Haircare

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We all just love to hear the words "Your hair looks great!"   Men and women alike, whether it's from a partner, friend or even a chat up line, it always makes your day to receive a compliment.

Organic hair care is the new WOW factor for hair and here are some points to consider when you next buy shampoo, conditioner or other hair care products...

Quick Guide:  For eco friendly haircare look for products that are...         

                Certified organic ingredients

                Vegan/vegetarian

                UK manufactured

                Free from SLS's

                Free from parabens

                Free from artificial colour/fragrance

                Fully biodegradable

                Cruelty free

                Hand blended

The Marketing Angle

Hair care is a massive market with big brands and thousands of products to choose from, but with today's media and seductive advertising, it's easy to get drawn into believing that shampoo's with herbal extracts, pro whatever and "real" essential oils are all the best thing since sliced bread and will make us look irresistible.  Lavender shampoo for example may contain natural lavender extracts and lavender essential oils, but what else does it contain alongside these natural ingredients?

I Knew That!

What many people know is that you should change your shampoo regularly to prevent "build up" from leaving your hair dull. If you wash your hair and it is clean - what is there to build up? Having used almost every "suitable" shampoo on the market over the years, my personal experience was that, the more the advertising claimed it was GOOD for my hair, the more it made my hair dull or wiry and my scalp itchy, irritated and flaky. Dandruff shampoos being the worst, leaving me feeling like I wanted to wash my hair again and again to get rid of the wiry feel and the pungent smell they left behind.  Great for their sales, but not my hair.

Which Shampoo Next?

I eventually started looking into ingredients that shampoo's contain and was horrified to find that Sodium Laureth Sulphate (a detergent) found in shampoos, soaps, bubble baths, toothpastes including childrens’ products, was originally listed as a garage floor cleaner and because of its manufacturing process, can become contaminated with carcinogens. These following articles explain in more detail, the possible health effects of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and Sodium Laureth Sulphate.

Smells Nice!

OK, so that explains how some shampoos clean your hair, but what about smelling great too?  Most commercial shampoo's contain fragrances simply described as "perfumes". They might smell like your favorite flowers or herbs but where do they really come from? This alarming article from the Natural Ingredient Resource Centre highlights some potential hazards not only to the user, but the potential harm to an unborn foetus too.  TigerFlag Natural Perfumery  provides a list of harmful, chemical perfume ingredients and their side effects.

That Foamy Feeling

Furthermore, foaming agents are added to give a further false feel of cleanliness. Many products including washing up liquid and toothpaste are marketed on the base that the foamy bubbles do the cleaning. The detergent really does the cleaning but not all detergents foam. There are much kinder and more natural alternatives available. The foam is not a necessary part of cleaning your hair and actually makes it harder to rinse from some hair types, making skin irritation more likely with residue chemicals.  Don't forget that no matter how well you rinse your hair, some chemicals will be absorbed into the skin and can cause irritation even on a clean head of hair.

All these chemicals added together in a product are bound to cause irritation in many people. Even if you aren't sensitive to all these chemicals -what about the waterway when you wash them down the drain?  Some ingredients in shampoos and other hair care products are not biodegradable.  They can cause pollution and build-up over time resulting in damage to wildlife and waterways.

Animal Testing

Many people may remember the old picture of the poor white rabbit with swollen, bloodshot eyes that looked painfully sore.  Animal testing has caused outrage for many years because many body and hair care products have been tested on animals for the very reason that they contain ingredients that could be harmful. 

The great thing about the eco trends in hair care is that organic, natural and hand blended products are generally all free from animal testing.  All the ones I have come across to date have claimed they are cruelty free as part of their green credentials and are usually vegan or vegetarian by nature.  The beauty is, even if you are not vegan or vegetarian by diet, these eco shampoos are much healthier and more pleasant to use.

The best way to look for cruelty free hair care is to look for shampoo approved by the BUAV (British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection) and Vegan Society as well as other recognised approvals.

How Far?

If your concern about shampoo is more the carbon footprint, look for shampoos that are made in the UK.   Also take note of the ingredients.   Lemon doesn't grow in the UK while Sorell’s Naturally Nettle Shampoo  offers a truly local, natural solution that's great for sensitive skin too.

Don't panic!

It's not about "scare times". It's just about plain and simple information that can help you choose a way forward.  There are plenty of healthy, organic, natural and hand blended shampoo's online or in local health food shops, that AVOID all harmful ingredients, and in doing so create a double benefit to you as the user and to the environment.

If you are unsure about any shampoo, read the ingredients.  If an online shop does not list the ingredients, you should be able to email them and ask before purchasing.  Green East lists all the ingredients of all the hair care products on their site so you can make an informed decision next time you are looking for shampoo & conditioner.

By the way - Your hair looks great!

Kay Reeve – www.greeneast.co.uk

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