Why switch to natural and clean shampoos?

At a time where natural and clean products are all the rage, we have been reading about the importance of switching to silicone and sulfate-free shampoos for a few years now. But what makes these natural formulas better for your hair, and are they really as efficient as conventional formulas?

What are the effects of sulfates and silicone on the hair?

Sulfates and silicones, two components which are very frequently used in hair care products, are being pointed at more and more. Do you know why, and do you know the impact they have of your hair? If not, it’s time to find out !

Silicones: Silicones are petrochemical derivatives which have a high affinity to keratin – a protein naturally present in the hair. Silicones form a sheath around the hair and fill in its breaches, which gives an instant soft and shiny feel to the hair. The problem with silicones is that, in the process of rinsing out the shampoo, not only the silicones but also the keratin are rinsed out. Silicones therefore damage the hair a little bit more with every shampoo.

Sulfates: Sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate are skin and eye irritants. They are widely used in products such as shower gel and shampoos as foaming agents. It is however important to note that sulfate-based foam irritates the scalp, which not only provokes itchiness but also stimulates the production of sebum and therefore leads hair to get greasy a lot faster.

The use of sulfate-based products on coloured hair causes a loss of color-intensity and makes it appear duller. This phenomenon can be explained by the fact that sulfates don’t only scrape the hair itself but also the pigments it contains.

Natural formulas for healthier hair

Huygens offers a range of shampoos which contain 99% ingredients of natural origin and 11% ingredients produced from organic farming. Formulated without silicones and sulfates to respect the balance of the scalp and hair, Huygens shampoos are also Made in France, cruelty-free and vegan.

natural shampoos

4 ranges for 4 hair types

In order to meet everyone’s needs, Huygens has developed four different haircare ranges, infused with essential oils, to combine olfactory pleasure and efficacy :

• The purifying range Infusion Blanche, for greasy hair (purifying ingredients: tea tree and pink grapefruit)
• The volumizing range Bois Rose for thin and flat hair (volumizing ingredient: rosewood)
• The repairing range Ylang #1 for dry hair (key active ingredient: ylang-ylang)
• The strengthening range Hercule for damaged and fragile hair: (strengthening ingredients: rosmary and sage)

In addition to the specific essential oils, Huygens shampoos all contain :

• Aloe vera: soothes the scalp
• Witch hazel flower water: its strong antioxydant power son fort pouvoir antioxydant provides astringent, tonifying and purifying benefits
• A sugar-based foaming base: gentle foam which respects the environment

clean shampoos

sulfate-free shampoos

Every first step is hard… but so gratifying!

When you use a sulfate-free shampoo or the first time, it is important to keep in mind that it can be a bit surprising. As soon as you switch to a natural shampoo formula, the hair goes thorugh a transition and detox phase. The hair can often times seem ‘squeaky’ at first, but this sensation doesn’t last once the hair is dry. You will quickly notice how lightweight, soft and shiny your hair is becoming.

If your hair doesn’t seem completely clean after the first use, don’t worry it’s very common, it is part of the detox-phase. In general, the hair needs about one month to detox and fully adapt to the clean formula of the shampoo. Trust the process because once the transition-phase is over, we guarantee you will not want to go back to your old shampoos!

sulfate-free shampoo

silicone-free shampoo

3 good reasons to switch to natural shampoos

To sum everything up, here is a short list of three good reasons to consider switching to a clean haircare routine:

• It respects the natural balance of the hair and scalp
• Naturally soft and lightweight hair
• Hair that stays clean longer: using silicone-free and sulfate-free haircare products soothes the scalp, regulates the sebum production and makes it therefore easier to space out shampoos.

l'huile essentielle de tea tree

Learn more about the effects of silicones