How Shampoo Damages Your Hair—Plus, How to Avoid Post-Wash Frizz
Chances are, you’re shampooing too often. According to a recent news story, Americans shampoo an average of 4.59 times a week―that’s twice as much as Europeans. I used to shampoo everyday too, until the frizziness that occurred after washing became impossible to ignore. When I use shampoo, my hair is frizzy through the next day, but if I don’t wash for three days, my hair looks oily. What’s a girl to do?
Turns out, the suds in shampoo are the culprit of the frizz. The suds come from sodium lauryl sulfate, a common substance in most cleaning products from toothpastes to floor cleaners. In the case of shampoo, sodium lauryl sulfate helps the product interact with your hair so it can grab dirt more easily. While sodium lauryl sulfate is great at removing dirt and getting things clean, it’s not great for your hair. In fact, it strips your hair of its natural, protective oils, and makes it thinner and weaker.
The No Shampoo Movement
Sometimes referred to as “co-wash” (co-washing or conditioner washing) the no shampoo movement is a way for us to use more natural ingredients to clean the hair and remove excess oil and dirt from the scalp, while keeping our hair full of moisture so it doesn’t frizz. It’s a balancing act that WEN® Cleansing Conditioner has mastered thanks to removing harsh sulfates from the formula. WEN is the first product to clean your hair without the harmful effects of traditional shampoos that lather.
I discovered WEN while browsing the aisles of Sephora looking for less drying and chemical-y products to replace my everyday shampoo. In hopes of reversing the damage caused by shampooing too often, I was sold on the promise of improved hair health, reduced frizz, added moisture and shine- all in one multitasking product. WEN takes the place of my shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, detangler and leave-in conditioner because this one product is designed to do it all. Its decidedly un-shampoo-like ingredients (the Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner has Botanical Extracts, Aloe Juice and Sweet Almond oil) are proven to help your locks retain moisture. I was in awe of how soft and healthy my hair felt after washing with WEN. Plus, it smells amazing!
WEN takes the best part of original shampoo (botanicals and herbs) and removes the sodium lauryl sulfate, without sacrificing the modern convenience of one-step cleansing and conditioning. After using the product for months, my hair is never oily, and my frizz is under control without having to load up on hair serum, or Moroccan argan oil. Plus, I no longer have to carry 5 different bottles of product in my bag when I shower away from home. For a better way to get clean healthy-looking hair, I recommend WEN® Cleansing Conditioner without hesitation.
Update: The awesome team at Wen is extending a special limited-time offer to our readers. Follow this link to get free shipping, a free Travel Kit, and a free ReMoist Intensive Hair Treatment (amazing) with your first purchase!
Presented by Guthy-Renker®