What Is Biodegradable Shampoo?

Everyone keeps raving about biodegradable shampoos, but what is a biodegradable shampoo in the first place? How does it differ from regular shampoo?

Is your hair getting drier and rougher instead of being soft and more manageable after every wash? That may be due to the harsh chemicals in your shampoo. If you just can’t seem to find the right shampoo for your hair, it might be time to switch to a biodegradable shampoo.

Biodegradable shampoos aren’t just free from all harmful chemicals commonly present in regular shampoos – they’re also biodegradable, as the name suggests. This means any shampoos that end up in the soil or ocean will get degraded into environmentally safe compounds and become a part of nature.

We’re living in an era where consumers prefer to make informed choices. They worry about how they may be contributing to the ever-increasing environmental damage. To cater to this sector, manufacturers in every industry are creating environmental-friendly, biodegradable products. From biodegradable apparel to biodegradable shampoos, the options are endless. If you’re one of those people who are concerned about the preservation of nature, it might be time for you to make the switch!

We’ve recently made the switch to biodegradable shampoo, and we can confidently say that it’s been incredible for our hair. However, people are different, and how biodegradable shampoo affects you might be different. As such, we’ve done our research and have presented our findings to help you make an informed decision.

‍Your Regular Shampoo May Be More Toxic Than You Think

If you feel your shampoo is damaging your hair, you might be right. Regular shampoos may be more toxic than you think.

The most common ingredient of regular shampoo is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). Usually, shampoos contain 50% SLS and 40% water with a small quantity of sodium stearate. They also contain plenty of other chemicals that you may have never heard of before.

Several studies have found that SLS can lead to hair loss and hair damage, leading to serious scalp and skin diseases. SLS is also known to be capable of producing nitrate compounds that are linked to cell damage and cancer. Scary, we know!

You shouldn’t be fooled if the label of your shampoo doesn’t say it contains SLS. This ingredient is often disguised under different names, including triethanolamine (TEA), diethanolamine (DEA), and monoethanolamine (MEA).

Other equally dangerous ingredients that most shampoos contain are Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, and Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate. These are all closely related to SLS. Even those hair care products marketed as ‘safe’ products may also contain these chemicals!

Although SLS is what forms the lather and cleanses your hair and scalp, it strips your hair and scalp of moisture. This is why most people use a conditioner after shampooing to nourish their hair and keep it from drying out.

You may think you’re doing your hair a favor with conditioner; however, conditioner contains even more chemicals than shampoo. Excessive exposure to harmful chemicals makes your hair dull, dry, and lifeless.

Not only does SLS take away all the moisture and essential oils from your scalp, but it also removes bacteria that help you maintain hair health. Without these good bacteria, harmful microorganisms attack your scalp like an open, unattended field, and this can lead to dry and itchy scalp and dull and brittle hair.

What is a Biodegradable Shampoo?

If you want a hair product that’s free of chemicals that pose a risk to your hair and the environment, you should switch to biodegradable shampoo.

A biodegradable shampoo contains eco-friendly chemicals that are not only safe for your hair and scalp but also don’t pose any harm to the environment in case any of it ends up in the soil or water.

Not only do the chemicals of a biodegradable shampoo degrade and become a part of nature in a very short span of time, but they’re also packed in eco-friendly packaging as well.

Unlike regular shampoos that come in plastic bottles, these shampoos either come in refillable, reusable bottles or come in cardboard or paper packaging that ensures minimal carbon footprint.

Benefits of Switching to Biodegradable Shampoo

Biodegradable shampoos have still a long way to come, considering how mainstream the regular shampoos are. However, we don’t doubt that soon, biodegradable shampoos will get the attention they deserve.

An increasing number of people are looking for environment-friendly products, and this number is only going to increase – and for all the right reasons.

Let’s have a look at the many benefits of biodegradable shampoos and why you should make the switch!

Safer, Natural Ingredients

One of the first benefits of using a biodegradable shampoo is that it doesn’t contain harmful ingredients like SLS. It mostly contains natural extracts that nourish the hair and make them look shinier, healthier, and make them more manageable.

Some common ingredients that are found in biodegradable shampoos include honey, cocoa butter, and shea butter. They also contain essential nutrients like Vitamin B5. All of these ingredients make your hair look just as good as the hair you see in shampoo commercials.

No matter how well you manage the water waste, some of the water from washing your hair will end up in the environment, and with biodegradable shampoo, you can rest assured that you aren’t contributing to environmental damage.

Helps You Maintain Color-Treated Hair Better

If you’ve colored your hair, using regular shampoo is probably not in your best interests. As you know by now, regular shampoos are laden with synthetic chemicals like SLS and parabens that can remove your hair color sooner than later.

However, biodegradable shampoos have milder ingredients of a natural origin that not only leave your hair feeling soft, smooth, and frizz-free but also help you maintain your hair color for longer.

Reduce Water and Soil Pollution

The water from washing your hair goes down the drain. This means that the wastewater that ends up in the drains is laden with the same chemicals that your shampoo contains. The water from the drain finds its way into the water supply and then pollutes the water with harmful chemicals.

The water from the drain may also leak into the soil surrounding the pipelines and pollute it too, which can eventually cause harm to the plants. This way, regular shampoos pose a serious risk to the environment.

But with biodegradable shampoos, you can rest assured that all the ingredients that end up in the soil and water will not cause any damage.

The natural ingredients that go into making biodegradable shampoos will decompose into simpler compounds that will become part of nature, where they were extracted from in the first place.

Regular Shampoo vs. Biodegradable Shampoo

Biodegradable shampoos are milder, safer, more efficient at maintaining and improving hair health, and eco-friendly. Although you may find them pricier than regular shampoos, their benefits make them worth every penny.

In fact, when you start using biodegradable shampoo on a regular basis, you’ll notice that your hair feels better, and you won’t need to wash your hair as frequently. This way, you can enjoy maximum value for your money with a biodegradable shampoo.

A wise switch that you make today will have a lasting impact and make the earth a better and safer place to live in the future.