When your hair is shedding and thinning, the last thing you need in your orbit is a shampoo that only makes matters worse. But here’s the truth: some shampoos simply aren’t the greatest options for your hair, especially if it is in a delicate, more fragile state — and hair that is thinning qualifies as just that. The following 15 shampoos have been selected by experts as picks that may cause damage to hair because of certain ingredients that they contain. If your hair is dealing with changes, whether from age, genetics, an illness, hormones, or medications, one of the most common things you may notice is more shedding and thinning. Avoiding these 15 shampoos is a wise move — look for shampoos that contain natural ingredients and no sulfates, to start, and ask a trusted dermatologist for advice on the best products you can use.
TRESemme Anti-Breakage Strengthening Shampoo
We want this shampoo to be everything that it claims because it is so incredibly affordable. Unfortunately, experts and many reviewers say it dries out hair and can even leave it feeling waxy. You expect a shampoo that is anti-breakage to be super hydrating, but that’s not the consensus with this pick. It also contains drying sulfates that may strip salon-colored hair of its shade.
Fudge Clean Blonde Violet Toning Shampoo
A violet shampoo is always a great idea for blondes because it helps keep brassy tones at bay. But this brand of violet shampoo has been criticized for containing ingredients like Cocamide DEA, ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, diazolidinyl urea, and iodopropynyl butylcarbamate.
Just to give you some idea of what these ingredients can do: Cocamide DEA was added to California’s list of chemicals that are known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. Ethoxylated ingredients is another potentially harmful chemical that can produce a byproduct called carcinogenic 1,4-dioxane. Are any of these chemicals actually needed in a product that is designed to maintain healthy hair?
Nexxus Therappe Ultimate Moisture
When you’re trying to curb hair thinning and shedding, it’s important to pay attention to the health of your scalp and avoid any ingredient that could potentially cause allergic reactions and sensitive. This shampoo contains potentially sensitizing fragrance, as well as aforementioned ethoxylated ingredients. It also has methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) and methylisothiazolinone, which are preservatives that can cause allergic reactions.
Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo
Another popular budget pick., this shampoo by Pureology has the same potentially irritating ingredients as the Nexxus shampoo: ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, methylchloroisothiazolinone, and methylisothiazolinone.
Maui Thicken & Restore + Bamboo Fiber Shampoo
The ingredients that experts would like you to avoid that are present in this shampoo include: ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, diazolidinyl urea, and iodopropynyl butylcarbamate — this last one is actually a core allergen listed by The American Society of Contact Dermatitis.
Aussie Miracle Curls Shampoo
A shampoo designed specifically for curly hair that can help honor your curl formation seems like a dream come true. Unfortunately, this one has been found to contain not-good-for-your-scalp chemicals like ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, methylchloroisothiazolinone, and methylisothiazolinone.
Finesse 2-in-1 Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner
Who doesn’t want to save time with one product that acts as both as shampoo and conditioner? But beware that this pick from Finesse is said to contain ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, and DMDM hydantoin — and that last ingredient is a formaldehyde-releasing preservative which may have small and long-term effects on health that include skin irritation and cancer.
OGX Anti-Breakage Keratin Oil Shampoo
This budget shampoo by OGX is said to contain ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, diazolidinyl urea, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, and DMDM hydantoin. These ingredients may pose risks of contact dermatitis on the scalp, as well as potentially more dangerous risks like cancer.
Head & Shoulders 2 In 1
Head & Shoulders is a classic brand that many turn to, especially to banish dandruff or prevent it from coming back. But over the years there have been complaints from some users that the 2-in-1 formula contains harsh ingredients like sulfates that make hair dry and can cause breakage.
Burt's Bees More Moisture Raspberry & Brazil Nut Shampoo
We love Burt’s Bees for its many deliciously scented lip and skin products, but this particular shampoo hasn’t been successful at wowing over many users. In fact, many say it makes their hair both greasy at the scalp and dry at the strands, and it can feel as if it’s not cleaning properly.
Avene Clove Shampoo
Among the complaints you’ll hear about Avene Clove Shampoo you’ll encounter the following: it can be drying, strip your scalp of moisture, and strip your hair of its expensive salon color. Remember: when a shampoo is so harsh that it is capable of fading color that fast, it may also be causing irritation to your scalp. An irritated scalp is not ideal if you are trying to curb shedding and promote new hair growth.
TIGI Bed Head Self Absorbed Shampoo
This trendy shampoo is designed for dry, stressed hair, but it contains sulfates that can be more drying on your hair, as well as fragrance that may prove irritating for some. Sulfates are a cleansing agent that create suds and lather and can make your hair feel cleaner, but they can also irritate the scalp and contribute to increased shedding.
Samy Smooth Shampoo
Samy Smooth Shampoo is an adorable budget pick, but it’s also one that many users say makes their hair dry, unmanageable, and prone to tangling and breakage. Some even say it left their scalp both dry AND oily.
Dove Shampoos
Dove is a trusted name in skin and haircare and perhaps for good reason. But, when it comes to their extensive shampoo line, it’s important to note that some of its products are free of sulfates, while others are not. If you’re trying to avoid sulfated because you find them to be drying to your hair and scalp, be sure to look for a “sulfate-free” label on your Dove product.
Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo
The second Aussie shampoo product to make our list is this pick, which contains plenty of ingredients that will in fact help moisturize your hair, such as jojoba oil and avocado. But one glance at its more extensive ingredients list reveals it also contains sulfates, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, and Cocamide MEA.
