The key to a healthy hair journey is utilizing products that benefit your hair! At times, brands will choose to take the easy way out by including ingredients with only short-term benefits. Every naturalista understands that long-term benefits are what we aim for! In order to receive these benefits, we must avoid using products that include these three ingredients!
Isopropyl Alcohol
You would be surprised at how many products your favorite brand may try to slip isopropyl alcohol into! This ingredient is found in a wide range of hair products including particularly color rinses and daily moisturizers. This ingredient has been placed under the category of a denaturant. Well, what is a denaturant you ask? A denaturant is a substance that changes the natural qualities of your hair by altering the structure of proteins. Another con of this ingredient is short-term benefits! Yes, your hair may be more manageable for the time being, however isopropyl alcohol has been known to leave the hair dry and brittle. The long-term impact of incorporating products with this ingredient most definitely outweighs the short-term benefits!
Mineral Oil
It seems as if every other oil in the book does our hair justice. So, what’s the deal with mineral oil? Mineral oil is an ingredient that is produced industrially. This means that it is a substance that has been derived from another. In our case, the substance that serves as the original is crude oil. Not to be the bearer of bad news, but crude oil is the very same substance we put into our vehicles. This oil is then “purified” into a slippery fluid that becomes an ingredient in numerous cosmetic products. This ingredient is what naturalistas refer to as a cheap lubricant. Mineral oil is also an ingredient that provides short-term benefits!
Sulfates
Sulfates are a common ingredient in many cosmetic products including your favorite shampoos and conditioners! The sole purpose of sulfates in our shampoos and conditioners is to initiate the foaming, this, in turn, disperses the greasy products into the rinsing water. In this case, sulfates act as substances that reduce the surface tension of water allowing your shampoo to loosen the grease. While this all sounds super beneficial, sulfates will also strip our hair of necessary proteins! Long-term usage of sulfates will lead to dry and brittle hair strands. After accumulating so many brittle hair strands, breakage will come knocking at your door!
It may seem beneficial at the time to use products that include these ingredients, however, the long-term effects are not worth it! Your best bet would be to stay clear of these ingredients! Happy stying!
– HCXO