10 Toxic Ingredients To Avoid In Your Hair Products
1.Sulfates
Sulfates are an aggressive chemical that is extremely drying to your hair as it strips away all your hair and scalp of its natural oils.
2. Mineral Oil
Mineral oil works well as a protective, glossy coating for the hair, it can’t actually penetrate the hair fibre and therefore won’t be effective at treating existing damage.
3. Parabens
In 2004, a study found large amounts of parabens in the tumours of cancer patients, however, researchers were unable to confirm why or how this happened.
4. Denatured Alcohols
Denatured alcohols are a category of cosmetic ingredients that can be drying to the scalp if applied too frequently at higher concentrations.
5. Synthetic Fragrances
Fragrances are known to lead to a range of skin reactions, whether that be redness, itching, hives, or dermatitis.
6. Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is an ingredient that is currently under investigation for its potential safety concerns. It is a vapour that can be found in hair products for smoothing, growing, and/or cleansing.
7. Coal Tar
Coal tar-derived dyes are used to give artificial colour to hair dyes. These petroleum-derived colours can contain a variety of other chemicals and metals like aluminum substrate, which have been linked to cancer and brain damage.
8. Silicones
Silicones will weigh your hair down, and since it adds an exterior seal to our hair cuticles, it prevents moisture from penetrating the hair shaft which will end up drying out your hair overtime.
9. Phthalates
The current research suggests that exposure to one phthalate, DEHP (also-known-as bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), can be harmful to human health
10. Para-Phenylenediamine
PPD is the chemical compound that is found in most hair dyes from the drugstore or salon. When PPD comes in contact with the skin, it is known to potentially cause allergic reactions and increase UV sensitivity.