Are Your Hair Products Giving You Acne?

By Lora Brown

If you’re like most women, you use a hair product (or several) every day.

As a salon, we encourage this — we love hair products! But is your favorite serum causing your skin to break out?

Can Hair Products Really Cause Acne?
Hair products breaking out your skin even if you wash your face daily — that’s a myth, right? You don’t want to believe it. After all, how will you keep your hair on-point without products?

The Truth About Acne And Hair Care
Unfortunately, this problem isn’t a myth. Maybe you think you’re safe because you don’t have bangs or long hair. Sorry, wrong again.

​The truth is that anyone who uses hair products is at risk for acne. While bangs and long hair certainly increase your acne risk (since the hair is resting on your skin), there are other ways products cause trouble.

Any time you have skin-to-hair or product-to-skin contact, there’s a chance acne might occur. In the shower, for example, when you rinse out your shampoo and conditioner, those products run down your skin.

And when you sweat during an intense workout, product from your hair streams down your face even if your hair is pulled back.

What’s The Best Way To Avoid Product-Related Acne?
The first thing you need to do is determine if your acne may be a result of hair products. There’s a good chance it is if it’s located in the following areas:

• Hairline
• Jaw
• Sideburn area
• Upper forehead
• Chest
• Back
• Shoulders
  
  

If you do notice problems in one or more of the spots mentioned above, it’s time for some trial and error. The best thing to do is stop using any products that contain these ingredients:

• Sulfates
• Petroleum-based formulas
• Silicones
• Fragrance
  
  

Since the ingredients listed are found in most hair products, look for natural alternatives. There are also hair care lines specifically designed without any skin-threatening ingredients. These are usually more expensive, but it may be worth the extra cost.

Once you’ve eliminated or replaced all your hair products, start adding your favorites back in one at a time to determine the culprit. As an extra precaution, always follow these tips.

1. Use a plastic shower cap in the shower after rinsing out your conditioner.
2. Immediately wrap your hair in a towel after getting out of the shower.
3. Avoid applying hair products to your crown and roots.
4. If you have bangs, wear a headband at home or pin them back with a bobby pin.
5. Put long hair in a ponytail or bun while at home.

To learn more about hair care, give the beauty experts at The Salon by Lora Brown a call and be sure to follow our blog!

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