Hello curlies, welcome back! We’ve always told you what is good for your hair, shea butter, coconut oil, but this time we thought it’s also important to shed some light on the not so good for your hair. We often find the right shampoo, that smells great but sometimes it has ingredients that may end up damaging your hair instead. As your curl guide, self proclaimed, we want to remind you here are some ingredients that are actually bad for your hair. 

So let’s dive right into it, shall we? 

Paraben 

You may have seen products that read https://fixmycurls.com/collections/all, but you’re probably thinking what is wrong with having some parabens? As mystical as it sounds, parabens are synthetic preservatives added to products to help increase their shelf life! While that may be helpful, these chemicals tend to add more frizz and dryness to your curly hair, they weigh them down, can cause irritation and moisture imbalance and…and…they’re not good for the environment like at all.. So continue to shop for paraben free haircare products if you aren’t already. Go check your shampoo, if it has parabens you should order a new one like now. 

Sulfate 

Is a powerful cleansing agent found in shampoos and cleansers. While it’s important for cleansing your scalp once in a while, it’s an absolute no no for everyday use. Sulfate shampoos if used often can ruin the oil balance of your scalp and can make your hair brittle making them more prone to breakage…and that sounds like a nightmare. Always look for sulfate free alternatives for shiny, bouncy curls.

Alcohol 

Before we get into alcohols for curly hair, it’s important to understand that there are fatty alcohols and drying alcohols. Fatty alcohols are good for your hair, because they are derived from natural ingredients like coconut oil or palm oil. These help keeping your hair hydrated. But there are some short chained drying alcohols like Ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol) that as the name suggests end up drying your hair and should be avoided. Okay, we gonna end this chemistry class, because we know its a lot. 

Fragrance 

Scent is a great decision maker for some of the products we buy. We aren’t going to lie, who doesn’t like when their hair smells like watermelon, or something like a sour candy but these fragrances aren’t actually the best for your hair. To maintain the fragrance and make it more lasting, chemicals like parabens, alcohol etc may need to be added, and by now you already know these are an absolute no no. So look for products that don’t have an added fragrance to them, your hair will thank you. 

If you want your hair to smell as good without it being damaged, try our new hair mists. Made just for your hair They make them smell good while also taking care of it. 

Silicones 

Silicones are often found in conditioners that give it a shiny layer, this can also help locking moisture which as you know is ideal for curly hair…but products with silicones have diminishing returns. Overtime this can cause build up, weighing your curls down and causing irritation to your scalp and skin. Just like sulfates, you can have one product that may have silicones in it but isn’t ideal for your regular routine.

Ah, we know this was a lot and can sometimes be a lot to remember in already very hectic curly haircare routines, but once you get into the habit of it you’ll know what works for your curls and what doesn’t. Share this with someone who might find it helpful.

Let us know in the comments, what curl class you would want next and what did you like from it. Until next time, curlies!