What Are Phthalates In shampoo?
Phthalates are also known as phthalate esters, and are generally used as “plasticizers.” Plasticizers are synthetic ingredients used to promote flexibility and durability in plastic found in
medical products, floors, and food processing materials. Phthalates are also used as gelling agents in many of your favorite cosmetic and beauty products: shampoo, hairspray, hair gel,
deodorant, nail polish, and body lotions.
Phthalates also exist in the vague term, “fragrance,” that you often see in the ingredient list of your favorite products. Phthalates are used in fragrances because they are responsible for
making the scent last longer. What’s worse? You may never know if the ‘fragrance’ listed in your product has Phthalates – fragrance is deemed proprietary and companies are not legally bound to
share its components.
Are Phthalates Harmful?
Yes! The harmful effects of Phthalates are just recently coming to the surface in the United States (who has less safety regulations than countries in the EU and Canada). The EU and Canada
already have strict regulations on the use of Phthalates. Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors, as their chemical structure mocks that of a human hormone. What does this mean for human
health? pregnant women exposed to high levels of Phthalates during pregnancy, can unknowingly cause their child to be born with abnormal birth defects, specific issues have been linked to male
children’s genitals and reproductive systems. According to Professor Richard Sharpe of the Medical Research Council’s Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, there is a link between incidents of
hypospadias, undescended testes, low sperm-count and the mother’s exposure to Phthalates. This is why it is crucial for expecting mothers to seek out organic hair products that maximize the use
of gentle ingredients, and leave out Phthalates.
Phthalates and Weight Gain
Recently, excessive Phthalate exposure (due to its ubiquitous presence in products, excessive exposure it not difficult to reach) has been linked to obesity. The National Institute for
environmental Health Sciences, The National cancer Institute, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funded a study that revealed astounding findings. A group of about 400 children in New
York City were monitored during a yearlong study that measured the participants’ BMI and waist sizes in comparison to the amount of Phthalates found in their urine. A groundbreaking 97% of
children that had increased weights and waist sizes were found to have significantly higher amounts of Phthalates in their urine! One must truly consider the type of products one uses on oneself
and more importantly, one’s children. organic shampoo and body wash are more likely to not contain harsh Phthalates, as those that demand organic body products usually demand for an all-around
safer product, but be sure to check your labels.
Recycling Plastic Bottles
Another interesting fact we came across was that products that used recycling codes 3 and 7 were much more likely to contain Phthalates. Luckily, all of Organic Salon Systems products only use 1,
2, or 5 recycling codes including: keragreen, Organic Color Systems, and O’Right.
Lastly, What Are Phthalates In Shampoo?
- Endocrine Disruptors
- Organ System Toxicants
- Infertility Increasers
- Bio accumulative
- Weight Gain Catalysts
- Possible Risk Increasers of Breast Cancer
- Possible Risk Increasers of Liver Cancer
- Possible Early Pregnancy Inducers
Organic Color Systems
As a leading provider of organic salon products, we are proud to claim that none of our product lines contain any Phthalates, parabens, ammonia, thioglycolates, and
resorcinol.
5 of the most common toxins you don't want in your hair products...
1. Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate (SLS/SLES)
Sodium lauryl sulfate is a surfactant, detergent and emulsifier used in thousands of cosmetic products, as well as in industrial cleaners. It is present in nearly all shampoos, scalp treatments,
hair color and bleaching agents, toothpastes, body washes and cleansers, make-up foundations, liquid hand soaps, laundry detergents and bath oils/bath salts.
Although SLS originates from coconuts, the chemical is anything but natural.
The real problem with SLES/SLS is that the manufacturing process (ethoxylation) results in SLES/SLS being contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a carcinogenic byproduct.
SLS is the sodium salt of lauryl sulfate, and is classified by the environmental Working Group as a “denaturant, surfactant cleansing agent, emulsifier and foamer,” rated as a “moderate
hazard.”
Research studies on SLS have shown links to:
Irritation of the skin and eyes,Organ toxicity,Developmental/reproductive toxicity,Neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, ecotoxicology, and biochemical or cellular changes
Possible mutations and cancer
2. 2,5 Diamine Toluene Sulfate
The European Union’s Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products issued its opinion in 2010 on 2,5 diamine toluene sulfate concluding that it cannot be considered safe and is an extremely potent
skin sensitizer. Moreover, its use in hair products, especially hair dyes, is extremely controversial. In fact, a serious blood disorder called aplastic anemia has long been linked to the use of
2,5 diamine toluene sulfate on the scalp in hair dyes.
