It hits hard when a beautiful girl with lustrous locks in TV commercials says that this shampoo will breathe life back into your dull and lifeless locks. You buy another bottle in this hope that switching to a new shampoo will do wonders for your hair. The real frustration begins even when this new cute shampoo bottle claiming many hair benefits does not tame and care for your hair in an expected way.
What’s wrong here?
Perhaps you are making the same old mistake of not checking out the ingredients list on the bottle before buying your shampoo. The most crucial thing is to eliminate the hair cleanser from your regimen that contains strong surfactant to avoid frizzy, dry, and dehydrated, and breakage-prone hair.
In fact, according to an epidemiological study published in the International Journal of Trichology, use of a mild shampoo is the right practice to prevent hair damage and preserve scalp health.
How do you know if a shampoo is mild?
Mild shampoo refers to a shampoo that does not contain harsh ingredients which are liable for causing scalp irritation and damaged hair. It helps to clear the dirt and impurities from your hair and scalp without stripping away natural oils and moisture.
Additionally, the mild shampoo also contains the conditioning agents that are usually absent in your regular shampoos.
3 Ingredients to avoid in a shampoo
1. Sodium lauryl sulphate
Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) is widely used in the formulation of hair shampoos due to its strong cleansing and leather forming properties.
This anionic surfactant snatches away natural oil from scalp and hair while removing dirt and impurities, ultimately leaving hair dehydrated, rough, and dull.
This is the reason dermatologists strongly opine to use sulphate free shampoo when you have rough and weak hair.
2. Silicone
Silicones are synthetic polymers that are composed of silicon, oxygen atoms and other elements. They are used in hair care products especially hair conditioners and shampoos to provide shine and slip to hair. However, silicones have superficial effects on hair and imparts temporary shine and luster by forming a waterproof coating around hair.
Over time, excess use of silicone-based hair cosmetics have a chance to cause silicone build-up on the scalp, which ultimately leads to dry, brittle, and frizzy hair.
3. Parabens
In clinical research studies, paraben is another ingredient, which has been identified as harmful for skin and hair. The major drawback of parabens is they easily pass through the skin to cause scalp irritations and make hair rough, dry, rough, and dehydrated.
Parabens are one of the common preservatives used in hair shampoos, creams, lotions, conditioners, and various other cosmetics as well. Luckily, by choosing mild shampoos you can easily avoid parabens in your shampoos and other skin care products.
4 ingredients to look for in a mild shampoo
1. Biotin
Biotin or B7 is an essential vitamin that has many impressive benefits to your hair. A 2017 research study has claimed the benefits of biotin in improving hair and nail growth. If you are experiencing hair loss or hair thinning, biotin enriched shampoo can help to prevent hair loss and thicken your hair roots.
2. Nasturtium officinale Extract
It is commonly called Watercress. This natural ingredient is a great source of antioxidants that help to repair weak, brittle, and rough hair. In addition, it helps to promote hair growth and strengthens hair roots.
3. Hydrolyzed Wheat Proteins
Hydrolyzed wheat proteins act as a deep conditioning agent for your hair. It helps to hydrate and nourish your strands from within. Using hair shampoos that contain hydrolyzed wheat proteins helps to control frizziness and adds a natural shine to your hair.
4. Tropaeolum majus
Commonly called Indian cress, this ingredient possesses incredible potential to improve overall appearance of your hair. Owing to antioxidants and rejuvenating properties, it helps to improve tensile strength of hair while maintaining smooth texture and natural shine.
Topical use of Niacinamide is considered quite beneficial in improving the overall appearance of your hair. It helps to improve the circulation of blood and nutrients in the scalp area, which ultimately makes your hair shiny and healthy. In addition, few research studies have demonstrated the efficacy of niacinamide in treating pattern hair loss.
Top 5 benefits of using a mild shampoo
1. Prevents frizzy and dry hair
Hair tend to look lacklustre, dull and brittle when they don’t have enough hair oil and moisture. If you are dealing with frizzy and dry hair, using a mild shampoo can be a huge help. Such gentle shampoos don't not disturb natural scalp and hair oils during the cleansing process. Also, conditioning agents present in shampoo help to retain the necessary moisture in your hair.
2. Keeps your scalp healthy
Scalp irritations and allergies are the common side effects of harsh ingredients present in your shampoo.
A research study mentioned in the International Journal of Trichology has demonstrated that the inflammatory conditions of the scalp increase the risk of premature hair loss and poor hair growth.
Therefore, a mild shampoo without sulphates and parabens is a healthy choice to keep hair and scalp healthy.
3. Improves the natural shine of hair
Added benefit is mild shampoo helps to clear the scalp build-up along with cleansing the impurities. When your scalp is free of build-up, the flow of nutrients and oxygen improve to hair follicles, which subsequently leads to shiny and nourished hair.
In addition, shampoos that come with the goodness of B family vitamins like Vitamins B3 (Niacin), Pro-Vitamin B5 (Panthenol), and B7 (Biotin) help to add natural shine and anti-aging effects to your hair.
4. Reduces the hair loss
Previous researches have revealed that the topical of strong chemical agents can put you at a greater risk of hair thinning and pattern baldness.
On the contrary, being extremely gentle for your hair and scalp, mild shampoo does not impose serious harm on hair structure. Mild shampoos enriched with Indian Cress and WaterCress extracts are considered an effective way to strengthen hair roots and prevent hair fall.
5. Balances your hair’s pH levels
Maintaining the pH of your hair and scalp is very crucial when you strive for healthy-looking hair. Alkaline pH exacerbates friction between the fibre thereby causing cuticle damage and fibre breakage. Mild shampoos with natural ingredients are known to maintain pH balance, ultimately leaving your hair soft, tangle-free, and healthy.
Final words
It is very important to understand that your hair need daily care and nourishment. Committing to the right hair care regimen and eating a healthy diet help to keep your hair lustrous, healthy, and strong. For right hair care, the first necessary step to consider is switching to a mild shampoo that can offer extra care and love to your beautiful tresses.
P.S.
Regardless of hair type, hair care experts strongly emphasize inculcating an ideal hair conditioner in your hair care regimen. The use of conditioners after the shampoo is considered a crucial step to attain shiny, healthy, and beautiful hair. The role of conditioners is to replenish the moisture and hydration levels in your strands, which are lost during shampooing.
Depending upon the hair type, you can choose a conditioner for an ideal hair care regimen.
For instance, murumuru butter based conditioners are good to refine the curls and eliminate frizziness. Whereas, Orbignya speciosa Kernel Oil (Babassu Oil) is an incredible conditioning agent for all hair types.
