Panthenol and other provitamins are the chemical precursors to true vitamins. In shampoo, neither they nor true vitamins can nourish hair. Botanical extracts . Aloe vera, chamomile, ginkgo biloba, henna, lemongrass, nettle, rosemary, sage, and Biolage Normalizing Shampoo 's curious Quillaja Saponaria may add pleasing scents, but that's about it. UV protectant .
Sunlight can fade hair color and burn an uncovered scalp.
None of the products we tested, with protectant or without, were very effective at preventing fading. Fruit acids, a.k.a. alpha-hydroxy acids . In skin creams, these can help skin peel to uncover younger, better-looking cells. Eating foods rich in antioxidants may help reduce cancer risk. But including the phrase on the label suggests special qualities from an ingredient that does virtually nothing for hair.