Can Humans Use Dog Shampoo? Vet-Approved Safety and Efficacy
Anyone who purchases dog shampoo might find themselves wondering whether it can be used on human hair. This question can arise out of natural curiosity or out of a desperate situation where dog shampoo is the only option available. While you can use dog shampoo in a pinch to wash out dirt or sweat from your hair, you should not use dog shampoo regularly. It is not an effective shampoo for humans, as it's designed for use on canine skin and fur.
Made for Dog Fur, Not Human Hair
Dog shampoo is specifically designed for use on dogs and not people. While this sounds innocuous, it is quite a big difference. Dog skin has a completely different pH balance than human skin, and it needs different compounds to stay healthy. Human skin prefers a slightly acidic pH balance, while dog skin prefers a neutral to basic pH balance. This difference means that dog shampoo will throw off the natural balance of your scalp and hair, which can lead to unpleasant side effects.
Side Effects of Using Dog Shampoo
If you use dog shampoo regularly, you will start to run into problems with your hair’s health. First, many canine-focused shampoos come with strong chemicals that kill or deter fleas and other common pests found on dogs. These chemicals can irritate a human scalp, leading to itching and burning.
The mismatched pH balance will also lead to dry skin and dandruff in humans. A bad pH balance on the scalp can even predispose you to fungal skin infections and bacterial growth.
Finally, the hair itself will become brittle and flat. Healthy hair is hair that receives all the necessary compounds to keep it strong and growing, as well as a healthy pH balance and oil content. Dog shampoo will work to counteract all of these things, leaving your hair limp and dull. It can even lead to some hair breaking easily and falling out. None of these things are desirable for a good head of hair.
Can You Use Dog Shampoo to Combat Lice or Fleas?
What about using dog shampoo to help combat lice or fleas? After all, people can be affected by these pests too. While that is true, there are more effective flea treatment methods designed for humans. In a pinch, you might be able to use a dog shampoo that features chemicals designed to ward off fleas, as it might help with lice. But you should ask your doctor first, and there are medicated shampoos designed specifically for people that would be better, anyway.
Using dog shampoo once, in any capacity, will not lead to long-term issues. Using dog shampoo repeatedly or regularly will lead to problems. If you want to wash your hair with dog shampoo to try to get rid of lice or fleas, you technically can. But it probably won't be very effective, and you should definitely not make a habit of using dog shampoo in place of regular shampoo.
Final Thoughts
Using dog shampoo once to try it out won’t have a noticeable effect on your hair. It does not clean better than human shampoo. However, over time, using dog shampoo can lead to serious negative side effects on the health of your hair and scalp. It is best to leave the dog shampoo for the dogs and use regular human shampoo for your own hair.
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Featured Image Credit: jackmac34, Pixabay
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Nicole has loved animals of all sizes her whole life so it's no wonder she has dedicated her career to helping them through what she loves best: learning, writing, and sharing knowledge with others. She’s the proud mom of two dogs, a cat, and a human. With a degree in Education and 15+ years of writing experience, Nicole wants to help pet parents and pets around the planet to live happy, safe, and healthy lives.
