Most people do not realise it but shampoo’s contain many chemicals that have damaging and harmful results to your hair.
Here is a list of some of them chemicals that are in shampoo’s and body washes.
1 & 2) Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) Along with their chemical cousins, these are in just about every conventional commercial shampoo and body wash. The scientific jury is still out on whether these irritating detergents cause endocrine disruption; however several known carcinogens are by-products of their processing, 1,4 dioxane and nitrosamine.
3, 4 & 5) Parabens: methlyparaben, propylparaben, & ethylparaben are preservatives. They’re also likely hormone disruptors and environmental/potential human carcinogens. Avoid them.
6) Phthalates (fragrance). If your shampoo or body wash says ‘fragrance’ on it, it may contain these dangerous plasticizers. Yes, the same ones recently removed from baby bottles because of health concerns. These chemicals are immune system toxicants, and impact the reproductive system.
7) Formaldehyde. Formaldhyde often forms in processing or in use, and masquerades on labels as other named preservatives; doazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, quarternium-15. Reactions include allergies and neurotoxicity.
Toluene. An industrial solvent and VOC found in almost all nail polish and some hair coloring. Yuk!
9) Ethanolamines (diethanolamine/DEA, triethanolamine/TEA & monoethanolamine/MEA). These chemicals are emulsifiers and foaming agents, potentially toxic, and easily absorbed by the skin. They can cause liver and kidney damage, especially with repeated use. Avoid even the coconut-derived cocamide DEA/MEA, and lauramide DEA.
10) Propylene glycol. A key ingredient in brake fluid and antifreeze (not recommended for the skin).
So, what to use instead? I’m not out to endorse brands (or risk litigation),
My personal take on this is to stop using shampoo’s completely.
I stopped washing my hair with shampoo approximately 2 years ago and have had good end results.
It started when going for a haircut, I looked in the mirror to see the back, I had bald spot on the top of my head, obviously being paranoid about this I mentioned it in work, My colleagues exaggerated it as they do by extracting the urine out of me, thanks guy’s you know I’m so sensitive sometimes, but seriously it frightened me, the thought ‘I might be going bald. I know eventually, I probably will go bald but if I could somehow slow it down, would be Good
The next point is after considering it for some time i realized that I used Hair Wax and Gel very frequently for a spiky fashionable look and although it was very nice, my scalp was not breathing naturally, so I stopped using these products. anyone that knows me would witness this, my hair did feel much cleaner but I was still concerned.
One day whilst on the way to work, I began listening to a radio programme, there were people on it discussing the reasons why they had stopped using shampoos. I listened intently to this programme, then decide to try it.
RESULTS
After a week of using just water I realised my hair needed a thorough wash than my normal quick wash.
Week one.. it felt very dirty, I was not happy, I decided that I needed to spend longer washing it. I separated my hair with my fingers and scratched clean my skull every day.
Week two.. My hair felt much cleaner after spending Ten minutes scrubbing it with shower water every day.
after about a month my hair began to feel hard like cardboard and greasy!!, it was at this point when I considered using shampoo again but decided to be more exertive with washing efforts and in particular drying my hair with a towel more thorough. I know the human body has a way of creating a healthy balance and I was hoping this might be the reason, why it was feeling unhealthy.
Now after two years I can honestly say my hair is shiny, soft and clean. I do not have to spend fifteen minutes scrubbing it, I just give my hair a good five minute wash and dry it with a towel.
I never use products on it just water. my skull has worked out a balance of oils and it is not in the slightest greasy.
I’m glad that I persevered with this my hair feels healthier than it ever has been and most of all my dreaded bald spot…..? IT HAS GONE. My hair is thicker, shinier and softer.
I hope that this is of some interest to anyone that questions things.. such as I do. EVERYDAY. Is it Just tabloid guilt flowing adverts that make you feel you are dirty if you do not use shampoo? most probably.
UPDATE
29th December 2011
Still the same, hair is soft and shiny not greasy, five minute wash and a good dry every day.
still feels and looks very clean. there is no bald spot on the back of my head however, Iv'e found that I have a slight recedence at the front, this means when having my usual cut at the barber I ask for slightly less off the top, although I never usually have long hair anyway.
please keep reading for future changes, but no shampoo is still the right way to go, even my barber commented on how nice soft and thick my hair is...... Pat
FURTHER UPDATE
31st March 2012
Have finally given up and washed my hair in a very cheap non-chemical shampoo
I think this was mainly due to health, although for the last 3 years of having no problems with this method and it has stayed clean and healthy, recently has become, quite greasy and although I am washing it thoroughly it was not improving, conclusion is when your person is not in the fullness of health it does appear to show in your hair, strange but true, from now on I'll use shampoo.
I write as an escape as the world can be hard, I find it so sad that people suffer in many ways, and exclude no excuse for greediness or bullying. if one person can read my nonsense in there own personal way and find relief from struggles then that is all I ask. please feel free
I hope that this is of some interest to anyone that questions things.. such as I do. EVERYDAY. Is it Just tabloid guilt flowing adverts that make you feel you are dirty if you do not use shampoo? most probably. 
