Ingredients for Healthy Hair and Scalp
By Michael Scheinbaum, M.S., Natural Health Practitioner
We think of the skin as an impervious outer layer that protects us. However, the pores in your skin are like a million tiny little mouths, absorbing lotions, shampoos, and soaps,1 which can promote or adversely affect your health.
The scalp and underarms absorb more readily than other areas of your skin. You can view your skin as the largest organ that you have and thus it can absorb more toxins than anywhere else in your body.
Did you know that if 70% of the ingredients are organic, personal care products can be labeled as such? So if 70% of the product is water and the rest of the ingredients are chemicals, you can see an organic label on the product. In the shower, your shampoo and conditioner are mixed with hot water and can be breathed into your lungs as well. That is why shampoos and conditioners should only contain healthy ingredients that are really organic.
Many ingredients labeled as natural and that are in products labeled as organic can be harmful. Let’s look at some of these harmful ingredients. Cocoamide DEA, diethanolamine, TEA, triethanolamine, MEA is used as a shampoo thickener and foam stabilizer. This is a surfactant, which helps clean skin, textiles and other surfaces by loosening dirt, grease and oil and is derived from coconut oil.
According to the MSDS for Cocoamide DEA, this chemical is harmful if swallowed or inhaled and contact with skin, eyes, and clothing should be avoided.2 It is manufactured by a process called ethoxylation, which may leave it contaminated with trace anounts of 1,4 dioxane. Animal studies demonstrate that 1,4 Dioxane is toxic and affects the central nervous system, liver, kidneys and is an irritant to the respiratory tract and eyes. It may also be carcinogenic to humans, it is already known to be so in animals.3 Once released into the environment 1,4 Dioxane contaminates ground water.
Another popular harmful ingredient is Sodum lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium dodecyl fulfate (SDS), is a molecule with a tail of 12 carbon atoms, attached to a sulfate group, which gives the molecule the amphillic properties of a detergent.4 Even low concentrations of 0.5% could caused irritation and 10-30% caused skin corrosion and severe irritation as published in the Journal of The American College of Toxicology.5
It is the irritation of the scalp that helps deliver the other ingredients. FDA reports concerning shampoos include eye irritation, scalp irritation, swelling of hands, arms, and face caused by sodium lauryl sulfate. Other research has indicated SLS may be damaging to the immune system, especially within the skin.
Other harmful ingredients to avoid are: Alkylphenol Ethoxylates, Benzene/Benzoic Acid/Benzyl Benzoate, Formaldehyde, Parabens (Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben), Isopropanol/Isopropyl Alcohol, Methylisothiazoline or MIT, and Phthalates.6
You need to shampoo your hair to remove dirt such as dead skin, and sebum, naturally occurring oils, and also the build up of residues. Let’s consider some healthy shampoo and conditioner ingredients.
Basically, companies that are really concerned about your health and the environment use ingredients derived from natural plant based oils and not synthetic or petroleum based “fake” oils. Healthy ingredients consist of macadamia nut oils, sweet almond oil, and extracts of Angelica and Horsetail, Pure Organic Aloe Vera (not from concentrate), Deionized Water, Coconut Oil-Corn Oil Soap with Quillaya Bark (Saponin), Hydrolyzed Soy Protein-from organic, non-GMO soybeans, Carrageenan, Organic Shea Butter, Lactalbumin, Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Balsam Oil, Organic Rosemary Oil, Aubrey’s Preservative of Citrus Seed Extract, Vitamins A, C and E, Algae, Spirulina, Kelp, Marine proteins, Yucca, essential oils of Frankincense, Myrrh and Sandalwood.
Many more natural ingredients can be used, there is no shortage of them, and toxic ingredients are not needed for ingredients in hair and scalp products.
Healthy ingredients will help keep your hair and scalp radiant.
Sources:
1 http://www.ewg.org/node/15893
2 http://www.naturalnews.com/025515_chemicals_toxic_chemicals_body_care.html
3 The rodent carcinogens 1,4-dioxane and thiourea induce meiotic non-disjunction in Drosophila melanogaster females.
Muñoz ER, Mazar Barnett B. Mutat Res. 2002 May 27;517(1-2):231-8.
4 http://www.supereco.com/glossary/sodium-lauryl-sulfate/
5 JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF TOXICOLOGY Volume 2. Number 7, 1983
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
6 http://www.naturalnews.com/024296_shampoo_health_organics.html
Michael A. Scheinbaum is the co-author of Reduce Blood Pressure Naturally.
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