This is one of the most searched hair product related questions online. Some people swear by it, others say to stay away from it at all costs because it only makes your hair fall out even more than before you used it. We will try to break down some of the ingredients in Pantene shampoo & conditioner and see if any of them causes damage to our precious locks.
What is Pantene?
Pantene is a popular brand of shampoo and conditioner. They make a variety of products for many hair types, but their most successful line has been their ‘Pro-V’ series that fights against damage from split ends and breakage. Pantene was first sold in Europe in 1961 under the name Pantene Pro-V by chemists Kurt Huber and Hans Trammer who were experimenting with silicone’s use as a conditioning agent. The product did not become wildly successful until 1987 when they came out with the “Don’t Despair, Repair” slogan which sparked a new wave of interest in their anti-breakage formula. Since then, pantene shampoo has been one of the top selling shampoos across the world.
Is Pantene really bad for hair?
There are several reasons why people claim that Pantene is bad for your hair. Some of the most common complaints include:
Pantene contains an ingredient called ‘ammonium laureth sulfate’. This product has been known to cause irritation to the scalp and strip natural oils from the hair; causing it to become dry, brittle, and prone to snapping off. Pantene also contains artificial colorants, fragrances, and preservatives like DMDM hydantoin which release carcinogenic formaldehyde into the scalp over time. It’s important to note that these ingredients are found in all types of shampoo because they act as thickeners/stabilizers for the solution. The sad part about all this is that even organic shampoos have formaldehyde in them! It’s just that they have lower concentrations of it.
How Pantene good for hair?
There have been many studies done to prove that pantene is bad for your hair. However, there have been stunning counter cases that show that Pantene actually strengthens hair as well as prevents it from snapping off as a result of breakage. In one study, Tested the effects of using Pantene shampoo and pure Vitamin E oil on rats to see how it affected their rate of growth and development. They found that those who used Pantene shampoo saw much faster growth than those who used Vitamin E (the good kind). This study does not claim that all shampoos are bad or harmful for your hair; just like vitamins and supplements they should be taken at the right dosage in order to be effective.
Conclusion
The truth is that there has not been enough research done to conclude whether or not pantene shampoo is bad for your hair. The best thing you can do as a consumer is to read the label and decide for yourself what ingredients you want in your shampoo. If you see anything that seems harmful: DON’T BUY IT! We all know our hair needs moisture, but we don’t need chemicals weighing it down either; keep it simple!
