Most commercial shampoos have ingredient lists that include chemicals that are difficult to pronounce. These man-made ingredients are slathered onto your scalp, and your children's scalps, on a regular basis. Simply because a product is on store shelves and available to purchase does not make it 100 percent safe. There are several common shampoo ingredients that are toxic in nature.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate / Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Both sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are used as detergents and surfacants, or wetting agents, and are found in car wash soaps, engine degreasers and garage floor cleaners. These chemicals are present in 90 percent of shampoos that create foam or lather. They have protein denaturing properties and according to the American College of Toxicity, can stay in your body for up to five days. A shampoo that contains 15 percent SLS is tolerable because it comes in contact with the scalp for only a few minutes and while in use is diluted with water.
DEA - Diethanolamine
DEA is an ingredient in shampoo that usually helps with the lathering effect. It is typically listed alongside the compound that is being neutralized. As an example, Cocamide DEA or Lauramide DEA. It is a disruptive chemical that when combined with other chemicals can form nitrates and nitrosamines. According to Dr. Samuel Epstein, professor of environmental health at the University of Illinois, when a DEA-based detergent was repeatedly applied to skin, the result was a major increase in liver and kidney cancers.
Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol is found in most shampoos, and is also the active compound in antifreeze. The structure of propylene glycol used in industry and that used in shampoo is essentially the same. The Environmental Protection Agency requires workers to use protective gloves and goggles when handling propylene glycol, and its material safety data sheet warns against skin contact. Propylene glycol is used in shampoo to give it that smooth "glide" and typically makes up 10 to 15 percent of a cosmetic formulation.
Fragrance
Fragrance is present in almost all shampoos sold commercially. When you see "fragrance" on the ingredient list, it can mean up to 4,000 separate ingredients were used. Most of the fragrance ingredients are synthetic chemicals, thrown together to create a pleasant smell for the consumer. Many of the fragrance complaints filed with the FDA include headaches, dizziness, skin discolorations and rashes. Many hospitals and other medical buildings prohibit any artificial fragrance from being worn inside.
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