Ingredients to Avoid in your Haircare

In the search for the best haircare products we often draw our attention to the natural ingredients present in a product however what’s equally important to notice on the product label is, are there any harmful ingredients?

The market is brimming with natural products to suit every hair type and every hair concern, what do we narrow down our selection to? How do we know if the haircare product would really help combat all those hair concerns or if it is really safe for the hair, in the long run? What are the best natural ingredients for natural hair regrowth? Our Ayurveda Experts answer these questions, for you.

Why Is It Important To Know What Ingredients Are In Your Hair Products?

The hair follicles are rich in blood vessels that are close to the surface of the scalp. Therefore, whatever is in the hair products is quickly absorbed into your bloodstream and into your system. Many products that are formulated with chemicals and toxins might lend to the appearance of softer hair for a short period of time, however, in the long run these can adversely affect the hair quality and growth. The consequences for health could be worse if these enter your bloodstream!

Whether it is a hair shampoo or hair oil, we must be sure of which ingredients are used in their formulation, to effectively cater to varied hair treatments and to also mitigate the risk of applying chemicals to your hair. Here’s what to look out for in your haircare:

Sulphates (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – SLS and Sodium Laureth Sulfate – SLES)

One of the most harmful ingredients to look out for is “Sulphate”. Sulphates are widely available, cheaply produced chemicals which include Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES) that are present in both shampoos and floor cleansers to create the creamy lather or foam that creates the impression of a strong cleaning prowess. If these Sulphates enter the bloodstream, they can leave a residual level in the liver, lungs, and brain from skin contact and by depositing on the skin surface and in the hair follicles. SLS and SLES can also cause irritation to your eyes, skin and lungs, and in the long term some studies have also linked these to cancer. For those with sensitive skin, using haircare products with Sulphates may also clog the skin’s pores or result in acne.

In addition to these harmful effects to yourself, Sulphates tend to get washed down the drain and are known to be toxic to aquatic animals, thereby making these chemicals non-environment friendly.

Natural Alternatives To Sulphates?

Sulphates are not essential cleansing ingredients, you can do without these harmful ingredients. The Forest Essentials Ayurvedic products contain fresh herbs and naturally derived ingredients, and our haircare range is completely Sulphate free. We use the naturally derived cleansing agent – Reetha, in our haircare products that are gentle on the scalp and help to deeply cleanse. Reetha contains Saponin and is used in combination with Vitamin E, which creates a mild lather and gives a silky touch to the hair by removing excess oil from the scalp without stripping it dry, as it is essential to retain some oil content. We often get asked, should you quit using shampoos if you have oily hair? You must definitely not! Regular cleansing is important to ensure you’re not preparing a bed for bacterial and fungal infections.  

Artificial Fragrance

Another ingredient that we often neglect striking out from the list is “artificial fragrance”. Many haircare and skincare products are made with these fragrances to appeal to the senses, and often to mask the smell of unpleasant ingredients, but have the tendency to irritate the skin through their volatile reactions. This is true not only for those with sensitive skin but everybody. You may not be able to see or sense the damage being caused to your skin, scalp or hair but it can be occurring silently each time you use such products, and will lead to long term damage. Artificially added fragrance or perfume is made from chemically derived perfumes which upon application can lead to rashes, dizziness and a number of allergic reactions.

What Fragrances Are Used In Forest Essentials Haircare Products?

At Forest Essentials, fragrance is a byproduct of the purest, freshest and natural ingredients that we use. Instead of adding artificial fragrances for scent alone, our focus has been on creating formulas with ingredients that deliver maximum benefit to your hair and skin. From steam distilled essential oils, to the fragrant pulp of fresh fruit, to sun dried herbs simmered in cold-pressed oils, each of our chemical-free haircare products are blended with the delicate aroma of naturally derived fragrances which do not harm the hair or skin.

Synthetic Colors or Dyes

Many shampoos and conditioners which are available in the market today claim to reduce and treat gray hair. These often use harmful synthetic pigments or dyes in their formulations which deposit on the scalp and in turn make it flaky and dry, while clogging the hair follicles, and damaging the hair texture. Instead, look for natural herbal extracts which help maintain the hair’s natural color and restore its natural shine and texture.

What Dyes Do Forest Essentials Products Contain?

At Forest Essentials, we use potent herbal extracts which act as natural dyes, including Amla Fruit, Henna leaves, Japapatti leaves and Jatamansi, which help maintain the hair’s natural color, while leaving the hair detangled, soft and lustrous.

Parabens

Parabens are synthetic chemicals that are widely used in many skin and hair care products as preservatives to increase their shelf life. While the adverse effects of using these are still contested, studies show that excess absorption of Parabens by the skin or through foods consumed can be harmful in the long run.

What Preservatives Do Forest Essentials Products Contain?

At Forest Essentials, we create paraben free haircare and skincare products. While we also acknowledge the need to use preservatives, our products contain ingredients that are widely known in Ayurveda to be natural forms of preservatives including Vitamin E, organic Honey, pure Ghee, raw Cane Sugar and Sea Salt Crystals.

Moreover, these natural preservatives when blended with other Ayurvedic ingredients including extracts of Mulethi, Nagarmootha Root, Brahmi, Fenugreek and Methi, and emollient, cold-pressed oils of organically grown Sweet Almond, Coconut and Jojoba help to restore natural hair growth and volume.

What Are The Forest Essentials Hair Care Products?

Our herb-infused certified Ayurvedic hair care products, include replenishing hair cleansers, enriching hair shampoos and Hair Conditioners, nourishing Head massage oils, strengthening Hair masque, a shine-enhancing Hair Vitalizer, and a volumizing Hair Thickening Spray.

Our chemical free haircare products are prepared with an assortment of natural ingredients for hair growth, shine, strength and volume. These include Japapatti, Bhringraj, Amla, Honey, Mulethi, Aloe Vera, Liquorice, Reetha and more. Click here to discover the ingredients used in our products.

It is time to say goodbye to harsh, synthetic shampoos, lifeless conditioners and in effective head massage oils!

To know more about the ingredients that your hair cleansers should contain read now: https://www.forestessentialsindia.com/blog/wash-your-hair-with-botanicals.html