Have you ever read the advertising on hair care products and noticed that many products seem to promise a miracle? Yet when you use the product, it seems like the same old product that’s supplied by everybody else. And when you read through the ingredients, it can be impossible to pronounce some things on the list, much less know what they actually are.
Fragrance-free conditioners have simple ingredients that are normally safe for your hair or skin. Learn more about fragrance-free conditioners and whether they’re right for you.
The distinction between unscented and fragrance-free
It’s important to understand the differences between unscented products and fragrance-free, and the regulatory aspects around them. To put it simply:
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Fragrance-free: Fragrance has not been added to the product. It’s pretty much the real deal for those that are trying to avoid fragrance due to allergies, or just because they don’t want their products to smell.
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Unscented: This one’s a little bit more tricky. Unscented means that there may potentially be some masking agents that are used to cover the smell of the product. So while it may smell like they don’t have any fragrances in them, they do.
In the U.S., the FDA does not regulate the use of the term “fragrance-free”, which is why it’s important to understand this distinction (more to come in this article about ingredients you should look out for). For those outside the U.S., you may want to look into the regulations set out by your country’s regulatory agencies.
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What are the benefits of fragrance-free conditioners specifically?
There are many reasons why you might want to switch over to fragrance-free conditioners — most importantly, they can work wonders for your hair and scalp. Some benefits include:
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Reduced risk of allergies: As mentioned previously, while fragrance can make a product smell nice, it is a common allergen. One of the most common side effects of fragrance is that they can lead to itchy, irritated skin (including the scalp).
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Good for sensitive skin: If you have sensitive skin, then fragrance-free conditioners can be gentler on the skin than other products (just a caveat though, the ingredients matter). Although not everyone with sensitive skin, eczema or psoriasis is sensitive to fragrance, fragrance-free conditioners are a suitable swap that can help you play it safe.
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Healthier (and less) ingredients: If a product has a ton of ingredients, it’s very likely using masking agents. Without needing to mask the smell of chemicals, the ingredient list of products become (naturally) much smaller. This has huge benefits for your hair and skin.
What are some ingredients to look out for in fragrance-free conditioners?
Next time you’re shopping around for fragrance free conditioners, have a look for the following ingredients:
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Parabens: Although the jury is still out and more research needs to be done, some data suggests these ingredients may act as hormone disruptors by possibly mimicking the effects of estrogen. Here’s a research paper that dives into that in a little bit more detail.
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Phthalates: These are usually also found in products that smell good — just know they might not be good for you. Phthalates may also be linked to hormone disruption as well as reproductive issues.
There are many other ingredients as well such as silicones (e.g. dimethicone, cyclomethicone), alcohol (more specifically, isopropyl alcohol), and propylene glycol. These ingredients are added to affect how the product feels and enhances the appearance of the hair (e.g. adding shine, reducing frizz, etc.), rather than what’s actually happening to your scalp and hair roots.
What’s a good example of a fragrance-free conditioner?
There have been many glowing reviews about SEEN’s range of fragrance-free conditioners. The products were developed by Dr. Iris Rubin, a Harvard-trained dermatologist. The story around SEEN is that Dr. Rubin experienced breakouts and realized it was from the hair care products she was using. The story is something many people can resonate with — however, Dr. Rubin took it into her own hands and developed a range of products that can help your hair remain healthy and eliminate breakouts while taking care of your hair.
SEEN Fragrance Free Conditioner contains key ingredients like:
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Hemisqualane: This is derived from plant sugars and is used instead of silicones. It reduces frizz and smoothes your hair while not causing any skin irritation.
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Bisabolol: This naturally derived ingredient is commonly used in skincare for its calming effects on the skin. This is especially important for conditioners as it reduces any chance of irritation on the scalp. A must-have ingredient for those with skin irritation issues.
Although these ingredients can be beneficial for your hair, it’s all about what ingredients work for you and what don’t.
So, what’s the key takeaway?
Fragrance-free may be the answer for those suffering from sensitive skin or scalp issues. What works for you might not work for everyone else — and similarly, what works for everyone else might not work for you. It’s all about your hair, your skin and your body.
The news and editorial staffs of the New York Daily News had no role in this post’s preparation.
