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Ingredients in Hair Care Products can clean your hair and leave it looking like you just stepped out of a salon. But have you given any thought to what ingredients you have just subjected your health to? Do you know if your body has just received a does of some potentially dangerous chemical? Chances are, you have not given it any thought at all – But you should…

What Do You Put on Your Hair?

We are all aware that we should not use artificial or potentially toxic ingredients in our food. Indeed many of us have made the conscious decision to go one step further by choosing natural skin care products instead products containing synthetic and possibly harmful chemicals.

But when it comes to personal care products such as shampoos, conditioners and liquid/solid soaps, etc., we tend to disregard the concept of remaining with natural products. There’s a simple explanation for this.

We, the consumers, are basically under the impression that washing our hair and body is not likely to poison us. After all, the soap stays on the hair/skin for only a short period of time and gets washed off when we’re finished. How could the chemicals in a shampoo or a conditioner possibly affect us adversely?

Fair question. However, if you think that they don’t, you would be quite wrong.

The skin can absorb chemicals very quickly and easily if the molecules are not too large for it to do so. In addition, the skin is never in perfect condition. That is, there are tiny little tears, cuts and abrasions on our skin almost all the time.

Scratching the skin to relieve an itch, for example, can easily damage the skin. You can’t necessarily see it with the naked eye, but it is nevertheless damaged. Insect bits, clothes rubbing repeatedly against the skin, etc., can all cause microscopic damage to the skin and jeopardise its integrity.

Where the skin is damaged the larger molecules, which would normally not be absorbed, can enter the deeper layers of the skin and may enter the bloodstream access to anywhere in the body.

The problem is that when you use a product that does contain questionable ingredients, which have the potential to cause harm, you inadvertently allow these ingredients to be absorbed by the body, without intention or knowing about it.

Shampoos are a classic example of potentially toxic cocktails we seem to be oblivious to. Below is an example of ingredients used by a well-known manufacturer of personal care products who distributes their products worldwide. It is a typical example of the type of ingredients you would find by looking at the ingredients of shampoos on sale in your local shopping centre or at your hairdresser.

The ingredients below are from a 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner. Where possible I provided some comment after the ingredient that provides some insight into the safety of the particular ingredient for human use.

It must be said, however, that the toxicity of some of the ingredients is related to the consumption of the ingredient and while a shampoo is not consumed as such, chemicals can nevertheless be absorbed through the skin and enter the blood stream, essentially being the same as if you had eaten them.

Example of ingredients found in a 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner

Preservatives

* Diethanolamine – Suspected: Carcinogen (causes cancer), Cardiovascular or Blood toxin, Gastrointestinal or Liver toxin, Kidney toxin, Neurotoxin (toxic to your nervous system), Respiratory toxin, Skin or Sense Organ toxin.

Surfactants

* Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate – no scientific evidence of toxic effects on humans.

* Ammonium Xylenesulfonate – no evidence of toxic effects on humans. Some minor irritation in rabbits to skin and eyes have been reported.

Emulsifiers

* Cetyl Alcohol – this one is find and dandy,

* Cocamide MEA – derived in part from coconut oil, potentially toxic (International Journal of Toxicology; 18 (Suppl. 2). 1999. 9-16).

Conditioning Agents

* Cetyl Alcohol – not a problem (J Am Coll Toxicol Vol:7, 3 (1988) pp 359-413.)

* Dimethicone – please see: DMDM Hydantoin below,

* Glycol Distearate – no scientific evidence of toxic effects on humans,

* Trimethyl Tricaprylate/Tricaprate – Recognized Carcinogen, Suspected: Neuro- and Reproductive toxin,

* Panthenol – Dexpanthenol is the alcohol corresponding to pantothenic acid (the water-soluble vitamin B5)

* Panthenyl Ethyl Ether – May cause contact dermatitis.

Buffering Agent:

* DMDM Hydantoin – contains Formaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen (causes cancer). Causes allergic, irritant and contact dermatitis; headaches and chronic fatigue. The vapour is extremely irritating to the eyes, nose and throat (mucous membranes).

* Methylchloroisothiazolinone – causes cosmetic allergies and potential dangerous neuro-toxic effects.

* Methylisothiazolinone – causes cosmetic allergies and potential dangerous neuro-toxic effects.

* Sodium Benzoate – Suspected: Cardio-vascular or Blood toxin, Gastrointestinal or Liver toxin, Kidney toxin, Neurotoxin, Skin or Sense Organ toxin.

Chelator:

* EDTA – known carcinogen (causes cancer).

I think you get the idea.

