Preservatives are unavoidably required in hair care and cosmetics to prevent the growth of microorganisms. We use sodium benzoate as a preservative instead of more harmful alternatives. There is a lot of disinformation about this safe material out there, including assertions that it is hazardous and poisonous to humans. Preservatives are essential in personal care products to keep them safe, but not all of them are harmful to your health.
Sodium benzoate is the sodium salt of benzoic acid. Benzoic acid and sodium benzoate powder are found in many foods. It can be found in cranberries, prunes, plums, cinnamon, mature cloves, and apples, among other fruits and vegetables. Although sodium benzoate can be found in natural sources, it is usually synthesized. Sodium benzoate is a colorless, transparent solution made from a crystalline white material that dissolves in water. This chemical is generally used as a preservative in cosmetics.
What Makes Sodium Benzoate Good For Hair?
In the beauty and hair products sector, preserving components while a product is on the shelf is a well-known challenge. Bacteria and fungal growth are important issues that must be addressed. This is where sodium benzoate comes in, and it is widely utilized in hair care products by a large number of manufacturers that believe it is safe in little dosages.
Its major role as a preservative in cosmetic formulations is to prevent fungi from forming and modifying the formulae’s composition. Although it has lesser antibacterial effectiveness, it nevertheless retains antibacterial qualities. Because it is not a broad-spectrum cosmetic preservative, it should be used with other preservatives. It also functions as a corrosion inhibitor, preventing the corroding or rusting of metallic parts used in cosmetic and hair care packaging.
Antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal chemicals are required in all hair care products. This is necessary to keep the product fresh and prevent it from degrading. Sodium benzoate has been shown to be an effective alternative for parabens, which have been linked to health problems. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved sodium benzoate as a safe and effective approach to prevent germ growth.
Sodium Benzoate Based Hair Products
If “water” or the pretentious appellation “aqua” appears in your shampoo or conditioner’s ingredients list, it’s just a cheap foundation or bottle filler. Unfortunately, water-based formulas deteriorate quickly, necessitating the use of preservatives such as parabens and sodium benzoate. And parabens are one such component that you should avoid using on your hair.
Some of the world’s most stringent natural product certification organizations recognize sodium benzoate as a preservative. Using sodium benzoate as a preservative in shampoo and conditioner is a safe and effective way to protect clients against bacteria and mold growing in the bottles.
Sodium benzoate is most useful in haircare when the pH is low, especially below 3. It has a moderate level of efficacy at a pH of 6. This preservative is frequently combined with other preservatives, such as potassium sorbate, to create a synergistic action that protects against bacteria, yeast, and molds.
Pre-shampoo hair masks, scalp masks, leave-in conditioners, and curl creams all contain sodium benzoate, which is a good product stabilizer.
Is Sodium Benzoate good on your Hair?
Despite the risk of side effects, the FDA has decided that sodium benzoate at quantities up to 0.1 percent by weight in hair care products is safe.
Sodium benzoate has received certification from the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel, which evaluates the safety of skincare and cosmetic products. According to the Expert Panel, this substance is safe to use in hair care products.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve laid out all of the advantages of sodium benzoate and dispelled any myths about it, we hope you won’t be afraid to use hair care products that contain it as a preservative.
Sodium benzoate has been shown to be a good preservative, anti-corrosive agent, masking agent, and fragrance component. It will not hurt your luxurious locks in any way if you use them in the proper amount in hair care products. It will, if anything, extend the shelf life of all of your hair care products.
