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HAIR CARE
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Can I use my regular shampoo during
pregnancy or is it better to DIY?
Put down the apple cider vinegar, step away from the kitchen and
log off of Pinterest! I know it’s tempting to toss your regular product,
which contains a thousand suspicious sounding chemicals, but
rather than concocting a DIY shampoo, you can find a brand
that isn’t loaded with nasties.
When searching for the perfect pregnancy-safe shampoos and
conditioners, there are some rules of thumb to keep in mind.
The jury is out on whether coal tar, which is found in many anti-
dandruff hair products, is safe or not during pregnancy, so it’s
best to stay away.
One of the most common ingredients found in shampoo is
sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), which is a foaming agent and helps
to give that nice lather. Lately SLS has been suffering from a bad
reputation and has been linked to all sorts of nasty things. Many
people are shying away from using shampoos with SLS because
they also rob hair of its essential oils, strip away hair dye and
chemical straightening agents and might even be making your
hair frizzier. One of the reasons I don’t love this ingredient is that
it degrades the ridiculously expensive highlights I get painted
on it every few months. There are so many SLS-free options out
there at every price point that I’d say it’s worth finding a product
that doesn’t contain it. But be warned, if you’re used to using a
shampoo with sulphates, you may miss that lathery feeling when
you go SLS-free, so if your hair still feels unclean, then shampoo,
rinse and repeat.
You might be tempted to only shop at health food shops for your
shampoo and conditioner during pregnancy but it’s really not
essential. Many mainstream brands have removed SLS as well
as other ingredients I don’t like, such as parabens which can
cause irritation on the scalp. Many organic or natural brands use
a base of mostly botanicals and essential oils; some of which can
potentially cause allergies to the scalp, so try a patch test before
using on your entire head.