Natural Alternatives To Toxic Ingredients In Hair Care
Isopropyl Alcohol. Mineral Oil. Petrolatum. Propylene Glycol. Sodium Lauryl Sufate (SLS). Chlorine. Color Pigments. Fragrance.
If you pick up any hair care product off the supermarket shelf, you’ll probably see many of these ingredients listed on the back of these bottles. But as common as they are, that doesn’t mean that they’re harmless. Propylene Glycol, for instance, is a versatile ingredient often used as a carrier for fragrance, a humectant and a preservative – and it’s also also the main ingredient in antifreeze. SLS is a foaming agent that creates suds and bubbles, while simultaneously irritating skin. Fragrance is an umbrella term that includes over 200 other ingredients, some of which can be irritating or toxic to your skin; but, you’d have no idea, because there are no regulations around using the term “fragrance” in a list of ingredients and most companies don't disclose which aren't listed on the label.
It might seem like these components are necessary for high-quality hair care, but we’re here to tell you that they aren’t. Read below to see a few natural alternatives to toxic ingredients that you can try to improve your beauty routine.
Hair Loss & Growth Stimulation: Ginseng Oil vs. Minoxidil
Suggested Product: Real Purity’s Nourishing Hair Repair Shampoo
If you’re worried about hair loss, you might have turned to Minoxidil, a treatment widely used to stimulate hair growth. Because side effects can include burning or irritation of the eye, itching, redness and even unwanted hair growth elsewhere, we suggest turning instead to a treatment of Ginseng Oil, which has been shown to help fight androgenetic alopecia (balding in men).
The use of ginseng oil can also refine and rehydrate the scalp. This is unlike treatments of Minoxidil, which often include alcohol and propylene glycol, both of which can cause dry skin and contact dermatitis.
Strengthening Hair: SLS vs. Coconut Oil, Horsetail Extract & Yarrow Extract
Suggested Product: Real Purity’s Moisturizing Shampoo & Real Purity’s Moisturizing Conditioner
SLS is the ingredient that allows your shampoo to foam and bubble. It’s often included in formulas because it will lessen the oiliness of your hair. However, long-term use of this chemical actually strips your hair of healthy essential oils, which will slow hair growth and leave the strands brittle and broken.
Instead, turn to Coconut Oil, which provides nutrients that both lubricate hair and prevent future hair loss. Horsetail & yarrow extracts also strengthen hair, heal damaged strands and protect its growth.
Preserving Shelf Life: Propyl, Methyl and Butyl Parabens vs. Essential Oils (Rosemary, Grapefruit Seed Oil, Vitamin E & Jojoba)
Most companies need a way to preserve the shelf life of their bath & body products, and they often do so using parabens as preservatives, which can be highly irritating or potentially disruptive to endocrine production. When looking for a natural alternative, keep an eye out for essential oils like Rosemary, Grapefruit Seed Oil, Vitamin E & Jojoba Oil. These oils act as natural preservatives, tend to be non-irritating, and they can also lend a pleasant scent to a personal care product.
These ingredients and their alternatives are just a few examples of ways you can tweak your beauty care routine to include more natural, less irritating ingredients, without lowering your standards for quality products.