Long Time, No Sea

So I had written in my old accidently deleted blog, about my no poo diet. I started it almost 2 weeks ago and so far everything is going beautifully! I havent used ANY shampoo on my hair in 2 weeks (I need to take an after shot).

But here is the before picture.
I have been having issues with not only oily hair but also dry hair and itchy scalp and hair loss. I know that hormones play a huge part in this, as does stress- but I can also attribute my SHAMPOOS to it.
Im an aromaholic- so if it smells good, Ill get it and use it. I loved the salon shampoos that make my hair smell like a billion bucks, but Ive been finding that it dries my hair out and gives me an itchy scalp. Abigail who is 10 today, also suffers from an unballanced hair situation. Her hair gets stringy and greasy really easily- but then after using shampoo alone, she gets dandruff and her scalp is itchy. So I have been using it on her also.

So I started this no-poo (no shampoo) diet where we use more natural minimal items. They say to use baking soda, vinegar, water and lemon juice… and then there are other natural herbs to use also.

So I took some white vinegar and water and put it in this old tanquerey bottle with 1/2 a squeezed lemon. Then I sprinkled some baking soda in making sure it didnt bubble over. I then added some lavender water in and it smelled so good. This mixture only barely lasts a week if not refrigerated. One of the wonderful things about not using preservatives. You have to be careful about how much lemon you use also, because it can lighten your hair if you dont wash it all out.

Thayers Witch Hazel Rose Thayer 11.5 oz

But I would use this tonic on our hair once every other day if need to to every 3 days. My hair smelled wonderful, felt light and soft and wonderful. Over the past week though, I have been using this alcohol free Thayers Witch Hazel Rose Thayer. It containins witch hazel, aloe vera, rose water, vitamin E, and grapefruit seed extract which, is especially beneficial for sensitive skin. It has been very refreshing for my scalp and also, I havent been able to find anywhere that it hurts your hair in any way as long as it doesnt have alcohol.

One of the reasons I am avoiding shampoo is because of the overuse of the sulfates in them and other preservatives and additives. These dry out your hair and scalp and are gnereally not good for you, yet were taught to just trust the shampoo companies because everyone else uses them right? The following are some clinical studies on the shampoo ingredients and toxicology.

In its final report on the safety of sodium lauryl sulfate, the Journal of the American College of Toxicology notes that the ingredient sodium lauyl sulfate has a “degenerative effect on the cell membranes because of its protein denaturing properties.” What’s more, the journal adds, “high levels of skin penetration may occur at even low use concentration.”
The publication expressed additional concerns:

Carcinogenic nitrosamines can form in the manufacturing of sodium lauryl sulfate or by its inter-reaction with other nitrogen-bearing ingredients within a formulation utilizing this ingredient.

• Other studies have indicated that sodium lauryl sulfate enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs and brain from skin contact. This poses the question whether it could be a serious potential health threat from its use in shampoos, cleansers, and toothpastes.
• Still other research has indicated sodium lauryl sulfate may be damaging to the immune system, especially within the skin. Skin layers may separate and inflame due to its protein denaturing properties.
• Although sodium lauryl sulfate is not carcinogenic in experimental studies, it has been shown that it causes severe epidermal changes in the area it is applied, indicating a need for tumor-enhancing assays.
• Additional studies have found that sodium lauryl sulfate is heavily deposited on the skin surface and in the hair follicles. Damage to

the hair follicle could result from such deposition.

Substitution of Gentler Detergents Poses Additional Risks Unfortunately, many of the gentler detergents that may be substituted for sodium lauryl sulfate pose their own health hazards. For example, many companies have begun to use ethoxylated detergents such as sodium laureth sulfate, cocamide DEA or lauramide DEA because they tend to be less irritating.

Consumers can recognize shampoo ingredients containing ethoxylated detergents and related ingredients by looking for the prefix, word, or syllable PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, eth (as in sodium laureth sulfate), or oxynol.

Both our own commissioned independent laboratory testing and that of the federal government have documented ethoxylated alcohol compounds are frequently contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which is carcinogenic and is listed by the federal government as a probable human carcinogen.

Also, according to a 1998 report from the federal National Toxicology Program, two DEA-based compounds‹cocamide DEA and lauramide DEA‹have been demonstrated to be cancer-causing in at least in one species of animal.

The Doctors’ Prescription for Healthy Living/ Safe Shopper’s Bible Recommendation

According experts on the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel (established by the Cosmetic Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, a cosmetic industry trade association), both sodium lauryl sulfate and its close chemical cousin ammonium lauryl sulfate “appear to be safe in formulations designed for discontinuous, brief use followed by thorough rinsing from the surface of the skin.”

It should be recognized that shampoos represent such brief, discontinuous use products that are thoroughly rinsed, thus clearly minimizing the risk from sodium lauryl sulfate. It should also be recognized that many people shampoo daily, and we really do not know whether a lot of little exposures to sodium lauryl sulfate are dangerous or not.

Given the lack of adequate research and suggestive evidence, however, we believe it might be wise for health-conscious consumers to seek products without sodium lauryl sulfate, especially with regard to young children. Indeed, consumers have the power to choose safe and perhaps even better products without sodium lauryl sulfate.

This may be a very wise choice for another reason. We have found very often the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate in a shampoo formulation is a “marker” for the use of other undesirable ingredients, including formaldehyde-containing preservatives (e.g., imidazolidinyl urea); possible cancer-causing wetting agents (e.g., cocamide DEA); and nitrosamine-forming agents (e.g., triethanolamine). Also, it should be mentioned that in Germany, where there is a concerted effort underway now to label cosmetics and personal care products as certified natural, formulations containing sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate cannot be so certified, reports Michael Wrightson, president of Logona Kosmetik.

References “Bioassay of 1,4-Dioxane for possible carcinogenicity (CAS No. 123-91-1).” National Toxicology Program, TR-80.

Bouillon, C. “Shampoos and hair conditioners.” Clinics in Dermatology, 1988; 6(3): 83-92.

Conry, T. Consumer’s Guide to Cosmetics. Garden City, NY: Ancor Press / Doubleday, 1980, p. 74.

“Final report on the safety assessment of sodium lauryl sulfate.” Journal of the American College of Toxicology; 1983; 2(7).

Sixth Annual Report on Carcinogens, 1991. Summary. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, 1991, pp. 192-195.

“Sodium lauryl sulfate ammonium lauryl sulfate.”1996 CIR Compendium. Washington, D.C.: Cosmetic Ingredient Review, 1996, pp. 134-135.

“Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of coconut oil acid diethanolamine condensate (CAS NO. 68603-42-9) in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice (dermal studies).” National Toxicology Program, TR-479.

“Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of lauric acid diethanolamine condensate (CAS NO. 120-40-1) in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice (dermal studies).” National Toxicology Program, TR-480.