Encyclopedia
Every molecule that touches your hair
From proven medicines to kitchen-cupboard oils, with the studies behind each one.
14 entries
A
-
botanical
Aloe vera
Aloe gel is a soothing, water-binding scalp and hair conditioner, with no solid human trial showing it grows hair.
C
-
surfactant
Coco-glucoside
A coconut-derived mild cleanser that is a staple of sulfate-free shampoos, with the same contact-allergy caveat as decyl glucoside.
D
-
surfactant
Decyl glucoside
A plant-derived mild cleanser marketed as ultra-gentle, but its best-documented concern is a rising rate of contact allergy.
E
-
oil or butter
Emu oil
Emu oil is a rendered bird-fat moisturizer with some mouse anti-inflammatory data, marketed for hair growth without any hair trial behind it.
J
-
oil or butter
Jojoba oil
A liquid wax often said to mimic scalp sebum; we found no hair-specific efficacy study.
L
-
oil or butter
Lanolin
A sheep-wool wax used as an emollient in pomades and conditioners; a weak but real contact allergen whose true allergy rate is probably under-detected.
-
surfactant
Lauryl glucoside
A 12-carbon alkyl glucoside that foams a little better than decyl glucoside and carries the same class contact-allergy profile.
P
-
oil or butter
Petrolatum
A refined mineral-oil-and-wax jelly that is the base of many greasy pomades; it seals and adds shine but does not enter the hair.
S
-
surfactant
Sodium cocoamphoacetate
A mild two-charge helper surfactant used in baby, sulfate-free and sensitive-scalp shampoos to soften harsher cleansers.
-
surfactant
Sodium cocoyl glutamate
An amino-acid-based cleanser that was among the best-tolerated surfactants in a 105-patient patch-test study, with no scalp or hair trials yet.
-
surfactant
Sodium cocoyl glycinate
A glycine-based mild cleanser with one industry body-wash study showing mildness and no scalp or hair studies.
-
surfactant
Sodium cocoyl isethionate
A mild anionic cleanser, the basis of many syndet bars, with good lab evidence of being gentle on the skin barrier and growing use in sulfate-free shampoos and shampoo bars.
-
surfactant
Sodium lauroamphoacetate
The lauric-chain version of the amphoacetate family, used as a mild helper surfactant in sulfate-free shampoos.
-
surfactant
Sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate
A more soluble cousin of sodium cocoyl isethionate used as a mild cleanser in modern sulfate-free shampoos, with no independent studies of its own.