Parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, butyl/ethyl acetate are all shampoo and cosmetic ingredients to avoid. When shampoo is rubbed into the scalp and washes over the skin, the body's largest organ, those chemicals can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Shampooing in the shower also means inhaling ingredients through the hot steamy air. Look for safe shampoo ingredients to give your hair a healthy clean shine without chemical hazards.
USDA Certified Organic Ingredients
The U.S. Department of Agriculture certifies food products that meet rigid chemical-free standards as being organic. Many of these same food-grade products wind up as ingredients in natural shampoos, allowing their manufacturers to label their shampoos USDA certified organic. The Northwestern Health Sciences University recommends looking for shampoos that are certified USDA organic, because personal care products should be at least as pure as the foods you eat--perhaps more so, as more toxins are absorbed through the skin, the body's largest organ, than through ingestion. Shampoos labeled 100 percent organic contain safe ingredients like an sunflower or olive oil base, natural colors derived from annatto, grapes or beet juice, natural essential oil fragrances, and a natural emulsifier like lecithin.
Ingredients Approved by the European Union
The European Union directs that all shampoos and other personal care products made or sold in the EU be free of chemical ingredients known or suspected of causing cancer, mutation, or birth defects. Shampoos containing the safe ingredients sanctioned by the EU can be obtained by shopping from EU stores or online dealers, by purchasing European-manufactured shampoos in the United States, or by purchasing brands manufactured by companies that have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. The Compact for Safe Cosmetics is a public pledge, facilitated by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics that assures consumers that all the signatories' products, whereever made or sold, meet or exceed the EU safety standards.
Plant Extracts
Natural plant extracts are free from chemical processing agents that can cause allergic reactions or contain possible carcinogenic impurities, according to the Northwestern Health Sciences University. Citing an article by the American Botanical Council on "Plants Used in Cosmetics," Northwestern notes that plant extracts have long helped and protected skin from internal and external hazards. Plant extracts including gingko, aloe vera, sage and grape seeds are included in shampoos and other hair care products to encourage hair growth. Extracts of sage, rosemary, thyme and garlic are safe dandruff treatment ingredients. The "Nubian Message," a newsletter by and for African-American students at North Carolina State University, also recommends garlic and olive oil as a safe treatment to deter excessive hair shedding. "Nubian Message" also recommends making an effective hair conditioner from safe kitchen ingredients: Mix eggs and honey with yogurt or coconut milk, and bananas or avocados, and use as a deep conditioner weekly during the winter months to moisturize hair.
References
- Northwestern Health Sciences University: Four Tips for Finding Safe, Organic Alternatives to Personal Care Products
- Northwestern Health Sciences University: Plant Extracts and Healthy Skin
- The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Compact for Safe Cosmetics
- Nubian Message, North Carolina State University: Winterize Your Hair
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