BY JAN AGATON
You may or may not have heard, but people have attempted washing their hair with dish soap as a solution for removing grease buildup or unwanted dyes. While dish soap does work as an oil absorbent, it strips your hair completely of natural oils, and it does significantly more harm than good, not only for your hair but for your overall health as well.
There are numerous ingredients in dish soaps that are detrimental to your health, and some have even been banned by the FDA yet still appear in certain products. Just think about it. If an excessive amount of dish soap dries out your hands within minutes, imagine its effects on your delicate scalp and hair!
Here are just a few of many harmful chemicals found in dish soaps and how they could negatively affect you in the long run:
- Fragrance
Manufacturers are not required to disclose ingredients of fragrances included in products, so there’s no way to see a breakdown of the potentially destructive chemicals you’d be inhaling. Fragrances therefore often cause allergic reactions. They also contain chemical compounds called phthalates, which can alter estrogen and testosterone levels.
- Methylisothiazolinone
In addition to causing allergic reactions such as contact dermatitis, this chemical has also been found to be neurotoxic, as well as being hazardous to aquatic ecosystems, so there are negative effects even after it has gone down the drain.
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS)
This is a common ingredient in cleaning products, as it is effective for cutting through dirt and grease by creating a bubbly foam. There’s also a by-product of SLS called 1 4-dioxane, which contaminates groundwater. SLS causes skin irritation, organ toxicity, neurotoxicity, etc.
- Formaldehyde
The most well-known use for formaldehyde is to embalm/preserve dead bodies; it also contributes to the production of building materials, insulation, and fertilizers. Breathing it in or touching its liquid form can cause cancer, nausea, and burning in the eyes, nose, and throat, as the chemical quickly acts on blood and body tissues.
- Benzisothiazolinone
This is a chemical utilized for killing fungus on roofs/buildings and preserving paint. It’s toxic to the immune system and can cause allergies or lead to cancer.
Again, this list is only a fraction of horrible dish soap ingredients. Your dish soap may be advertised as being able to “get rid of tough grease,” but please note that is NOT referring to the grease in your hair!
Healthier natural alternatives for eliminating greasy hair:
- Lemon juice
- Apple cider vinegar
- Baking soda
- Black tea
- Aloe vera
You can also try our very own Loyal Leah DIY Clay Hair + Face Mask, which contains all-natural, plant-based ingredients to detox your hair, scalp and skin. It effectively detoxifies all hair and skin types!
