How to read the INCI labels of your hair products

You turn your bottles over, you read the ingredient list... and you don't understand a thing. Latin names, chemical terms, mysterious abbreviations. Don't panic, deciphering an INCI label can be learned! And once you know how to read it, you'll never choose your hair products the same way again.

What is INCI nomenclature?

INCI stands for International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients; it's the standardized international system that names every cosmetic ingredient. All serious manufacturers, including crePus Infinis, are required to display the full INCI list on their products. This is your guarantee of transparency.

The golden rule: the order of ingredients

Ingredients are listed from most concentrated to least concentrated. The first ingredients represent the majority of the formulation; the last ones are present in very small quantities. Specifically:
- The first 5 ingredients = the bulk of the product
- Ingredients after 1% can be listed in any order
- If water (Aqua) is first, it's an aqueous formulation; ideal for hydration

Ingredients to look for in kinky hair

- 🌿 Sodium Hyaluronate → Hyaluronic acid — intense hydration
- 🥥 Cocos nucifera Oil → Coconut oil — nourishment and shine
- 🌺 Hibiscus sabdariffa Extract → Hibiscus — suppleness and elasticity
- ⚡ Eclipta alba Extract → Eclipta alba — regrowth and strengthening
- 🌿 Serenoa serrulata Fruit Extract → Saw Palmetto — anti-hair loss
- 🎃 Cucurbita pepo Seed Oil → Pumpkin seed oil — scalp nourishment
- 💧 Simmondsia chinensis Seed Oil → Jojoba — light hydration and sebum balance
- 🌱 Panthenol → Provitamin B5 — hydration and resistance
- 🌼 Tocopherol → Vitamin E — antioxidant and protection

Ingredients to avoid for kinky hair

- ❌ Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) / Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) → Harsh surfactants that strip hair and dry out the scalp
- ❌ Dimethicone / Cyclomethicone → Silicones that create an occlusive film, prevent moisture from penetrating, and build up on the hair
- ❌ Parfum / Fragrance → Generic term that can hide hundreds of potentially irritating substances
- ❌ Parabens (Methylparaben, Propylparaben) → Controversial preservatives
- ❌ Mineral Oil / Paraffinum Liquidum → Mineral oil derived from petroleum that smothers hair

How to read a crePus Infinis label?

Let's take our 5-in-1 Shampoo as an example:
Aqua, Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Abelmoschus esculentus Fruit & Leaf Extract...

- Aqua first → hydrating aqueous base ✅
- Coco-Glucoside & Decyl Glucoside → mild plant-derived surfactants, SLS-free ✅
- Abelmoschus esculentus → organic okra for curl definition ✅
- No silicones, no parabens, no SLS ✅

💡 crePus Infinis tip

Download an app like INCI Beauty or Yuka to scan your products and get an instant analysis of each ingredient. You'll quickly see why crePus Infinis formulations stand out!

Conclusion

Reading an INCI label means taking back control of what you apply to your hair. At crePus Infinis, we have nothing to hide; every ingredient is chosen for its effectiveness and safety, certified organic, and approved by Health Canada. Transparency is our commitment to you.

Let's raise our kinky hair to the height of our prestige. 💜