There has been a big shift in consumer habits towards natural and organic ingredients, especially when it comes to beauty. When it comes to hair care products, consumers are looking for ones that are completely free of silicone, parabens, lauryl sulfate and synthetic preservatives. Not all of us can make our own products at home to monitor the ingredients, but luckily there are plenty of hair products out there that match our needs.
Firstly, let’s tackle the benefits of using natural hair care products. When using natural hair care products, we are not ‘suffocating’ our hair with tons of dehydrating and damaging toxins. Using organic products will reduce breakage, help your hair grow longer, be more manageable, and will help your curls get more defined.
Silicones are often added into hair care products to add shine and gloss to hair, decrease tangling, and provide conditioning. However, this only gives your hair the appearance of being healthier, by coating it to make it appear sleeker, frizz-free and healthier. Silicones also give fine and fragile hair a heavier feeling.
Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in many hair products. However, recent studies have shown that parabens are hormone disrupters which are able to mimic estrogen and cause many problems, including breast cancer.
Haircare products can contain harmful chemicals that can be damaging to your hair. Sulfates are common ingredients in many soaps and shampoos and can be damaging to your scalp and hair. Although they are efficient in cleaning, they also strip your hair of their natural essential oils which leaves the hair dry and damaged. An abundance of sulfates can also make hair extremely unmanageable and frizzy. They are also terrible for the environment!
The key to finding a perfect shampoo, conditioner or the best hair mask is to find one that doesn’t contain more than 9 ingredients – if it does, it’s much more likely to contain harmful synthetic ingredients.
When browsing through products, here are a few things you should be looking for:
• Labeled 100% natural
• Flowers: Contain vitamins and antioxidants that help moisturize, cleanse and smoothen. Hibiscus particularly is one of the most popular herbs for hair growth, used for bald patches and premature graying.
• Nut & Shea butters: These will enhance the natural color and shine of your hair.
• Coconut oil & Aloe Vera: These two will keep your hair moisturized and therefore help with stimulating the growth of hair.
• Vegetable glycerin: Absorbs moisture and humidity from scalp to promote hair growth and make it less prone to breakage.
• Jojoba extract: Rich in vitamins and minerals that nurture hair, thus promoting hair thickness.
• Extra virgin olive oil: Moisturizes hair and reduces scalp irritation, further reducing dandruff.
• Castor seed oil: Enhances the health of hair follicles, promoting hair growth.
• Honey: Smoothens the hair follicles, adding shine to dull hair.
• Avocado/avocado Oil: Rejuvenates and moisturizes the scalp, and promotes hair growth.
• Tea tree oil: Contains antiseptic properties that will help keep your skin healthy by preventing skin irritants
