Hair Care ingredients to be avoided

Just like the skin on your face, the hair on your head is very sensitive and can easily be irritated by various ingredients. What I have learned is that the word “natural” and “sulfate free” really means nothing for you hair if you don’t pay attention to the rest of the ingredients. In total there are ten ingredients to avoid, if you are browsing for a shampoo and/or conditioner. Remember, when you wash your hair some of these ingredients can transfer to the skin on you face also causing sensitivity.

1. ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL: First off the word alcohol should already tell you that it dries everything out. This ingredient is both a solvent and substance that changes another substances natural qualities. As well as in shampoo, this ingredient is found in many other hair care products. In respect to hair, isopropyl alcohol will dry your hair out and make it weak and brittle. According to A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, inhalation or ingestion of the vapor may cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis and even coma.
2. 2. MINERAL OIL: Mineral oil, a derivative of petroleum, is used as an industrial cutting fluid and lubricating oil. This substance coats the skin and hair with a film of grease, disrupting the skin's natural barrier. The skin's ability to breathe and release waste is barricaded promoting acne and irritation. It further deoxygenates the skin on your scalp and in doing so slows down skin function and normal cell development. In conclusion Mineral oil causes the skin to prematurely age along with many other undesirable conditions.
3. PEG: This is an abbreviation for polyethylene glycol, used in oil dissolving cleansers as well as in product thickeners. PEG dehydrates hair and is also potentially carcinogenic.
4. PROPYLENE GLYCOL (PG): This ingredient is actually the active component in antifreeze and sadly there is no difference between the industrial PG and the PG used in cosmetics. It is used in factories and lab’s to break down protein and is also found in most forms of make-up, hair products, lotions, after-shave, deodorants, mouthwashes and toothpaste. Because of its ability to quickly penetrate the skin, the EPA workers are required to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles when working with this substance. The Material Safety Data Sheets warn against skin contact, since exposure to PG can cause brain, liver and kidney abnormalities.
5. SODIUM LAURYL SUFATE (SLS) & SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES): Used in detergents and surfactants, these closely related compounds are found in car wash soaps, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers. Unfortunately both are used in about 90% of all shampoos and products that foam (this is key).The main reason behind that is BOTH ARE CHEAAAPPP. A small amount creates a large amount of foam creating a false concept of thickness. SLS irritates the skin on your scalp and is quickly absorbed into the skin and other organs.

When combined with other chemicals SLS can be transformed into nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens, which causes the body to absorb nitrates at higher levels than eating nitrate contaminated food.

1. CHLORINE: Exposure to chlorine in tap water, Showers, pool, laundry products, cleaning agents, food processing, sewage systems and many others, can effect health by contributing to asthma, hay fever, anemia, bronchitis, circulatory collapse, confusion, delirium diabetes, dizziness, irritation of the eye, mouth, nose throat, lung, skin and stomach, heart disease, high blood pressure and nausea. It is also a possible cause of cancer. Even though you will not see Chlorine on personal care product labels, it is important for you to be aware of the need to protect your skin when bathing and washing your hair.
2. DEA (diethanolamine) MEA (momoethnanolamine) TEA (triethanolamine):. Look for names like Cocamide DEA or MES, Lauramide DEA, etc since most of the above mentioned are listed in conjunction with other chemicals. These are hormone disrupting chemicals and are known to form cancer. They are commonly found in most personal care products that foam, including bubble baths, body washes, shampoos, soaps and facial cleansers.
3. FD & C Color PIGMENTS: Many color pigments cause skin sensitivity and irritation. Absorption of these pigments can cause depletion of oxygen in the body and even death according to A Consumer's dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. Experiments on rats have shown most of them to be toxic.
4. FRAGRANCE: Present in most personal care products they are both toxic and carcinogenic. Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients. Most or all of them are synthetic. Experiments have shown that exposure to fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes.
5. IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA and DMDM HYDANTOIN: These are just two of the many preservatives that release formaldehyde. Formaldehyde can irritate the respiratory system, cause skin reactions and trigger heart palpitations. Exposure to formaldehyde may cause joint pain, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, and loss of sleep. It can also aggravate coughs and colds and trigger asthma. Nearly all brands of skin, body and hair care, antiperspirants and nail polish found in stores contain formaldehyde-releasing ingredients.