Beauty: Clear your head with chemical free haircare

Photo / Getty

Hair products can be full of chemicals unnecessary for doing the job.

Any common hair care brands, including some of those used in salons, use harsh ingredients that strip your hair when shampooing, which makes the hair shaft vulnerable to damage, then coat it when conditioning which gives a false impression of healthy hair.

Nasty chemicals like Sodium Lauryl and Laureth Sulphate (SLS and SLES), Cocoamidopropyl Betaine (CAPB), parabens, silicones and toxic petrochemicals are used. ?Some of these, like SLS, SLES and CAPB are actually plant-based, which means they're even used by some 'green' brands. But SLS & SLES can be nasty on your skin.

They are known skin irritants (in fact SLS is held up as the industry benchmark for skin irritancy). What's worse is that they also break down your skin's protective barrier so let other chemicals get in and do more damage. CAP B is another nasty skin irritant that was actually voted Allergen of the Year in 2004 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society.

Showering is a time when your skin and scalp is most susceptible to chemical exposure, given the heat from warm water opens your pores up more. When washing your hair, the lather from your shampoo is not only being massaged into your scalp, it's also on your hands, face and entire body.

Here are some of Element's favourite hair care products:

Eco Store shampoo and conditioner
Eco Store has launched a new range of plant-based hair care products, including this Dry, Damaged, Coloured Shampoo and Conditioner.

It will cleanse and replenish dry hair, and help prevent colour fade. ?The shampoo has been formulated to keep hair manageable and looking its best while the conditioner is enriched with nourishing ingredients like sweet almond oil, olive oil or shea butter to help detangle hair while adding body and shine.

These products contain no SLS, SLES, parabens, silicones, synthetic dyes and fragrances. ecostore.co.nz

Dr Hauschka Neem Hair Lotion
This revitalising, stimulating hair care product is of particular benefit to people who suffer from dandruff, greasy hair and dry or lustreless hair. Neem Hair Lotion, containing extracts from leaves of the Neem Tree, Stinging Nettles, Birch Bark and Burdock Roots, promotes regeneration and strengthens the hair and scalp.

Also as a specific treatment for normalising sebum production, gives fullness to fine hair, prevents dandruff and hair loss and for children it helps to prevent lice.?? drhauschka.co.nz

Giovanni tea tree triple treat shampoo and conditioner
This shampoo is suitable for all hair types, and is particularly useful for invigorating problem scalps with its organic peppermint botanicals. It is an excellent clarifier for removing product build up and chemical residue. The conditioner sends volumising hydration into each individual hair, encouraging natural shine and resilience. It contains organic oils of rosemary, peppermint and eucalyptus.
cereshealthand?beauty.co.nz