Wash Those Chemicals Right Out of Your Hair

There are a lot of nasty ingredients that are used in our shampoos, conditioners and other beauty products. When some of these ingredients are applied to your skin or scalp, the head right into your bloodstream. The impact can be anything from skin irritation to cancer. In addition, these chemicals also end up in our air and water supplies.

Since reading a shampoo bottle ingredient list can be like trying to read a novel in a foreign language, a great rule of thumb to follow is to look for products with all natural ingredients or certified organic products. If you want to take it a step further here is a list of some of the worst ingredients to be sure to avoid:

• Parabens (Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl): linked to skin rashes and breast cancer.
• Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA): Allergic reactions and cancer in lab animals. Watch out for any ingredients that use the abbreviations DEA, MEA or TEA in the name.
• Formaldehyde (sometimes called quaternium-15) and Diazolidinyl Urea or Imidazolidinyl Urea which can release formaldehyde: toxins and carcinogens.
• Synthetic Fragrances: can lead to skin irritation, headaches and respiratory problems – look for essential oils as fragrance ingredients instead.
• Synthetic Colors (FD&C or D&C): potentially carcinogenic.
• Stearalkonium Chloride: toxic chemical sometimes used in conditioners.
• Sodium laurel/laureth sulfate: potential harm to the immune system, suspected carcinogen when it reacts with other ingredients.
• Mineral oil, petroleum and petroleum derivatives (paraffin, benzene, propylene glycol, isopropyl alcohol, ceresin and toluene) clog pores and some are suspected as carcinogens.