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7 Risky Hair Treatments and Products That Can Actually Harm You

In Health
January 12, 2022
Hair Treatments

There are countless hair treatments out there that are meant to make your hair look and feel luscious. However, you should be cautious with how you style your hair or what products you use, no matter how popular they are. Some people use common hair cosmetics that may actually damage your hair a lot more than you think. Today, we’ve created a complete list of some of the riskiest hair treatments and harmful chemicals you should steer clear of.

1. Bleaching

It’s no surprise that bleaching your hair practically destroys it. Bleaching consists of adding strong chemicals to your hair that penetrates the follicle, eliminating the natural hair pigment. 

This, however, despite how popular and common it is for people to do it, alters your hair strength and makes it more susceptible to damage. Bleaching can lead to all kinds of hair damage, such as breakage, split ends, and a dull look.

2. Perming

Perming is a very popular treatment that consists of chemically straightening or curling your hair. The way it works is that it breaks the inner bonds of your hair and reshapes it differently. 

Yet, no matter how nice it makes your hair look, it damages your hair the same way that bleaching does. It makes your hair weak and causes your hair to lose its natural shine, leading to dry and brittle hair.

3. Dying and Highlights

Nearly everyone dyes their hair or gets highlights. But, even though they’re not as damaging as getting a perm, it comes with its consequences. It weakens your hair and changes your inner hair structure, leading to a flat, dry look.

4. Flat-Ironing and Blow-Drying

Something you know by now is that heat is highly damaging to your hair. In fact, lots of hair experts recommend spraying heat protectors over your hair before exposing yourself to the sun. So, applying heat directly to your hair, such as by flat-ironing and blow-drying, can eventually burn your hair. 

5. Over-Brushing

Rumor has it that bushing your hair 100 times a day makes it look shiny and full. But that’s far from the case. Over-brushing your hair leads to split ends and breakage, especially if you use a cheap brush.  

6. Washing Too Much

The goal of shampooing your hair is to eliminate any oil buildup and clean your scalp. But, washing it too much will remove the natural oils of your hair, which is what helps your scalp look healthy and strong. Depending on the type of hair you have, you can choose to wash it every other day to once a week.

7. Getting Extensions and Weaves

Getting extensions or weaves can break your hair and cause it to look brittle over time. The slight difference is that the damage is done at the root of the hair instead of at the tips, which makes it harder to cut out. Feeling discomfort at the roots of your hair is a sign that the extensions or weave you got done is harming your hair. 

Ingredients To Lookout For

You may buy fancy hair products that promote themselves as the best hair repair tools but, lots of famous brands include toxic and damaging chemicals in their products. Below, you’ll learn about what to look out for in the ingredients list on the next hair products you purchase.  

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde

Manufacturers usually add formaldehyde to hair cosmetics to serve as a preservative. However, formaldehyde can be absorbed through the skin and has tested out to be toxic and a human carcinogen.

Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide is a common ingredient in lots of straightening treatments to adjust pH levels. But, sodium hydroxide is damaging to your hair, especially when concentrations are at their highest. To learn more about straightening treatments, click here to read more now!

Alcohol

Alcohol is another popular ingredient found in the majority of cosmetics. It can help in some ways, such as helping your hair retain moisture. However, alcohol tends to have a drying effect on hair and can end up wreaking it. 

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Cocamidopropyl betaine is usually found in cleansing products, including shampoo and conditioner. Despite the fact it originates from coconut oil, it’s proven to cause skin irritation. If you have delicate skin or are prone to developing skin allergies, purchase hair products without this chemical.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Sulfates are added to lots of hair products to serve as cleansing or foaming agents. Even though the FDA hasn’t labeled sulfates to be “dangerous” or “harmful,” they have proven to dry out the scalp and strip out the natural moisture in your hair. 

Phthalates

Phthalates are chemicals commonly disguised as “fragrance” and are found in plenty of hair products. The purpose of these chemicals is to reduce stiffness reactions from products such as hairspray. But, phthalates have proven to interact with the endocrine hormones, which leads to hair damage. 

Parabens

Parabens are another set of chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system. Manufacturers add parabens to hair products in order to extend their shelf life. Yet, the more your skin absorbs parabens, the more damage it causes to your endocrine system, resulting in poor hair health.

Triclosan

Triclosan is a popular chemical found in hair cosmetics that serves to prevent bacterial contamination. However, this chemical is a skin irritant and is even a carcinogen. In fact, the United States decided to ban triclosan from being introduced in anti-bacterial soaps due to the potential health risks it can cause, but it’s still permitted in shampoos. 

Rethink Your Hair Treatments!

Rethink Your Hair Treatments!

Before scheduling your next hair appointment, keep this information in mind to help you prevent doing anything or applying anything that might end up damaging your hair. Research the types of natural hair treatments available, and we guarantee you’ll find one that’ll make your hair look and feel great! And, if you found this article useful and want to learn more about similar topics, be sure to explore the rest of our blog!