This post has been a long, looooong time coming, but I wanted to take my time in regards to using these products before sharing my thoughts with you all. And the thoughts…oh, I have them!
Let’s first talk about hair care in general, though. Switching to natural/organic hair care was the final frontier for me. (And I’ve come a long way, folks!) I had successfully switched most personal care products to greener alternatives, but was definitely dragging my feet in this category. For reference, for the past couple of years, I used Oribe shampoo, conditioner, and styling cream. My reasoning for not making the switch earlier was Oribe’s performance and scent (kind of amaaaazing), and really, I just figured, hell, hair is dead, how much damage could I be doing?
Ahem.
Let’s first take a gander at this from a broader perspective. So, the skin is our largest organ, and although it provides a protective barrier, it still allows up to 60% absorption into the bloodstream. (Yes, up to 60% of all the creams and lotions and oils and potions you are rubbing on yourself end up directly in your blood, and all it takes is 26 seconds from application for the chemicals to get in there. Awesome!)
Furthermore, the scalp is one of the most absorbent parts of the body. (More than your face, ladies and gents.) Also? It is the most sensitive part of your skin. It’s just like a big ol’ sponge, soaking up all that chemical-laden goodness you slather on it daily.
I could write for days on specific chemicals that are found in most conventional hair care products, but today, I will only make a few points. Surfactants aren’t great, folks. (These are the chemicals that are used as wetting agents – they trap oil and dirt sticks to it, allowing water to rinse it off.) The problem with surfactants (look for SLS – “Sodium Lauryl Sulfate”, or SLES – “Sodium Laureth Sulfate” on the ingredient list) is that when they are ethoxylated, they produce a carcinogen called 1,4-dioxane. You will never see this compound listed on a label, because it’s a byproduct of other ingredients. But it’s bad, friends. It harbors a very high risk factor for cancer, and should be avoided at all costs. Oh, and something else to chew on? According to a 2007 study by the EWG, 1,4-dioxane is found in 22% of all personal care products and 57% of children’s bath products. Ouch.
(If you want to stay away from 1,4-dioxane, look for the ingredients PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, sodium laureth sulfate, and most ingredients ending in “eth” or “oxynol.” If you see those ingredients, place the product back on the shelf and back away slowly.)
Other potentially dangerous products in hair care aren’t necessarily the active ones – it’s the preservatives, fragrance, and additives you need to look out for. (Common ones are lauramide DEA, cocamide DEA, MEA, methylparaben, DMDM hydantoin.)
So, should switching to natural/organic hair products be a priority? I say yes. Absolutely.
(Sidenote – When I spoke on green beauty at a conference in Laguna Beach a few weeks ago, the number one question asked of me was about options for natural and organic hair color. I’m researching this right now, and will have a post up in the upcoming months!)
So. Let’s talk about some great, high-performing products that don’t contain any of the above chemicals, but more than that, do what they are supposed to do. I have lots of categories to talk about, but I wanted to first show you my holy grail, everyday products that I absolutely love. These are my MVPs.
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