I recently found out that most shampoos contain terrible chemicals that leave your hair dried out and stripped. It is no wonder then that my hair seems dried out all the time. I just couldn’t figure out why my hair was in such bad condition despite the fact that I try not to straighten it or blow dry it too often. I never looked at whether the shampoo I was using could be the cause of the problem until now.
Aside from the cosmetic reasons to avoid these ingredients there are real health concerns too. When you put something on your skin, it gets absorbed into your bloodstream and sends toxic substances to the liver to clean them out. The liver then tries to get rid of it them through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. Chances of cancer of the bladder, cancer of the bowel and cancer of the lung are then highly increased. Even if something says that it is natural, you should still check the label because even if only 10% of the ingredients are natural they can see use that on the labeling.
Have a look at the ingredients if you are using some of the more common brands like Herbal Essences, Head & Shoulders, Sunsilk, Pantene etc., or even some of the more expensive brands like Redkin, Charles Worthington, Bed Head et. Check the back of your shampoo bottles and try to avoid the following ingredients:
1. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and its close relative Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) Found in 95% of shampoos this is one of the worse ingredients- SLS is also commonly found in detergents used for cleaning garage floors and engines. This chemical is known to damage hair follicles and make the hair fall out. It has been linked to eye damage, intestinal damage, breathing problems, skin spots and cysts. One of the main effects of sodium lauryl sulfate is that it mimics the activity of the hormone Oestrogen. This may be responsible for a variety of health problems from PMS and Menopausal symptoms to dropping male fertility and increasing female cancers such as breast cancer.
2. Propylene Glycol (Alcohol) – A cosmetic form of mineral oil found in automatic brake and hydraulic fluid and industrial antifreeze. This has been proven to inhibit cells growth. It is also found in wrinkle creams and should be avoided as it actually causes the skin to age as new cells cant grow to replace the old ones.
3. Dioxin - This is one of the major chemicals in Agent Orange and is thought to be responsible for all kinds of disease reported by those that came into contact with the chemical.
4. Methylparaben, Propylparaben, and Ethyl Paraben (These have been linked to cancer)
So What is The Alternative?
Buy good organic shampoos that don’t contain these ingredients. Do your research and find out what each ingredient means before you use it on your body. One store bought brand that is very good is Organix. The coconut milk range is my favorite.
An even better option is to make your own! Here is a great recipe for a homemade shampoo that is amazing on your hair and easy on the wallet! It may cost a bit for the initial stock but in the long run it will save you money and give you healthy shiny hair!
1. Dr. Bronner Peppermint Castille Soap (1/4 cup)
2. 100% Aloe Vera Gel (1/4 Cup)
3. 1 Tsp of Jojoba Oil
4. 1 Tsp of Vegetable
Glycerin
5. Few drops of Tea Tree Oil
6. Few drops of any essential oil to scent this - I love lavender!
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