Know the side effects of hair gel before using it for style



Your hair is one of the most significant parts of your persona. It can make you look presentable and feel confident too. That’s why people end up spending time, money and mindspace to get their hairstyle on point. One of the factors to this end is the use of a hair gel. It’s a part of every style-conscious person’s hair care routine. But are you aware of the side effects of hair gel?

Using a hair gel regularly can make your hair look dull and dry due to the chemicals used in it. Hair gel can beautify your hair but can steal its real beauty and shine. These gels aid in hairstyling, making hairstyles last longer, adding texture and giving them a sleek look. It naturally uplifts a person’s outward appearance and also gives their overall confidence a boost. But on the other hand, hair gels are considered to have negative consequences on the hair, scalp, and body due to the presence of toxic chemicals. Do you know your hair gel can be too harsh on your hair and can lead to dandruff, hair fall and even baldness.

The following are some of the side effects of hair gel

1. Dehydrates your hair

According to a 2015 research cited by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), most hair gels consisted of toxic chemicals including alcohol. Alcohol can cause dryness and dehydrate your hair. The corrosive chemicals can strip off moisture from the hair and scalp. These gels mess up with the natural moisture levels of your hair. Dehydrated hair can end up in less production of sebum which is required for nurturing your hair. Less moisture in your hair could be one of the major reasons for brittle and breakage-prone hair. These chemicals may give rise to the problems of itchy and flaky scalp. All this can lead your hair to lose its strength and appearance.

You can always try a DIY gel for your hair to be on the safer side.

Hair gel may leave your hair dry
Hair gel may leave your hair dry. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

2. Hair loss:

While styling your hair, do you ever think that your styling hack can be a reason for your hair loss? “While using these hair gels regularly, you must remember that these gels can steal the natural moisture from your hair and scalp, thereby making the hair prone to breakage and fall,” as per the NCBI study. The chemical compounds present in these gels along with external pollutants can impact the production of sebum, which is an essential for keeping your hair and scalp hydrated as well as strong. Slow reduction in the production of sebum results in hair fall.

3. Dandruff

Use of a hair gel can cause dry scalp. It happens because of the presence of chemicals. Due to these chemicals, your scalp and hair can lose their natural oil and therefore become dehydrated and undernourished. An infected scalp can be recognized by the issues like irritation, itchiness, and flakiness of the scalp, leading to dandruff.

Beware of dandruff after hair gel use.
Beware of dandruff after hair gel use. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

4. Premature greying

Not only your scalp but your hair too can be drastically affected by the toxic chemicals of a hair gel. Discoloration of hair is also a common side effect of using hair gels. These gels rip off the nourishment and moisture content of the hair. It disturbs the pH balance of the hair and gives birth to hair-related issues such as unhealthy, scarce and dull hair. Harmful chemicals in these gels also have ill effects on colour-treated hair and lead to fading or discoloration. Prolonged usage of these hair gels can also result in early greying of hair.

So, folks! Occasional use of a hair gel may be fine, but if you want to steer clear from its side effects, avoid using it on a day-to-day basis.





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