Hair

From aerosol sprays to color, bleach, and perm solutions, the hair-care industry has received a bad rap for years, and here’s why. The FDA does not regulate the chemicals in those products, and it is important that we all take charge of what we put on our bodies and wash down our drains each day.

There is so much we have all come to take for granted from our haircare. For example, we love the bountiful fragrance and frothy soap bubbles from shampoo. But do you ever really stop to think about what creates the sweet smell and soft suds?

Rule #1: Foaming does not equal clean. The chemical that causes shampoo to foam is sodium laurel sulfate, a detergent and surfactant otherwise known as SLS or SLES. It is a powerful irritant that burns if you get it in your eyes, strips your hair of its natural oils, and dries out your hair. In addition, there is an ongoing debate about whether it has potential to cause cancer.

Rule #2: Fragrance does not equal beautiful. Phthalates (most often listed as parfum) prolong and preserve the lasting effects of fragrance. They are also suspected carcinogens, and exposure has been linked to reproductive disorders in infant boys and men.

Do yourself, your family, and the environment a favor, and take a look at the ingredient list on the back of your haircare products. Try to avoid sulfates, phthalates (most often listed as parfum), butane, propane, polymers (liquid plastic), para-phenylenediamine (PPD), methylparaben, quaternium-15, and propylparaben. Not only will these ingredients build up on your hair and make it dull, dry, and lifeless over time, but long-term exposure could lead to health issues.

Look for natural and organic brands the next time you shop for hair care. Take yourself out of the chemical clouds and into a conscious understanding that there is safer and better haircare out there for you and your family.

Read more from NATURAL BEAUTY 101:

Why Go Green
My Mission
How To Shop Green
Ingredients to avoid
Skin
Makeup
Nails
Sunscreen
Water
Food
Household
Green Baby
Pets