Ringworm, Acne & Skin Care

There are many reasons why you might use natural shampoo. People like to use shampoos that they feel are “green.” Others think that natural ingredients make their hair healthier. Natural shampoo is often found to be easier on dyed hair. You might also like natural shampoos because they may be used as soothing body washes also.

But the word natural can be deceptive. It can sometimes simply mean the presence of natural ingredients. Natural ingredients can mean nearly anything that has been derived from nature. As a result the shampoo might contain some natural ingredients and some unnatural ones. In general a few preservatives and even a little dye can be okay. Though if you have sensitive skin you might have a bit more trouble with artificial colors and fragrances. The serious ingredients that you should look for may undo positive benefits of natural ingredients.

Always watch for laureth- or lauryl sulfate. This is the ingredient that makes shampoo foamy. But it also strips down hair. The result over a short time is weak, brittle hair. Also, it will destroy color treatments. Lightened, dull hair results from excessive lauryl sulfate use. When you are checking ingredients avoid anything with the words lauryl or laureth.

Also, you should keep an eye out for sulfur and sulfides. These ingredients are common in dandruff shampoos. Technically, you could argue that sulfur is actually a natural ingredient. But in some cases it exacerbates skin conditions and causes dandruff. Should you decide to use a sulfur based shampoo, be careful of your eyes. You might also end up with hair that is drier than usual.

Truly natural shampoos have a few common characteristics:

* They do not tend to have many ingredients - The majority of the components in most shampoos are artificial. Natural shampoos have a soap base and a few other components.

* You do not get much foam with natural shampoos - This is because foam is caused by unnatural agents.

* Often they have ingredients that you would look for in your cupboards - Do not be surprised to see apple cider vinegar, herbs or baking soda. In fact many people actually wash their hair with baking soda, apple cider vinegar and water.

If your hair is perfect and you love your shampoo, stick with it. However, if you are looking for a new natural shampoo, make sure that you are getting the real deal. These secret ingredients can cause frizziness, dry hair, breakage and serious damage. Always be sure that your natural shampoo is the real deal before you start washing your hair.