Once you decide to start choosing organic and chemical-free products, it seems like you have to keep breaking old habits at every turn. I’ve been using the same shampoo for years, a cheap “grocery” brand that my hairstylist chastises me for using at each visit. Shampoo is shampoo, right?
Well, apparently not. My stylist said that a lot of cheap shampoos contain chemicals that temporarily smooth or add shine, but actually damage your hair in the long run. The artificial chemicals are cheaper than all-natural ingredients, hence, you get what you pay for when you buy cheap shampoo. Still not convinced, I did some research on my own.
Surprisingly, there is a long list of chemicals on that bottle of my old favorite shampoo, most of which I can’t pronounce. I googled some of them, and here’s what I found:
- Ammonium Laureth Sulfate: Can irritate skin, may damage hair.
- Disodium EDTA: A penetration enhancer that alters skin structure to allow other chemicals to penetrate into the skin.
- Methylisothiazolinone: According to Wikipedia, recent studies show this may be a neurotoxin.
The realization finally sunk in – chemicals in soaps, shampoos, lotions and other things you put on your skin or scalp can absorb into your body. Who knows what these chemicals do to you, so my new household rule is if you don’t know what’s in it, don’t use it. This is proving to be much more difficult than I expected!
One thing I have determined is that I love anything by Aubrey Organics. I have wavy hair that tends to frizz, and the White Camillia Conditioner is great. It smooths the frizz and my hair feels much softer, even after just a few weeks. I’ve been using it with the Rosa Mosqueta Shampoo, which smells great. The best part is that the ingredient list is simple, just herbs and natural things, so I feel good about using it. The company is also cruelty-free, not testing it’s products on animals.
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