What’s in Your Shampoo and Conditioner?

Shampoo and conditioner are two of the most basic products in our beauty routine. But, unfortunately they can contain ingredients that are actually harmful to our hair and body.

Choosing a shampoo with the right formulation for your hair type and concerns is essential. These picks are sulfate-free, gentle, hydrate in a weightless way and deliver volume. Plus they also control dandruff and boost scalp health.

Cleanse

Cleansing agents are used to remove dirt, environmental debris and sebum oil from the hair follicles and skin. These products also help to prevent the accumulation of these substances.

Shampoo ingredients include both synthetic and natural detergents that provide different hair cleansing qualities. Natural detergents are obtained from plants such as sarsaparilla, soapwort, saponin bark and ivy agave. These compounds are known as surfactants and are typically blended with more conventional chemical detergents to produce shampoos that meet consumer demands for high quality, mild washing and good foaming ability.

The primary detergents in general shampoos designed for normal to dry hair are sulfate surfactants (usually sodium laureth sulfates, triethanolamine laureth sulfate and ammonium laureth sulfates). These are very effective in both hard and soft water, produce abundant foam, and are easily rinsed.

Most modern shampoos also contain a blend of conditioning agents. These can be comprised of silicones and/or fatty alcohols. They work to make the hair easy to comb, detangle and to control static (or «fly-away»).

In some shampoos, special ingredients are added to protect the scalp from irritation caused by some forms of acne such as dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis. Medicated shampoos also have ingredients to reduce itching, flaking and inflammation of the scalp, such as tar derivatives, salicylic shampoo and conditioner acid or polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine complex. Medicated shampoos can be formulated for men or women, babies and children, as well as for all types of hair including colored, permed or permanently waved.

Moisturize

Shampoos clean your hair by removing excess oil, product build-up, dust, sweat and harmful pathogens from the scalp. There are several different natural shampoos available that are tailored to specific skin and hair conditions such as dandruff, dryness, etc.

Conditioner nourishes your hair by providing essential moisture and nutrients that the scalp can’t reach to the hair ends. This helps to balance the moisture in your hair, smooth frizz and improve elasticity of your hair. This is why it’s important to use conditioner every time you wash your hair.

Many hair products come in a dual-purpose shampoo/conditioner. These contain moisturizing ingredients such as dimethicone, simethicone and glycerin that also provide cleaning benefits. You should always read the label and choose a shampoo or conditioner that is designed for your hair type.

Using conditioner correctly can help to prevent many common hair problems such as split ends, tangled and snarled hair. To use it, massage a coin-size amount of conditioner into your hair strands, starting at the roots and working down to the tips. Leave it in for three minutes before rinsing thoroughly with lukewarm water.

A moisturizer that is suitable for your skin type can prevent acne breakouts by reducing oil production and limiting the appearance of pores. Look for non-comedogenic (will not clog pores) and fragrance-free options to keep your skin and scalp healthy and acne-free.

Protect

Since shampoos are exposed to water, they need preservatives to inhibit microbial growth and prevent the spread of germs. Traditional preservatives like sodium benzoate, parabens, DMDM hydantoin, and methylisothiazolinone (MIT) release trace amounts of formaldehyde, which is a known inhalation carcinogen and suspected skin sensitizer. Other preservatives used include quaternium-15, DMDM diazolidinyl urea, and imidazolidinyl urea, which also release formaldehyde.

SEEN’s clean formulas avoid all of these ingredients, instead using non-comedogenic, non-irritating hexylene glycol and a plant-derived, silicone alternative called hemisqualane to provide all the hair-smoothing, frizz-reducing, heat protection benefits you’ve come to expect from a great shampoo. In addition, we use a gentle surfactant to GROWTH SERIES create the foamy suds you want without drying or irritating your scalp or skin.

Shampoos and body washes are designed for different purposes. Using shampoo as body wash can disrupt the natural pH balance of the scalp and skin, leading to irritation and dryness. Two-in-one shampoos and body washes can also be difficult to rinse off, leaving residue on the bare skin that can irritate it. This is why we recommend choosing a shampoo and conditioner that are formulated for your specific hair and skin concerns.

Repair

Using the right shampoo and conditioner is essential for good hair health. Many shampoos contain surfactants that create a lather and help to remove sebum (oil) and environmental dirt from the hair shaft and cuticle. This can strip the hair of its natural oils and cause dryness, so it’s important to choose a shampoo that’s gentle enough for daily use. Conditioners contain ingredients that hydrate the hair by coating the strands and cuticle with smoothing molecules. They often contain silicones, glycerin, dimethicone and hydrolyzed silk. These substances help to impart shine, manageability and flexibility. They also temporarily mend split ends (trichoptilosis) and hold the hair strands together until your next shampooing.