Buying a new shampoo can be hard. Does it work? Does it smell good? Is it ethically sourced and packaged? Will it slowly poison me and/or the environment?
Buying a new shampoo can be hard. Does it work? Does it smell good? Is it ethically sourced and packaged? Will it slowly poison me and/or the environment?
The last question can be the hardest to answer. Here’s how you’ll really know that the product is safe for you and the environment: look at the ingredients. For example, our shampoo has the following ingredients: Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride...Are you sleeping?
The last question can be the hardest to answer. Here’s how you’ll really know that the product is safe for you and the environment: look at the ingredients. For example, our shampoo has the following ingredients: Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride...Are you sleeping?
If you’re bored AND overwhelmed, we get it. You almost need a chemistry degree to understand what’s in a product; and who has great memories of their chemistry class? (Not me…ok, maybe me. Yay, science!) To help you decipher the ingredients, here’s a quick list of ingredients to potentially avoid in a shampoo:
- Sulfates
- Parabens
- Polyethylene glycol
- Formaldehyde
- Fragrance
- Ethanolamine Compounds
If you’re bored AND overwhelmed, we get it. You almost need a chemistry degree to understand what’s in a product; and who has great memories of their chemistry class? (Not me…ok, maybe me. Yay, science!) To help you decipher the ingredients, here’s a quick list of ingredients to potentially avoid in a shampoo:
- Sulfates
- Parabens
- Polyethylene glycol
- Formaldehyde
- Fragrance
- Ethanolamine Compounds
Buying a new shampoo can be hard. Does it work? Does it smell good? Is it ethically sourced and packaged? Will it slowly poison me and/or the environment?
The last question can be the hardest to answer. Here’s how you’ll really know that the product is safe for you and the environment: look at the ingredients. For example, our shampoo has the following ingredients: Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride...Are you sleeping?
If you’re bored AND overwhelmed, we get it. You almost need a chemistry degree to understand what’s in a product; and who has great memories of their chemistry class? (Not me…ok, maybe me. Yay, science!) To help you decipher the ingredients, here’s a quick list of ingredients to potentially avoid in a shampoo:
- Sulfates
- Parabens
- Polyethylene Glycol
- Formaldehyde
- Fragrance
- Ethanolamine Compounds
The big ones: Sulfates and Parabens
Sulfates: You’ve probably heard of this one. It’s first on most people’s list of ingredients to avoid. But, they’re not all bad. Sulfates are detergents and they’re what make shampoos sudsy and foamy. Through a chemical reaction (science), they attach to the sebum (oil and dirt) on the scalp. Then, when you rinse your hair, sulfates take the sebum with them. This leaves you with clean or sebum-free hair. The downside is that sulfates can also strip natural oils that you need from the scalp and hair; this can make the scalp irritated, red, and dry and your hair brittle, frizzy, and dry. Sulfates can also strip color from color-treated hair meaning that your trips to the salon will need to happen more often.
The big ones: Sulfates and Parabens
Sulfates: You’ve probably heard of this one. It’s first on most people’s list of ingredients to avoid. But, they’re not all bad. Sulfates are detergents and they’re what make shampoos sudsy and foamy. Through a chemical reaction (science), they attach to the sebum (oil and dirt) on the scalp. Then, when you rinse your hair, sulfates take the sebum with them. This leaves you with clean or sebum-free hair. The downside is that sulfates can also strip natural oils that you need from the scalp and hair; this can make the scalp irritated, red, and dry and your hair brittle, frizzy, and dry. Sulfates can also strip color from color-treated hair meaning that your trips to the salon will need to happen more often.
To avoid or reduce these potential side effects, you should look to use milder sulfates or skip them altogether. To help, in order from the strongest to mildest, these are the most commonly used sulfates: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate.
A disclaimer about SLES: Although it is a milder sulfate, the manufacturing process may introduce a carcinogenic byproduct 1,4-dioxane. Because it is not expressly added to the formulation, and produced as a result of ethoxylation, companies are not required to list 1,4-dioxane. For that reason, we suggest skipping Sodium Laureth Sulfate or SLES.
Yas Alpaca’s primary cleaning ingredient is Sodium Coco-Sulfate, an even milder sulfate, to help you get that fancy foamy shampoo experience without damaging your hair and scalp. More on this here.
