Understanding and treating shampoo allergy

Certain substances contained in our everyday products, especially in beauty products, can cause unwanted allergic reactions. This is often the case, for example, with shampoos, which contain many components that it is preferable to avoid by choosing a shampoo without allergens. How can you recognize a shampoo allergy and how can you prevent it? Follow the guide, we explain everything.

Shampoo allergy: where does it come from?

Your scalp has been itching for a few days and your skin feels tight. You start looking for what might be causing this discomfort, and suddenly, it hits you. You have just tested a new shampoo, the one that caught your eye in the shop window with its pretty packaging. Could it be the cause of your allergic reaction? It is very possible. In fact, all cosmetic products contain allergenic components such as fragrance, preservatives or excipients, and even irritating detergents that can, depending on the person, cause allergies. Be careful also with so-called “organic” products, some are not really so and can cause an organic shampoo allergy.

A shampoo is mostly composed of water to which a whole list of ingredients is added, including very irritating substances for the scalp. Among them, we can mention sodium lauryl sulfate and its derivatives, which attack the hair and make it permeable to certain diseases and allergies. The skin loses hydration and therefore has to produce twice as much sebum to compensate. Some shampoos, such as anti-dandruff shampoos, are very aggressive for the scalp. They strip it instead of cleaning it, which, let us remember, is the only function of a shampoo. You treat your scalp with treatments and oils, not with shampoo!

Allergic symptoms can vary from one person to another. They can range from simple itching to redness, including burning sensations. They may appear immediately or several days after contact with the substance. Fortunately, there are several solutions to avoid suffering from a shampoo allergy, especially choosing a shampoo without allergens.

Our advice to prevent shampoo allergy

Hypoallergenic organic shampoo, paraben-free, allergen-free… Labels are often numerous on shampoo bottles, but difficult to decipher. You don’t know what to rely on or how to choose your hair product, yet there are a few steps to take to avoid ending up with an allergy.
First of all, we advise you to opt for the most natural shampoo possible. Our Hairborist allergen-free organic shampoos are, for example, composed of cleansing bases derived from sugars, soap nuts, amino acids and plants. Plant-based, nothing but plant-based to avoid attacking your sensitive scalp.

You can also learn about the components to avoid in your shampoo and look for them on cosmetic labels. One of the first substances to ban is silicone, which prevents proper oxygenation of the hair follicle. As mentioned above, sodium lauryl sulfate should also be avoided to reduce the risk of shampoo allergy. You should then pay attention to synthetic fragrances, preservatives, thickeners and opacifiers… Lost already? Don’t panic, the website La vérité sur les cosmétiques offers an “INCI Search” tab that allows you to find information about a specific cosmetic ingredient. This international nomenclature of cosmetic ingredients is very useful for separating healthy ingredients from those to ban.

An anti-allergic shampoo, does it exist?

The more natural shampoo you choose, the lower the risk of shampoo allergy. Our Hairborist shampoo range offers five different shampoos, all natural and organic with active plant ingredients to wash your hair gently, without attacking the scalp. Nevertheless, one shampoo stands out because it has been specially designed for people who are hypersensitive and allergy-prone: Sensity. In this shampoo, there is no fragrance or essential oils, components that often cause allergic reactions. This cleansing base is as neutral as possible, developed from a vegetable soap nut, to allow you to wash your hair without risk.

To care for your sensitive scalp, you can follow the Hairborist care protocol by combining your allergen-free organic shampoo with a pre-shampoo treatment, followed by a detangling balm after shampooing. The pre-shampoo treatment step is essential. This is when you apply a specific treatment to treat your scalp, thanks to a bath of vegetable and essential oils carefully combined.

Can I dye my hair even if I have an allergy?

If you suffer from a shampoo allergy, this does not necessarily mean that you must forget about coloring. Indeed, an oxidative coloring will probably not be recommended because of the chemical products it contains, but a plant-based coloring is perfectly possible.

Without harmful substances, plant-based coloring is made from plant powders and binds to the hair cuticle without destroying its natural pigments. It coats and strengthens the hair, which is why natural coloring is also considered a real treatment for your hair. You can therefore absolutely color your hair even in case of shampoo allergy, while respecting a care routine to protect your scalp:

Apply a pre-shampoo treatment on dry hair, combined with Aromactif Dermoactif which deeply treats skin problems;
Wash your hair with the extremely gentle Sensity shampoo;
Detangle your hair with one of our after-shampoo treatments such as Natural Color, perfect for plant-based colorings, or Sweet Care, which intensely nourishes and hydrates delicate hair.

If you don’t necessarily want to change color but simply want to strengthen your hair and soothe your itching and skin problems caused by allergies, you can also try neutral henna. Pure, this powder treats the hair in depth and provides all the benefits it needs. Neutral henna is an excellent treatment in addition to using an anti-allergic shampoo and an adapted treatment. In some cases, a clay detox may also be indicated: ask your Hairborist hairdresser for advice.

You got it: it is enough to respect a few rules to avoid allergies due to the use of a shampoo, especially choosing a natural shampoo without undesirable components. Goodbye itching and irritation, hello healthy scalp!