Our hair is our crowning glory.  Unfortunately, in our quest to make it sleeker, smoother and sexier, we also contribute to environmental damage.  This is because the shampoos, conditioners, sprays and other cosmetic products used on hair contain chemical substances harmful to the environment, not to mention that the packaging itself is not eco-friendly.

It’s the Packaging

Let’s start with the materials used to package these hair products, which are often colorful to attract the consumers’ attention.  You will find plastic cans, sachets and spray bottles, all of which takes hundreds of years to decompose.

Thus, you will read reports of plastic residues poisoning the soil and ground water.  In a way, when you become careless with your hair products because you were too engrossed in beautiful hair, your future grandchildren will pay the consequences of non-potable water.

Plus, you cannot deny the fact that plastics are made from crude oil.  This is the same industry that has wreaked havoc with the planet although we must also acknowledge the important role it has in modern life.

Now, imagine how many people have thrown away the plastic packaging of hair products into their trash bags with nary a second thought.  The landfills will soon fill up with these plastic products and then we would all suffer in one way or another.

It’s the Contents, Too

But the problems do not stop with the packaging either.  The ingredients contained in said hair products are in themselves very toxic to human health and the environment, if not now then in the future.  Just to name a few of these ingredients and their adverse effects on humans and animals:

* Butane and propane are toxic to human beings especially in large doses.

* Cyclopentasiloxane and dipropylene glycol affect the sense organs of wild animals even in moderate doses.

* Polybutene is widely used in pesticides.  Now, it comes into contact with your scalp and skin.

* Diazolidinyl urea poses toxicity issues for humans and acts as a neurotoxin in animals.

* Polyquaternium-11 is a possible carcinogen with the added danger of becoming a respiratory toxin.

* Benzyl nicotinate and phytic acid has broad systemic toxicity on animals (and in people, too, if that is the case)

* Methylchloroisothiazolinone is known as an immune system toxicant in humans.

The names may twist your tongue, yes, but these can turn your life around for the worst from long-term exposure.  Are you ready to sacrifice your long-term health for short-term beauty?

It’s the Alternatives

If you are not willing to do so just because of hair products, then we recommend going for eco-friendly alternatives.  You need not worry as efficacy is not sacrificed because these alternative products are just as good as their mainstream counterparts.

You can find these alternative hair care products in many online sites and health food stores.  Of course, this does not necessarily mean that you should forego reading the labels.  You should still do your research even when the products are labeled “natural so-and-so”.

So, when you start reaching for the hair beauty products, think of their environmental effect and think twice.  You should not go the way of the days when human beauty came at the expense of the environment and your health.