The Shocking Shroud Surrounding Your Shampoo

When walking down the hair-care aisle in the supermarket, you see lots of enticing brand names proclaiming miracle work for your hair. Bottles bursting with color that contain fruity or floral fragrances promise to handle all of your hair dilemmas with exotic ingredients advertised on each label. Do they really do as promised? Or can they make a bad hair day much worse? And, what about all those hard-to-pronounce ingredients that make you feel like you should have paid more attention in chemistry class? What do they do?

The answers to these questions might surprise you, and make you rethink your options the next time you purchase an eye-catching bottle containing brightly colored, sugar-scented shampoo. Many of the most popular brands use toxic ingredients in their insidious recipes. They are not just damaging your hair, either. Many of these ingredients have negative effects on your overall health as well, especially over a long-term usage. The reality of the shampoo shelf is shrouded in secrecy. We will help you decode the decadent promises to make a more informed selection.

Disrespect Toward Your Endocrine System

Something to look out for in the shampoos that fill the ranks of store shelves are endocrine disruptors as ingredients. Many individuals who use the products lack awareness of the havoc that some of these chemicals can play on their hormones. Take a look at some of these examples to see just what we mean.

Dibutyl phthalate, one example of an endocrine disruptor you might find in these shady shampoos, is commonly used as a plasticizer for multiple beauty products. It gets into your bloodstream by absorbing into the pores of your skin. Considered disruptive to human reproduction, it can potentially poison an unborn fetus.

Another source of endocrine disruption – parabens – are commonly used as preservatives in shampoos to keep the formula ‘fresh.‘ Methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben all exemplify paraben-based ingredients. Avoid any chemical that ends in paraben. Parabens create interference with the reproductive system of males. They imitate estrogen – the main sex hormone of females. In order to enter your system, parabens seep through your skin and into your bloodstream without being metabolized through your system.

Cruelty through Carcinogens

Carcinogens, by definition, are substances that could potentially create cancerous cells in living tissues. Nearly one hundred shampoo brands – many of which you would recognize from television commercials or taking a walk through a store – knowingly use carcinogenic ingredients in their formulas.

One of these carcinogens, cocamide DEA, is a derivative of coconut oil that thickens or enhances the foaming abilities of these formulas. It is also illegal to use; yet many different brands include it in their recipes. Multiple stores carry their products willingly. This puts this poisonous shampoo within the reach of our children, family, and friends.

Dioxane also poses a danger to the unsuspecting victim in need of a hair wash. Its first link to carcinogenic effects happened way back in 1965 with confirmation of these effects in 1978. By the year 1985, the FDA opened up conversation on the threat this chemical posed by requesting a limit on the amount of dioxane used in personal products. However, manufacturers refused to heed this suggestion and continue to pump the shampoo with this carcinogen.

Deadly Duel with Dyes

Many manufacturers add dyes to their shampoos’ formulas to create a deeper aesthetic richness to their formula. Most of these dyes can have adverse effects as allergens or irritants, or even contribute to long-term health effects.

Ingredients labeled as FD&C or D&C with an ante-ceding color and number are often surrounded with the suspicion of having cancer-causing qualities. Most synthetic colors consist of at least twenty chemicals. Studies carried on animals proved that synthetic colors may well be carcinogenic themselves. The brighter and more bejeweled the color, the more chemicals you expose your hair and scalp to.

Shining Solutions for Your Strands

Sounds pretty scary, does it not? That big-name companies are more than happy to put their customers’ health at risk in the name of profit. But how can you get the same beautifying benefits for big, thick hair without paying the price of your precious health?

We produced lines of entirely organic shampoos and conditioners that can easily meet your hair’s individual needs without hampering your health. Find the formula that is perfect for your hair type on our web catalogue.

Plus, you do not have to forgo the pleasures of fruity or floral scents with our products. Our Citrus Squeeze Shampoo bursts with juicy organic goodness, while our Lush Lavender Shampoo fringes your coif with a furtively floral aroma. The unique blend in our Peppermint and Tea Tree Shampoo will cool your scalp while enhancing blood circulation.

If you want specifics on which shampoo or conditioner would better match your hair type, we invite you to take this opportunity to contact us with any further questions about questionable hair products and what makes our formulas so effective – and so much better!

References 

• Poison Shampoo: The Shockingly Toxic Ingredients Exposed
• Does Your Shampoo Contain Carcinogens? Cancer-causing compound Found in 98 Shampoos and Soaps 
• Does My Shampoo or Conditioner Contain Any of These 5 Potentially Toxic Ingredients? 
• Secrets of Shampoo
• Toxicity of Artificial Colors 
• Ten Synthetic Cosmetic Ingredients to Avoid