Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Your Hair Won't Grow? Here's Why.

I've been an advocate for natural hair and beauty products for quite some time. My friends are amazed at how healthy and thick my hair is. One of the main reasons for this is because I do not put synthetic products in my hair. Most of the products women use today carry harsh chemicals designed to keep your follicles in poor health, leaving clogged scalps and lackluster locs. Go grab any bottle of shampoo, no matter what brand, and I guarantee you'll find some of the ingredients listed will do more harm than good. You may think you're getting results, but in fact, you'll continue to buy the same products, and your hair will continue to remain stagnant in growth. Below is a list of ingredients to avoid when picking out hair products:

Mineral Oil and Petrolatum - Both of these products are widely used because it's super cheap. Both claim to condition and protect the hair, but instead, it does the complete opposite. It clogs the pores, preventing your scalp from getting the proper oxygen it needs to allow the hair follicles to grow. These ingredients are both extremely drying and toxic. Petrolatum is a crude oil used in plastics, solvents, and pesticides. So why would you want to use it in your hair? Mineral Oil is a liquid version of petrolatum and it widely debated on whether not it's ok to include in our hair and skin products. I don't understand the debate. It interferes with the absorption of vitamins and other nutrients needed for healthy hair and scalp. Avoid these ingredients at all cost.

Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea - These ingredients are preservatives that act as a  formaldehyde releaser. Need I say more?

Methyl and Propyl and Butyl and Ethyl Paraben - Widely-used preservatives that have been proven by the Environmental Protection Agengy (EPA) to cause "estrogenic response on uterine tissues."  These are known to cause many allergic reactions and skin rashes. The estrogen levels in your body are increased significantly and the effects are known to stimulate breast cancer. Why are we putting this on our hair and scalp again?

Propylene Glycol - Supposedly used as a humectant, it breaks down the proteins and cellular tissue in our skin. Ummm...our hair and skin is made of proteins. How counter-productive. Don't use it!

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and Sodium Laureth Sulphate - These foaming agents are used in most of our shampoos and conditioners. There are claims that it's damaging to the immune system and they are extremely harsh on your hair, and rightfully so since it's also used as a degreaser for engines. These agents may cause hair loss, because the truth is that like Propylene Glycol, they break down the proteins in your hair, resulting in hair-loss. Also, studies show that it causes skin rashes and eye problems such as cataracts.

Why do comapanies use these harmful ingredients in our hair products? It's simple. They're cheap and easily produced in large quantities. Big businesses rarely care about the health of the general public. They care about the bottom line. If you want great results and healthy hair, look to more natural and holistic options. Look for hair products that don't contain the above products. Some of my favorites are Burt's Bees and Herbal Choice. Visit your local natural foods store to find out what products they have to offer, and HAPPY GROWING!

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