I didn’t realise how toxic washing my hair actually was.
I always thought the steam and hot water from the shower would wash away the many chemicals in shampoo products and that would be the end of it!
But ignorance is bliss. After doing a lot of research, I now know that shampoo is a toxic storm and terrible for your health and immune system. This is because the natural oils in hair (produced by the immune system) actually act as a protective layer on the scalp and washing these oils away frequently, leaves the skin more vulnerable to absorbing toxins in shampoo.
The problem was that the more I washed my hair, the more I NEEDED to wash it. Each time I was stripping away natural oils, and just like when you cleanse your skin with chemical products, the body tries to replenish with more oil. When my hair is too oily it becomes flat, dull and lifeless and the only way to resurrect my luscious locks is to wash it again.
But, the less you wash the better for your overall health. Plus, who has time to wash their hair every day, then blow dry and add styling products? I am late for work just thinking about it!
How can shampooing be bad for my immune system?
Most commercial shampoo and conditioners contain toxic ingredients; in fact there are 12 really toxic ingredients in most of them. Here are just a few that are found in everyday shampoo:
Sodium-Lauryl-Sulfate
A known skin irritant and is also found in carpet cleaners, stain removers, pesticides and laundry detergent. Anything used to remove stains is potent and harsh and when it’s chemical-based, it’s a recipe for disaster. Not only is this ingredient bad for your health, it’s also a pollutant and toxic to fish and other aquatic animals.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Supposedly “natural” and derived from coconuts, this ingredient was voted “allergen of the year” in 2004 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society. 14 years on and it’s still used in hair and body products.
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
A Petroleum-based ingredient often contaminated with pollutants and heavy metals, many of which are known carcinogens linked to a host of cancers.
And these are just a few. Other chemicals include Fragrances, Triclosan, Polysorbates, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Chloride and Quaternium-15, the latter being a preservative that the European Union has deemed unsafe
So imagine you wash your hair, sometimes even twice, in hot water and steam then rinse it off and it runs all over your body. It’s the perfect environment for the toxins to be absorbed straight into your body and scalp. Multiply that by 4 days per week or even 7 and you’re massively increasing your body’s toxic load. By this I mean your liver and kidneys are saying “Polyethylene Glycol … hasn’t that been linked to cancer? Quick let’s work overtime to get it out of here!”