Everyone seems to be going green and organic, but how can you keep your hair looking and feeling great using organic products? You don’t have to rely on chemicals and synthetic ingredients to have healthy looking and manageable hair. A few of the reasons organic hair care products are so popular is that they don’t contain ingredients that strip hair color and contribute to the pollution of the environment. According to the Organic Consumers Association you should avoid the following products used in shampoos, conditioners and styling products if you want to go organic:
- Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea are both used as preservatives and can cause contact dermatitis.
- Methyl and Propyl and Butyl and Ethyl Paraben are also preservatives and used to inhibit bacterial growth in products. They have been shown to cause allergic reactions in some people.
- Propylene Glycol in its organic form is glycerin mixed with vegetable alcohol. Normally it is a petrochemical based synthetic mixture used because it is cheaper than the organic form.
- PVP/VA Copolymer is a polymer used in hairsprays and finishing sprays. It can cause serious lung complications in people with sensitivity to the ingredient.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a popular synthetic ingredient used in shampoos and cleansers to produce the lather we all love. It’s not the lather that cleans, but the surfactants and detergents. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can produce allergic reactions as well as skin irritations.
Organic Alternatives
There are organic alternatives that will out perform their synthetic counterparts and leave your hair, skin and scalp feeling and looking great. For example Dr. Bronner’s Organic Hair Conditioner and Styling Crème contains organic coconut and jojoba oils to make your hair soft, shiny and manageable. It also contains organic hemp oil to moisturize and soften hair. Another excellent example is Avalon Organics Therapeutic Olive and Grape Seed Moisturizing Shampoo. Olive oil is a powerful antioxidant and grape seed oil restructures and helps to regenerate healthy cells. Some of the organic ingredients to look for include:
- Borage
- Flax Seed
- Sunflower Oil
- Organic Aloe
- Lavender
- Organic Shikakai Powder (from the seed pods of the small South Asian tree Acacia Concinna)
- Citrus Oils
- Argan Oil
Know What You are Buying
The best way to ensure you are getting organic products is to familiarize yourself with natural and organic ingredients. Read the label and description before you purchase hair care products. Be aware that natural doesn’t always mean the same as organic. Organic products are grown, harvested and manufactured using no added chemicals or pesticides. They may cost a bit more, but the results are worth it not only for your hair, but for the environment as well.
