As I sit here this evening doing some research on safe hair products, I am constantly being reminded that just because it says “natural” doesn’t mean anything. And just because you’ve gone with a company in the past, doesn’t mean they’re still playing by the same rules. And lastly, if a company has a reputation of being green and natural, it doesn’t mean that all of their products are safe, green or natural!
The word natural is used quite loosely in the health and beauty industry. There have been a few companies that have been around since green and chemical-free became mainstream. Some have gotten the reputation as being all natural and chemical free. I only wish these companies would be consistent. Take for example Toms of Maine. Now owned by Colgate Company. Their inconsistencies in my opinion are outrageous. In my humble opinion *grin*, they ride their reputation from the beginning or their company and now some of their products have fluoride, SLS among other ingredients that they consider natural! It’s a cop out. Sure, it all comes from nature. If that’s the case, everything in the universe is natural as it’s derived from nature. I know people buy Tom’s based on their reputation of being safe and chemical free. People who can’t be bothered or who don’t take the time to actually look at the ingredients, use the reputation of the company to make their decisions. Toms are not the only ones who do this. Buyers beware, check all labels.
Raising a chemical free child in a not so chemical free world is a daily job. Aveeno natural products company is also riding the natural wave. Mothers all over are scooping up their products to keep their little babies as chemical free as possible. Their products have mineral oil (question cancer causing), PEG-80 (allergen, immunotoxicity) cocamidopropyl betaine (allergen, immunotoxicity), quaternium-15 (Allergies/ immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity, could contain formaldehyde) to name a few. Not something, I’m sure, green mommies are aware they’re slathering their babies with.
I’m really not bashing Toms and Aveeno, just using them as an example. SLS and Fluoride have their own controversies too. My opinion, why use them if there are any issues with it. We don’t need foamy toothpaste (SLS) nor do we need exposure to yet even more fluoride than we get already in water. (Fluoride is an entire other subject for another time!) The term natural is not meant for the faint of heart. Just reading it on packaging these days has me thinking the company is hiding behind chemical. May not be the case all the time, but more and more it’s getting like that. The real companies are starting understand the misuse of the word! Reputations aren’t valued like they use to be.
Buyer beware, just because it’s a reputable company today with chemical free products, doesn’t mean next weeks trip to the grocery store will yield same results. I’ll go back and do more research on if there lies a genuine, safe hair color treatment. Yes, I’m getting grey and would like to fight it naturally!!