To avoid or reduce these potential side effects, you should look to use milder sulfates or skip them altogether. To help, in order from the strongest to mildest, these are the most commonly used sulfates: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate.
A disclaimer about SLES: Although it is a milder sulfate, the manufacturing process may introduce a carcinogenic byproduct 1,4-dioxane. Because it is not expressly added to the formulation, and produced as a result of ethoxylation, companies are not required to list 1,4-dioxane. For that reason, we suggest skipping Sodium Laureth Sulfate or SLES.
Yas Alpaca’s primary cleaning ingredient is Sodium Coco-Sulfate, an even milder sulfate, to help you get that fancy foamy shampoo experience without damaging your hair and scalp. More on this here.
Parabens: Parabens are another ingredient you’ve probably heard of and, like sulfates, they are often misrepresented. Because they prevent the growth of yeast, mold, and, to a lesser extent, bacteria, parabens are widely used in cosmetics, food, and medicine. There are concerns regarding paraben activity, xenoestrogenicity (that parabens would mimic estrogen), and toxicity; but these concerns are supported only in the lab and are not yet confirmed in real-life humans bebopping around. For example, there are tons of studies that find parabens in human tissues, including a particularly scary one that found parabens in breast cancer tissue, but there is no conclusive evidence of toxicity or any causal relationship with any known illness. Translation: parabens won’t poison you or give you cancer.
Parabens: Parabens are another ingredient you’ve probably heard of and, like sulfates, they are often misrepresented. Because they prevent the growth of yeast, mold, and, to a lesser extent, bacteria, parabens are widely used in cosmetics, food, and medicine. There are concerns regarding paraben activity, xenoestrogenicity (that parabens would mimic estrogen), and toxicity; but these concerns are supported only in the lab and are not yet confirmed in real-life humans bebopping around. For example, there are tons of studies that find parabens in human tissues, including a particularly scary one that found parabens in breast cancer tissue, but there is no conclusive evidence of toxicity or any causal relationship with any known illness. Translation: parabens won’t poison you or give you cancer.
A disclaimer: Because the use is so widespread, their concentrations are accumulating in human tissues and in water sources worldwide. The impact of higher concentrations of paraben in the body and in water sources are still unknown, but paper after paper suggests that more research is needed.
We say: Stay informed. Take a look at the products you’re using. More products with parabens mean more potential for higher concentration in the body and no one knows yet what that means. With Yas Alpaca Shampoo Bar, you’ll have one less product to worry about; we’re paraben-free and proud.
A disclaimer: Because the use is so widespread, their concentrations are accumulating in human tissues and in water sources worldwide. The impact of higher concentrations of paraben in the body and in water sources are still unknown, but paper after paper suggests that more research is needed.
We say: Stay informed. Take a look at the products you’re using. More products with parabens mean more potential for higher concentration in the body and no one knows yet what that means. With Yas Alpaca Shampoo Bar, you’ll have one less product to worry about; we’re paraben-free and proud.
Thickening Agent: Polyethylene Glycol
Polyethylene Glycol: Here’s another ingredient with many variations; you’ll see it in an ingredients list as polyethylene glycol, PEG, polyethylene, or polyoxyethylene. PEG is a thickening agent derived from petroleum. There has not been sufficient research done to conclude that PEGs themselves are toxic as shampoo ingredients, but impurities introduced in the production process can be harmful.
Thickening Agent: Polyethylene Glycol
Polyethylene Glycol: Here’s another ingredient with many variations; you’ll see it in an ingredients list as polyethylene glycol, PEG, polyethylene, or polyoxyethylene. PEG is a thickening agent derived from petroleum. There has not been sufficient research done to conclude that PEGs themselves are toxic as shampoo ingredients, but impurities introduced in the production process can be harmful.
The Fs: Formaldehyde and Fragrance
The Fs: Formaldehyde and Fragrance
Formaldehyde: Used as a stabilizer—think preservation of cadavers—formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers can also be found in many shampoos. Yep, you read that right. Formaldehyde can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. High levels of exposure may cause some types of cancers.
