Film-Forming Ingredients
Film-forming agents, such as silicones, coat the hair shaft. Some two-in-one shampoos carry a lot of conditioner, which can leave a heavy coating on hair and scalp. If your scalp feels coated or itchy, try a simpler shampoo that rinses clean.
All-natural shampoos often contain few cleansers and a lot of oil, so they may not rinse clean. Harsh cleansers do the opposite and strip hair of its natural oils. Dry hair breaks more easily, and breakage can look like thinning.
Some people react to parabens or added fragrance, which can leave the scalp itchy and red (contact dermatitis). If that happens, stop using the product and ask a pharmacist or GP.
Preservatives keep a shampoo usable for longer. Irritants can inflame a sensitive scalp. Greasers such as mineral oil can weigh fine hair down.
Ingredients to avoid include:
- Silicones: dimethicone, xanthan gum, and guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride
- Conditioning and pearlising agents: glycol distearate and glycol stearate
- Thickening resins: polyethylene glycol and sodium chloride
- Alcohol: when used in high concentrations this can dehydrate the hair, the higher the percentage the closer to the top of the ingredient list
- Fragrances and artificial colours: FD & C or D&C followed by a colour or a number
- Parabens: methylparaben and propylparaben
- Greasers: lanolin, mineral oil, and petroleum
- Irritants: diethanolamine, triethanolamine, and propylene glycol
- Preservatives: imidazolidinyl urea
Try Natural Alternatives
Will a different shampoo stop hair loss? We cannot promise that, and no shampoo replaces medical advice. In our salon we advise a sulphate-free shampoo that rinses off without residue. We stock NAK sulphate-free shampoos and conditioners. Or you could try using:
- Essential oils: peppermint, orange and lavender oils, diluted in a carrier oil, add scent without synthetic fragrance. Never use them neat, as undiluted oils can irritate the skin.
- Apple cider vinegar: well diluted, some people use it as a rinse to lift product build-up. Patch-test it first, as it can sting a sensitive scalp.
- Moisturising oils: oils that help protect your hair from dehydration include jojoba, coconut, and extra virgin olive oil. And help to restore moisture levels if the hair is already dry.
- Aloe Vera is a natural product that feeds the hair with whole natural ingredients that nourish the scalp. Plenty of vitamin E provides scalp protection too.
Bespoke Hair Care Treatments
If your hair loss is male pattern baldness, a hair system is one option. We have fitted over 10,000 hair systems for men since 1996. A new system supplied, cut, fitted and styled costs from £699 (see our hair replacement prices). A first consultation is £25 for 30 minutes, credited if you go ahead. The qualified hair stylists from Cochrane & Co can show you which shampoo and conditioner suit your own hair and your hair system. A hair system is not a hair transplant and does not treat baldness; it is non-invasive, drug-free and non-medical.
Questions men ask us about shampoo and hair loss
Can I use any shampoo on a hair system?
We advise sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner on hair systems. We sell the NAK sulphate-free range in the salon, and our experts can show you how to care for your system at home.
Where is your salon in London?
We are at 37 Lambs Conduit Street, London WC1N 3NG, in Holborn. We are open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays. Call 020 7405 7797 or email frankiesays@frankiecochrane.com to book a consultation.
