A Review of Shampoo (and Conditioner)
Now, this blog is just information for the average woman, and man I guess. So, to help you all out I have done some research on so called "Pure Shampoos."
Now does anyone know what Sulfates are? Anyone, anyone? Well in Shampoos, sulfates are used as a foaming agent. So you know how when you rub the shampoo in your hair it gets all foamy. Well some common sulfates used for this are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, and Ammonium Laureth Sulfate.
Let me give you a hint, if you see Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate in any product that you are using, such as tooth paste or shampoo, stop using that crap. All four of these common sulfates are thought to be extremely toxic. For example, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate is linked to birth defects in our unborn children and organ failure. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is basically rat poison and has been linked to hair loss.
Do any of you ever get canker sores? Well some women are more prone than others, I am one of those women. So, an easy fix to reducing your chances of getting canker sores, just use an SLS free toothpaste. I recommend Tom's, it is entirely pure and if you go on the website you can find out the purpose of every ingredient they use in every product and where they got it.
But onto Shampoos...
In the past fews years I have become very conscious of the products I use on my body. I realized that my hair was not as good as it could have been. So I tried washing my hair with baking soda and vinegar. I eventually gave up because I don't follow things through.
So then I started using a simple sulfate free shampoo. I first settled upon L'Oreal EverStrong sulfate free shampoo. For an 8.5 Fluid Ounce bottle I paid approximately $8, at a cheap store. I used the product for a few weeks before tossing it out. One thing I learned is that it is extremely important to read the ingredients in these things. L'Oreal EverStrong may have been sulfate free, but it was far from safe. Instead of sulfate foaming agents there are sulfide foaming agents, which in my opinion are just as bad.
And after using this product for a few weeks, my hair did not seem any healthier, stronger, shinier, or more vibrant. I have quite lovely red hair and it has been lacking in luster ever since I used Pantene Products. I absolutely DO NOT recommend Pantene Products since their Pro-V formula is just a bunch of crap your hair doesn't need.
The next on the list was Garnier Fructis Pure Clean. I used this when visiting a friend. The few days I used it, it seemed very nice. But then I took a look at the ingredients. The second one on the list is the foaming agent Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate. I want to entirely rid my hair of sulfates and sulfides. So I am not using this product again.
Then yesterday I purchased a bottle of Finesse Clean and Simple shampoo and conditioner. I have always been a fan of Finesse since it has done such nice things for my hair. But I want to avoid the sulfates. A ten ounce bottle of Finesse Clean and Simple (available for regular or color treated hair) is between $2.99 and $3.99, but if you go online you can get a free mail in rebate for a refund of the full purchase price of your first bottle.
The Finesse Clean and Simple shampoo was not exactly what I expected. I looked at the ingredients, not a single sulfate or sulfide. It is entirely hypoallergenic, including being gluten free. When I first used it I was surprised that the shampoo did not foam up. This is due to the lack of harmful foaming agents. It may seem weird when you are first using it. Surprisingly you don't need as much as you would think. My hair has felt fantastic. It feels clean and it looks great. I think I am even starting to get some of the shine back after only one use.
I will have to give it a few weeks to see how my hair adjusts to this new shampoo. But so far I have the highest hopes for my Finesse Clean and Simple.
Well, this is me...your humble average american woman...Deirdre Heart <3
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