Herbal Essences

[Katester]

I've read about Herbal Essences not being gluten-free on this website. Why does shampoo and conditioner need to be gluten-free? I don't eat it or anything...

[samcarter]

According to Dr Peter Green, the gluten protein cannot be absorbed through the skin (as I read in his book Celiac Disease: The Hidden Epidemic).

There is a school of thought, though, that it is too easy to get shampoo or conditioner into one's mouth while showering (I have never had this happen), or if there are traces of the gluten on your hands, and you put your hands in your mouth, et cetera.

I decided to not worry too much about my lotions and shampoos (I did read the labels, Suave and Neutrogena do not "hide" wheat under a different name), but if I am totally gluten free food wise, and medication wise and still have symptoms, then I'll scrutinize the labels a little better.

It's a personal decision. Some feel better knowing their personal care products are completely gluten free, others feel it's not as important. Lip balms and lipsticks, though, should definitely be gluten free, since you can actually ingest that.

[gfp]

  samcarter said:

There is a school of thought, though, that it is too easy to get shampoo or conditioner into one's mouth while showering (I have never had this happen), or if there are traces of the gluten on your hands, and you put your hands in your mouth, et cetera.

But I bet you know how it tastes ???

I think its next to impossible not to get any shampoo into your mouth when showering... certainly you can be extra extra careful but then you breath the odd bit in (which end up in your back of the throat) ...

As for adsorbing.... I dunno but I do know I think its a bad idea to get it into your bloodstream and if you have cuts/spots etc. then this is quite easy... as you tend to scrub a bit and perhaps open a half closed wound when showering.. ???

Its just my 2c but I find it easier (after being caught out) to make sure the bathroom stuff is gluten-free then I don't need to worry each time !! I'm not saying you can't be real real careful...I'm just saying I shower half asleep (leastwise the first minute) and making sure I don't have a cut or spot open is not my number one thing in the morning.

[samcarter]

  gfp said:

But I bet you know how it tastes ???

I think its next to impossible not to get any shampoo into your mouth when showering... certainly you can be extra extra careful but then you breath the odd bit in (which end up in your back of the throat) ...

As for adsorbing.... I dunno but I do know I think its a bad idea to get it into your bloodstream and if you have cuts/spots etc. then this is quite easy... as you tend to scrub a bit and perhaps open a half closed wound when showering.. ???

Its just my 2c but I find it easier (after being caught out) to make sure the bathroom stuff is gluten-free then I don't need to worry each time !! I'm not saying you can't be real real careful...I'm just saying I shower half asleep (leastwise the first minute) and making sure I don't have a cut or spot open is not my number one thing in the morning.

Those are definitely possibilities, and you make a good point about it being one less thing to worry about in the morning if you know your shampoo is gluten free.

Like I said, I read the labels on the shampoo I had when I decided to go gluten free. Nexxus actually had wheat FLOUR in it. Ugh. Tossed it out. I read on here that Suave does not hide wheat on their labels, so if they put wheat protein in it, it's on the label as wheat protein, not a fancy botanical name. More and more labels are doing that.

I read my Suave and herbal essences labels, and none had wheat on them. So I continue to use them. I didn't look up all the chemically names on there to see if they were wheat derived, though, so I'm not 100% sure they're gluten free, because the label doesn't say "gluten free".

I feel comfortable with this level because, as I said, I have yet to get shampoo in my mouth. Others may not feel comfortable with this and want to get a shampoo/conditioner that states "gluten free" on the label. I just wanted the OP to know that according to an expert, the gluten protein can't be absorbed through unbroken skin, so on that basis, there's no need to worry overmuch.

[gfp]

  samcarter said:

Those are definitely possibilities, and you make a good point about it being one less thing to worry about in the morning if you know your shampoo is gluten free.

Like I said, I read the labels on the shampoo I had when I decided to go gluten free. Nexxus actually had wheat FLOUR in it. Ugh. Tossed it out. I read on here that Suave does not hide wheat on their labels, so if they put wheat protein in it, it's on the label as wheat protein, not a fancy botanical name. More and more labels are doing that.

I read my Suave and herbal essences labels, and none had wheat on them. So I continue to use them. I didn't look up all the chemically names on there to see if they were wheat derived, though, so I'm not 100% sure they're gluten free, because the label doesn't say "gluten free".

