Healthy hair is an important part of the overall health of the body. And it pays to be aware of the potential impact to health of the products that we use to care for our hair. Some of them have ingredients that have been linked to potential health problems for both hair care professionals and consumers.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is the ingredient in shampoos that has been shown to contribute to hair loss. It's found in the majority of commercially available shampoos and conditioners. It's a sudsing agent that binds with grime and dirt. When the hair is rinsed after shampooing, the SLS is rinsed away carrying the dirt with it. But even with a thorough rinsing, some residue can remain. The problem occurs because this chemical is thought to dry the scalp and possibly damage hair follicles. It may also cause allergies and skin and eye irritation. The damage done by SLS is thought to be a contributing factor in some cases of hair loss.

Aside from follicular damage, the irritation cause by SLS is can lead to inflammation which can also contribute to hair loss. Also, it's suggested that the more the SLS product is used and the longer you leave it on the scalp, the greater the possibility of adverse effects. It's probably prudent to use less of these products, to use them as quickly as possible and to rinse thoroughly to remove any residue.

Though most shampoos have SLS in them, and the vast majority of people show no adverse reaction to them with their normal hair care regimen, it's possible that some individuals are more sensitive to it than others. If you fall under this category, it's probably in your best interest to use caution when using these products.

Hair care products are unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration. And while there have been some cases of reactions by consumers when using products containing certain ingredients, many of these products remain on the market. If you're concerned, it makes sense to do some research (especially if you're having any kind of reaction) to see if something you are using is the culprit.

Another problem ingredient in hair care products are parabens. They are used as preservatives to prevent bacteria and mold and mildew from forming. They can be found in a number of popular shampoos and conditioners (and also in deodorants, sunscreens and soaps). The danger from these chemicals is that they can cause responses similar to those triggered by the hormone estrogen. There is no conclusive study based evidence of parabens increasing the rate of illness, but the estrogen like responses coupled with the residual amounts of parabens that remain can in the bloodstream, have prompted some scientists to call for more extensive testing.

Finally, there are health concerns regarding the products used for hair coloring. Some consumers of hair dyes have reported symptoms like irritation, burning, hair loss and even breathing problems. Many consumer hair color products have ingredients that are known to be carcinogens. When using these products, whether you're the consumer or a hair care professional, reasonable caution should be employed. Limit skin contact as much as possible and work in a well ventilated area or use a mask (or better yet, do both). Safest of all is to avoid using hair dyes with known questionable ingredients entirely.

There are a number of hair care products on the market that are free from possibly unhealthy chemicals. Many natural and organic products are available that use herbal extracts and natural dyes instead. They are becoming more widely available as consumer demand for natural products increases. And if you're not going to use one of these safer products, then try to find the least toxic ones that you can.