Today’s shampoos, conditioners and hair dressings promise softer, fuller and more manageable tresses. To accomplish these objectives, the modern hair care industry has produced a stunning array of products laden with chemicals that can wreak havoc on your hair and your body. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics states that you should do yourself and your hair a favor by avoiding hair care products that contain toxic ingredients.
Parabens
Parabens are a group of related chemicals that turn up in shampoos mainly as preservatives. They inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold and yeast in products that contain a lot of water. Manufacturers often use methylparaben and polyparaben in shampoos, along with other forms of paraben. Northwestern Health Sciences University notes that consumers should be concerned about the potential for parabens to increase the risk for cancer and cites studies that have found parabens in breast cancer tumors. Two studies conducted in the United Kingdom in 2004 and 2005 and published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology have shown the presence of parabens in breast tissue. The Breast Cancer Fund’s 2008 publication “State of the Evidence: The Connection between Breast Cancer and the Environment” also states that a growing body of scientific evidence points to a potential link between breast cancer rates and parabens in cosmetics.
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics states that toxic chemical databases and peer-reviewed research cited by the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep cosmetic ingredient database suggest that parabens can disrupt the functions of your immune system and reproductive organs. Parabens also cause allergic reactions, rashes and skin irritation in some people.
Phthalates
Hair products that contain a mixture of ingredients often require solvents. Originally developed for industrial use, phthalates are solvents that you can find in hair products like mousses, gels and sprays. These chemicals can penetrate human skin and damage your kidneys, liver and lungs, according to the Environmental Working Group and NoHarm.org. In men, they also have a toxic effect on the reproductive organs. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics warns that many manufacturers fail to list these chemicals on product ingredient labels; however, independent testing found them in 75 percent of cosmetics, often as a component of fragrances. As of 2010, the Food and Drug Administration allows the addition of phthalates to fragrances without requiring that manufacturers list them separately on product labels. Manufacturers routinely add fragrances to many hair care products. To find phthalate-free hair products, search the Skin Deep cosmeticsdatabase.com to review ingredients in hair products before you buy them.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a chemical preservative that keeps hair care products like shampoo and conditioner from growing bacteria that can cause skin infection. Manufacturers add it as an ingredient or use substances that release formaldehyde when combined in hair care products. Quaternium-15, dimethyl-dimethyl hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea and diazolidinyl urea are some of the chemicals that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics lists in the category of formaldehyde releasers. NHSU states that hair care products that contain either or both forms or formaldehyde may increase your cancer risks. Consumers should also know that exposure to formaldehyde can trigger asthma attacks and damage DNA. The European Union has banned the use of formaldehyde in cosmetics, but the FDA has not, despite the 1981 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommendation to classify it as a carcinogen.
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