What Happens if You Put Hand Sanitizer on Your Hair
Hand sanitizers are great for killing and protecting yourself from germs. However, in the quest to protect all parts of your body (including your hair), you should not substitute shampoo or hair creams for hand sanitizers.
One time, if accidental, use is okay as it may cause little or no damage. However, prolonged usage is heavily discouraged, as it predisposes your hair to the following problems:
What Happens if You Put Hand Sanitizer on Your Hair
Dryness and dullness
Due to the alcohol content, your hair may become dry and brittle and start to fall out.
A loss of moisture and natural oils will also cause it to lose its luster. In contrast, hand sanitizers may disrupt the sebaceous glands, leading to an over-secretion of sebum, making it even greasier. So, if you have come across the myth that it can help with greasy hair, it is best to weigh your options before trying this out.
Further damage
Your hair may start splitting from its end due to extreme dryness, especially from prolonged use. Eventually, this damage may degenerate into hair breakage. If your hair ever gets to this stage, you will have to start afresh to have healthy hair after special treatment.
Damage to scalp
The scalp is susceptible, and hand sanitizers may dry your scalp or, worse still, irritate it, leading to peeling, irritation, and a burning sensation. In the worst-case scenario, you might develop sores, and your hair may start falling out from the roots.
Dandruff
Dryness leads to dandruff. Additionally, if your hair is coloured, applying sanitisers may lead to bleaching. And even if it is not coloured, it could still strip away hair colour and lustre, causing a dull appearance and uneven colouring.
What to do
What do you do if you find yourself in this situation, accidentally or otherwise?
Wash it away with a mild anti-dandruff shampoo and rinse off properly. Then, apply a conditioner to try to bring the shine back.
Safe Alternatives to Hand Sanitizer for Hair
With the jolt of COVID came the development of sanitizing shampoo; it is not very common but can be an excellent alternative to using hand sanitizers to wash your hair.
It doubles as a sanitizer and shampoo, killing germs and microorganisms while still ensuring that your hair remains healthy.
Nevertheless, note that it is not intended for everyday use because, at the core, it is still a sanitizer.
Finally, the best kind of treatment is prevention, so if you are worried about getting viruses or germs in your hair, it is best to cover your hair.
