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With the dirty truth about the ingredients found in personal care products coming to light, you may be tempted to go the "No 'Poo" route the next time you step into the shower. But don't fret, there are plenty of scalp-loving shampoos on the market that swap nasty petrochems for plant-based, sometimes organic, ingredients. Now get latherin'...
Find it! Natural shampoos
Want to green your normal, oily, or dry scalp? Look no further. The shampoos listed below boast various green attributes—organic ingredients, no animal testing, the absence of foaming, cleaning, and thickening agents that pose eco-havoc in their manufacture and when they get washed down the drain and enter waterways—so you can avoid committing both a hair and earth don't. And since a shampoo can get awfully lonely in the shower without a good conditioner, seek out one with similar eco-perks. And those fixing to do away with 'poo packaging should look for bar varieties.
- APIVITA PROPOLINE shampoos
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With its humble beginnings in a Greek pharmacy, APIVITA is now a fixture on the global natural and holistic skin and hair care scene. The company's vitamin-rich PROPOLINE shampoos cater to follicle-related fixes like hair loss in both men and women and split ends. - Aubrey Organics shampoos and conditioners
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From the good green folks at Aubrey Organics comes this line of power-packed, petrochemical- and paraben-free shampoos and conditioners. Mix and match or stick to one variety: Blue Camomile Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner, Camomile Luxurious Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner, or GPB Glycogen Protein Shampoo & Conditioner. - Aveda shampoos
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Always at the cutting eco-edge when it comes to beauty products, Aveda offers a range of salon-quality, earth-friendly shampoos for various coif concerns. Lather up with Be Curly, Shampure, Scalp Benefits, Pure Abundance, and other targeted treatments. - Dr. Hauschka shampoos
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From the good doctor (Dr. Hauschka, that is) comes three gently cleansing natural shampoos: Shampoo with Macadamia and Orange (for normal hair), Shampoo with Nasturtium and Lemon (for normal to oily hair), and Shampoo with Apricot and Sea Buckthorn (for dry and damaged hair). - JASON natural hair care products
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Showertime becomes a thrilling, guilt-free affair when you use JASON's range of natural shampoos and conditioners. Pick from several different lines that target different issues: Natural Salon Hair Care, Everyday Hair Care, Dandruff Control, All-Natural Specialty Hair Care, and more. - John Masters Organics shampoos
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Looking to steer clear of hairy chemicals? Look no further than shampoos and other hair care items from John Masters Organics. Masters (a member of Global Green) abides by strict guidelines when it comes to ingredients. - Korres shampoos
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These six deep-cleaning, healing shampoos from coveted Greek natural beauty line Korres are free of mineral oil, silicone, propylene glycol, and ethanolamine. So what do they contain? Lather, rinse, repeat with soapwart, aloe, provitamin B5, wheat proteins, sage and nettle extracts, and much more. - LUSH shampoos
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This sweet-smelling UK-based purveyor of natural handmade goodies for body and bath offers six bottled shampoos full of potent essential oils: Big, Curly Wurly, I Love Juicy, Rehab, Daddyo, and Cynthia Sylvia Stout. These silicone and cruelty-free potions are made from a mix of safe synthetics and natural and/or organic ingredients. - Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue Shampoo
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Feeling flaky, itchy, dry, or oily? No worries. From Max Green Alchemy comes this scalp-remedying winner of the 2008 Proggy's "Best Cruelty-Free Personal Care Product" award. The Scalp Rescue Shampoo replaces petrochemicals, parabens, and lanolin with essential oils, vitamins, and botanical extracts, many of which are organic. - MOP shampoos and conditioners
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Have a mangy mop in need of some green TLC? Look to MOP's (Modern Organic Products) range of salon-quality hair care products. Choose from shampoos, conditioners, treatments, and styling products across three lines: C-System, Glisten, and the core line that includes Mixed Greens, Pear, Lemongrass, and more. - Phyto shampoos
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Founded over 35 years ago by Paris-based hair stylist Patrick Ales, Phyto harnessed the eco-friendly power of natural botanicals long before hair care took a turn for the green. Phyto's potent plant-based, cruelty-free shampoos contain ingredients like lemon, rosemary, and cypress oils and are packaged in 100 percent recyclable containers. - Simply Organic shampoos and conditioners
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Treat your 'do to Simply Organic's four unique shampoo and conditioner treatments—Volume, Everyday, Refresh, and Moisture. Along with boasting natural ingredients like honey, olive leaf extract, and various extracts and essential oils, the company lists common chems found in hair products to avoid. - Terressentials Pure Earth Hair Washes
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Terressentials only uses ingredients certified as organic by the USDA. The company's Pure Earth Hair Washes come in Cool Mint, Lavender Garden, Sultry Spice, Left Coast Lemon, as well as a fragrance-free variety.
