According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, many personal care products like shampoo, conditioner and other hair treatments contain toxic chemicals like carcinogens, neurotoxins and petrochemicals. Even products labeled "pure," "natural," or "organic" are suspect since the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the ingredients that go into these products. The safest hair care products do not contain toxic chemicals.
Shampoos
According to the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetic Database, a number of shampoo products rate very low on the toxicity scale. Burt's Bees Outdoor Rosemary Mint Shampoo earned a hazard rating of "0" for toxicity. All Burt's Bees products are free of paraben, sulfate, petrochemicals and phthalates, and this shampoo bar contains peppermint, rosemary, yucca leaf extract and avocado and coconut oils. The only concerns listed by the EWG's Database were the possible skin, eye or lung irritations that could be caused by the rosemary and avocado oil and the enhanced skin absorption caused by the peppermint.
Other shampoos with low hazard scores include Baby Organic 2-in-1 Coconut Foam Shampoo, Chagrin Valley Natural Shampoo Bars, Coastal Creations Vista Del Mar Body Wash & Shampoo, Earth Mama Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash, and several varieties of shampoos offered by Healing-Scents.
Conditioners
Chemicals used in conditioners such as fragrances, propylparaben, butylparaben and methylparaben can be harmful and irritating. Keys products score very low on the EWG Database's hazard scale. All Keys products are vegan, gluten-free, soy-free and chemical-free. Keys manufactures Mangrove Natural Concentrated Hair Conditioner with a hazard rating of "0." Its ingredients include avocado oil, shea butter, aloe vera and brassica, an oil similar to coconut oil.
Other conditioners with low hazard ratings include Zosimos Botanicals' Apple Orchard Conditioner, Healthy Roots Leave In Moisturizing Oil Conditioner, Nurture My Body Conditioner and a number of Salon Naturals conditioners.
Hair Care Products
Gels, mousses, processing chemicals for perms or straightening and most hairsprays are almost never considered safe, according to the Health and Environment Resource Center. The most toxic chemicals found in styling aids such as hairsprays include oxybenzone, fragrance, isobutane, triclosan and ethanol.
A relatively safe choice for hairspray might be Aubrey Organics' Natural Missst Herbal Hair Spray which contains SD alcohol, a chemical that, according to the EWG Database, may cause cancer, developmental or reproductive toxicity, organ system toxicity and enhanced skin absorption, but is not a known carcinogen. This product also contains tocopheryl acetate, which may cause allergies or contamination concerns. Aubrey's Herbal Hair Spray earns a "3" overall on the hazard scale.
References
- Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Contaminants in Bath Products
- Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database: Shampoo
- Keys: Mangrove Hair Conditioner
- Environmental Working Group Cosmetics Database: Aubrey Organics Hair Spray
- Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database: Sebastian Shaper Hair Spray
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