Hair heroes Give toxic hair colour
the heave-ho, and go natural instead.
Are you accidentally ruining your hair – and risking your health – with chemical hair dyes? Conventional hair dyes may contain ingredients that not only damage hair, but cause a range of health problems. However, you don’t have to stop colouring your hair because there are great natural alternatives. Here’s how to shop for a D-I-Y hair dye that is high quality, more natural and non-toxic. What to look for No animal testing: According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the use of animals in experiments to test safety and efficacy of chemicals used in personal care products is not only cruel, but often ineffective. There are ethical and responsible cruelty-free options, such as cell culture technology. Australian-owned: When you buy a product owned and operated by Australians, you invest in our economy - you’re supporting local businesses and industries, which positively impacts families and communities. Certified organic ingredients: This provides an assurance that the claimed organic ingredients have been grown and produced without risk of chemical contamination, and are fully traceable and sustainable. Make sure that the majority of ingredients have been Certified Organic in Australia.
Vegan: This guarantees that the product and its ingredients have never been tested on animals and are therefore 100 per cent cruelty-free. What to avoid Ammonia: This is used in conventional hair colourants to basically break the hair cuticle so as to deposit the dye. Unsurprisingly, this causes damage to the hair cuticle that ultimately degrades its structural integrity, resulting in dry, brittle hair. And long-term effects of continuous exposure include irritation to the nose, throat, eyes and respiratory system - and, in too-high concentrations, ammonia will burn skin. Bleach: This strips your hair of sebum, the natural oil that keeps your skin soft as well as providing a protective moisturising film to coat the hair shaft. Bleaching chemicals, most usually sodium persulphates, weaken the cuticle scales, leaving the inner core of hair exposed and prone to moisture loss, which makes your hair dry, thin, brittle and unmanageable. Gluten: Some anecdotal evidence suggests that people with eczema find their skin improves if they avoid topical gluten. Gluten-free hair care products
could save you from accidental exposure, depending on how sensitive you are to traces of gluten.
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ISSUE 57 • 2020
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