Oven Cleaner In Your Shampoo? Yes, Really.

Is Sodium Hydroxide Lurking in Your Shampoo & Body Wash?

Sodium Hydroxide | NaOH - PubChem (nih.gov)

Sodium Hydroxide is a highly alkaline substance with a pH level of 14, but what does that mean to you?

Without getting too deep into the pH scale, let me give you some other numbers as a frame of reference.  Tap water has a pH of 7 which is neutral.  Battery Acid has a pH level of 0.  Your body's chemistry is about 7.34.  Hair is healthiest between 4.5 to 5.5.  The higher the pH on your hair actually opens the cuticle, leaving it vulnerable to damage.  Shampoo and conditioners are balanced in this range.  Over rinsing your hair actually raises the pH higher than it should be.  This is what leads to tangling and dryness.  I actually love Redken's Acidic Bonding pH Sealer which has a pH or 3.0-4.0 which is sprayed onto the hair after rinsing your conditioner which brings the pH of your hair back down to a 4 or 5 after it blends with the water remaining in your hair.  this closes your cuticle and traps in moisture, leaving hair shiny and less vulnerable.  That wonderful Redken product is shown below.

After I found out that some shampoo brands are putting Sodium Hydroxide in their formulas, I read a claim on a chemical safety website that I greatly disagree with.  Sodium Hydroxide is the active and sole ingredient in Oven Cleaners, Liquid Plumber, Drano, Lye Soap, Hair Relaxers, Hair Removers such as NAIR, and Callous Removers.  I call Sodium Hydroxide, when added to shampoos and body baths, a MICRO MELT.  I am positive they are adding it to their formulas for appearance of "smoothing" frizz so you'll buy their brand. 

The problem is the chemical is VERY damaging and drying which, accumulatively, is very noticeable.  You might blame your hot tools or your colorist.  Although heat and chemicals do cause damage over time or if used incorrectly, none are as damaging as Sodium Hydroxide to your hair nor your health.    

We don't want to encourage damage and certainly shouldn't be putting caustic chemicals on your hair, scalp, or body.  Loreal is in a lawsuit now because a woman believes her uterine cancer was caused by the Sodium Hydroxide in her Relaxer Service she has received for years.  

Manufacturers claim Sodium Hydroxide is added to balance the pH.  That is ridiculous as WATER, itself with its pH of 7-ish raises the pH too high which is what leave-in treatments do.  They balance the pH back down to the 4-5 range which is ideal.

I loved my Redken Shampoos until I found out that all of them have Sodium Hydroxide in them.  Sodium Hydroxide is also very damaging to hair that has had Ammonium Thioglycolate applied to permanently straighten the hair.  In cosmetology industry, we call it a chemical haircut.

I switched to Moroccanoil brand Shampoo & Conditioner.  Here is a photo of them.  (I am not paid for any products I recommend, by the way.)

Is sodium hydroxide safe to use in shampoo and body wash?

The safety of sodium hydroxide in shampoo and body wash is a controversial topic. Some people believe that it is safe to use in small amounts, while others believe that it is too dangerous to use in any amount.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the use of sodium hydroxide in shampoo and body wash. This means that there is no guarantee that the products are safe to use.

How to avoid sodium hydroxide in shampoo and body wash

If you are concerned about the safety of sodium hydroxide in shampoo and body wash, you can follow these tips to avoid it:

• Read the labels carefully:  When choosing shampoo and body wash, be sure to read the labels carefully. Look for products that do not contain sodium hydroxide.

• Choose natural and organic products:  Natural and organic products are less likely to contain sodium hydroxide.

• Talk to your doctor:  If you have any concerns about the safety of sodium hydroxide, you can talk to your doctor.