While inhaling formaldehyde (in the gas form) presents the biggest risk and not many of us are ingesting our shampoos, some percentage of product applied to the skin (and scalp) is absorbed into the body. Luckily, regulatory bodies have put limits on the amount of formaldehyde allowable in products; but, again, caution is suggested.
Formaldehyde: Used as a stabilizer—think preservation of cadavers—formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers can also be found in many shampoos. Yep, you read that right. Formaldehyde can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. High levels of exposure may cause some types of cancers.
While inhaling formaldehyde (in the gas form) presents the biggest risk and not many of us are ingesting our shampoos, some percentage of product applied to the skin (and scalp) is absorbed into the body. Luckily, regulatory bodies have put limits on the amount of formaldehyde allowable in products; but, again, caution is suggested.
If you’d rather go formaldehyde-free, check labels for the following, which contain and/or release formaldehyde: DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15, bronopol, 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane, and hydroxymethylglycinate.
If you’d rather go formaldehyde-free, check labels for the following, which contain and/or release formaldehyde: DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15, bronopol, 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane, and hydroxymethylglycinate.
Fragrance: Yep, fragrance is an ingredient. It’s also an ingredient of Yas Alpaca’s Shampoo Bars. But fragrance can mean anything! You don’t know what exactly was used to give the product its aroma. That means brands can hide sneaky, questionable ingredients under the guise of fragrance. Flowers are as sneaky as we get; that’s why we use an asterisk to tell you that our fragrance is from natural origin. If a product doesn’t give you any more information, we would recommend choosing something else.
Fragrance: Yep, fragrance is an ingredient. It’s also an ingredient of Yas Alpaca’s Shampoo Bars. But fragrance can mean anything! You don’t know what exactly was used to give the product its aroma. That means brands can hide sneaky, questionable ingredients under the guise of fragrance. Flowers are as sneaky as we get; that’s why we use an asterisk to tell you that our fragrance is from natural origin. If a product doesn’t give you any more information, we would recommend choosing something else.
Ethanolamine compounds:
DEA, MEA, TEA, and others: Added to shampoos to make them even more foamy and sudsy, ethanolamine compounds are less frequently used to date. This is largely because a study in 1998 found a link between the topical application of DEA and cancer in animals though the effects on humans are unclear. The European Commission has banned DEA in cosmetics, but products produced in the US can still have DEA.
Ethanolamine compounds:
DEA, MEA, TEA, and others: Added to shampoos to make them even more foamy and sudsy, ethanolamine compounds are less frequently used to date. This is largely because a study in 1998 found a link between the topical application of DEA and cancer in animals though the effects on humans are unclear. The European Commission has banned DEA in cosmetics, but products produced in the US can still have DEA.
We know it’s hard out there…
We only covered six ingredients and for every product (and certainly every shampoo), there are way more than that. Yas Alpaca Shampoo Bars have 22 ingredients, for example. We can’t speak for other products or brands, but our promise to you is transparency and a commitment to use only natural and non-toxic ingredients. That way, every time you reach for a bar of our shampoo, you can focus on its great smell and cleaning power and not on the potential harm to you or the environment. Great hair without great risk. Oh YAS, Alpaca.
We know it’s hard out there…
We only covered six ingredients and for every product (and certainly every shampoo), there are way more than that. Yas Alpaca Shampoo Bars have 22 ingredients, for example. We can’t speak for other products or brands, but our promise to you is transparency and a commitment to use only natural and non-toxic ingredients. That way, every time you reach for a bar of our shampoo, you can focus on its great smell and cleaning power and not on the potential harm to you or the environment. Great hair without great risk. Oh YAS, Alpaca.
The big ones: Sulfates and Parabens
Sulfates: You’ve probably heard of this one. It’s first on most people’s list of ingredients to avoid. But, they’re not all bad. Sulfates are detergents and they’re what make shampoos sudsy and foamy. Through a chemical reaction (science), they attach to the sebum (oil and dirt) on the scalp. Then, when you rinse your hair, sulfates take the sebum with them. This leaves you with clean or sebum-free hair. The downside is that sulfates can also strip natural oils that you need from the scalp and hair; this can make the scalp irritated, red, and dry and your hair brittle, frizzy, and dry. Sulfates can also strip color from color-treated hair meaning that your trips to the salon will need to happen more often.
