3 Natural Hair Care Tips

It’s just as important what you put on your skin as what you put in your body

When you think about what you put on your skin, but do you ever think about what you put on your scalp? Hair is one of the first things people notice about you.  Hair can be symbolic and is apart of one’s identity.  For some, it can be an expression of their creativity.  Others may see it as a way to express their youthfulness (or lack thereof).  But have you ever considered what you put on it?  I had found myself paying more and more for hair products to try and combat my frizzy hair.  The No Poo method made my hair look like poo, even 2 months after ‘transitioning’.  Ever since I ditched the toxic products and changed to a more natural health care line, I have noticed longer and healthier looking hair.  Even Justin commented on my hair and he is not one to notice any hair changes I make!

Whenever you wash your hair, the shampoo/conditioner runs down your body then into the waterways; when you apply gels or leave in products, they sit on your hair and scalp until you wash them out, getting absorbed via your scalp; if you use a spray, you breath in the chemicals sprayed into the air.  At the end of the day, you end up washing these toxic products with more toxic products.  Even the high end salon products are full of nasty ingredients to avoid. These include:

• Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): These are strong detergents that strip the oils from your hair, leaving them prone to breakage & increase frizz. They can have mutagenic properties, is a skin irritant, & environmental damage.
• Parabens: These are used to inhibit bacterial growth that is also used in canned and processed food, meaning you’re probably also getting them orally. A study performed on urine in 2005 found these in 99.1% of samples. They can cause organ system toxicity and mimic estrogen, which increases the growth of breast cancer cells. Multiple studies have shown women have higher levels of parabens in their systems when compared to me, probably because of the use of cosmetics.
• Diethanolamine (DEA) & Triethanolamine (TEA): Are emulsifiers and foam agents. There has been a link between topical application and cancer in lab rats, although the FDA denies any link.
• Formaldehyde: Added as a preservative and is a known human carcinogen that is shown to be absorb via the skin in lab animals. There are also chemicals that release formaldehyde that go by different names. Remember when women were suing Unilever for hair loss after using their shampoo? That’s because these agents were hidden in the shampoo. Brazilian blowouts, which leave your hair soft and shiny, also contain these chemicals. The US allows them in care products, the EU restricts it’s usage, and Sweden and Japan entirely ban it.
• Fragrence: For smell, although this label means that it can contain hundreds of hidden, unnamed chemicals. Some ingredients can be hormone disruptors, carcinogenic, trigger asthma, or even be contained in breastmilk or cross the placenta. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) states that 75% of products with fragrance contain phthlates (illegal in many countries besides the US).
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine: Even listed in some ‘natural’ shampoos because it comes from coconuts, but is a foam booster. Causes skin irritation, dermatitis, rosacea, and eczema.
• Retinyl Palmitate: When this comes into contact with the skin, it becomes retinol. This causes skin irritation, reproductive issues, organ toxicity, and is possibly carcinogenic.
• Colorants/Dyes: Please tell me why our shampoo needs color? They come from petroleum and tar sources, which means you don’t want them on your skin. Linked to various things and illegal in other countries. May even see them listed as FD&C or D&C then a number. Linked to hormonal imbalances, infertility, cancer, and organ system toxicity.

What you can do to better your hair’s health

Many factors can contribute to your hair health.  Genetics, products, diet, medications, stress, hormones, or how you style it can all affect your hair.  But there are some easy things we can do to help keep our hair healthy and full of life.

Diet

Our body displays what we eat.  What we eat (or don’t eat) can have a huge impact on our hair.  Diets rich in healthy fats and proteins are also great for our hair. Some foods to consider are:

• Eggs

Eggs are an excellent source of protein and biotin, a vitamin of the B complex. These are both important for hair growth and keeping hair follicles healthy and strong.

• Spinach

Spinach is full of vitamins and minerals.  It is a plant based source of iron (iron deficiencies have been linked to hair loss), folate, and vitamins A and C.  Vitamin C can help to combat oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals.  These nutrients may also help to promote hair growth.

• Nuts and Seeds

Nuts contain healthy fatty acids, B vitamins, and vitamin E.  Some seeds contain omega-3s, which can also help promote healthy growth of hair.

• Avocados

Avocados are what I also think of when I hear ‘healthy fats’.  They contain 20% of your daily requirements for vitamin E.  Vitamin E is an antioxidant that also helps neutralize free radicals and promote scalp and hair health.

Hair Styling

The products we use on our hair can cause it to become dry and brittle.  Avoiding heat & dyes to prevent your hair from drying out, thus, becoming brittle and damaged.  If you like to wear your hair in a ponytail, try not to pull it too tightly as this can damage your strands.  Another thing to look into are the products you use on your hair.  Avoid the ingredients I mentioned above and instead look for healing ingredients.  Plant oils, such as avocado, olive, coconut, and argan oil, are all great for conditioning hair without damaging it. Pay attention to the oils you use though.  If you have thin hair, you don’t want to choose an oil that will weigh your hair down or cause an oily scalp.

Essential Oils

Essential oils can help give our hair the TLC it needs.  Using some of the oils I mentioned above, you could dilute essential oils to put in your hair.  Frankincense is an excellent essential oil to consider to for a healthy scalp.  It can promote healthy hair follicles, thus, has been used to prevent and treat hair loss.   For hair growth, the Tisserand Institute has an article that talks about how rosemary essential oil worked better for hair growth than a 2% minoxidil solution.  Another good essential oil for hair is lavender.  It calms our senses, but did you know it is also soothing for the skin?  This means it can help combat scalp issues, such as flaky skin, while soothing and nourishing your scalp.

So there you have it. Three non toxic way to promote healthy hair and growth!  After switching to a line that was cheaper than what I was paying for salon hair products, my hair is healthy and I am using less product in it.

What are some things you are doing to help ensure your hair’s health?