I feel comfortable with this level because, as I said, I have yet to get shampoo in my mouth. Others may not feel comfortable with this and want to get a shampoo/conditioner that states "gluten free" on the label. I just wanted the OP to know that according to an expert, the gluten protein can't be absorbed through unbroken skin, so on that basis, there's no need to worry overmuch.

I am about the same... luckily I do know the scientific names so it's easier ...

My incident in question was quite embarrassing. I'd actually run out of soap and had a old bottle (a present from an aunt) of shower gel I'd been using all week.... to cut a long and embarrassing story short .... I got caught short... the bar toilet was engaged and I had to go home to 'clean up'...

As I'm showering (cleaning myself up) the shower gel say's right on the front in BIG LETTERS ... "Enriched with pure wheat protein" ...

[SacGFGirl]

  Katester said:

I've read about Herbal Essences not being gluten-free on this website. Why does shampoo and conditioner need to be gluten-free? I don't eat it or anything...

Where on the website did you find this? Previous threads discuss herbal essence having wheat protein in them but I do not see that on my bottles' label.

[Katester]

I don't see it on the label either. That's why I was asking about it. I've actually been using it anyway. My hair is very picky and that seems to be the only shampoo and conditioner that work well for me. I've heard about Dove and Suave but both leave my hair feeling nasty. I'd rather chance it and have nice hair. =)

[gfp]

  Katester said:

I don't see it on the label either. That's why I was asking about it. I've actually been using it anyway. My hair is very picky and that seems to be the only shampoo and conditioner that work well for me. I've heard about Dove and Suave but both leave my hair feeling nasty. I'd rather chance it and have nice hair. =)

I think mostly our hair just gets used to a product..... I'm not saying one isn't better or fels nicer but that over time your hair adjusts to whichever product you're using.

Your water can also be a big contributer...

[samcarter]

  Katester said:

I don't see it on the label either. That's why I was asking about it. I've actually been using it anyway. My hair is very picky and that seems to be the only shampoo and conditioner that work well for me. I've heard about Dove and Suave but both leave my hair feeling nasty. I'd rather chance it and have nice hair. =)

Suave works for me for about, oh, three days. Then it feels gross. I like Herbal Essence's Long Term Relationship Raspberry and Silk (I think that's the name). My hair is past my shouders and I generally flat iron it, and I need a lot of moisture.

[Lisa16]

One "hidden" place where it can be is in the tocopherols. This is vitamin E and it can be derived from wheat. Often, if you ask a company, they cannot tell you where they get the tocopherol from.

For me the shampoo and conditioner question is really hard. I feel they must be gluten free (I have DH, not to mention that I am a shower singer and I always get some in my mouth. Always.) And despite what Dr. Green says, there are articles out there they say we absorb up to 30% of whatever we put on our skin. And some people feel he is dead wrong. If you really want to get scared look up the skindeep website, where they talk about cosmetic chemicals and how they are absorbed and what they can do to you).

Then you hair can blow in your mouth, you can touch you hair or scalp and later eat something. And how many times do you find hair in your food? It is just easier not to have to worry..... I could go on. I will let your imagination do the job for me.

There are a lot of postings on this topic because it is controversial to some and also because it is really tough to find good products that are safe.

Here is a list of shampoos that I like.... I tend to switch off among them:

Yes to cucumbers for dry/colored hair (sold in Walgreens) No SLS.

Burt's Bess-- there are two of three safe ones. The shiny hair one for sure. Check the label or the website (under FAQ) No SLS.

Dessert Essences (says gluten-free on tube)

LUSH solid shampoos-- tricomania, godiva, new, shiny.... pretty much all are safe. PLus many do not have SLS.

(you can order online. There is a store in the Mall of America.)

California baby

Other people here have mentioned Herbal Essences as safe, as well as dove, pantene, alterna, kenra and neutrogena (read labels.) There are more small brand that have been mentioned as safe (see the post "losing it over shampoo" in the coping section.) Some of these are not locally available to me. I imagine that is the case for many people.

For conditioners, there are some safe ones by korres, Lush, burt's bees, Dessert essences....

Good luck!

[Puddy]

I called the manufacturer about Herbal Essence a couple months ago and they said they couldn't guarantee that some of their ingredients may have become cross contaminated, but don't intentionally add any gluten to their products. I don't care for the way my hair feels using Dove or Suave either, but have had good luck with Garnier Fructis. All their shampoos and conditioners are gluten free, but I always call and double check when I buy a new bottle.