Before you buy
As with any personal care or cosmetic product, it's important to read the label carefully. Because the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spends only a tiny portion of its budget investigating the chemical composition and toxins in hair and skincare products,[1] shampoos can tout their use of organic ingredients and still have up to 30 percent synthetic materials, even the ones labeled "organic" or "made with organic ingredients."[2] For more on this issue, see Green claims.
Also keep in mind that if you choose a specialty shampoo concocted with green ingredients in lieu of an easy-to-find variety, you'll likely be confronted with a higher price tag as chemicals generally come cheaper than botanical, organic certified ingredients. For example, at Beauty.com, an 8-ounce container of Dr. Hauschka's Nasturtium & Lemon Shampoo for normal or oily hair costs $13.00, while over at Drugstore.com, a 22.5-ounce container of Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo for normal or oily hair costs $2.49.
Choosing natural shampoo helps you go green because...
- They rely on ingredients found in nature, not in a chemist's lab. These ingredients have natural healing and cleaning properties and do not pose a risk to those with chemical sensitivities. It's estimated that 93 percent of shampoos contain ingredients linked to cancer and other health issues.[3]
- Like other conventional hair, skincare, and cosmetic products, shampoos can contain petroleum-derived components. Petroleum is a non-sustainable resource with various eco-repercussions.
- Many makers of natural shampoos and hair care products also follow green business practices, such as using recycled packaging and harnessing renewable energy sources like wind power.
Like other beauty, hair, and skincare products such as lipstick, deodorant, and body lotion, many popular shampoos contain mineral oil, a petroleum-based substance.[4] The production of the petrochemicals used in hair care products pollutes the environment by releasing hazardous chemicals into the air and water.[5] Mineral oil-based shampoos support the hazards of the petroleum industry, which include about 2.6 million gallons of oil spilled every month during transportation and about 71 million pounds of toxins released into the air and water during refinement.[6]
Supplementary preservatives in many shampoos include BHA, which has a negative impact on aquatic ecosystems and bioaccumulates in the tissues of organisms,[7][8] and parabens, known endocrine disrupters that are not only detrimental to human health, but also destructive to animal hormones and development. Additionally, the potent synthetic antimicrobial agent triclosan, used in some shampoos and other personal care products, has been found in 55 percent of streams examined in 2002 at levels high enough to disrupt the natural life cycle of frogs.[9][10] Another common synthetic to look out for in shampoo is diethanolamine (DEA), a foaming detergent.[11]
The fragrances in shampoos and other hair care products pose risks as well. Fragrances are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which add to air pollution, are persistent in the environment, and contaminate waterways and aquatic wildlife.[12] An estimated 5.72 million Americans have skin allergies to fragrance, while around 72 percent of those suffering from asthma claim that their condition can be triggered by synthetic fragrance.[13]
Green claims
With the race to be the first to offer eco-friendly products, especially in the personal care industry, companies are touting their products' green attributes with claims that at times can be confusing and misleading. Making sense of environmentally friendly standards is an important part of being a wise consumer.
What does “organic” really mean?
One murky area is the term “organic.” While the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) maintains clearcut standards for organic food, the same can’t be said for body care products. The industry is in turmoil trying to agree upon a set of standards. Some companies use the USDA certified organic food standard, which requires 95 percent of the ingredients to be organic. Others use the less stringent California state standard for organic cosmetic products, which requires at least 70 percent organically produced ingredients. And still others label their products organic without meeting any external criterion.
In the meantime, a nonprofit standard-setting group called NSF International has released a draft set of rules for organic personal care products and a group of 30 cosmetic companies recently devised their own set of specifications called Organic and Sustainable Industry Standards (OASIS). How it all washes out remains to be seen.
Watching out for all creatures, great and small
While you're contemplating green attributes, you may also wish to join the cruelty-free movement. Just keep in mind: a company may claim that they don’t employ animal testing for their products, but without third-party verification, it’s hard to know whether these statements are in fact completely true. So stick to those products certified as cruelty-free by looking for products with the Leaping Bunny Logo or the Certified Vegan Logo. You can rest assured that no bunnies (or monkeys or cats for that matter) were harmed in the making of these non-animal-tested products.
Controversies
In a recent study that shook the natural products industry, 100 “natural” and “organic” soaps, shampoos, dish liquids, lotions, and body washes were tested and nearly half contained 1,4-Dioxane, a carcinogenic chemical. This toxin has been found in conventional personal care products, but this study commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) was the first to test green products.
