The F-Bombs of Hair Care Ingredients

I hate to say it, but my latest post about the kind of ingredients that you need to avoid isn't over yet. Unfortunately, the list of ingredients that you should avoid within your hair care is much longer than the kind of contents that should be in your hair care products. If only life could be so simple, right? Keep your shopping list handy and jot down there following ingredients before you pick up the next shampoo and conditioner bottle. That's not the only products you should be paying close attention to though. All of your hair care products, such as serums, oils and sprays should also avoid these next ingredients. Well, unless you want to damage your hair... Which no girl truly wants to do.

Parabens
This is like the F-Bomb of hair care. Parabens are massively used in order to extend shelf life of the products that you use on your hair. The awful thing about parabens is that they contain "endocrine disrupters" which have been linked to damaging human help and animal hormones and development. With a direct link to breast cancer, you shouldn't need more of an explanation for this F-Bomb of hair care.
Here's what parabens look like on an ingredient list: Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben and Ethylparaben.

Sulfates
Believe it or not but sulfates, or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is also used as a harsh detergent in floor cleaners and other intent cleaning products. Would you pour bleach on your hair? We certainly hope not. Opting for hair care products with sulfates is essentially the same thing. It will strip your hair of natural oils, causing breakage, lack of growth, split ends and everything that you don't want to happen to your hair, especially as a result of using a hair care product. That's also not to mention that it will strip the color right off of your strands if you dye your hair.
Here's what sulfates look like on an ingredient list:  Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Xylene Sulfonate,
TEA Lauryl Sulfate, Sulfur (in dandruff shampoos), Selenium Sulfide (in dandruff shampoos)

Ureas
Often added to hair care products to provide antimicrobial and anti-fungal elements, Ureas are also added into teeth whiteners and cigarettes. They are fairly similar to parabens and have been linked to causing severe health issues such as dermatitis while also emitting formaldehyde (Cancer causer!) when heated above 10 degrees.
Here's what ureas look like on an ingredient list:  Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea

Pthalates 
You have heard this word before because it's associated with causing birth defects and cancer, and worst of all, it is used in a variety of products, including your hair care and even drinking bottles. Pthalates are plasticizers and are used so commonly that it can be hard to find products without them without purchasing completely natural and organic options.
Here's what pthalates look like on an ingredient list: Pthalates are rarely clearly stated. They may be listed as a "fragrance" without mentioning pthalates, so be careful.  They are often used for all plastic bottles as well.

Petrochemicals
Petrochemicals are chemicals made from crude oil and natural gas and were briefed on in part one of this article.
Here's what petrochemicals look like on an ingredient list:PVP/VA Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Lanolin, Paraffin

Photo Credit: http://www.haarstichting.nl/Het-juiste-gebruik-van-verschillende-soorten-stylingproducten