Hair Products

I don't know about you guys but i've noticed that the older i get, the more conscious i am of the products i use on my skin but also on my hair. My hair is chemically straightened and has been coloured and bleached several times so i always try to use salon grade products. I know most people would say that they're a waste of money OR basic shampoos like L'Oreal and the others are just as good but i beg to differ. First of all, these shampoos like L'Oreal and Garnier are entry level shampoos and are usually not as concentrated as the salon grade ones because they tend to have more fillers. Sure, it still does the basic job of cleaning your hair. But if you've got chemically straightened,fine, dry, limp or repeatedly coloured hair, you certainly know that you need more than a basic shampoo. Secondly, don't believe those adverts they have!!! It's all a marketing gimic and the worst ones are the ones with celebrity faces on them because 9 times out of 10, those celebs don't even put the darn thing on their own hair [YES, i'm talking to you Beyonce!!!]

But now, i'm not just worried about the quality of the shampoos and conditioners, i'm beginning to get more interested in their contents and the effect it is going to have on the planet after it's been washed down into the sewers. I've become aware of three big dangerous players in shampoos and conditioners: SULPHATES, PARABENS AND PETROCHEMICALS. Yup, they're all big names but these culprits can be found in most shanpoos. You can also find sulphates in the majority of toothpastes that are sold. Basically, sulphates help the shampoos, toothpastes, handwash etc foam a lot and in the long run they can be detrimental to your health.

Strictly speaking hairwise, these three ingredients can actually strip your hair of its moisture and slowly your hair degrades. Obviously this doesn't happen to everyone but those most at risk of hair damage from these chemicals are mainly people like me. I've got colour in my hair but my hair is also chemically straightened. So i've done some research and i've found a great line called David Babaii for Wild Aid. All the products are sulphate, paraben and petrochemical free and 10% of all their profits go to WildAid which is a wildlife conservation organisation. An average bottle of shampoo is about 400ml and retails for $25. Another line of hair care products is MOP. All its products are made from modern organic produce and they've got a range of products that are specifically for those who are looking for sulphate-free shampoos. It is called MOP C-System. Theirs is considerably more expensive as a shampoo retails for about $30 for 250ml bottle.

If you're interested in cutting out as much middlemen as possible during your shopping process, you should check out Wen by Chaz Dean. His products are also suphate and paraben free and they're sold through Guthy Renker. I think if you purchase stuff from them you get some sort of deal and you can always cancel if you're no longer interested. Plus, you get a 60-day money back guarantee. I'm not saying you should go and chuck out all your stuff that's got sulphates or parabens in them. But it would be a good idea for you to start reading the labels on the products your purchase, especially those that come in contact with your skin and those that can be ingested.

I have to say i've slowly been getting more interested in organic products and those that i assume use natural products. But sometimes, this means having to buy online from the UK or the US. No one said it was going to be easy and there's always some sort of trade-off involved....after all, I'M NO SAINT!!! If you're looking for a complete range of products that are certified organic, i suggest you check out NUI. All their products are free from synthetic chemicals, sulphates, ammonia and are NOT tested on animals.

Source: Photo, Adore Beauty, Wen, NUI