How to Read a Shampoo Label (Without a Chemistry Degree)

Shampoo bottles are covered in promises - volumising, strengthening, shine-boosting, colour-protecting. The only part of the label that tells the truth is the ingredients list on the back. The problem is it is usually written in Latin, chemistry and acronyms. Here is how to decode it in five minutes.

The rule of the first five ingredients

Ingredients are listed in descending order by volume. Whatever appears in the first five makes up the bulk of the bottle. If the first five are water, a harsh detergent, a silicone, a synthetic fragrance blend and a preservative - you are essentially buying very expensive, lightly perfumed water.

Five ingredients worth avoiding

•      Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) and Sodium Lauryl Ethanol Sulphate (SLES) - harsh detergents that strip natural oils

•      Parabens (methyl-, propyl-, butyl-) - preservatives linked to hormone disruption

•      Dimethicone and other silicones ending in -cone or -xane - they coat hair to fake shine and cause long-term build-up

•      Parfum or Fragrance (unspecified) - can contain dozens of undisclosed synthetic compounds

Five ingredients worth looking for

•      Aloe Vera - hydrating and scalp-soothing

•      Argan oil - natural moisture without weight

•      Vitamin E (tocopherol)- antioxidant and scalp-supporting

•      Essential oils named by plant - lavender, eucalyptus, bergamot, mandarin

•      Plant-derived surfactants - gentle cleansing without stripping

How Dot & Lola stacks up

Every Dot & Lola shampoo is free from SLS, SLES, parabens, silicones and synthetic fragrances and colours. The ingredients you see are the ingredients that are working - organic aloe vera, fig extract, lupine seed, argan oil, and essential oils sourced from farming cooperatives that reduce pesticide exposure. No filler, no fog.

The five-second label test

Next time you pick up a bottle, flip it over and scan the first five ingredients. If you cannot pronounce four of them and the only plant in sight is at the bottom in trace amounts, put it back. Your hair deserves a label you can actually read.

Compare the ingredient list on your current shampoo to a Dot & Lola bottle - we think you will notice the difference before you even wash your hair.