You may use natural shampoo for many reasons. Many people use it because they like living a green lifestyle. Others feel that their hair remains healthier when the wash it with natural ingredients. Still others find that natural shampoo is easier on dyed hair than conventional shampoos. Finally, you might like natural shampoos because they frequently double as soothing body washes.

However, the word natural can be deceiving. Sometimes it simply indicates the presence of natural ingredients. Natural ingredients are just about anything derived from nature. This means that a shampoo might contain a few natural ingredients and a lot of unnatural ones. A few preservatives and even dyes are generally okay. If you have sensitive skin though, then you may have trouble with colors and fragrances. The serious ingredients to look for are the ones that may actually undo the positive benefits of the real natural ingredients.

One of the most important ingredients to look for is laureth- or lauryl sulfate. This is the ingredient that makes shampoo foamy. However, it also will strip your hair. This will leave locks brittle and weak. It can also destroy color. Generally, excessive lauryl sulfate in shampoo will result in lightening and dulling effects. Anything with the words Lauryl or Laureth should be avoided.

Also, keep an eye out for sufur and sulfides. These are common in dandruff shampoos. Technically, you could argue that sulfur is actually a natural ingredient. However, it can exacerbate some types of skin conditions that cause dandruff. If you use a sulfur based shampoo, keep it out of your eyes. Also, be prepared for hair that is drier than usual.

Truly natural shampoos have a few common characteristics:

•    They do not have a lot of ingredients
Most of the ingredients in shampoos are artificial. Natural shampoos have a soap base and a few other components.

•    They tend to foam very little
This is because they lack the foaming agents we discussed earlier.

•    They may contain ingredients that you would see in  your kitchen
Do not be surprised to see apple cider vinegar, herbs or baking soda. Many people actually wash their hair just with baking soda, apple cider vinegar and water.

If you love your shampoo and have perfect hair, then stick with it! However, if you are looking for a new natural shampoo , make sure that you are getting the real deal. These secret ingredients can cause frizziness, dry hair, breakage and serious damage. Make sure that your natural shampoo is really natural before you start washing your hair with it.

Thank you for reading at www.BeautyCtr.com !

Hair sun protection is one of the most overlooked forms of sun protection. If you are like most people, you spend most of the year looking forward to summer. However, your hair probably does not. While you may be thinking with anticipation of the warm, sun-kissed glow that your locks pick up each summer, in reality that beach bunny blonde is seriously hard on your hair. Hair that starts out summer with natural, sunny highlights can easily end in stiff, straw-like, dried out disaster if you do not take proper steps to protect your hair while you are enjoying yourself at the pool or the beach.

Here are several tips for effective hair sun protection:

•    Moisturize
Pool chemicals and salt from the ocean are incredibly destructive when it comes to your hair. The best hair sun protection is to constantly moisturize. Just like your skin, your hair needs moisture to resist environmental damage. Use a leave-in conditioner or mix up a weak mixture of your regular conditioner and water and spritz your hair each time you exit the water.

•    Look for Octyl Methyoxycinnamate
Generally long chemical names are not what you want for your hair. However, octyl methoxycinnate is one of the best ways to give serious SPF power to a hair product. Also, products that contain the antioxidant vitamins A, E and C will help defend your hair from free radicals – highly charged molecules that cause the cells that they come into contact with to deteriorate rapidly.
•    Cover Up
Placing physical protection between the sun and your hair is probably the most fool-proof method of hair sun protection. Tie a scarf over your head or throw on a big floppy beach hat for a glamorous and fully protected look. This is most important when the sun is strongest – generally between 10 AM and 3 PM.

•    Use the Right “Do”
A bun or a pony tail actually can be a great way to protect your hair if you are unexpectedly exposed to the sun. Pulling your hair back and working a dollop of regular sunscreen through it will protect it and give you a convenient, “beachy” look.

If you want to avoid damaged locks and major split ends, then you must remember to protect your hair from the sun. Hair sun protection will help your hair survive your fun in the sun and make it to fall intact.