Safe Shampoo/Conditioner etc

Ok so I felt I have to follow up the last post with some options for you of safe products to use and where to get them:

Aubrey Organics  
I'm currently using their honeysuckle shampoo and conditioner and it's beautiful.  I'm going to try more of theirs also as our local health store has it for a reasonable price.  They have a HUGE range - like probably over 15 different shampoos with matching conditioners.

You can get it from the website linked above or Amazon has it. Here is a link to the Honeysuckle Conditioner on Amazon but just search under Aubrey Organics on Amazon and you'll find more.

Thera Neem Shampoo and Conditioner
The shampoo is very runny but nice and smells good.  The conditioner smells like coconut and I find it makes my hair so nice.

I found this in our local health store but you can get it on Amazon also. Here is a link to
one of the shampoos they have there.





These are just two we have tried so far that I know are safe.  There are many brands in the health stores but beware many of them still have the bad stuff in - I was shocked to discover that actually!   Brands to still avoid are Giovanni and Avalon among others. Don't be fooled by companies jumping on the bandwagon saying natural or organic but still leaving in some of the bad stuff.  Burts Bees does that too - check the labels first.  Especially watch for fragrance as that is one that I find I easily forget about but it is important too, it needs to be essential oil fragranced only ideally.

Other brands  that have shampoo/conditioners that are organic and safe that I've found so far are:  Dr Hauschka,  Living Nature.  As I find more I will post them. I am aware of a ton of other brands I could list for you but many of them still have some of those ingredients as mentioned above so I will only ever recommend ones that are 100% safe.

Brands that are safe will always list their ingredients and often they will tell you what each ingredient is also. That's how it should be and it saves you looking up what each thing actually is.

Do you know what is in your shampoo and therefore your blood?

If you're like I was you blindly assume that if a product is on the shelf at the supermarket and widely advertised, that it must be absolutely safe for the consumer without doubt.... because after all there should be bodies whose main job is to monitor these kind of things.  Well I hate to break that bubble - but it's not true and no one is looking out for you and your family as much as they should be.  Regulations are VERY lax and it's shocking to discover.  It's really driven me to the understanding that I need to watch every little thing that I put in or on my body or have in my home because I am not going to be a guinea pig, which is really the reality of what's going on these days with everything.


So to cut to the chase - what is in your shampoo?


I'm going to pick out the common nasties that you will find in pretty much any shampoo or conditioner out there (excluding organic of course) and tell you how they will harm you.  This list is from Herbal Essences ingredients list but if you check any shampoo you have you will find at least one or more of these in there:


Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulfate
In clinical studies SLES and SLS are linked to direct damage to the hair follicle, skin damage, permanent eye damage in children, and liver toxicity. The FDA reports that shampoos with SLES and SLS cause eye irritation, scalp irritation, swelling of the hands, face, and armpit; tangled and fuzzy hair.  The cause for alarm is that SLES and SLS are absorbed into the skin each time it is used where it mimics the hormon Oestrogen. Oestrogen has been known to cause many problems from fertility problems to even causing breast cancer in women (Oestrogen levels are known to be involved).


Cocomide MEA
Any product containing DEA, has been proven by the FDA to cause cancer. Because studies showed it caused cancer, many manufacturers pulled the product out of ingredients. However, manufacturers are still using DEA derivatives such as MEA in products. The FDA says Cocamide MEA is the number one product to contain the most DEA. It has yet to be tested, but is still a cause for concern among consumers.


EDTA
EDTA alters the skin structure making it a penetration enhancer. It enables other chemicals to sink into the skin and reach the bloodstream more easily.  Add to this the fact that hot showers also open the pores to take in whatever is in your shampoo, the PVC fumes in your shower curtain and pesticide residue etc coming through your water supply - it's a toxic cocktail going straight to your blood in all that shower steam.


Propylene Glycol
It is a petroleum derivative that acts as a solvent, surfactant, and wetting agent. It easily penetrates skin and weakens cellular structure and protein structure. It can cause liver, brain, and kidney abnormalities. It is used in anti-freeze and hydraulic fluids. It is one of the primary irritants of skin, even in low concentrations


Parabens
Parabens mess with our endocrine system.  They mimic the hormone Oestrogen, which is known to play a role in the development of breast cancers. In the July 2002 issue of the Archives of Toxicology, Dr. S. Oishi of the Department of Toxicology, Tokyo Metropolitan Research Laboratory of Public Health reported that exposure of newborn male mammals to butylparaben “adversely affects the secretion of testosterone and the function of the male reproductive system.” They also accumulate in the body over time.


Fragrance/Pthalates
If it doesn't say essential oil fragranced it is synthetic and therefore you are exposed to pthalates. Phthalates are industrial compounds found in shampoos that enter the body through the skin and wreak havoc on the endocrine system. In fact, phthalates are associated with male obesity, insulin resistance and reduced sperm production among other things.

Ext Violet 2
Also known as Ext D&C Violet 2 is a known cause of tumors and serious skin rashes on lab rats.  Prolonged exposure to the chemical has cause depression, convulsions, coma and death.  It is also a suspect in causing Leukemia.  Even inhaling the vapors can cause absorption into the skin.


Yellow #5
Yellow #5, Coal tar,  is used to control dandruff; however, it is a known cancer causing agent.


Benzyl Alcohol
An external anaglesics, Benzyl alcohol is applied to the skin to help relive pain. There is strong evidence that Benzyl alcohol causes neurotoxicity in humans and is toxic to the organs.


Cyclopentasiloxane
Also known as CPS, it is a silicone based product that adds lubrication, shine, and waterproofs the hair. It is often used in a combination with dimethicone to provide extra strength, shine, and waterproofing. However, CPS clinical studies that when tested on animals, this product produced tumors, endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity (damage to the brain and peripheral nervous system), organ toxicity (non-reproductive), and skin irritation.


Stearyl alcohol
It also keeps the product from separating into dry and oily parts and to keep the foam down when the product is shaken. It is a strong irritant for the skin and eyes. Studies on animals have shown tumor formation when in contact with high doses.


Polysorbate-60
It helps other ingredients dissolve in mixtures that would not normally dissolve. Studies show that in high doses, it does cause cancer and reproductive problems on animals. In moderate doses, studies show that animals have organ toxicity.

Formaldehyde and Methylisothiazolinone (MIT)

Formaldehyde, a suspected human carcinogen found in various brands of shampoos, can cause headaches and respiratory problems. Formaldehyde may also cause damage to the DNA in some individuals. MIT, which is a biocide, also ends up on the ingredient list of some shampoos, according to the Organic Consumers Association. MIT can damage the nervous system and inhibit the growth and development of specialized neuron extensions, which are responsible for cell communication.

SO.....

Okay so this is just some of the ingredients, believe me the list goes on.  I dare you to go now and check what's in your shampoo and conditioner... and while you're at it, check other skin products and you'll be surprised what else you find these toxins in that you use all the time.

There's options out there that are just as good without all this so don't feel too overwhelmed.

In my opinion, it's better to err on the side of caution - all these things liked to these ingredients are just too serious to play around with.

Sources:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/150346-bad-ingredients-in-shampoos/

http://myinnerjew.hubpages.com/hub/Herbal-Essences-Shampoo-Products

http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2007/06/21/what-are-parabens-and-why-should-you-avoid-them/

I have also read many books regarding this that have said the same things.