Welcome back to my blog, Locs Talk, where I discuss all things Locs and Loose Natural Hair.
Last week, I scratched the surface with a list of cosmetic ingredients that you should be cautious of when using or avoiding all together. This is to assure the safety of your hair/Locs and to your overall health in some cases. The reason why I gave you this list, is to help you to know what to look for when you purchase products for your hair care and for when you are reading the labels of the products you are using on your hair and body; for many of these ingredients are listed in other products used on your bodies in general, not just your hair.
This week, I will dive deeper into how harmful and hazardous some of these product ingredients can be to your overall health. It is extremely important to read the labels of products you often use. FDA standards require manufacturers to list the ingredients in their products on the label in the order of highest concentration to lowest. The first five ingredients listed are the highest concentrated and decreases as it goes further down the list of ingredients. Also, when reading the front of the bottle and you see [(insert ingredient) free], don't just take that as word, turn the bottle around and actually read the list of ingredients to be certain.
Please understand, I am not trying to scare you by sharing this information, I only aim to inform you for the purpose of awareness and caution. Everything I discuss here is researchable. The information I am sharing is based on the scientific findings and documented studies published by a variety of professional scientist. You will also find that several of these ingredients have been banned in other countries due to scientific evidence found within some of the harmful and hazardous agents. With each ingredient I discuss, I will give some of the information I found spoken in Leimans terms to help you understand it much better. I will provide some of the terms you will see listed in the ingredients that may not be listed as the actual scientific name, but as a surname, used for specific ingredients in the product. Be cautious of what you use, for Beauty is NOT Pain! Let me begin with a recap of the ingredients I gave you a list of in last week's blog below:
1. Sulfate
2. Mineral Oil
3. Parabens
4. Denatured Alcohol
5. Synthetic Fragrances
6. Coal Tar
7. Silicones
8. Phthalates
9. Formaldehyde
I will also touch on an additional agent that can be very harmful to those who suffer from skin allergies or to those who aren't properly protecting themselves when using. Para Phenylenediamine (PPD) a chemical widely used in permanent, and semi-permanent hair dyes. So, let's dive right in and get started.
Sulfate: sulfates are an aggressive chemical that are extremely drying to your hair, as it strips away all your hair and scalp of its natural oils. It also strips away too much moisture, leaving the hair brittle and unhealthy. Over time your hair weakens and end up looking dull and becoming very prone to damage, breaking and split ends. It is important to read the label to assure there is no sulfate in your shampoo. Many falls in love with the suds that is produced when they are washing their hair. Suds does not equate to cleanliness.
Mineral Oil: Most often, mineral oil is a liquid by-product of refining crude oil to make gasoline and other petroleum products. Mineral oil can irritate the skin causing a rash or burning feeling on contact. Breathing mineral oil can irritate the lungs, causing coughing and shortness of breath. Mineral oil can lead to buildup on scalp, and it causes hair strands to become stiff and lifeless as a result of being weighed down by left-over product residue. While mineral oil has the ability to restore shine, reduce tangles, and prevent split ends, it can't penetrate the hair fiber and will be ineffective in treating existing damages. Using products that contain plant-based oils such as coconut oil for example, generally offer far more benefits than mineral oil. Plant-based oil is very beneficial in helping prevent the loss of protein. For label reading, some alternate names for mineral oil listed as an ingredient are white oil, paraffin oil, liquid paraffin, liquid petroleum.
Parabens: Parabens are a group of chemical compounds used as preservatives to prevent the growth of bacteria in cosmetic formulas. Parabens are very hazardous to your health. It is of greatest concerns that parabens are known to disrupt hormone function, an effect that is linked to increase the risk of breast cancer and reproductive toxicity. According to the Library of National Medicine, a study has shown large amounts of parabens in the tumors of cancer patients, however, researchers were unable to confirm why or how it happened. So, if you'd rather be safe than sorry, I recommend you avoid using products that contain parabens. For the purpose of reading labels, some other names listed as paraben ingredients are, methyl-paraben, propyl-paraben, Para-hydroxybenzoate.
Denatured Alcohols: Denatured alcohol refers to alcohol products adulterated with toxic and/or bad tasting additives making it unsuitable for human consumption. While these alcohols are technically safe to use in cosmetics, it can cause excessive dryness and disturb the natural barrier on your skin. It can cause breakouts, irritation, and redness. This type of alcohol is usually found in hair sprays, some brands of hair gels, and some brands of hair mousse. Many people prefer using them because it dries faster on your hair. But you don't want the cost of speed to be your hair breaking off and being dehydrated, dry and brittle. Constant use leaves your hair feeling dry, frizzy and dull. Beware of denatured alcohols listed in the ingredients as, Denat, Ethanol, SD alcohol 40, Propanol, Isopropyl, and propyl.
