Some people think finding the right shampoo is like falling in love—you meet a lot of contenders, but the right one makes you tingle. The truth is, choosing a shampoo is a complicated process with several baseline considerations to take into account, including whether or not your shampoo was animal tested, what it does to the environment once it’s down the drain, and how it affects your personal health.

How bad can a shampoo really be? The Environmental Working Group conducted a study of 25,000 cosmetic products, including 1,043 shampoos, and found that 93 percent of shampoos contain harmful ingredients [1], some of which are linked to breast cancer, liver damage, neurological disorders, birth defects, and Alzheimer’s.

Here are a few shampoo ingredients to be aware of:

Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) + Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) are foaming agents and emulsifiers used in shampoo to create the lather effect. They can cause permanent eye damage [2], and when used in combination with DEA, TEA and MEA (Diethanolamine, Triethanolamine, Monoethanolamine), SLS/SLES can produce carcinogens [3].

Phthalates, which include various chemical plasticizers, have been found to produce cancer of the liver and birth defects in lab animals [4]. They are commonly disguised simply as Fragrance on labels because the FDA does not require personal care product manufacturers to disclose the ingredients in fragrances (which are considered “trade secrets”). Avoid phthalates by choosing unscented products, or products which contain simple essential oils (especially thyme, rosemary, sage, lavender, and tea tree oil).

Formaldehyde (DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15, bronopol) is a “probable human carcinogen” according to the EPA [5] as well as a skin, eye, and respiratory irritant [6]. It is also a volatile organic [6] compound (VOC), which means that under certain conditions it can easily change form and become a breathable gas.

Methylisothiazoline (MIT) is a toxic chemical that causes neurological disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, and birth defects [7].

Finally, parabens are a preservative used widely in cosmetics that cause hormone disruption and have been linked to cancer. Specifically, one well known scientific study found parabens in samples of breast tumors [8].

The last words on healthy shampooing? Healthy skepticism for shampoo labeled, “all-natural,” “100% natural,” or “hypoallergenic.” These terms are not regulated or verified by any government (or otherwise certified) agency.

SHAMPOO CHEAT SHEET
	Burt’s Bees Super Shiny Grapefruit & Sugar Beet Shampoo $8.00 Not tested on animals. No Sodium Lauryl (Laureth) Sulfate. No parabens. Smells as yummy as the name sounds. Leaves hair (almost a little too) squeaky clean after rinse, but it dries silky and soft. Recyclable (number 2 plastic) container. Find it at: CVS Vitamin Shoppe, Whole Foods, Target, beauty supply and health food stores
	Aubrey Organics Blue Camomile Hydrating Shampoo $9.98 Organic ingredients. Not tested on animals. Certified vegan. No Sodium Lauryl (Laureth) Sulfate. No parabens. Herbal chamomile smell relaxes and refreshes at the same time. Great lathering experience. Keeps hair from getting greasy for a long time! Recyclable (number 2 plastic) container. Find it at: Whole Foods, Wild Oats, natural health food stores, Drugstore.com.
	Avalon Organics Therapeutic Shampoo, Nourishing Lavender $8.59 100% vegetarian [8] ingredients. Not tested on animals. No parabens. No Sodium Lauryl (Laureth) Sulfate. If you like lavender, you'll love this. The scent fills up the entire bathroom, transforming it into a spa. Recyclable (number 1 plastic) container made from recycled materials! The company office and warehouse are 100% solar powered and Avalon has a good environmental record. Find it at: Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Trader Joes, GNC, health food stores.
	Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Daily Shampoo $10.49 Not tested on animals. No Sodium Lauryl (Laureth) Sulfate. No parabens. Contains Propylene Glycol and Fragrance. Contains Methylisothiazolinone. Vibrant citrus smell. Lathers nicely. Tames fly-aways leaving hair smoother and shinier. Recyclable (number 2 plastic) container. Find it at: CVS, beauty supply stores, Drugstore.com—this product is only guaranteed if sold by a professional hair care salon.
	Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Shampoo $7.99 Certified organic essential oils. Vegan. Not tested on animals. No Sodium Laurel (Laureth) Sulfate. No parabens. Refreshing tingle action. Scalp cooling shampoo leaves hair feeling squeaky clean. Plus, submit your very own "tidbit" (a bite-sized fortune-cookie-esque phrase) via the website, which could be printed on the back of a bottle—on ours: "life in a vacuum sucks." Recyclable (number 2 plastic) container. Find it at: Whole Foods, GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, Drugstore.com

More LIME's Guide to Buying [8]