Even though you eat healthily, exercise regularly, and use clean products in your skincare regimen, your health is compromised if you use hair care products full of chemicals.
WHAT'S IN YOUR HAIR CARE PRODUCTS?
If you didn't already know, the ingredients in hair care products penetrate your skin. It's essential to ensure they are safe and nourishing for the hair and scalp.
Unfortunately, many products in the market contain chemicals that are harmful to your hair and overall health. These chemicals cause breast cancer, hair loss, skin allergies, and more.
Toxic chemicals in hair care products
Why are companies using harmful chemicals in their products? Well, it's all about cost. They make cheap formulas and sell them at prices attractive to many consumers, thus achieving large profits. That doesn't reflect in ethics or sustainability, though.
Here are some of the toxic ingredients to avoid.
SULFATES
Sulfates are used to create foam in cleaning agents. Sulfates strip natural oils from your scalp and hair, resulting in dryness. Using sulfate shampoo often leads to hair damage, brittle strands, and allergic reactions if you have sensitive skin.
Many sulfates contain a carcinogen called dioxane, which contributes to kidney problems and cancer.
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL
If you see PEG on the ingredient list, it means polyethylene glycol. The state of California classified it as a "developmental toxicant," meaning it disrupts behavior and development.
It also contains dioxane.
PARABENS
This group of chemicals has earned its place in the 'notorious ingredients' list. Parabens are some of the most toxic ingredients in the beauty industry. Manufacturers use them to prevent the growth of mold and harmful bacteria.
Parabens mimic human hormones and thus pose the risk of cancer to those who use such products.
TRICLOSAN
Studies suggest that this antibacterial ingredient can cause inflammation of the colon, thyroid problems, immune system problems, and colon cancer.
FRAGRANCE
Studies prove that synthetic fragrance can irritate the skin. Chemicals in fragrance have been shown to cause contact dermatitis, headaches, and aggravate asthma. What's more, these synthetic fragrances are not regulated by the FDA.
The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) lists about 3,059 materials that constitute fragrance compounds. According to scientific studies, some of these ingredients cause severe health issues like reproductive system toxicity, cancers, allergies, and more.
11 reasons to embrace clean hair care
1. THE PRODUCTS CONTAIN ANTIOXIDANTS
Antioxidants help neutralize the free radicals from chemicals and pollutants in the environment. Free radicals have adverse effects on your hair and body.
2. NO ALLERGIC REACTIONS
You're unlikely to experience itchiness, rashes, discoloration, or broken skin that are common when one uses chemical-based products. That is, of course, unless you have an allergy to a specific natural ingredient.
3. HEALTHIER HAIR
While chemical-based hair products may initially produce positive results such as less frizz and increased hydration, they cause damage to both follicles and hair in the long run.
Products containing natural ingredients will give the results you seek, but you'll have to wait for some weeks or months. However, it's worth it since your hair is defined, stronger, more moisturized, and thicker due to better hair health, not chemicals.
4. NO SCENT-RELATED HEADACHES
Beauty brands add synthetic fragrances to mask the scent of the chemicals they use.
Inhaling synthetic fragrances can cause headaches or worse-migraines.
5. REDUCED RISK OF SERIOUS DISEASES
Several studies show that toxic chemicals in beauty products can cause or encourage serious problems like hormone disruption, various forms of cancer, kidney issues, tumors, and congenital disabilities, to name a few.
6. YOU'RE TREATING HAIR PROBLEMS
Synthetic ingredients like silicones only coat the hair, while providing the illusion of hydrated or voluminous strands. Your hair can't absorb moisture.
Clean hair care products contain natural ingredients that provide real nourishment, so your mane stays healthy for the long term.
7. HEALTHIER SCALP
Typical hair care products have various alcohols and sulfates that make the scalp dry and irritated. Natural formulas provide gentle cleansing without stripping your scalp of its natural oils.
8. YOU'RE SAFE FROM HAIR LOSS
Using natural products strengthens your hair follicles over time, so the strands become thicker and fuller. This isn't the case with conventional hair products.
9. BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
When those chemicals go down your drain, they end up in lakes, oceans, and the air. Natural products use products from the earth, which don't cause pollution.
10. SUSTAINABILITY/ FAIR TRADE
Most natural hair care brands use ingredients derived through fair trade practices.
11. ANIMAL WELFARE
Most clean hair care products don't test on animals (cruelty-free).
Positive strides
More people are switching to natural hair care products because they're afraid of the harmful side effects caused by synthetic formulas.
Even though natural products may be a bit pricey because of the high quality and ethically produced ingredients, it's worth it because of the benefits to your health and the environment.
With love,
The Sole Toscana Beauty Team
