Many of us interested in our environment recycle paper, plastic, glass and aluminum to stop using the land as a landfill. We clean our homes with products that are good for the air we breathe and the skin they touch, but we often don’t give a second thought to the chemicals we bathe in. We need to seriously consider what we are using on our hair.
It may be true that traditional shampoos are cheaper, but we sacrifice our health and environment for a few dollars. Some of the additives in conventional shampoos include sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol, olefin sulfonate and other chemicals thought to be possibly harmful to human health. Sixty percent of everything we put on our body is absorbed into our skin. Indeed, more toxins are absorbed through our skin then are consumed in the food we eat. So do we really want to use these chemicals on our scalps?
If the label contains more than 9 or 10 ingredients chances are good it contains one or more of these artificial additives. The long term effects of these chemicals and dyes are in some cases not yet known, which means more studies will have to be done. In other cases, the link between chemicals and health effects is more clear, yet nevertheless these chemicals continue to appear in beauty products.
Consider an organics shampoo instead. When looking for one you must learn to read the labels. The “certified organic” label is the gold standard for personal care products and should be written on the product’s label. Without this some products claiming to be organic may contain harmful synthetics, or contain no organic products at all despite the marketing on the label.
Also look for shampoos that contain 100% natural organic herbs, oils and minerals. Tea Tree oil is a natural antiseptic and beta glucan has immune enhancing properties. Products containing aloe vera, shea butter and coconut oil can add shine plus moisturize your hair and scalp. Natural ingredients will also rinse cleanly from your hair, leaving no residue which can actually attract dirt.
Be aware that the lack of sodium lauryl sulfate in organic shampoo makes washing your hair happen with very few suds, which leads some people to think their hair is not really clean. That is not, however, the case.
An eco friendly house will mean not only what we use to build our homes, but what we use inside our homes. We must remember that what we pour down our drains also pollute our environment, and the chemicals in synthetic shampoo are no exception. So whether it’s the environment or personal health that concerns you, there is no reason not to pick up a bottle of organic shampoo.