This theory is FALSE. Here are three reasons why:
- If these shampoos contained a numbing agent like nov0caine, then parents would feel a tingling or numbing sensation in their fingertips as they applied it to their child's hair.
- This would actually burn the child's skin and eyes during the washing process.
- This would put both babies and adults at extremely high risk for illness and even death due to the toxin exposure.
So what exactly is in our “no-tear” shampoos?
As you probably know, most shampoos contain sulfates in order to aid in the cleansing process. They're known to irritate skin and eyes. Over just the past few years, many companies have reformulated shampoos and products to be free of sulfates, but baby shampoos use long-chain surfactants (less emulsifying for cleansing the hair) or ionic polymers. These help prevent a stinging sensation for whenever the soap gets into child's eyes. This is why many shampoos marketed for infants and toddlers are labeled as "no-tear" shampoos.
In 2009 the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics researched the content of a number of baby shampoos and cosmetic products and found formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane in Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo (as they had done since 1953). J&J was forced to reformulate their products and by May 2013 the company announced that all formaldehyde, parabens, triclosan and phthalates had been eliminated from all of their baby products.
Still uncertain about what to wash your little one’s hair with?
Here’s a safe, gentle shampoo recipe:
- 1 oz liquid castile soap (unscented)
- 4 oz filtered water
- 3 drops lavender oil
- 3 drops orange or lemon oil
Combine the ingredients into a foaming dispenser and use as needed. Your baby's hair will be left with clean, soft, and with a pleasing fresh scent.