Getting into the habit of doing a label check for ingredients in your beauty products has a lot of merits. It can help you pick the right product to deal with specific issues, avoid nasty ingredients that cause damage and help understand your personal care needs better. This is especially true for hair care, as we can sometimes get lazy with the label checks and end up buying something that doesn’t give us the results we were looking for.
We all know about the ingredients that we should be checking for and avoiding — alcohol, SLS and parabens — but what about the ones that we should be seeking out? Here are four ingredients you should look for (depending on your hair concern) while picking hair care products for yourself.
- 01. Panthenol - For hydrating dry strands
- 02. Ceramide - For strengthening your locks
- 03. Zinc Pyrithione - For dandruff woes
- 04. Hydrolysed silk proteins - For adding shine to the tresses
01. Panthenol - For hydrating dry strands
When shopping for shampoos for dry hair, ingredients which help trap moisture from the air are a plus. One such ingredient is Panthenol, a provitamin B5 that helps hydrate dry and brittle locks for a nourished finish. Other safe ingredients with moisturizing properties are hydrolyzed wheat protein and the common humectant, glycerol.
02. Ceramide - For strengthening your locks
Fortified and strong tresses are less prone to breakage caused due to brushing or styling. Ceramide is a popular ingredient that enhances the elasticity of hair and conditions the cuticles. Ceramide is also a good strengthening alternative to more active ingredients like Keratin and Biotin that can cause damage if overdone.
03. Zinc Pyrithione - For dandruff woes
Given that dandruff is a pressing issue at hand, buying a proper shampoo to deal with can be the make or break factor. The ingredient Zinc Pyrithione has antibacterial and antifungal properties that can deal with issues like flaking, itching and greasiness on the scalp.
04. Hydrolysed silk proteins - For adding shine to the tresses
Looking to add shine to your hair? Don’t just pick any shampoo off the shelf that promises to give you shiny hair. Why? Because they might be formulated with silicone — plastic-based ingredients that coat your hair to make it ‘look’ shiny but don’t actually nourish it in the process. Instead, look for a product with hydrolyzed silk proteins. This organic product, derived from silkworms, smooths rough and manageable hair from within, making it shiny and silky.
Written by Sumona Bose on Jul 22, 2020
Sumona Bose is a writer, skincare junkie and a self-professed makeup connoisseur. Equipped with a Master's degree in Fashion Management and over 3 years of experience writing in the beauty and fashion space, her passion for learning new things has no bounds. Working closely with dermatologists, beauty excerpts, makeup artists and hairstylists, she brings you the best of all things beauty. From trending skincare ingredients to makeup looks that help you slay, she manages to bring something new (and vital!) to our readers every single time. Her hobbies include home workouts, watching foreign films and binge-watching makeover shows!