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Know what and what damage these chemicals can cause to hair and the environment

The use of shampoo not only removes impurities from the scalp and hair itself, but also its natural oil, necessary for protection. To avoid this, use the conditioner afterwards, as in addition to returning this element to the threads, it also helps to untangle and repair damage caused during the day-to-day, such as excessive use of dryers, dyes and exposure to water from the sea ​​or swimming pools. The conditioner is responsible for closing the hair cuticles, forming a protective film on the strands, which prevents dehydration and makes the strands stronger and more malleable.

That conditioners contain many chemical components, we all know. But which ones can affect our health and the environment? Below we'll look at some of the conditioner components most used by today's brands, according to two websites (see more here and here):

• Isopropyl Alcohol: prevents the growth of bacteria when using the products, but unfortunately it can contaminate water bodies when it is in high concentration and cause skin lesions, in addition to irritation in the respiratory tract;
• Parabens: they also play a role in fighting bacteria, but they can confuse the endocrine system when assimilated by the body, which can lead to various diseases. When carried by sewage into rivers and lakes, they cause the same problem in fish;
• Cyclopentasiloxane : silicone responsible for the formation of the protective film. It is pointed out as an environmental toxin with possible bioaccumulative power. As for the risks it offers to humans, studies on its relationship with cancer and neurotoxicity have been developed;
• Methylisoazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone: although there is still no evidence of their environmental pollution capacity, these substances, used in conditioners as preservatives, can cause hypersensitivity to humans and are indicated as causing allergies;
• Mineral oils: coming from petroleum, since they are cheaper, these oils are not recognized by the body as nutrients and, therefore, just leave the surface oily. Furthermore, its manufacture causes the production of carbon dioxide and pollution of the atmosphere.

Query

One way to find out if your cosmetic item has environmental contaminants is to consult the Skin Deep website, which lists the harmful substances used in more than 79 thousand products. It is in English because it is a foreign initiative, but there you can find several items produced by multinational companies and that are for sale in Brazil.

Cosmetic brands that value nature and incorporate the concept of sustainability into their policy offer conditioners free of some of the components seen above, such as parabens, isopropyl alcohol and petroleum derivatives. Give preference to this type of product.