Human Usage of Horse Shampoo

The first time I heard about people using horse shampoos, I burst out laughing and I actually thought my cousin was joking.  I was surprised to find out that it was actually a thing for many people including a lot of Hollywood stars.  Due to their cheap prizes and the promises of faster hair growth, it has become very attractive to many.  I wanted to find out just how these compare to traditional human shampoos. 

Many times in our quest for longer and stronger hair, we are willing to try almost anything.  I must say horse shampoo usage on humans is one of the weirdest things I have ever heard. I do not know whether its the name but something is just off about it for me.

Reading reviews on the web via YouTube and other blogs there is quite a mixture of reviews.  There are those that swear their hair is stronger and longer after they use horse shampoo. As I kept reading, many questions kept popping into my mind:

• What is so special about horse shampoo that makes human hair grow faster and stronger?

Designed to clean, thicken and condition the mane and tail of horses, horse shampoos will do much the same for human hair, since the two are similar in construction.

So how exactly does horse shampoo make hair grow faster in humans?  The explanation lies in the fact that this shampoo works because it helps the hair swell and become thicker after use.  Your hair shaft becomes thicker and swollen, which makes it look thicker and fuller.  The swelling action however may not be good for those with very fine hair and might actually end up damaging it.

• What are the ingredients of horse shampoo? 

Generally, the ingredients in the horse shampoos are the same as those in our normal shampoos and that is probably why this makes them suitable for  human use. I went on the website of the very common horse shampoo (Mane n Tail) and this is the list of ingredients:

• Water/Aqua/Eau
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine
• Sodium Chloride
• Cocamide MEA
• Glycol Distearate
• Propylene Glycol
• Fragrance (Parfum)
• Hydrolyzed Collagen
• Citric Acid
• Methylchlorisothiazolinone/Methylisothiazolinone
• Butylphenyl Methylpropional

So they are basically the ingredients you will typically find in our normal shampoos.

• Are horse shampoos safe?

After reading more about each of the ingredients, I can say that horse shampoos are as safe as our traditional shampoos are.

The chemical preservatives and compounds you find in horse shampoos are the same as those in normal shampoos and other cosmetics.  I will save the details of each of those chemicals for another day.

• Would I recommend horse shampoos?

I personally have never tried it and I do not have any plans of using it.  I cannot recommend something that I have not used or do not plan on using. I have become very critical of what I use on my hair and body lately.  Something just does not sit right with me when I think of using horse shampoo on me.  My current regimen and shampoos work just fine for me.

My take is that since it contains sulfates which can be very stripping for afro natural hair, I do not think horse shampoo will make it to my list of products.

If you want healthier and stronger hair, the secret lies in strengthening and conditioning it.  If your current regimen does not seem to work, perhaps you should consider revisiting it and trying to find out what works and what doesn’t and try to fix that.

One needs a good shampoo that is not stripping or drying and a good conditioner.  Sometimes you should also take a look at your diet and any other intake such as medication that might be affecting the health of your hair.

Nutrition and hair care can enhance hair growth  the hair’s growth, but don’t expect miracles. The average person’s hair grows at a rate of 1.25 cm per month. If you keep your hair and scalp clean and conditioned, eat right and treat your hair gently during styling and grooming, you should be able to see progress in your hair’s growth.

There are many products that supplements on the market that promise “faster hair growth”, but generally they do not work and are just a waste of your money.

What is your take? Have you ever used horse shampoo? Is it something you would do? Please use the comments box below to share your thoughts and experiences.