Synthetic Fragrances: Synthetic fragrances are fragrances developed in laboratories to mimic natural fragrances. They are not necessarily bad; however, parabens and phthalates can be found in some synthetic fragrance formulas (very few, but some) and those agents are bad. Synthetic fragrances are known to lead to a range of skin reactions. Whether that be redness, itching, hives or dermatitis. If you suffer from skin allergies, be careful with products that list synthetic fragrances as an ingredient.
Coal Tar: Coal tar is derived dyes used to give artificial color to cosmetics. Coal tar is a thick, dark liquid which is a by-product of the production of coke and coal gas from coal. It has both medical and industrial uses. It is commonly used in medicated shampoo to treat scalp psoriasis and should not contain any more than 5% of coal tar in the formula, the highest concentrate before it is deemed toxic and hazardous to your overall health. Studies have shown that higher doses of coal tar contain chemical and metals like aluminum substrate, which have been linked to cancer and brain damage. A down fall is, it leaves hair feeling dry and smelling of tar and 5 of the 12 ingredients are well known contact allergens. I would consider an alternative treatment for psoriasis other than coal tar. Most coal tar dyes have been banned from cosmetic formulation.
Silicones: Silicone isn't a toxic chemical; it is completely safe as far as your physical health goes. But what it can do is affect the strength and appearance of your hair, causing a weighty feel & dryness. It is hard to remove buildup, it can block your hair follicles and cause hair loss. When used in conditioners and styling products, silicones act like a protective barrier by coating the strand and leaves your hair with a glossy, smooth finish. Silicones are emollient slip agents that are great for locking in moisture and giving hair instantaneous silky shine. But, as previously noted, it weighs your hair down and since it adds an exterior seal to your hair cuticles, it prevents moisture from penetrating the hair shaft, which will eventually dry out your hair over time. Beware, any listed ingredient ending in 'cone' is a silicone agent.
Phthalates: Phthalates, pronounced (tha-layts) are chemicals that make plastic soft. Nearly all Americans have phthalate by-products in their urine. Many people have taken action to prevent usage by using glass storage containers and bottles instead of plastics and I am going help you avoid it in the cosmetics you use, including the products you use for your hair. In the past few years, researchers have linked phthalates to asthma, ADHD, breast cancer, obesity, type 2 diabetes, low IQ, neurodevelopmental issues, behavioral issues, autism, and fertility issues (2/10/2015 article in reference to the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel on phthalates & phthalate alternatives). When reading labels, look for DEHP, also known as Di-( 2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. If you see phthalates listed in the ingredients of any product you use DO NOT USE IT!
Para Phenylenediamine (PPD): While PPD is not extremely hazardous to your overall health, use with caution, as it does have a reputation for contact allergens to skin. PPD is a chemical substance that is widely used in permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes. PPD is used in hair dye because it gives a natural look to the coloring agent, and the dyed hair can also be shampooed or permed without losing its color. It is okay to use dye that contains PPD, however due to the contact allergens in PPD, I recommend doing an area test to assure your skin won't react to the chemical. Sensitive individuals can experience dermatitis, commonly known as eczema if they experience a reaction to the PPD in dyes.
Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde is a colorless pungent gas in solution, made by oxidizing methanol. Hair products may have formaldehyde dissolved (and chemically reacted) in water. Often the reacted formaldehyde is called methylene glycol. Inhalation of air contaminated with formaldehyde may result in respiratory problems such as coughing, bronchitis, chest pains and wheezing. There are several shampoo brands that are under investigation for containing formaldehyde. You may very well have them in your possession, if you do, I suggest looking up Shampoos under investigation for containing formaldehyde. Please read the labels of the shampoos you buy. Look for the following on the label when reading, methylene glycol or formalin.
It is just as important for you to know what you are putting on your hair and skin as it is to be knowing what you ingest and put into your body. Reading the labels is very important, in order to know what lies beneath the surface. So, if the label says 'Sulfate Free' on the front, make sure, turn that bottle around and read the ingredients on the back, being certain that none of them say sulfate. Don't be fooled, be smart and cautious.
Next week I am going to take a short sabbatical from researching and blogging and instead, I will do a vlog presentation of my stash of Peculiar Roots products. I constantly talk about and recommend them; I think it's high time I show you what I have. I NEVER recommend anything I have not used on myself. In the following week after next week, I will talk more in depth about dying your Locs, when is the right time and I will talk about why I personally refrain from bleaching Locs and using high heat for drying the Locs. Until then, take care of your crowns and have a long and healthy hair journey.
Pammie
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