You Should Avoid These Ingredients In Your Hair Products

5 hidden chemicals that are added to our every day beauty products
beauty · 3 min
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Hand holding a glass bottle with a substance
Source: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Beauty and hair health are directly related to each other. A survey done by Harvard Health Publishing showed that the average woman uses 12 beauty products a day! That’s a lot of chemicals that come in direct contact with your body, and when it comes to it, do we really pay attention to the ingredients in them?

You don’t have to be a chemist to understand what every product does to your body, but a little research goes a long way, and what’s more, you owe it to yourself. We can’t ignore the harsh chemicals that surround us every day, so once you understand what these chemicals are and how they affect your body, you can actively avoid them when selecting your beauty products. 

Here are 5 ingredients that are commonly used in your hair products and why you should avoid them:

1. Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a gas that can be found in beauty products such as body wash, shampoo, conditioner, hair gel, hair-smoothing products, and baby shampoo. The formaldehyde is either directly added to the product or it’s formed by other compounds in the product reacting with each other, and subsequently releasing the gas.

Formaldehyde is added to the products to prevent microbes from growing in water-based products, and prolong shelf life. A reason to avoid it is that it has been directly linked to cancer and skin irritation.

2. Parabens

Parabens are a group of chemicals that have been added to cosmetics in order to increase shelf life and minimize the risk of growing microbes and mold in the products. You can find it mostly in high water-based products such as shampoo and conditioner.

Parabens are hormone-altering and have been linked to numerous hormonal imbalances such as infertility, affect birth outcomes, harm the reproductive organs, and even increase the risk of cancer. 

3. Triclosan

Another antibacterial used to preserve water-based products such as shampoo and conditioner. Triclosan is linked to liver and inhalation toxicity. It’s mostly used to control bacterial odors when our cosmetics start growing mold.

4. Triethanolamine

Triethanolamine is the ingredient base used for cosmetic products. You can find it mainly in gel products in the hair industry as it’s used to adjust the pH in the ingredients, which helps turn watery substances form into a gel and strengthen the hold.

Triethanolamine has a considerable amount of alcohol in its molecules and can cause dryness to your scalp and hair. Sometimes it can also lead to thinning problems because of how it prevents the natural oils to form in your scalp. Such oils help create a healthy “environment” for your hair follicles to grow in.

5. Phthalates

Crazy enough, phthalates are some of the most used chemicals in the world. You can find them in food and beverage containers, detergents, and beauty products. More specifically, you can find them in hair products like mousses, conditioners, and hairsprays. 

Phthalates are synthetic ingredients used to soften or avoid products from drying and cracking, it helps with the spreadability of the products and it helps fragrances last longer. The constant use of this chemical has been linked to malformations and damage to the reproductive male system. 

The good news is that the big companies have no more choice but to pay attention to the consumers who demand cleaner products and transparency with the ingredients in their makes. Also, consumer awareness is the reason why we find more green products in the market, which are not only good for our health, but for the environment too.

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GratitudeMindset commented GratitudeMindset 3 years ago

Reading this made me check all my products. Time for a bathroom cleanup!

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ZoeHarris commented ZoeHarris 3 years ago

We need more research into the cumulative effects of these chemicals.

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VitalityQueen commented VitalityQueen 3 years ago

Just ordered some new natural hair products. Excited to make the switch!

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LoveYour_Life_888 commented LoveYour_Life_888 3 years ago

Great article but would love more specific product recommendations.

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Patricia-Rasmussen commented Patricia-Rasmussen 3 years ago

The shelf life thing is interesting. I'd rather have products that expire naturally.

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Chic-N-Unique commented Chic-N-Unique 3 years ago

My whole family switched to natural products after my mom got sick. Every little bit helps.

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Holistic_Heart_07 commented Holistic_Heart_07 3 years ago

This information should be more widely shared in schools and salons.

