What to look out for when buying hair products| a 4c natual hair product guide

Do you know your hair products? Do you read your ingredients before purchasing your products? What are you even looking for in the ingredients? If you don’t have an answer to even just one of these questions, read on. This is worth your time.

Taking care of your hair is not only important for its growth but it is also a good habit to adopt. 

Knowing your products is an essential part of taking care of your hair. Know which products to use to get specific results. It’s easier to work with your hair if you know what supplements it needs and what products to use.

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Inevitably, the ingredients are just as important. Ingredients make up the product, so it is logical to know what is put in the products before purchasing. 

You’ll be shocked to know that some products might seem like what you need but contain a lot of ingredients that will harm not only your hair but also your health.

For these reasons, reading your ingredients is important.

On the flip side, some products are considered horrid because of the misinformation that goes around. We will clear up some of those later.

Here’s a general overview of what to look for in hair products;

When looking for moisturizing products, you will mostly have to look for water-based products which means that the first (sometimes second) ingredient is water or (aqua).

Because we know the first commandment of natural hair, water is the only moisturizer! 

 

… no that’s not a thing. But water is an important moisturizer.

If you are looking for a sealant however, the story flips. They must not be water-based since their job is to seal in the moisture that is already put in. 

This includes your butter and oils- well oil is not water-based, hence why it is a very good sealant.

Products like conditioners and shampoos are preached to be sulfate-free. 

Because sulfate is a detergent and is a bit too good at cleaning, it strips off all the natural oil from hair.

 You know that our hair is already naturally dry. It is best to stay away from sulfates.

Products like gel, well you know the jingle, alcohol-free. 

However, below is a detailed look into the ingredients and why they should be avoided, and you might find that not all of them should be necessarily avoided.

Ultimately, you make the decision, I’m here to help you make an informed one.

I also made a handy free printable guide for when you want to remember these products. Find it at the bottom.

here is a detailed look into some ingredients and their effect on your hair:

1. Alcohol

Alcohols are known to have drying effects on hair, and while that is true, not ALL alcohols have that drying effect. 

There are different kinds of alcohols with different properties. Some alcohols such as ethanol and SD alcohol can have a drying effect while some such as lauryl alcohol and cetyl alcohol can be very healthy to your hair. 

The latter has properties like fatty acids and are emulsifying alcohol which is why they are good for hair.

The former is short very short carbon-chained alcohols that evaporate quickly. They are used in hair and skincare products as an additive to help decrease the time it takes for products to dry once they are applied. These alcohols strip moisture from hair as a result. They leave hair dry, brittle and frizzy.

How can they be identified?

Some of the most common drying alcohols you’ll find on your products are ethanol, SD alcohol, SD 40 alcohol, denatured alcohol, propanol, propyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol.

Alcohols that are actually good for your hair are; lauryl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and behenyl alcohol

2. Sulfates

Sulfates are chemicals used as cleaning agents. They are found in household cleaners, detergents, and even shampoos. 

They are used to create a lathering effect (they cause foaming) to remove oil and dirt.

Sulfates are too good cleaners that they tend to strip hair of all its natural oils leaving it dry and brittle.

How can they be identified?

some most common sulfates include Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Myreth Sulfate.

3. Silicone

Silicones work by covering hair with a waterproof coating to reduce hair porosity. They are good for straightened hair because they do not allow hair to absorb humidity.

They are not too bad to use however, in the long run, they can cause more bad than good. They are generally loathed for coating the hair and causing build-up.

Silicone Build-up can cause your hair to resist products making it close to impossible to moisturize or style or… do pretty anything to it.

How can they be identified?

Some common silicones are Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone copolyol, Dimethicone or silicone oil, Amodimethicone

4. Parabens

Parabens are very efficient and cost-effective preservatives. Because of this, they are not only found in hair products but also in a wide variety of cosmetics, foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals and other personal care products.

Paraben exposure occurs when they are absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream. They have been found in breast cancer cells and so has been thought to cause cancer. 

No research has been able to link parabens directly to cancer so far. We are only exposed to a small percentage.

How can they be identified?

Some most common parabens are methylparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben.

5. Phthalate

Phthalates are any salt or esters of phthalic acid. They have a vast spectrum of application. In hair products, for example, phthalates are used as plasticizers in hairsprays to help avoid stiffness by allowing them to form a flexible film on the hair.

Phthalates are classified as endocrine disruptors which means they can interfere with hormonal systems at a certain dosage.

Phthalates like butyl benzyl phthalate are reported to cause eczema and rhinitis to children. They have been associated with liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive organs damage.

How can they be identified?

Some most common phthalates are di-2-ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP), Dimethyl phthalates. Again, here, you identify the suffix “-phthalate”

6. Formaldehyde

Many products may contain formaldehyde-releasing ingredients, which act as a preservative to kill microorganisms and prevent the growth of bacteria and other pathogens, extending product shelf life.

Contrary to popular belief, some studies show that formaldehyde does not accumulate in people because it is quickly broken down by the body’s natural metabolic processes.

How can they be identified?

Some formaldehyde-releasing ingredients include:

 Benzylhemiformal, 2-Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, 5-Bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane, Diazolidinyl urea;1,3-dimethylol-5,5-dimethyl hydantoin (or DMDM hydantoin),Quaternium-15.

7. Ethanolamines {DEA(diethanolamine), MEA(mon) and TEA(tri)}

Ethanolamines are clear, colour-less, viscous liquids with ammonia-like odours, which have the combined properties of alcohols and amines.

They are mostly found in products that foam. This includes foam baths, body washes, shampoos, soaps, and facial cleansers. They're also found in many other cosmetic products such as eyeliners, mascara, eye shadows, blush, etc.

They are thought to be cause chemical burns and inflammation. Prolonged exposure can result in liver, kidney or nervous system injury.

How can they be identified?

Cocamide DEA, Cocamide MEA,DEA-Cetyl Phosphate, Lauramide DEA, Linoleamide MEA, Myristamide DEA, Oleamide DEA, Stearamide MEA, TEA-Lauryl Sulfate

8. Mineral oil

Mineral oil is a mixture of aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbons derived from petroleum. 

It weighs the hair down and prevents natural oils from being produced and absorbed in the hair.

Petrolatum is a grease with the same properties as mineral oil and should be avoided.

These products can easily be identified as “mineral oil” and “petrolatum” in the ingredients list

This has been a LONG article, but it was all worth it. Don’t worry about how you are going to remember all of these because I've prepared a handy printable for you to download absolutely FREE.  

Just tell me where to send it!

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