The Journal of Carcinogenic Toxicology describes 2,5 diamine toluene sulfate as “probably carcinogenic to humans,” toxic to the brain and central nervous system, kidneys and liver.
4. Aminomethyl Propanol
This active ingredient is found is a pH adjuster that is generally considered safe at levels of concentrations below 2%. Unfortunately, many hair products, especially those that require a strong
pH adjuster like straighteners or hair color, as concentrations well above 12% which is considered to be highly toxic and potentially carcinogenic.
5. parabens
Parabens, which are used as preservatives, may be listed on the label as methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, butyl paraben, isobutyl paraben or E216. They have shown particularly
troubling links to cancer.
Studies have shown that parabens can affect your body much like estrogens, which can lead to diminished muscle mass, extra fat storage, and male gynecomastia (breast growth). Other studies have
also linked parabens to breast cancer, as researchers found traces of parabens in every sample of tissue taken from 20 different breast tumors.
The EPA has linked methyl parabens in particular to metabolic, developmental, hormonal, and neurological disorders, as well as various cancers.
Top 8 reasons why Organic Color Systems is simply better
1. It’s 100% ammonia free.
The oil base of the color is alkaline so it raises the pH of the hair, but at the same time it acts as a conditioning agent softening the hair’s cuticle and allowing it to be opened with gentle
heat. This eliminates the need for ammonia. Ammonia is a very effective way of opening the cuticle, however it opens the cuticle so much that while the color is going in essential moisture
and proteins are going out.
2. Certified Organic Ingredients
Organic Color Systems is the only permanent color line available today with certified organically grown ingredients. These include aloe vera, orange, grapefruit, natural soy, comfrey, wheat,
coconut, vitamin C, vitamin E, and corn. It is as natural as possible, while still allowing you to obtain exceptionally professional results.
3. It maintains the integrity of hair
Ammonia blows open the cuticle taking the hair into the 10.5 – 12 range on the pH scale. We use a moisturizing oil base with a small amount of ethanolamine to swell and open the cuticle to a pH
level of 9. We are able to close the cuticle back down with our Organic Care line returning the hair to it’s isometric point of 5.5, which is the ideal pH of hair.
4. It is unique and proprietary
We commend other color lines that have removed ammonia from their formulas as it is an extremely harsh chemical and no longer needs to be in hair color. Unfortunately, the vast majority have
replaced it with ethanolamine which poses no health concerns as long as the amount used is reasonable. However, because they are only replacing the ammonia with ethanolamine and with no other
alkaline base, they are using a very high percentage and consequently have not decreased the pH level that the hair is taken to, so the same amount of damage is occurring.
5. Complimentary products that maintain and even restore the hair’s integrity
Our treatments are reconstructors and they work inside the hair shaft rather than applying a high percentage of silicone to the outside of the hair shaft. Although that gives the hair shine and a
silky feel, it is entirely cosmetic and eventually becomes detrimental as it builds up on the hair shaft and does not allow color to penetrate. By doing a wet stretch test you can determine
exactly what the hair may be lacking before any color or perm service allowing you to prepare the canvas before creating your work of art.
6. Lowest percentage of ppds.
Eliminating ammonia allows us to use a much lower percentage of ppds since ammonia breaks down the natural pigments in the hair when mixed with peroxide. Therefore, ammoniated colors require a
lot more pigment – otherwise it would all wash out at the shampoo bowl.
7. Lowest Percentage of Ethanolamine
This color line contains about half as much ethanolamine as any other non-ammonia color line (8% or more). We use it as a pH adjuster and it is organically derived from coconut.
8. Pharmaceutical Grade Activators
All permanent hair colors contain oxidative pigments which means that they have to come into contact with oxygen in order to materialize. Peroxide is simply H2O2. water with an additional oxygen
molecule that can be split off easily to activate the pigments. Our peroxide is pharmaceutical grade which means it is the same peroxide found in eye drops, and therefore gentler then industrial
grade peroxide