To avoid or reduce these potential side effects, you should look to use milder sulfates or skip them altogether. To help, in order from the strongest to mildest, these are the most commonly used sulfates: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate.
A disclaimer about SLES: Although it is a milder sulfate, the manufacturing process may introduce a carcinogenic byproduct 1,4-dioxane. Because it is not expressly added to the formulation, and produced as a result of ethoxylation, companies are not required to list 1,4-dioxane. For that reason, we suggest skipping Sodium Laureth Sulfate or SLES.
Yas Alpaca’s primary cleaning ingredient is Sodium Coco-Sulfate, an even milder sulfate, to help you get that fancy foamy shampoo experience without damaging your hair and scalp. More on this here.
Parabens: Parabens are another ingredient you’ve probably heard of and, like sulfates, they are often misrepresented. Because they prevent the growth of yeast, mold, and, to a lesser extent, bacteria, parabens are widely used in cosmetics, food, and medicine. There are concerns regarding paraben activity, xenoestrogenicity (that parabens would mimic estrogen), and toxicity; but these concerns are supported only in the lab and are not yet confirmed in real-life humans bebopping around. For example, there are tons of studies that find parabens in human tissues, including a particularly scary one that found parabens in breast cancer tissue, but there is no conclusive evidence of toxicity or any causal relationship with any known illness. Translation: parabens won’t poison you or give you cancer.
A disclaimer: Because the use is so widespread, their concentrations are accumulating in human tissues and in water sources worldwide. The impact of higher concentrations of paraben in the body and in water sources are still unknown, but paper after paper suggests that more research is needed.
We say: Stay informed. Take a look at the products you’re using. More products with parabens mean more potential for higher concentration in the body and no one knows yet what that means. With Yas Alpaca Shampoo Bar, you’ll have one less product to worry about; we’re paraben-free and proud.
Thickening Agent: Polyethylene Glycol
Polyethylene Glycol: Here’s another ingredient with many variations; you’ll see it in an ingredients list as polyethylene glycol, PEG, polyethylene, or polyoxyethylene. PEG is a thickening agent derived from petroleum. There has not been sufficient research done to conclude that PEGs themselves are toxic as shampoo ingredients, but impurities introduced in the production process can be harmful.
The Fs: Formaldehyde and Fragrance
Formaldehyde: Used as a stabilizer—think preservation of cadavers—formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers can also be found in many shampoos. Yep, you read that right. Formaldehyde can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. High levels of exposure may cause some types of cancers.
While inhaling formaldehyde (in the gas form) presents the biggest risk and not many of us are ingesting our shampoos, some percentage of product applied to the skin (and scalp) is absorbed into the body. Luckily, regulatory bodies have put limits on the amount of formaldehyde allowable in products; but, again, caution is suggested.
If you’d rather go formaldehyde-free, check labels for the following, which contain and/or release formaldehyde: DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15, bronopol, 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane, and hydroxymethylglycinate.
Fragrance: Yep, fragrance is an ingredient. It’s also an ingredient of Yas Alpaca’s Shampoo Bars. But fragrance can mean anything! You don’t know what exactly was used to give the product its aroma. That means brands can hide sneaky, questionable ingredients under the guise of fragrance. Flowers are as sneaky as we get; that’s why we use an asterisk to tell you that our fragrance is from natural origin. If a product doesn’t give you any more information, we would recommend choosing something else.
Ethanolamine compounds:
DEA, MEA, TEA, and others: Added to shampoos to make them even more foamy and sudsy, ethanolamine compounds are less frequently used to date. This is largely because a study in 1998 found a link between the topical application of DEA and cancer in animals though the effects on humans are unclear. The European Commission has banned DEA in cosmetics, but products produced in the US can still have DEA.
We know it’s hard out there…
We only covered six ingredients and for every product (and certainly every shampoo), there are way more than that. Yas Alpaca Shampoo Bars have 22 ingredients, for example. We can’t speak for other products or brands, but our promise to you is transparency and a commitment to use only natural and non-toxic ingredients. That way, every time you reach for a bar of our shampoo, you can focus on its great smell and cleaning power and not on the potential harm to you or the environment. Great hair without great risk. Oh YAS, Alpaca.