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WholeHealthJourney commented WholeHealthJourney 3 years ago

Interesting how many of these ingredients are just there for product texture and smell.

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LolaPope commented LolaPope 3 years ago

Been using natural products for 6 months and my hair is shinier than ever.

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Ella_Blossom commented Ella_Blossom 3 years ago

The cost of natural products is worth it for peace of mind.

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HealthyBody_HappySoul commented HealthyBody_HappySoul 3 years ago

Makes me wonder what other harmful ingredients we don't know about yet.

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Kristina-Barnes commented Kristina-Barnes 3 years ago

Looking forward to trying some cleaner alternatives. Any suggestions for curly hair?

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MindfulMomentsDaily commented MindfulMomentsDaily 3 years ago

Started reading labels more carefully after getting pregnant. Eye-opening experience.

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AutumnJ commented AutumnJ 3 years ago

The link between these chemicals and reproductive health is particularly alarming.

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Fearless-And_Free_2024 commented Fearless-And_Free_2024 3 years ago

Wish I'd known about this years ago. Better late than never though!

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Camila_Hughes commented Camila_Hughes 3 years ago

Still adjusting to natural products but my sensitive skin thanks me.

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Melanie_Light commented Melanie_Light 3 years ago

The transparency push from consumers is making a real difference in the industry.

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Runway-Ready commented Runway-Ready 3 years ago

Anyone else shocked by how many different names these ingredients can be listed under?

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Fiona99 commented Fiona99 3 years ago

My hair growth improved after switching to natural products. Maybe it was the triethanolamine effect.

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HealthyBodyHappySoul commented HealthyBodyHappySoul 3 years ago

I'm curious about the long-term effects of using these chemicals for decades.

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SunnySoulShine commented SunnySoulShine 3 years ago

Finding clean products used to be so hard but now there are lots of options.

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ConsciousBreathing commented ConsciousBreathing 3 years ago

The connection to hormonal health is particularly concerning for teenagers.

1
Jade_Lantern commented Jade_Lantern 3 years ago

Love that more people are becoming aware of this issue. Change starts with education.

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Victoria_Star commented Victoria_Star 3 years ago

Has anyone tried oil cleansing? I switched after reading about these chemicals.

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Lindsay-Wright commented Lindsay-Wright 3 years ago

We really need stricter regulations on beauty product ingredients.

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GroundedAndGlowing commented GroundedAndGlowing 3 years ago

Interesting how many of these are just preservatives. There must be safer alternatives.

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Fashion_Hustler commented Fashion_Hustler 3 years ago

My hair stylist recommended avoiding these ingredients years ago. Wish I'd listened sooner.

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Ella_Smith commented Ella_Smith 3 years ago

The formaldehyde gas release thing is scary. I had no idea products could form new chemicals over time.

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Mandy_Twilight commented Mandy_Twilight 3 years ago

Really appreciate articles like this that break down complex information into understandable terms.

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Naomi_Rae commented Naomi_Rae 3 years ago

My scalp was always itchy until I stopped using products with these ingredients. Such a simple fix!

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FlowStateZen commented FlowStateZen 3 years ago

I've noticed more brands offering clean alternatives lately. Consumer demand really does drive change.

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SelfLovePractice commented SelfLovePractice 3 years ago

True, but even just being more mindful when shopping makes a difference.

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Peace-And_Positivity_2024 commented Peace-And_Positivity_2024 3 years ago

Some good points but let's be realistic. Not everyone has time to make their own products.

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Soulful-Journey_88 commented Soulful-Journey_88 3 years ago

Been making my own hair masks with natural ingredients. My hair feels amazing and I know exactly what's in them.

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Giselle_ShootingStar commented Giselle_ShootingStar 3 years ago

The environmental impact of these chemicals is another huge concern we should consider.

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Fashion_Fusion commented Fashion_Fusion 3 years ago

Started reading labels after my daughter was born. Amazing how many baby products contain these ingredients.

