Displaying items by tag: Hair damage

Can Dry Shampooing Cause Hair Loss?

Many individuals look at dry shampoo as a godsend. Literally, all you have to do is shower a few sprays over your hair, fluff it a bit, and the fine powder contained in the spray absorbs the excess oil in your hair and refreshes it almost immediately.

With its ease of use and effective “cleansing” power, it’s no wonder that this convenience product has been making a vast comeback in recent years. But, is there a downside to this seeming “wonder product”? 

According to recent research and the shared experience of several individuals, it’s possible that dry shampoo isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, some individuals are even experiencing hair loss that may be related to dry shampoo use.

As early as last April, doctors and dry shampoo users alike began spreading word that the product may be the cause of hair and scalp issues. One user in particular Nicole Baxter of Belfast shared a post on Facebook warning her friends that regular use of a popular brand of dry shampoo had led to her own hair loss, giving her a bald patch and developing a sore, itchy, flaky scalp. News traveled fast, and the post was shared more than 30,000 times. According to the post, the young woman’s doctor suggested that the dry shampoo she had been using regularly was to blame for her hair and scalp concerns. 

The use of powder to “clean” the hair is no new concept. The Victorians used arrowroot to sprinkle on their hair and absorb grease. Likewise, powders such as cornstarch and even ground oatmeal have been used in the past. Today, dry shampoos are composed of ingredients such tapioca starch, powdered rice protein, and even clay. Each of which is dispensed the form of an aerosol.

The real issue, though, is that dry shampoo is really not shampoo at all. While shampoo is in the name of the product, it’s really a misnomer. Typical shampoos clean the scalp and hair with detergent-like ingredients, effectively breaking down and removing dirt. Dry shampoo doesn’t actually cleanse the scalp or hair at all. All that dry shampoo does is absorb the oil on the scalp so that the hair looks and feels fresher.

With that effect, dry shampoo does not clean the hair or scalp and is really just a cosmetic product that needs washed out regularly. If it isn’t, then it can cause issues such as blocked pores, skin irritation, and scaling. The product can even lead to seborrheic dermatitis, involving such issues as red, flaky, itch, inflamed skin and even hair loss.

So, is dry shampoo safe to use? It is when used for its intended purpose – buying your hairstyle an extra day. But, it’s really not a safe alternative for regular hair washing and shouldn’t be used as one.

It's common knowledge that sunscreen is important for protecting the skin against sun damage, especially in summer. However, most people don't think about the sun's effect on the hair and scalp. Although not as severe as damage to the skin, the sun's rays can have a huge impact on your hair's health.

Your hair is made of dead cells, so it doesn't need SPF like your skin does, but the sun does cause damage and distress to the hair by drying it out, fading the color, and accelerating hair loss. Hair can also be damaged by wind, chlorination from pools, and salt water from the ocean. Dyed hair will usually have the most visible damage and fading, but even uncolored hair can suffer from serious sun damage.

Sunscreen for your skin isn't effective in preventing damage to hair. It would be difficult or impossible to thoroughly cover your hair in normal sunscreen, and your hair would feel extremely oily. Fortunately, there are a variety of sunscreens available that are specifically made for hair. These sunscreens prevent moisture loss and bleaching from the sun. Some come in a spray form that you can spray on your hair right before you're exposed to the sun, and others are similar to conditioners or hair masks that you treat your hair with once or twice a week.

In addition to hair damage, many people also forget that the sun can harm the scalp. Although most of the scalp is covered with hair, the exposed areas, like the hair part, can be severely burned and even develop melanoma. This can be especially harmful for people who have hair loss, as more of the scalp is exposed to the sun. You could apply sunscreen for skin onto the exposed areas of your scalp, but it could be difficult to thoroughly apply it without getting sunscreen all over the roots of your hair. Your best option to protect your scalp is just to wear a hat in the sun. It will cover your entire scalp and completely prevent sun damage.

It's great to enjoy time outside during the warmer months of the year, but protecting your hair and skin should always be a priority. Even spending just a few minutes in the bright sun can damage your hair. Next time you're planning on going out in the sun, consider using hair sunscreen or a hat for protection.

What is a Keratin treatment and how does it work?

For a few years now, Keratin treatments have been all the rage with frizzy-haired people who want to smooth out their locks. These treatments go by a multitude of different brand names, but many of them work in the same manner. A stylist will apply the Keratin mixture, blow dry the hair, and then straighten it with a flat iron. The heat from the flat iron activates the formula, and then the hair stylist usually washes the treatment out and then blow-dries the hair once again.

Voila! You now have beautiful, shiny, silky, straight hair.

Well, that's the way it's supposed to be, anyway. Unfortunately, the results aren't always what we expect. Some women will step out into the rain after a Keratin treatment, only to discover that their hair has gone frizzy all over again. Other people will be dismayed when they experience breakage months after getting a Keratin treatment. The important thing to remember is that, as trendy and convenient as this hair treatment can be, it's still a chemical process. And chemicals can be pretty damaging to your mane, no matter how "natural" or "organic" they claim to be. One possible outcome is that the treatment can bind to the hair and weigh it down, causing some initial breakage very soon after the treatment. But this is far from the worst result that someone can experience.

There's a surprisingly low amount of oversight when it comes to regulating some of these products. When studies have been done on Keratin treatment ingredients, some scary findings have been made. In fact, some of the most popular treatments were shown to contain dangerous levels of formaldehyde and other toxic chemicals. Many Keratin treatment customers began to wonder if the risks outweighed the benefits, and some stylists stopped making the treatments a part of their repertoire because they were concerned about toxic fumes rising up while they flat ironed their clients' hair.

News of the risks of Keratin treatments began to reach many clients, some of whom chose to do stop doing the treatments altogether. Others chose to stick with the Keratin treatments but made sure that the formulas being used on their hair were safe. It's still a personal choice for many Keratin customers and stylists, but at least everyone is now much more informed than when the Keratin craze first hit.