In scientific studies, 1,4-Dioxane has caused cancer in animals; scientists have not yet confirmed the long-term effects on humans. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says current levels do not pose a hazard to consumers but they have advised manufacturers to lower amounts in cosmetics as much as possible. None of the products tested that were Certified Organic by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) contained 1,4-Dioxane. In response to this study, some of the affected companies have said they will work toward removing 1,4-Dioxane from their products.
Related health issues
Although the chemicals found in shampoos have largely been ignored by the FDA, studies have found higher levels of parabens in tumors from human breast tissue.[14] However, because the potential damage to the endocrine system has yet to be proven, the controversy surrounding the toxicity of parabens is still being debated.[15] While DEA is infrequently used in skin and hair care products because it is a known carcinogen, the more commonly used chemicals TEA and MEA are often contaminated with diethanolamine. Lauryl/laureth sulfates are common skin irritants that can dry out the skin and hair with longterm use[16] and can also cause hair loss and scalp irritation.[3]
Shampoos with artificial fragrances can also contain phthalates, widely used industrial chemicals that are estrogenic or anti-androgenic. Studies conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health reveal a link between monoethyl phthalate, a chemical used to preserve scent in perfumes and colognes, and sperm damage.[17] Click here for a breakdown of the leading chemicals found in fragrance products and their related health effects.
Glossary
- 1,4-dioxane: A petroleum-derived contaminant classified as a probable human carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole): A chemical preservative used in cosmetics and certain foods to prevent fats and oils from becoming rancid.
- parabens: This family of synthetic preservatives (which includes methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and butyl-parabens) can possibly disrupt the endocrine system.[18]
- phthalates: Phthalates are additives that are widely used in plastics and other materials, mainly to make them soft and flexible. They have applications in industry, in medicine, and in consumer products. There is public concern about phthalates because of their widespread use and occurrence in the environment.[19] Phthalates can damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive system, particularly the developing testes, according to animal studies.[20]
- triclosan: An antibacterial agent. Effects may range from skin and eye irritation to the formation of dioxin and chloroform in the right circumstances, both probable carcinogens.[18]
- volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Organic solvents that easily evaporate into the air.[21] VOCs are emitted by thousands of products including paints, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings and they may cause immediate and long-term health problems.[22]
External links
- Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
- The Green Guide - Soap and Shampoo: Personal Best
- The New York Times - Is Organic Shampoo Chemistry or Botany?
- TreeHugger - TreeHugger Asks: What's a Good, Green, Cheap Shampoo?
- Organic Consumers Association - Up close & personal: "organic" shampoo defined
- Environmental Working Group - Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Before you lather up, check out where your favorite shampoo ranks on the hazard scale.
Footnotes
- US Food and Drug Administration - FDA Consumer: Clearing Up Cosmetic Confusion: Regulatory Authority
- Organic Consumers Association - New York Times on the Organic Body Care Controversy: Is Organic Shampoo Chemistry or Botany?
- Green Guide - Safe, Not Sorry, Hair: The Case for Nontoxic Shampoos, Conditioners and Colors
- Positive Health Magazine - Mineral Oil Petroleum Derivative in Beauty Products
- University of Houston - World Internet News Cooperative: Studies Suggest Health Dangers Float Through the Air and Water in Southeast Houston
- Plum Organics - Toxin Free Home Guide
- Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep - Ingredient Report: BHA
- ScienceDirect.com - Ecotoxicological evaluation of the additive butylated hydroxyanisole using a battery with six model systems and eighteen endpoints
- Arts & Opinion - Triclosan: The Ubiquitous Antibacterial Agent
- TreeHugger - There's a Frog Disrupter in my Soap
- Consumer Reports GreenerChoices - Personal Care Products Buying Guide: Diethanolamine
- Flavour and Fragrance Journal - Fragrance: Emerging Health and Environmental Concerns
- Fragranced Products Information Network - Fragrances by Design
- Health-Cares.net - Organic skin care
- Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep - Parabens
- Organic Consumers Association - How Toxic Are Your Bathroom & Your Body Care Products?
- MSNBC.com - What the nose knows
- Consumer Reports Greener Choices - Personal care products: Buying guide 2/06
- Green Facts - Scientific Facts on Dioxins
- Health Care Without Harm - Phthalates/DEHP
- Montana State University Extension Service - Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes
- US Environmental Protection Agency - Indoor Air Quality: Organic Gases (Volatile Organic Compounds - VOCs)
