Shampoo with a lot of foam: why it's bad for your hair

There are at least two good reasons why foaming shampoos are the most popular among consumers. The first is the false belief that they cleanse hair better: this isn't true. Second, these products are usually heavily scented, which makes them seemingly more pleasant to the touch.

But there are also several reasons why shampoos that produce a lot of foam should be avoided. In particular:

• They contain parabens which can be harmful to hair health. In fact, these are very aggressive substances that, over time, damage the skin's hydrolipidic film, altering the hair's natural pH, depriving it of its natural protective barriers. The skin becomes oily and fragile, and dryness may appear. dandruff.
• The foam is obtained through thickeners, including sodium chloride and polyethylene glycol, two highly irritating substances that can strip hair of moisture, making it dry and brittle.
• They may also contain compounds such as diethanolamine and triethanolamine which damage the keratin in the hair and cause it to dry out.
• They clog pores and thus prevent oxygen from reaching the scalp, making hair break more easily.
• I sulfates They act as surfactants, producing a rich lather, cleansing the hair, removing oil, and performing a very effective cleansing action. However, they are also very aggressive and can compromise the health of hair and scalp: if you find them on the label of your shampoo, avoid it.
• The rich lather feels like a deep cleanse, but if it removes too much of the scalp's natural sebum, hair can become drier, more brittle, and more prone to breakage.
• Shampoos that lather heavily can leave residue that's harder to rinse out completely. This residue builds up and compromises the health of your hair, making it dull or heavy.
• Foam isn't a direct indicator of shampoo effectiveness. Sometimes, high foaming is simply a result of a product's formulation, which is rich in foaming cleansers, but it doesn't necessarily mean more effective cleansing.

Read also:

• Cowash: the natural alternative to shampoo
• Homemade shampoo and conditioner
• Vegan shampoo for hair care
• Shampoo: brands with toxic substances