Chemicals such as these are not what you would want to put on your body, hair or in fact anywhere near you, I’m sure. Problem is that no one warns us of the potential dangers posed by some of these ingredients and so we use them thinking that regulations and government controls would not permit potentially toxic chemicals to be put into products we use everyday…

In addition to the above ingredients, which basically make a shampoo with conditioning properties, you may also find other ingredients in your shampoo such as vitamin B5. Mostly, this is of a synthetic origin (as in the example above), not natural. This is because a synthetic version of vitamin B5 is much cheaper than using a natural source of vitamin B5.

The same goes for vitamin E and others. If you bought vit E from a wholesale supplier in Sydney, 25ml of vitamin E (synthetic) would cost AUD $11.00 whereas it’s natural counterpart will cost you AUD$18.00 – quite a difference, and remember this is the wholesale price.
Fragrances

Most personal care products such as shampoos have a pleasing smell. This smell comes from either a synthetic or natural ingredient. Most ‘natural scent’ fragrances are however synthetic. Not in every case, but imagine a shampoo that supposedly contains Jasmine. Jasmine oil (the essential oil of Jasmine) cost more than its weight in gold! Do you really think a shampoo that costs a few dollars will contain pure essential oil of Jasmine? I don’t think so. The same goes for Rose and several other popular fragrances.

So chances are, even if the manufacturer does not use Jasmine, that the fragrance is also synthetic. This is simply because synthetic fragrances are cheaper than the real thing.

Considering that most shampoos and conditioners contain many potentially toxic and synthetic ingredients, isn’t it about time we seriously considered what we are putting on our hair?

Hair Care is vital regime in our daily routine. It is because hair is a mirror of you inner health, which is why we desire a full head of hair and want those strands to shine with gusto. Most of us shampoo our hair too frequently; instead try just rinsing with water and massaging your scalp to distribute your naturally healthy lubricating oils into the hair.

When it comes to hair loss, there is more myth than science. It’s hard to study, since there isn’t a reliable method for measuring hair thickness. But foods that are good for your skin are also good for your hair. For instance, a diet rich in omega-3 fats and minerals, including zinc and silica is advised for hair care as well as skin care.

Losing up to 100 hairs per day from the scalp is normal. Hair is like money-worries us when it disappears. And somehow this gets associated with a person’s identity. Hair loss is linked with loss of “self”. Therefore the importance of hair care cannot be taken in a light manner. Hair goes through a constant cycle of growing and shedding, but if it falls out faster, a thinning pate is the result. Here are some tips to take care of your crowning glory.

Supplements of vitamin C and A are beneficial; so are minerals, particularly iron. Taking cod liver oil too can improve lusterless hair and help relieve a dry scalp.Sunscreen your hair by wearing a hat that protects your scalp.Massaging a teaspoon of castor oil into your scalp before shampooing stimulates hair growth. Warm coconut oil/mustard oil too restores sheen into lifeless locks.There are other options in hair care such as homeopathy and Ayurveda.These sure will rejuvenate hair and is effective in restoring health to chemically treated hair.Treat your hair with care. Comb gently and don’t pull at tangles.

Use water soluble styling products. These too with too many synthetic ingredients clog follicles. To shampoo, use your fingertips to gently manipulate the scalp. Don’t use too much pressure and don’t be rough when you towel dry either. For women, consistently putting the hair in too tight ponytail kills follicles, so hair will recede more rapidly.

The above tips should be included as a part of daily routine. You cannot afford to overlook these tips because beautiful hair completes any appearance. Proper hair care will lead to healthier and better looking hair.

How many times have you been talking with your girlfriends over a cup of coffee, complaining about that extra fat around your midsection? Lots of times, you refer to it as the “pooch”. Lots of women believe if they do a thousand sit-ups a day, they’ll lose it. Sadly, that’s not the case. All you’ll get for your troubles is a sore tummy!

Getting a flatter midsection doesn’t have a thing to do with counting crunches, but has everything in the world to do with having less body fat. Each time you lose body fat that “pooch” will go down.

Here are 4 Important Things You Can do to Reduce Body Fat:

1. Eat More Lean Protein!

The majority of women tend to consume less protein after they turn 30, in hopes of losing weight. What they don’t realize is that protein helps keep the metabolism high. Chicken, egg whites, beef, and fish are excellent sources of protein.

2. Do Cardiovascular Exercise Intensely!

If you take a walk, make good use of it. If you aren’t breathing hard and working up a sweat, it is probable that you’re not walking fast enough to burn off any of that unwanted fat. The more intense your workout is, the more fat your body will burn.

3. Don’t Forget to Include Resistance Training!

Some women focus only on cardio training exercise and omit the weight training. Cardiovascular training keeps you burning fat for two or three hours after the session, but weight-training sessions keep your metabolism elevated throughout the day. Both types of exercise play important roles in your efforts to lose body fat.

