Hair can be an expression of self, which is why many of us desire to keep it as clean and healthy as possible. When it comes to hair and hair health, bath products are usually the first thing to come to mind. Shampoos have always been marketed in such a way that make them sound like they are amazing for your hair. From helping to reduce hair fall to providing great nourishment for your hair, the benefits of shampoo seem to be endless. But are they really as amazing as one think? Some people have decided to go shampoo-less or with minimal amounts of the product. Are they on to something here? We have Leona Brown of Blonde Boudoir weigh in with her thoughts on the matter as well!
1. Going shampoo-free may help improve your health
Unless specified, most shampoos include the use of parabens and sulphate. Parabens prevent microbial growth in shampoos to maintain their usability, while sulphates help produce the lathers that people love during shampooing. Unfortunately, these chemicals have been reported to cause allergies, worsen skin conditions, affect oestrogen levels and possibly increase the risk of breast cancer, and may even cause cancer.
Leona: Sulphate also wreaks havoc on hair colour and hair smoothing treatments as it has a stripping effect, literally washing all those hours in the salon straight down the sink. My favourite sulphate and paraben-free range of shampoo products comes from Kevin Murphy. The range contains Australian botanicals and is extensive, so there will be something to suit every hair type.
2. Shampoos may weaken your hair
Sebum is the oily substance that the scalp produces to maintain the condition of the hair. However, some people produce less sebum than others. As a result, these people may experience a dry scalp if they use shampoo too often. These may lead to irritation of the scalp and possibly deteriorate the condition of the hair.
Leona: Kevin Murphy makes a great product called Restore, which is actually a cleansing treatment. Due to the high protein level, it leaves the hair feeling squeaky clean. Think of it as a two-in-one and being a kind of treatment, it improves the condition of your hair every time you use it. Restore can replace shampooing a few times a week.
3. Natural methods
Shampoo isn’t the only way to keep your hair in tip-top condition. Experts recommend using apple cider vinegar to wash the hair to get rid of dirt and mineral build-ups. It leaves the hair feeling soft and clean. Even if you aren’t a big fan of having the smell of vinegar in your luscious mane, the smell will dissipate after it dries.
Leona: Attaching a shower filter, like Aroma Glow Luxury Shower Head, to your shower will help remove nasties like chlorine, copper, dirt and bacteria from your shower water. This will aid the respiratory system while also improving scalp and hair quality by preventing minerals from depositing into your hair.
4. It’s better for the environment
No matter how little, using less or no shampoo is a more environmentally-friendly practice due to how the chemicals that end up getting washed away can end up being deposited into a water source. The disposal of empty shampoo bottles also does nothing but adds to the ever-growing pile of non-biodegradable waste. Every little bit counts when it comes to helping the environment.
Leona: Kevin Murphy products are PETA-approved and the packaging is designed so that more bottles can fit into a box, significantly reducing the size of the shipping packaging is.
5. Reduces the greasiness of the scalp
If you are annoyed by your oily scalp, perhaps using less shampoo can help alleviate the condition. Some people aspire to condition their scalp to produce less sebum by reducing the use of shampoo, which can be a good way to solve an otherwise annoying problem. Decreasing the frequency of your shampooing might yield the results you’re after instead of going off shampoo completely.
Leona: If you are shampooing every day and find that your hair is still super-oily, try going a week without shampooing to try and regulate your sebum production. If you don’t strip the oil , your scalp won’t need to over-compensate and produce so much. Just make sure you don't have anything important functions to attend that week!
Leona goes on to recommend going ‘poo free if you have curls. Curly hair seems to respond best to minimal shampooing. They cannot hold moisture, so avoiding shampoo allows the natural oil from the scalp to travel down the hair shaft, moisturising curly hair and also helping to control frizz, creating smoother more defined curls. It takes about a month for your scalp to regulate its oil production so if you decide to go sans shampoo, you need to persevere as it will get worse before it gets better!
While many people love the smell and feel of shampoos, there definitely are also good reasons why some people prefer the no-shampoo lifestyle. Paraben and sulphate-free shampoos can also be purchased for those who worry about being exposed to such chemicals, so it’s not as if ALL shampoos are off-limits. Make the right choice and your hair will be sure to thank you for it!
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