Over the past decade it seems America has seen a positive rise in attitudes concerning their overall well-being. Nationwide citizens are changing their diets to include healthier foods that keep their systems functioning optimally, and working to incorporate regular exercise routines to ensure fit physiques. In addition to these adjustments, citizens are taking strides to make sure the products used to clean their homes are free of toxins that could compromise their health, and harm the surrounding environment. With all the focus on greener living it’s only natural that equal attention is given to the cosmetic products that go on the body since substances used on the skin and hair are absorbed into the system over time.
Within the natural hair community there is an ongoing campaign that encourages product label reading to identify possible toxic ingredients and make healthier hair care choices. Because large numbers of commercial products are known to contain potentially harmful components, many naturals find themselves having to give up their favourite shampoos, conditioners and styling aids in favor of more organic brands. But is the concern justified or just hype and propaganda?
Although there has been no significant scientific proof of adverse reactions to the questionable ingredients, many natural hair wearers follow lists like the 10 Things to Avoid Putting On Your Hair found on Nappturality.com to the letter and avoid any and all products with even trace amounts of the listed elements. While it’s usually better to err on the side of caution, many fail to do their own homework when it comes to learning how these substances are deemed dangerous. For instance, sodium lauryl sulfate, a sudsing agent used in shampoos, has gotten a real bad reputation over the years for being used in industrial strength cleaners and degreasers. An Email created in 1998 caused quite a bit of panic about the chemical by stating that “SLS is used to clean garage floors.” But according to Snopes.com, it is the quantity of SLS that makes the difference in the possibility of harmful effects.
“Detergent is detergent; the same properties that make a substance useful for cleaning your hair make it useful for cleaning your clothes or a garage floor.” says the Urban Legend busting Website. “Obviously you wouldn't want to use the same strength of a substance such as SLS on your hair as you would on a garage floor, and that's why shampoos typically contain no more than a 15% SLS solution.”
This is not to say the ingredient is without negative effects, being that it has the ability to irritate both eyes and skin. But what most people fail to realize in their panic is that shampoos are used for such a short terms and thoroughly rinsed from the hair and scalp, so the risk of any long term effects are marginally low.
In an effort to avoid exposure to sodium lauryl sulfate and other possibly caustic chemicals many natural hair wearers opt for more products that boast safer or more organic properties. But are these products any safer for your hair, system or environment? According to a TotalBeauty.com article by Colleen Rush, not necessarily so.
“Although the USDA set these organic standards, the Food and Drug Administration is the agency responsible for determining whether cosmetics are safe. They don't monitor or regulate the word ‘organic’.” states Rush.
Just as the FDA does not closely scrutinize the safety and effectiveness of herbal supplements, organic hair care products receive the same cursory glance by regulating officials, if they are monitored at all. Even products with that tout the USDA Organic Seal it has been discovered that many cosmetic companies manipulate the amounts of “organic” ingredients in relation to other additives or use certifiers in countries other than the US in order to gain organic certification.
Even natural oils which contain nothing but the actual oil pressed from plants, vegetables, fruits and nuts has the capacity to cause harmful allergic reactions. According to Dermaxime, a bio-cellular skin care product company, almond, olive, coconut and avocado oils have been known to cause acne breakouts in certain individuals.
In this day and age of health consciousness it is best to know the whole story when it comes to choosing products to maintain natural hair. Simply because something says it’s natural or organic does not necessarily mean it’s more beneficial for you than a commercial brand which uses chemicals with long, complicated, scientific sounding names. Keep in mind that the cosmetic industry is a big business that brings in lots of money for big name companies, so arguments for both sides of the coin can be easily discovered. Care and attention to both the pro and con side of any product ingredient, whether it’s “certified organic” or manufactured in a cosmetic lab, will help you chose truly healthy and beneficial products.
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