Finding The Right Shampoo and Conditioner When You Have Allergies

  There are a lot of options out there for shampoo and conditioners everything from the drugstore brands to the higher end hair salon brands.
But this can be an extremely frustrating search if you are allergic or sensitive to several main ingredients such as fragrance, alcohol, sulfates, and parabens.


Commercially made shampoo has only been around since the turn of the 20th century.  It was designed to remove product buildup, dirt, oil, skin particles, and environmental pollution from the scalp and hair.
(Despite popular belief a good shampoo does not need to lather, the lather is a chemical added solely for that purpose.)

A conditioner on the other hand should provide a specific purpose depending on your need.
It can help with frizz and smoothing out the cuticle, restore moisture and manageability, or help prevent tangles.

What ingredients should we try to avoid and what are the most common ingredients that irritant skin?                        This site provides information and a good list:
93 (and counting) common shampoo ingredients they know cause contact dermatitis


A very helpful Nova Scotia site that provides a list of ingredients in specific products such as hair care, cosmetics, skincare, etc... .  They also have a significant list of recommend products to use that I found incredibly helpfull.        Guide to less Toxic Products

Some of the more well known and likelier easier to find gentler shampoo and conditioners include the below.  All of which you can find on "The Guide to Less Toxic Products" from the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia.

Green Beaver
Aubrey Organics
Burts Bees
Avalon Organics
Kiss My Face
Nature Clean
Alba Botanica

If you can't find any products you can use there are other options you can make on your own.
With ingredients such as baking soda, yogurt, bananas, eggs, aloe vera, and buttermilk there are many options available.
Depending on your allergies, sensitivities and hair type you can find the right ingredients that will work for you.

For hair care recipes and ideas check out my Pinterest board,
Hair care.