Shampoo and Conditioner

[Sassafras]

I've been a dedicated Suave user for many years because Suave produced a shampoo that I can use without getting an MSG reaction.  Recently Suave had a makeover with new bottle designs and new shampoos and conditioners.  They had eliminated the shampoo and conditioner I was using for years, so I had to look among their new products for replacements.  The shampoo I decided to use was the Natural Daily Clarifying Shampoo.  It has absolutely no colors added and the fragrance is not offensive.  I had ran out of Suave's old conditioner about a month ago so I had to start trying new brands since I was unsure of the Suave's new conditioner choices.

Typically, transparent shampoos will not have ingredients with MSG.  I have never found a conditioner that is transparent - this is a possible indication that ALL conditioners have ingredients that contain MSG, but I can't say for sure.

I tried a VO5 conditioner and had an MSG reaction after the first use.  I then tried an Aussie conditioner called Cleanse and Mend and decided to try the shampoo too a week later after not getting the same reaction as with the VO5.  Unfortunately, after about two weeks of use I got an MSG reaction which lingered about two days.  I have decided to go back to Suave and not use a conditioner for a while.  After a while I will look into one of the Professional Conditioner choices Suave has to offer and see what happens.

I emailed Aussie with my comments about their Shampoo and Conditioner and asked for a response.  If I receive one, I will post my email and their response here.

Sass

[Sassafras]

I'm back!  Sorry for the delay.  My bad!!

I emailed a company but apparently it was the wrong one.  I was given a 1-800 number to call though I haven't done so yet.

Update:  I still haven't found a conditioner I can use.  I have, though, decided to find out exactly what is in conditioner that I and other MSG sensitive people react to.

I have done some research on ingredients in three conditioners I had around the house:

1.)  Top Care® Fruit Extract, Fortifying Conditioner, Nourishing Dry and Damaged Hair
2.)  Alberto V05® Tea Therapy, Calming Chamomile Tea, Nourishing Conditioner
3.)  Suave® Conditioner, Moisturizing, Replenishes Moisture to Dry and Damaged Hair*

*I used this brand for years until Suave® "remodeled" their shampoo and conditioner lines.  I have been searching for another brand of conditioner ever since.

Overview:
MORE TO COME

1.)  Top Care® Fruit Extract, Fortifying Conditioner, Nourishing Dry and Damaged Hair

Reaction:
My reactions consisted of a headache lasting for 6 to 24 hours.  Initially I didn't recognize I had an MSG headache because I didn't get a reaction until the middle of the morning the next day.  Another time I used Top Care®, I get a headache before I got out of the shower.

Ingredients:
Aqua
Cetyl Alcohol - Emulsion Stabilizer, Surfactant, Foam Booster - Source
PEG-180 - Binder, Humectant, Solvent - Source
Behentrimonium Chloride - Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning Agent, Preservative - Source
Amodimethicone - Hair Conditioning Agent - Source
Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract - Proprietary, Skin-Conditioning Agent - Source
Parfum - Fragrance
Cetyl Esters - Skin-Conditioning Agent - Source
Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone - Skin-Conditioning Agent, Surfactant, Emulsifying Agent - Source
Metylparaben - Fragrance Ingredient, Preservative - Source
Hydroxyethylcellulose - Binder, Emulsion Stabilizer, Viscosity Increasing Agent - Source
Lanolin - Emulsion Stabilizer, Hair Conditioning Agent, Skin-Conditioning Agent - Source
Niacinamide - Hair Conditioning Agent, Skin-Conditioning Agent - Source
Pyridoxine HCI - Hair Conditioning Agent, Skin-Conditioning Agent - Source
Tideceth-12 - Surfactant, Emulsifying Agent - Source
Citric Acid - Chelating Agent, Fragrance Ingredient, pH Adjuster - Source
Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract - Skin-Conditioning Agent - Source
Cetrimonium Chloride
Citrus Medica Limonium (Lemon) Peel Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
DMDM Hydantoin


2.)  Alberto V05® Tea Therapy, Calming Chamomile Tea, Nourishing Conditioner

Reaction:
The last time I used VO5®, I got a reaction from this stuff before I rinsed it all out of my hair.  I washed my hair with shampoo right way and still had a whopper of a headache.  I took two benadryl, 4 ibuprofen, and went to bed.

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua)
Cetyl Alcohol
Cetrimonium Chloride
Stearalkonium Chloride
Stearyl Alcohol
Steareth-21
Glyceryl Stearate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract
Tocopheryl Acetate
Biotin
Niacinamide
Polysorbate 20
Ascorbic Acid
Panthenol
Propylene Glycol
DMDM Hydantoin
Disodium EDTA
Fragrance (Parfum)


3.)  Suave® Conditioner, Moisturizing, Replenishes Moisture to Dry and Damaged Hair

Reaction:
If I used too much or got any in my mouth, I would have a tinge of a headache.

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua)
Cetyl Alcohol
Cetrimonium Chloride
Potassium Chloride
Fragrance (Parfum)
Distearyldimonium Chloride
Disodium EDTA
Isopropyl Palmitate
Glycerin
2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1
3-Diol
Panthenol
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Sodium PCA
Methylisothiazolinone
D&C Orange No.4 (CI 15510)
FC&C Yellow No.5 (CI 19140)




...
I am going to define the above ingredients as soon as I straighten out my back and my eyes can focus on normal size type.   

Just Me,
Sass

[Sassafras]

Jeepers, creepers!  It has been so long since I started this thread.  I am very bad now!

I still haven't found a conditioner for excitotoxin sensitive people yet.  I figure, all conitioners are to be avoided.  Why I was able to use Sauve for so long will remain a mystery.

For shampoos, I have been swinging over to body washes since there are so little variety in the shampoo aisle.  Dove Men's Care Body Wash, Sensitive seems to be working and it offers a semi-conditioned feel and managablity to my hair.  I have used Irish Spring Original too.

The main thing you have to remember is to avoid any product with the word "protein" because they are ALL hydrolyzed and avoid "extract" because they are ALL autolyzed.    The least number of ingredients is the best.

Well, let's keep up the good fight, my friends.
___________________________
Just Me
Sass