Why This is Green

Washing your hair seems like a simple, safe enough thing to do. But not all shampoos are created equal. Like most conventional cosmetics, shampoo can contain a number of synthetic chemicals that have been linked to everything from cancers to hormone disruption to birth defects to skin or eye irritation.

While shampoos vary brand to brand, they tend to contain multiple controversial petroleum-derived ingredients, parabens, and synthetic fragrance. The Environmental Working Group deems fragrance a high hazard due to its links to allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress, and potential effects on the reproductive system.

A unique-to-shampoo concern is the chemicals that create lather. Some are natural and biodegradable, others are synthetic. They’re usually irritants. Label reading is a must. 1,4-dioxane, the carcinogenic contaminant produced during the manufacture of one of the most common sudsing agents, SLES, won’t be listed; technically it’s not an ingredient. You can try to avoid it by not using products containing ingredients with “eth” in them (i.e. laureth or polyethylene). The Organic Consumers Association says USDA Certified products they tested were dioxane-free.

Learn More

• EWG.org: SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate)
• The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics: 1,4 Dioxane FAQs
• Organic Consumers Association: Carcinogenic 1,4-Dioxane Found In Leading Organic Brand Personal Care Products
• The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database: Shampoo
• PracticallyGreen.com: Cosmetics Maven Has A Healthy Green Beauty Makeover
• GoogGuide.com: Shampoo
• Must Watch: The Story Of Cosmetics