Who doesn’t get excited about a chance to try the latest hair care products? As one of the most visible features on our bodies, it’s common to want to have a clean, healthy, and stylish head of hair. However, don’t let that excitement get the best of you. While many products promise to improve the strength, shine, length, color, and appearance of your tresses, you can’t overlook its contents. With an ever-expanding list of hair care products on the market today, it’s important to make an informed decision about the brands you use. Below are five vital questions you should ask before adding something new to your hair care routine.
Are The Ingredients Safe?
The number one rule of evaluating hair care products is checking the ingredients. Go over the list with a fine-tooth comb and research what the chemicals are and how they can impact your hair, skin, and overall health. For example, sulfates are common culprits in hair care products that can strip your hair of its natural oils.
Parabens are often used as preservatives, but they’ve been known to cause skin irritation and other health problems. Finally, alcohol dries out your hair. If you find these ingredients (especially in large quantities) in a hair care product, it is best to avoid them to prevent potential adverse reactions like skin irritations and allergic reactions.
Does This Product Fit Into My Existing Hair Care Routine?
When deciding if you should add a new product to your hair care routine, it’s important to consider how it will impact the items you already have. Will it complement or conflict with the products you’re using now? Using more than one product with potent active ingredients can cause hair damage or scalp irritation. Since these products will essentially touch your skin, you should also consider asking similar questions to when you’re buying skincare products. When you understand the purpose and effect each product will have on your scalp and hair, you can make an informed choice about which ones you’re going to use and which ones you’ll eliminate (if any).
Are The Promised Benefits Back by Evidence?
Most people are drawn to new hair care products because of the promises they offer like repairing damage, increasing volume, boosting moisture, and more. Although it would be nice to take the company’s word for it, it’s important to evaluate these claims critically. Where is the credible evidence to back up these claims? Go beyond the company page and customer testimonials and search for clinical trials and scientific studies.
While it may seem like a lot of extra work, researching saves you from spending money on items that don’t provide accurate results or, even worse, that cause issues with your health or hair. Ensure that you read reviews, trial results, and studies from trusted sources. That way, you’ll know if you’re investing in a product that works and is relevant to your specific needs.
Another way to assess whether a product’s promised benefits are credible is to check for lawsuits. Take hair relaxers for example. Once a wildly popular product for individuals interested in straightening their hair, some brands of relaxers have been in the hot seat lately.
Relaxers have harsh chemicals in them that can cause significant hair and scalp damage. In more extreme cases, a hair relaxer lawsuit is underway as many women report getting uterine cancer. So, if you find lawsuits about a particular product or brand you were thinking of purchasing, it’s probably not a wise purchase.
How Transparent is The Brand About Their Product?
Transparency is essential in the world of beauty. A reputable brand should be open and honest about what they offer. They should make this information clear and easily accessible to their target audience. Evaluate the company’s website to see if they are open about how its products are sourced and manufactured. High-quality and trusted brands will have no trouble providing detailed information including ingredient sourcing, case studies, and customer testimonials.
A brand’s level of openness about these topics not only helps build trust but goes a long way in assuring you of the safety and quality of the products. You may also want to evaluate whether the brand is committed to ethical practices like not testing on animals, sustainable ingredients, and eco-friendly packaging. Supporting responsible brands in the beauty industry ultimately encourages other companies to do more to increase their ethical efforts.
What About the Return Policy and Customer Support?
Before you make a final decision on your hair care product purchase, review the return policy and customer support options the brand offers. It’s good to look for a brand that offers an extended return policy because it can take more than one use to determine whether it’s effective. Brands that are willing to give you 30 days or so to try and return the product if you’re not satisfied is ideal. You also want to review how much it costs to return the product and how long it takes to receive your refund. Finally, it’s best to go with a brand that has a responsive customer support team with various options for you to reach out including social media, email, phone, and chat.
