Building a curly hair routine is complicated enough without throwing allergies into the mix! If you have sensitive skin that reacts to fragrances in hair products, you might be really struggling to find some curly hair products that work for you. Below are some of the ingredients to look out for if you’re sensitive to fragrance, as well as some great brands with fragrance-free ranges.
What is fragrance in hair products?
Fragrances are added to hair products and other cosmetics to make them smell nice. And while some fragrances are listed individually, because ingredients known to cause allergic reactions must be listed on their own if their concentration is high enough in the product, the majority of fragrance ingredients aren’t. Because fragrances can be made up of several ingredients, they are allowed to be listed in ingredients bottles as just “parfum” or “fragrance”.
This makes it tricky for people with skin sensitivities, as they don’t know if there is a specific ingredient in the fragrance that is giving them an allergic reaction.
Fragrance ingredients that you might find in hair products include linalool (made from plants and can give a floral scent), hexyl cinnamal (derived from chamomile oil and also has a floral scent), limonene (citrus scent), and citronellol (weirdly not lemony, but also a sweet, floral scent).
Scents can also be added to hair products in the form of essential oils, such as lavender oil, orange oil, or tea tree oil. Essential oils are highly concentrated, so can be harsh on the skin.
How do you know if you’re getting an allergic reaction to a hair product?
Because hair products are applied topically (i.e. they touch the skin), the first and most obvious sign will be a skin reaction, such as itchiness, redness, and swelling. With fragrances, they can also affect your eyes, with watering or itchiness. Less common reactions when it comes to hair products include respiratory issues, like running nose and coughing/wheezing, or headaches.
How can you test whether you’re allergic to a hair product?
If you have sensitive skin, it may prove very difficult to narrow down exactly which ingredients or fragrances will cause an allergic reaction for you, which is why it’s best to do a patch test if you’re worried about your hair products. Apply a small amount of the product on your inner forearm twice a day for a week, and if you have no reactions to it, you should hopefully be good to continue careful use of it.
Things to be aware of if you are sensitive to fragrance
“Unscented” is not the same as “fragrance-free”: “fragrance-free” means that no fragrance ingredients are added to the product, whether natural or synthetic. “Unscented” means that the product doesn’t smell of anything, but the formulation still might contain fragrance in order to mask the odours of other ingredients.
The terms “hypoallergenic” and “for sensitive skin” are not regulated: this means that there are no specific standards a product has to meet in order to be carrying this label, and it’s really more of a marketing claim than a medical one.
“Dermatologist approved” may have more weight than “Dermatologically tested”: the latter means the product has been tested for skin sensitivity – the product has been tested on humans in a controlled clinical setting – but again, this term is not officially regulated, meaning there is no official criteria for what the testing should involve. “Dermatologist-approved”, however, means that a doctor or group of doctors have tested and approved it and would actively recommend it to their patients.
Fragrance-free curly hair brands
Finding fragrance-free hair products can be tricky – even more so if you are looking for curl-friendly products. The below brands are either entirely fragrance-free or have a fragrance-free range. But please double-check the ingredients before you buy: you have a better idea of what triggers an allergic reaction on your own skin.
Bouclème: UK brand Bouclème have a fragrance-free version of their co-wash, conditioner, cream and curl-defining gel, ideal for those who are sensitive to the essential oils contained in their classic range. They also ship worldwide and have a dedicated US store. Get 15% off the Bouclème website with code COAST15.
Curlsmith: Curlsmith have rebranded their Shine range to focus more on its fragrance-free properties, with a leave-in and strong hold gel in the range so far. Note: although this range is marketed as fragrance-free, the range still contains botanical extracts such as lemon peel extract and jasmine flower extract, so triple check the ingredients before you buy. Shop on the Curlsmith website, Amazon US, Amazon UK, or Sephora.
Inahsi: US brand Inahsi’s Moisture Supreme range is fragrance-free, as is one of their gels and foams. They are quite reasonably-priced, too. Check out the Inahsi website, get them on Amazon US, or find their international stockists here.
LUS/Love Ur Curls: This Canadian curly brand has a fragrance-free 3-step routine for all curl types. Shop on the LUS website or on Amazon US.
Philip Kingsley: Trichologist Philip Kingsley formulated his No Scent No Colour shampoo and conditioner when his wife had breast cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy. As the name suggests, this range is fragrance-free and colour-free for sensitive scalps. Shop direct from the Philip Kingsley website, on LookFantastic (use code LFTFCOAST for money off), Amazon UK, or Amazon US.
Shedid & Parrish: This award-winning British brand is entirely scent-free. Their products are on the moisturising side, so great for dry/damaged hair or tighter curl patterns. Get 10% off the Shedid & Parrish website with COAST10.
TréLuxe: This US brand has released their leave-in conditioner, styling serum, and curl gel in a fragrance-free version – great for those who find the scent of the originals a bit overpowering (especially the leave-in). Buy direct from the TréLuxe website, or find TréLuxe’s international stockists here.
If you’re interested in more curly hair science, check out my big dictionary of common curly hair terms, or find out whether you should be avoiding certain alcohols in your curly hair products.
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