Is leaving the shampoo in your hair for a long time dangerous?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the safety and effects of leaving shampoo in hair for an extended period, specifically questioning whether longer exposure increases absorption of active chemicals and the importance of thorough rinsing. It also touches on the comparison between using a separate conditioner versus a shampoo-conditioner mix.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the definition of "a long time" in the context of leaving shampoo in hair.
  • Another participant clarifies that they mean a duration of half an hour instead of the typical three minutes.
  • Concerns are raised about sodium lauryl sulfate as a skin irritant, suggesting that thorough rinsing is prudent to avoid drying out the scalp and hair.
  • A participant mentions that ammonium lauryl sulfate is a common ingredient in shampoos, noting its irritant properties but suggesting that 30 minutes of exposure is unlikely to cause serious injury.
  • There is a suggestion that if hair is very dry, using a separate conditioner after rinsing out the shampoo may be beneficial.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the safety of prolonged shampoo exposure and the effectiveness of separate conditioners versus combined products. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives on the topic.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions made about individual sensitivities to shampoo ingredients, the definitions of "long time," and the specific formulations of different shampoos that may affect irritation levels.

jackson6612
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Is leaving the shampoo in your hair for a long time dangerous? Wouldn't that give the scalp more time to absorb the active chemicals in the shampoo? And is it really impostant to rinse off your shampooed head thoroughly to wash away all the shampoo?

Is using a separate conditioner better than shampoo plus conditioner mix?

Please help me with the above queries. Thanks.
 
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What do you mean by "a long time"?
 
Meant was a longer period of time than specified, say half an hour instead of three minutes.
 
Most shampoos contain sodium lauryl sulfate, which can be a skin irritant. It is a major component in engine de-greasers, car wash detergents, etc, because it is so good at removing oils and greases. I'd say that it is prudent to lather up once and rinse thoroughly to avoid drying out your scalp and hair.

If I had hair that was so dry the a conditioner was required, I would certainly find a separate conditioner so that it could be applied *after* the shampoo was thoroughly rinsed out.
 
The main ingredient in most shampoos is ammonium lauryl sulfate. It is an irritant but that http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2230.1988.tb00641.x/abstract" . The other components in the formulation can also cause or ameliorate irritation.

If the shampoo is medicated, other stuff might happen but I don't think 30 minutes would cause any serious injury. Shampoos are usually formulated to be very gentle so they don't burn your eyes.
 
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