How can you fix a bad hair day? With the proper hair styling products. Whether your hair is all messed up or it won’t stay fixed in your ponytail, a good product can help you get the look you want. But what are the costs of using hair styling products?
The answer depends on what type of products you are using. Conventional ones are filled with chemicals which can damage your hair in time and may affect your health. Chemical free products such as chemical free hair wax are an excellent alternative.
This type of styling products is usually produced using natural, plant-based or even organic ingredients. It depends from one manufacturer to another. What’s great about them is that they may not contain harsh chemicals and this can make them less harmful to your health.
Why are conventional hair styling products more dangerous? The answer stands in the chemicals used to produce them. We will briefly explain a few of them in order for you to understand their power. Let’s take a look.
Chemicals used in conventional hair styling products
It may be hard to understand the chemicals used in hair styling products by just reading their ingredient list. You just see a great enumeration of complicated names.
We picked a few and will provide some information about each of them.
SLS and SLES
SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) and SLES (sodium laureth sulfate) are used in several beauty and household products. You can find them in shampoos, toothpaste, and bath cleaning products.
These chemicals can cause serious skin damage, eye irritations, and internal organ damage, as they are toxic. The results may not appear immediately, but in time, they may make their presence known.
Propylene glycol
Propylene glycol is a petroleum based chemical used in different beauty products. It’s a powerful substance, as it has been linked to skin damage, reproductive and nervous system problems.
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
Formaldehyde is also used in the production of (conventional) toilet paper. It’s used to make the product shinier, stronger and more resistant to wetness.
The big issue with this ingredients is that it can cause irritations and it has been linked to cancer.
Parabens
Parabens are present in almost any product you find in the beauty/cleaning area. Whether you are looking at shampoos, makeup products, shaving and other bath items.
Some products may have written on their package that they are paraben-free. In order to be 100% sure of this aspect, check the ingredient list for the following names:
- Butylparaben
- Ethylparaben
- Methylparaben
If you see them, move to another product. These are a few examples of parabens used in hair styling products.
Parabens have been linked to skin irritations, reproductive problems, and even cancer.
BHA and BHT
BHA comes from Butylated Hydroxyanisole, while BHT stands for Butylated Hydroxytoluene. They are mostly used in products containing oils, as they extend the life of these items.
These chemicals can be dangerous for us and for the environment. They can be harmful to the health of aquatic wildlife. What’s more, they can cause reproductive problems, liver damage, and interfere with thyroid hormone levels.
Chemical free hair wax benefits
Hairstyling products such as chemical free hair wax can be a great option to style your hair and take care of your health. Using it can bring great benefits for you.
Safe for your hair and health
If you look at the ingredient list of chemical free hair wax products, there is a big chance you will not find any harsh chemicals (always check to be 100% sure). They are usually made of oils such as coconut, jojoba or sesame seed and other ingredients like beeswax.
What these ingredients show is the safeness of the product. They may cause little to no harm to your health in the short and the long term.
Pay attention when you are choosing a hair styling product. Don’t pick one which contains an ingredient you are or may be allergic to. Also, you may want to test it on a small part of your hair to see how it reacts.
Note: Don’t apply the wax directly on your scalp. It can clog your pores. Focus on the hair length.
Depending on the product you’re using, you can decide if you leave it on for the night.
Environmentally friendly
Although this aspect may not apply to all items, some chemical free hair products are eco-friendly. When you wash your hair and the wax (or what remains of it) goes down the drain, it may not affect the waters it reaches. The aquatic wildlife may not be harmed by it.
This is something which depends from one product to another.