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Can Adults Use Baby Shampoo
Photo: Simone Digital
Our favorite gentle baby shampoos for adults: (from left to right): Burt's Bee's Baby, Honest Shampoo + Body Wash, Johnson's Baby Shampoo, Mustela Bébé Derma Cleansing Gel

One day I used my baby’s baby shampoo on my hair because I was out of my regular shampoo. I guess out of laziness I’ve continued to use it for about a month and it seems to be working fine. I also have fine hair so I’m not sure that that helps any. Is using baby shampoo on adults bad? – Stacie

Oooohhhhh baby you’ve done it now! No, seriously it is perfectly fine to use baby shampoo on your hair for a thorough cleansing.

Can adults use baby shampoo effectively? Of course they can. The main differences between “classic” baby shampoo like Johnson & Johnson and regular shampoo is the lack of synthetic fragrance and colors which are known irritants to eyes and skin. Most baby shampoos actually use the same cleansing agents/sulfates as regular shampoos (just in smaller amounts in most cases) making them no more gentle on scalp or hair than your standard shampoo in that regard. The most gentle and moisture encouraging shampoos, baby and non, will use cleansing agents of the sulfate free aka no poo variety.

Some of our favorite sulfate free baby shampoos that works just as well on babies as they do on adults are Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Chamomile & Argan Oil Baby Shampoo, Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Tear Free Shampoo and Cara B Naturally Shampoo Body Wash for Baby. These are some of our favorite picks because they are enhanced with everything from chamomile to coconut oil but still work well on a baby’s delicate hair and skin and mama’s hair too. Whatever baby poo you decide to stick with, do an ingredient label comparison to get the best results with your hair. The best picks for curly hair will always sulfate free and have moisture retaining ingredients like oils like coconut and sunflower.

Cheers to you and your baby’s hair!

— Amena

Amena BelledeSoleil is an Aveda certified cosmetologist and owner Hair Polish Natural Hair Studio in Los Angeles. Find her on Facebook.

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