Alcohol is a common ingredient in hair care products, but not all alcohols are created equal. Some alcohols can be beneficial and even hydrating for the hair, while others can be drying and damaging. Here are some details about alcohol and hair loss:
Positive effects of alcohol in hair care products:
- Some alcohols can be hydrating and beneficial for the hair and scalp.
- Long-chain fatty alcohols derived from oils are emollient and dont dry out strands like short-chain alcohols.
Negative effects of alcohol in hair care products:
- Short-chain alcohols are considered "bad" alcohols, as they are known for their drying properties and can cause the cuticle to roughen, leaving the hair dry, brittle, and frizzy.
- Some of the most common short-chain alcohols that you will find in hair care products are ethanol, SD alcohol, denatured alcohol, propanol, propyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol.
- Denatured alcohols are a category of cosmetic ingredients that can be drying to the scalp if applied too frequently at higher concentrations.
Ingredients or materials:
- Good alcohols in hair products include cetearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, and C12-16.
- Bad alcohols in hair products include SD alcohol, SD alcohol 40, SD alcohol 40 B, SD alcohol 38B, SD alcohol 39B, SD alcohol 40-2, denatured alcohol, alcohol denat, ethanol, ethyl alcohol, propanol, propyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol.
- Other ingredients that can be harmful to hair include sulfates, parabens, and formaldehyde.
In conclusion, not all alcohols are bad for hair, and some can even be beneficial. Its important to know the difference between good and bad alcohols and to avoid hair care products that contain harmful ingredients.
