucoside: a surfactant of plant origin and derived from corn and coconut oil.
• Sodium cocoyl glutamate: a surfactant derived from coconut oil, corn and fruit sugars (glucose).
• Sodium cocoyl isethionate: a surfactant derived from coconut oil.
• Vegetable glycerin: obtained from rapeseed or coconut oil. It is an humectant and emollient agent for the skin and the hair.
• Stearyl citrate: naturally occurring and formed from stearyl alcohol and citric acid, it is an emollient that softens, softens and moisturizes the skin or hair.
• Glyceryl oleate: of plant origin, it is an emollient that softens, softens and nourishes the skin or hair.
• Butyrosperum parkii butter (shea butter): extracted from the kernels of shea fruit, it is an emollient that softens, softens and nourishes the skin or hair.

Good to know: All of the above ingredients are of natural origin and fully biodegradable.

* The ingredients listed above are examples of clean ingredients approved by EWG, but it is important to note that in pure form, they can be irritating. The secret is always in the right dosage and formulation!

 

The importance of reading the labels  

 

Unfortunately, just looking for “natural”, “organic”, “green” or “plant-based” labels on packaging is not enough to ensure that the products we buy are indeed the best for us. 
 

This is why it is essential to learn to recognize what ingredients are really in the products we purchase. 

 

It's always best to look at a database like EWG and its Healthy Living app to check a product's rating before buying it.

 

Now we are armed with practical and useful knowledge that we can apply in our next shampoo and conditioner search. You can take screenshots of our list or save this article in your phone for later viewing.

If you are looking for healthy shampoos and conditioners that will make your hair look fabulous, you can always count on ATTITUDE and its range of vegan hair care products, which obtained the best possible rating on the EWG website.