Bad Hair Product Ingredients
Isopropyl alcohol - Can be found in a multitude of hair products, especially hair rinses and finishing sprays. Isopropyl alcohol is used to give hair more shine, but over time, it can be very drying. (Its a petroleum based substance that is commonly used in wood lacquer and antifreeze.) It can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and coma.
Sodium Laurel Sulphate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES - A base surfactant which makes shampoos lather, and can be found in approximately 90% of all shampoos and even in some conditioners. Your hair is made of keratin/protein and is affected by SLS and SLES. Both can lead to unhealthy hair and inhibited hair growth, which contributes to hair loss.
DEA(diethanolamine) and MEA (momoethanolamine) - Often referenced as Cocamide DEA/Mea and Lauramide DEA. These chemicals disrupt hormones and have been shown to form cancer causing nitrates and nitrosamines. They are fairly common in most shampoos. A study at the University of Illinois found that repeated use of DEA detergents may increase liver and kidney cancers.
Propylene glycol - Propylene glycol is a surfactant or wetting agent, and a solvent. Its used as an emulsifier in creams, body washes, shampoos and conditioners?. It is a synthetic petrochemical that initially, makes hair look smoother. Over time, it can completely obliterate hair.
Polyethylene glycol - A petroleum based product that's also typically used in oven cleaners.
Fragrance Hair product that list 'fragrance' on the label can contain up to 4,000 different ingredients, most of which are synthetic. Symptoms of fragrance toxicity include headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and allergic skin irritation. Studies have shown that repeated exposure to fragrances can affect the central nervous system, cause depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes.
Formaldehyde - Probably one of the worst offenders of all hair products ingredients, it is commonly used in shampoos, and conditioners as an inhibiting agent against carcinogenic nitrosamine production. Yet, formaldehyde is carcinogenic by itself. It can easily penetrate the skin and can cause serious long term health concerns and hypersensitivity to other chemicals. It can seriously weaken immunity and can cause cancer. It also causes allergic reactions, headaches, and chronic fatigue.
Imidazolidinyl urea & DMDM Hydantoin - Are preservatives that release formaldehyde. Nearly all hair products contain these chemicals, and are terrible hair products ingredients!
Parabens - Preservatives used to inhibit microbial growth in hair care products and are known to be highly toxic.