so, i want to start a list of ingredients that work against natural hair instead of for it.
this is like, a long-term project… and since i’m not (yet) a hair connoisseur, you’re welcome to add ingredients & info to the comments section. j, feel free to comment on what is fact/fiction.
so, here are the three inaugural ingredients on the natural girl’s black list.
SULFATES
found in: shampoos
description: Sodium lauryl sulfate is a high volume synthetic chemical used in consumer products and regulated as a pesticide.
on the black list because: A suspected gastrointestinal or liver toxicant, sodium lauryl sulfate can be drying and harsh for the hair and cause eye irritation, allergic reactions, and hair loss.
PETROLEOM JELLY
found in: moisturizers
description: Petroleum jelly, petrolatum or soft paraffin is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons, originally promoted as a topical ointment for its healing properties. Its folkloric medicinal value as a “cure-all” has since been limited by better scientific understanding of appropriate and inappropriate uses. However, it is recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an approved over-the-counter (OTC) skin protectant and remains widely used in cosmetic skin care.
on the black list because: It weighs down the hair instead of moisturizing it.
MINERAL OIL
found in: moisturizer
description: Mineral oil or liquid petroleum is a by-product in the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline and other petroleum based products from crude oil. It is a transparent, colorless oil composed mainly of alkanes (typically 15 to 40 carbons) and cyclic paraffins, related to white petrolatum.
on the black list because: Not to be confused with plant-based essential oils, mineral oil doesn’t moisturize the hair. Petroleum jelly and mineral oil are known to smother hair and clog pores.
Comments? Additions? Let’s do this for posterity…
