Shampoo v Natural Shampoo

So what is a natural shampoo exactly ?

Shampoo,and anything that foams,is essentially a surfactant.

Whatever your hair type, avoid sodium laureth sulphate and sodium lauryl sulphate based shampoos.If you don’t have a choice, try not to rub the shampoo into your scalp. Gently massage into the hair and rinse out as quickly as you can. Ammonium laureth sulphate and ammonium lauryl sulphate based shampoos are less damaging. See sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and ammonium lauryl sulfate. They are  known skin irritants. Sodium laureth sulphate  is more easily absorbed into the skin than ammonium lauryl and ammonium laureth sulphate. We don’t recommend you use them. However, there is insufficient evidence to condemn them as carcinogenic – see  sodium lauryl sulfate cancer risk. And for an interesting analysis of dandruff shampoo ingredients see shampoo ingredients.

Out of the range of surfactant chemical based shampoos which are available, most of which are inevitably sodium laureth or sodium lauryl sulphate based, we prefer sodium lauryl and ammonium lauryl (not laureth) based shampoos which are, overall, milder.

 

shampoo v natural shampoo, woamn washing her hair in the shower, lather in her hair
Shampoo creates more lather and          suds than natural shampoo

 

Remember, ammonium laurels are milder than ammonium laureths, but it’s the other way round with sodiums as many people find sodium laureth less irritating than sodium lauryl. The ammonium lauryls and laureths claim to be plant derived surfactants. However, the materials used in the extraction and chemical formulation of these surfactants are often chemically based. We recommend you avoid these chemical hair care products altogether if you have very dry, damaged, or sensitive hair and scalp.

It’s  fine to experiment and see how your hair feels with different ingredient bases and whether you experience sensitivity and itchiness anywhere else apart from your hair and head.

 

Meaning of Carcinogenic & Detergent Shampoo

Carcinogen

Detergent

What’s the best natural shampoo ?

Rhassoul” aka “ghassoul”, is a naturally silicone rich cleansing and moisturising clay from Morocco which can be used as a natural shampoo to cleanse, and moisturise, hair and skin. It is also a natural body cleanser and a natural face wash used for drawing out impurities from the skin. It is cleansing, conditioning and moisturising all in one go ! Look out also for reetha powder, shikakai powder, and amla powder, all of which can be used to effectively and naturally cleanse hair and skin.

 

natural shampoo, Moroccan clay in a cream colour pot with bar of natural soap and flannels
no poo natural shampoo – rhassoul clay will naturally cleanse hair, body, and face and restore your skin’s natural ph
natural shampoo, picture of woman standing under a waterfall washing her hair
natural shampoo contains no chemicals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soap and Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

If you use soap to wash your hair, opt for organic cider vinegar for your final hair rinse to get the correct ph. Add  just add a dash of cider vinegar to a jug of warm shower water and rinse your hair with this after you have washed your hair with  natural soap. You can also add 25% cider vinegar to a bottle of shampoo; it won’t work as effectively as with soap, but it may  help to lessen the damage and irritation caused by surfactants.

 

natural cleansers for hair and body, photo of natural soaps alongside a bunch of white flowers and a bottle of cidar vinegar for hair rinsing
Natural Soap for hair cleansing should be followed by a cider vinegar hair rinse

 

Go easy on bubbles in your hair ! You’ll find a range of natural hair washes in our natural hair care shop They don’t lather as much as surfactant based shampoo, but they do naturally cleanse and condition your hair and will leave it feeling and looking beautiful.

 

natural hair care, photo of two young women with long brown hair lying on the ground with hair spread out around them, decorated with flowers, covering each others eyes
Embrace natural hair care, look after your hair !