Apparently, there is no legal definition of ‘natural shampoo’. But on a chemical standpoint, being labeled as natural or organic shampoo is only reference to its content, particularly molecules containing carbon. This means that there are actually no legal guidelines and boundaries for manufacturers to control the ingredients of shampoo products that have ‘all natural’ claims.Hence, companies that are simply labeling shampoos as ‘all natural shampoos’ may still be using cheap, synthetic and potentially harmful chemical ingredients. Since natural and organic ingredients like fruit extracts and plant derived oils are expensive and have relatively limited production rates, manufacturing companies are still compelled to use chemically derived sudsing ingredients, syhtnetic fragrances and other artificial ingredients which are common irritants.Understandably, consumers are easily drawn and lulled into thinking that products labeled as ‘all natural’ and containing ‘herbal extracts’ are better than regular shampoo products. Most people are easily attracted by shampoo products that use earth-tonish advertising claims. The key to knowing how natural a particular natural shampoo product is checking its ingredients list.As you read the labels and ingredients list of natural shampoo products, you are likely to discover that they contain ingredients like Diethanolamine (DEA), Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). Diethanolamine is a common ingredient to most personal care products. According to Dr. Samuel Epstein, M.D., the repeated use of chemical DEA even in small doses may increase the risk of developing cancer. This ingredient tends to react with other ingredients like nitrites, and product another potent carcinogen called nitrosos/DEA. Propylene glycol usually constitutes 10 to 20 percent of a typical formulation for cosmetic products. Its side-effects include skin irritation or dermatitis, liver and kidney abnormalities. This ingredient basically repels components like moisturizing water and oils, which results to dry and itchy hair and scalp.Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate are responsible for the sudsy properties of shampoos. In simple terms, these ingredients are basically cheap detergents that give shampoos a lot of foam. Deliberate use of these ingredients causes skin or scalp irritation and corroded hair follicles, which impair hair growth. Repeated use of these ingredients also impedes the body’s natural ability to regulate hair and scalp moisture.A lot of synthetic shampoo ingredients were found to be carcinogenic and common irritants. These ingredients can penetrate deep into the skin and into the bloodstream. Hence, people who are aware of this fact opt to use authentic natural shampoo formulations, even if they are a bit more expensive that regular shampoos.To ensure the quality of natural shampoo products, most people look for “100% organic” seals. However, it would be wiser to simply refer to the ingredients list. As a rule of thumb, if the name of the ingredient is difficult to pronounce, they are potentially toxic. Look for ingredients that you are more familiar of. For instance, choose products that contain ingredients like coconut oil, aloe vera, green tea, chamomile and shea butter. These products use plant-based components to clean hair and leave it smooth and silky. The natural blending of essential oils and herbs readily gives natural shampoo products their fresh scent and gentle hair cleaning action.