A Guide to Good and Bad Alcohols in Hair Products
Posted on 11th March 2022 at 15:46
For many people, owning a new hair system gives them a new lease of life.
Hair loss can be devastating, which is why getting your first system is such a powerful feeling. Because of this, looking after your system and ensuring that it stays in the best condition for as long as possible is vital.
While products for natural hair can vary in terms of ingredients, we need to be more careful about what we use on a hair system. Since the hair in your system is not being nourished by sebum (natural oil) from your scalp, it’s naturally prone to dryness.
For this reason, it’s important to stay away from hair products that contain certain alcohols in the ingredients, because they will further dry out the hair in your system.
However, not all alcohols are created equal, and just like knowing that Grey Goose is always going to be superior to a supermarket’s own vodka, it’s important to know which alcohols are okay to use on your system and which are going to affect the quality of your system over time.
Let’s start with the Acceptable Alcohols
If you pick up any products and see the following alcohols listed in the ingredients, then you’re going to be okay: Lauryl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol and propylene glycol.
These are all alcohols which are commonly found in hair products and some can even help smooth and condition the hair. While we’d suggest using products with as many natural ingredients as possible, these are not likely to damage your system, cause dullness to the hair or result in any shedding.
Alcohols to Avoid
If you spot any of the following alcohols in the products you’re perusing, then we’d strongly advise you to steer clear: Ethanol, SD alcohol, SD alcohol 40, alcohol denat., propanol, propyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol.
These alcohols are harsh chemicals which, over time, will damage the hair in your system, weaken any bonds and glues used to create your system and drastically reduce the quality and appearance of the hair.
Familiarising yourself with the list of alcohols which are on the naughty list is going to help you to extend the life of your system as far as possible, by using suitable products for proper care.
If you’re not keen on inspecting the back of every hair care product in the supermarket, we suggest doing some online reconnaissance before you head out to buy so that you can take a look at the ingredients of your products well in advance, or even just sticking to buying online in the comfort of your own home.
For more information on how to care for your hair system, or if you’ve got any questions about whether a hair system is right for you, we’re here to help so get in touch today.
Call KA Hair Solutions on 01 555 2903 today to start discussing your options.
Tagged as: Hair system aftercare
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