Shampoo Tips for Allergies & Sensitive Scalp

Hello Everyone,

Do you have any allergies or sensitivities? If so, then you know the struggle of finding beauty and hair care products that fit your unique set of needs. Even if you have excessively dry skin, and no allergies at all, then finding a safe shampoo can be a struggle. If you have ever suffered from dry and sensitive skin, you may already know that using the wrong shampoo can irritate your scalp further, leaving you with a flaky and itchy scalp. And unfortunately anti-dandruff shampoo isn’t always a quick and easy fix.

Here’s what to look for in a shampoo to make sure it’s compatible with any allergies or sensitivities you may have.

Hypoallergenic shampoo

When you’re shopping for a new shampoo, there’s one specific word you should keep an eye out for: hypoallergenic. Hypoallergenic means that the product in questions causes fewer allergic reactions than other ones; it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s allergy-proof, as all allergies have different stipulations. Unfortunately, it is near impossible to guarantee that a product will cause zero allergic reactions.

Regardless, starting your search with hypoallergenic, or allergy free shampoo, and then take a look at the specific ingredients.

Look at the ingredients

Once you have a narrower scope of shampoos to choose from, it’s time to take a magnifying glass to the ingredient list on the back. Here are some of the main ingredients to keep an eye out for and stay away from at all costs.

Sodium Chloride:

Sodium Chloride is essentially just salt. Many manufacturers add sodium chloride to shampoos to make the consistency thicker, but it carries the negative effect of making sensitive scalps dry and itchy, which will irritate those who already have dry skin even further.

Alcohol:

Alcohol is a very common ingredient in shampoo and many other cleaning products. On the whole, most alcohols have a drying effect, and the higher up in the ingredient list it appears, the more of it the product contains. The worst kind of alcohol to use on hair (and on the skin) usually contain a “prop” in their name, like Isopropyl alcohol or propanol.

Any synthetic fragrances:

Products that have “fragrance” on their label contain thousands of hidden chemicals that can be harmful to your hair health, as well the the health of your body.

Fragrances are typically irritating to the skin and scalp, which can lead to hair loss. According to the Environmental Working Group, 75 percent of products that list “fragrance” among their ingredients contains phthalates. This too, is an ingredient that illegal in many countries, including Canada, the EU and parts of Asia – but not in the U.S.

Silicone (Dimethicone):

Dimethicone is basically plastic that is used in a ton of hair products and contributes to product buildup that makes your hair feel greasy, and weigh it down. Due to the texture, it lies like a protecting cover on the surface of the hair, which stops moisture and nutrients from coming in and can clog pores. Try to stay away from silicone in general is you have scalp sensitivity or allergy issues.