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ToriXO commented ToriXO 3 years ago

Nobody talks about how these chemicals affect men too. Male reproductive health is important.

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Haute_Trends_2025 commented Haute_Trends_2025 3 years ago

I found switching to clean products helped my hormonal issues. The paraben information really resonates.

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Couture-Goddess commented Couture-Goddess 3 years ago

The triethanolamine info explains why my hair was so dry when using certain gels!

1
OOTD_Chronicles commented OOTD_Chronicles 3 years ago

Knowledge is power though. Better to know and make informed choices than remain ignorant.

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Carla_Lavish commented Carla_Lavish 3 years ago

Does anyone else feel overwhelmed by all the ingredient checking we need to do now?

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FaithPeterson commented FaithPeterson 3 years ago

I've started using a natural shampoo bar and it works great! No plastic waste either.

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Celeste_Flare commented Celeste_Flare 3 years ago

The Harvard study about 12 beauty products daily really puts things in perspective. That's a lot of chemical exposure.

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Holistic_Harmony_111 commented Holistic_Harmony_111 3 years ago

Yes, but the lather is just from harsh sulfates. Your hair doesn't need it to get clean.

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HarmonicHappiness commented HarmonicHappiness 4 years ago

Anyone else noticed how products without these chemicals don't lather as much? Took me a while to get used to that.

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Nova_Sunset commented Nova_Sunset 4 years ago

I wish companies would focus more on safety than shelf life. Our health should come before their profits.

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Earth-Friendly_Mindset commented Earth-Friendly_Mindset 4 years ago

My mom has been making her own hair products for years. Maybe she was onto something all along!

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Style_Horizon commented Style_Horizon 4 years ago

The bit about phthalates being in food containers too is concerning. Makes me think twice about plastic usage.

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Classy-Fit commented Classy-Fit 4 years ago

Fair point about allergies, but at least natural ingredients aren't linked to cancer and hormone disruption.

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Vitality_Queen_42 commented Vitality_Queen_42 4 years ago

I actually disagree about natural products being better. Many natural ingredients can cause allergic reactions too.

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Limitless-Potential_101 commented Limitless-Potential_101 4 years ago

Just checked my shampoo bottle and found three of these ingredients! Definitely replacing it this weekend.

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Designer_Era commented Designer_Era 4 years ago

What surprises me most is how these chemicals are still allowed in products despite known health risks.

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PositivityPath commented PositivityPath 4 years ago

Interesting how triclosan is meant to prevent bacterial growth but can cause other health issues. Seems counterproductive.

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VenusJ commented VenusJ 4 years ago

The cost is higher upfront but I find I use less product overall with natural alternatives. It evens out in the long run.

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Amelie_Flutter commented Amelie_Flutter 4 years ago

This article makes some good points but natural products can be so expensive. Not everyone can afford to make the switch.

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SelfCareHaven commented SelfCareHaven 4 years ago

Try looking for products with plant-based preservatives instead. I've had great results with aloe vera based shampoos.

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TheFashion_Fix commented TheFashion_Fix 4 years ago

Anyone have recommendations for good natural hair care brands? I want to make the switch but feeling overwhelmed by options.

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EverleighJ commented EverleighJ 4 years ago

My hairdresser warned me about parabens last year. Since switching to paraben-free products my scalp irritation has completely cleared up.

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Ellie commented Ellie 4 years ago

The formaldehyde part really scared me. I can't believe they put that in baby shampoo of all things!

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Evelyn_7 commented Evelyn_7 4 years ago

Been using natural hair care products for a year now and my hair has never been healthier. The switch was totally worth it.

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ClaraMoon commented ClaraMoon 4 years ago

Makes me wonder what other everyday products we use without knowing the risks. I've started checking ingredients more carefully lately.

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Bridget-Chambers commented Bridget-Chambers 4 years ago

I never realized how many harmful chemicals were in my regular hair products until reading this. Time to clean out my bathroom cabinet!

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