beauty

These Unexpected Hair Spray Ingredient And Technique That May Be To Blame For Your Hair Thinning Over 40

February 5, 2023 by Georgia Dodd
shefinds | beauty

Dealing with thinning hair can be a major bummer, and those that suffer from chronic hair loss know that finding the ideal solution takes a lot of trial and error. From at-home scalp masks to dermatologist-recommended serums, the beauty market is flooded with hundreds of products all promising to banish thinning hair for good.

Chronic hair loss sufferers also probably struggle to figure out the cause of their thinning hair. It can stem from a number of sources, whether it be genetics, aging, or even a bad reaction to certain products you’re using. While hairspray is something found in most women’s daily hairstyling routines to volumize flat hair, certain ingredients found in hairspray may actually be inflicting more damage on your hair than good.

If you’re struggling with hair loss, check your hairspray bottle to make sure you’re avoiding these ingredients that may be the cause of your hair struggles. And, make sure that you’re applying hair spray the right way because one certain technique might be the reason for your thinning hair. To learn more about the hair spray ingredient and application technique that may be causing hair thinning, we spoke with Bill Edwards, CEO of Regenix and hair loss prevention specialist, and Dawn Clemens, a hairstylist, beauty blogger, and founder of LarweHair. They said that hair sprays with ethanol and hair spraying with dirty hair may be the reason your hair is thinning. Find out more below!

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Hair spray.

Ethanol

Many hairsprays contain alcohol as a main ingredient and it usually does not damage hair. However, if you already have brittle hair, certain alcohols can have a damaging effect on your locks. "There are a few different types of alcohol–some that are damaging to hair and others that are nourishing," Edwards explains. "Ethanol, for example, is very harmful to hair as it will dry out the hair by stripping valuable oils away. Over time it can make the cuticle of the hair dry and brittle which causes frizziness and breakage." Yikes!

Hair spray on hair.

If you're concerned about thinning hair, ethanol-based hairsprays lead to frizzy, dry hair that is naturally more prone to breakage. "Ethanol is one such type of alcohol that is used in hair sprays and it causes dryness. This specific ingredient is seriously damaging to hair. It can also cause irritation in the scalp," Clemens notes.

So, instead of hairsprays with ethanol, she recommends carefully reading the label to make sure it doesn't contain this harmful chemical. "Instead of purchasing ethanol-based hairsprays, I suggest you get your hands on a bottle that contains cetearyl, stearyl, or cetyl alcohol as they help to moisturize the hair," Clemens suggests.

Thinning hair.

Proper application

Another important connection between hairspray and hair loss is how clean your hair is when you apply it. "Using hair spray often without shampooing it out can lead to build-up and attract other environmental debris that upon seeping into the follicle entranceway, can have a negative impact on the health of the hair," Edwards says. So, if you're planning to style your hair with some hairspray, make sure you're applying it to clean strands. That way you can avoid the buildup that leads to future damage and fallout.

Woman with thick hair.

Overall, there are two dangers when it comes to hairspray–harmful chemicals, and frequent use without properly cleansing the hair beforehand. While hairspray is a great tool to keep in your kit to lock down stray hair and maintain your style for hours, it's important to prioritize quality ingredients and try to avoid bogging down your scalp with buildup. That way you can prevent fallout and bring shine to brittle locks. And, if you're still suffering from hair loss, there are some life-changing haircuts and styling techniques you can try to hide gaps on your scalp!

Author:

Editorial Assistant

Georgia Dodd is a New York-based editorial assistant at SheFinds Media. When she's not covering the latest in wellness, beauty, fashion, and celebrity news for SheFinds, she spends her time reading sci-fi books, trying new foods, and listening to a true crime podcast. You can reach Georgia at [email protected].

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