4. Reduce Your Alcohol Intake!

If you’re consuming too many alcoholic beverages during the week, this can really slow down your efforts to lose fat. In fact, alcohol impairs your metabolism. You don’t have to give it up altogether, but you should be very aware that it is counterproductive to weight loss. I once did a consult with a woman who followed a healthy diet, exercised frequently, and still gained weight.

She complained that her body fat simply wouldn’t go away. We went over details of her lifestyle habits, and when I realized how many drinks she usually had per week, we were able to identify the problem. I told her to reduce her alcohol intake by half. Within a week, she started to lose body fat.

Forget about the thousand sit-ups to lose the “pooch”, and focus on these four important tenets to start shedding the fat and feeling great about yourself!

Are you finding that you are overwhelmed with the flood of health information about intensive workouts or diets? Improving your health does not have to involve going on a diet and an intense workout at the gym. You can make just small changes with certain lifestyle decisions throughout the day that can have a huge impact on your overall health status.

5 steps increase your overall health:

1. Drink more water. Your body is mostly water so what do you think your cells are mostly composed of? Water! If you give your body what it needs, imagine how your body will feel! This change alone can play a huge role in your health and well-being. Drinking water instead of soda or fruit drinks may increase your energy level, increase your feelings of being full which can decrease your calorie intake, decrease headaches, increase ability to sleep, and decrease sugar cravings.

2. Experiment with new fruits and vegetables. There are so many different fruits and vegetables to choose from that there is no way possible that you could get bored with all the different tastes and combinations you can make with what is available. Check out your local farmers market for produce that is locally grown meaning they have traveled less food miles. Recent studies have shown that as produce travels longer distances, it loses its nutrient value. So get the best nutrition for your buck and buy from farmers markets. Eating more fruits and vegetables can help with weight loss, increase energy, and feeling full faster and longer than with processed foods.

3. Increase your physical activity. This does not mean you have to join a gym and start an intense workout! Little changes throughout the day can benefit your health in dramatic ways. Activities such as going for a walk, playing outside with your kids, dancing, taking the stairs instead of the elevator can all count for physical activity. Even housework counts! Getting physical activity can increase your energy level, increase your desire for healthier eating, and increase your ability to sleep at night. So get moving!

4. Find enjoyment in your work. Is your career lined up with your passions, goals, and values? If not, it might be a great time to find something you enjoy doing. There are so many ways to work in this day that you can find a way to earn money doing what you love! Wouldn’t it be great to love what you are doing and get up in the morning excited about your work? By finding enjoyment in your work you can decrease your stress, decrease you blood pressure, increase your overall energy level, and love life! What is your passion!

5. Take time to unwind and relax! We all have stressors in our lives that can affect the body with many physical problems. So stress management is vital! By dealing with stress appropriately you can decrease blood pressure, re-energize, increase ability to sleep, and help you deal with what life brings to you! So, take a bath, a walk, do yoga or meditation, laugh!

Do something great for your health! These 5 things will all add to an overall sense of well-being that can translate to all areas of your life! Here’s to your health!

As women, we all like our hair, but we just can’t spend one hour on our hair every single morning. Lots of us look for new easy hair styles. A short hairstyle is easily manageable and taken care of. Additionally, it appears to be trendy and in vogue. The short hairstyles can be done easily with the use of several products of styling. If the short haircut does not match your character and type, you can go for medium length hair. It can also be designed quickly. It could be to utilize side combs to pin up your own hair behind. You may also put rollers in your hair the previous night, then the next day you will have waves. For medium length hair, you also have choice to get a ponytail.

The simplest of all styles is to straighten hair when it is wet then utilize a hair spray and a hairdryer for setting it. Hair has that shinny good appearance and now it is ideal for events and for places somewhere you need to go have a great time together with your friends. An extension with this type of hairstyle is the Sedu hairstyles where you have to design hair using of the Sedu irons. Sedu hairstyles are simple to do and manage. A number of hairstyles can be used here.

Now with regards to getting a nice haircut, many people visit the beauty salon to get layered haircut or haircut suiting to their facial shape or hair length. The easiest haircut for teenage girls or young women is bangs. You’ll be able to compliment bangs with other hairdos including a ponytail, or simply letting hair loose. It provides an excellent effect on your looks.

It’s not necessary to shampoo every day, unless hair is oily. If it becomes unruly when you skip the washing, wet it down, massage the scalp and condition the hair, if necessary. (That will save oils in your hair and condition the hair too.)

Have no less than one or two alternative methods to design your hair. If long, ponytail, braid or twist are quick corrects to get a fast and easy hairstyles. In case your hair is short or medium length, consider styling by using a different product or device. Test out gel, mouse, flat iron, rollers, and pin curls. There is always more than one way to style your hairdos, as well as your hair dresser should help you out with this. Ask them for advice and recommendations, if you need to.