The FDA, or a better name ‘Filthy Deadly Animals’ allow toxic ingredients in baby products. Baby products that consumers use on a new-born that is only hours old. So image what is in adult products. Check your product ingredients @ http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

“The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) classifies cosmetics and personal care products, but does not regulate them. In 1938, the FDA granted self-regulation to the Cosmetics, Toiletries and Fragrance Association (CTFA), the self-appointed industry organization.
With The exception of color additives and a few prohibited ingredients, a cosmetic manufacturer may use almost ANY raw material as a cosmetic ingredient and market the product WITHOUT an approval from FDA” (”Prohibited Ingredients”, FDA Office of Cosmetics Fact Sheet, Dec. 19, 1994)

What is the purpose of ammonia in hair colour?

The purpose of ammonia in hair dye is to help open up the cuticle layer of the hair to allow the color molecules to penetrate the hair. It also serves as an activator to peroxide in the colour developer and helps to form the color in the hair. Some formulas replace the ammonia with other alkalines to fulfil the same function.

What is ammonia?

Ammonia occurs naturally and is produced by human activity. It is an important source of nitrogen which is needed by plants and animals. Bacteria found in the intestines can produce ammonia.

Ammonia is a colorless gas with a very distinct odor. This odor is familiar to many people because ammonia is used in smelling salts, many household and industrial cleaners, and window-cleaning products.

Ammonia gas can be dissolved in water. This kind of ammonia is called liquid ammonia or aqueous ammonia. Once exposed to open air, liquid ammonia quickly turns into a gas.

Ammonia is applied directly into soil on farm fields, and is used to make fertilizers for farm crops, lawns, and plants. Many household and industrial cleaners contain ammonia.

It is on the CERCLA priority list of hazardous substances.

How can ammonia affect my health?

No health effects have been found in humans exposed to typical environmental concentrations of ammonia. However, exposure to higher levels of ammonia in the air may be irritating to your skin, eyes, throat, and lungs and cause coughing and burns. Lung damage and death may occur after exposure to very high concentrations of ammonia. Some people with asthma may be more sensitive to breathing ammonia than others.

Swallowing concentrated solutions of ammonia can cause burns in your mouth, throat, and stomach. Splashing ammonia into your eyes can cause burns and even blindness.

Ammonia is believed to be one of the main chemicals to cause respiratory disorders in hairdressers.

Source : ATSDR

Photo: Culture Mag

What is the purpose of ammonia in hair colour?

The purpose of ammonia in hair dye is to help open up the cuticle layer of the hair to allow the color molecules to penetrate the hair. It also serves as an activator to peroxide in the colour developer and helps to form the color in the hair. Some formulas replace the ammonia with other alkalines to fulfil the same function.

What is ammonia?

Ammonia occurs naturally and is produced by human activity. It is an important source of nitrogen which is needed by plants and animals. Bacteria found in the intestines can produce ammonia.

Ammonia is a colorless gas with a very distinct odor. This odor is familiar to many people because ammonia is used in smelling salts, many household and industrial cleaners, and window-cleaning products.

Ammonia gas can be dissolved in water. This kind of ammonia is called liquid ammonia or aqueous ammonia. Once exposed to open air, liquid ammonia quickly turns into a gas.

Ammonia is applied directly into soil on farm fields, and is used to make fertilizers for farm crops, lawns, and plants. Many household and industrial cleaners contain ammonia.

It is on the CERCLA priority list of hazardous substances.

How can ammonia affect my health?

No health effects have been found in humans exposed to typical environmental concentrations of ammonia. However, exposure to higher levels of ammonia in the air may be irritating to your skin, eyes, throat, and lungs and cause coughing and burns. Lung damage and death may occur after exposure to very high concentrations of ammonia. Some people with asthma may be more sensitive to breathing ammonia than others.

Swallowing concentrated solutions of ammonia can cause burns in your mouth, throat, and stomach. Splashing ammonia into your eyes can cause burns and even blindness.

Ammonia is believed to be one of the main chemicals to cause respiratory disorders in hairdressers.

Source : ATSDR

Photo: Culture Mag

Buying natural and organic personal care products can be difficult. Many products are falsely labeled as ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ and the ingredients are called ‘naturally derived’. To be sure you are purchasing an organic product make sure it is certified organic by a known certification body. Some products may be organic but are not certified due to the costly process involved in becoming certified, these products will most likely be found in a health food store rather than the supermarket.

A natural and organic approach to health and beauty will not only benefit your skin but also your body. Many of the personal care products on the market today contains synthetic chemicals that are not only known carcinogens, sensitizers and allergens but can also contain heavy metals such as mercury and lead which is highly toxic.

Learn to read the labels and know what to avoid. Below is a list of ten toxic ingredients commonly used in personal care products claiming to be ‘natural’

1. Methyl, Propyl, Butyl & Ethyl Paraben — Used as inhibitors of microbial growth and to extend shelf life of products. Widely used even though they are known to be toxic. Are known to cause allergic reactions and skin rashes. Methyl paraben combines benzoic acid with the methyl group of chemicals. Highly toxic.

2. Imidazolidinyl Urea & Diazolidinyl Urea — The most common preservatives after parabens. They are well established as a primary cause of contact dermatitis (American Academy of Dermatology). Two trade names for these chemicals are Germall II and Germall 115. Neither of the Germall chemicals have a good antifungal, and must be combined with other preservatives. Germall 115 releases formaldehyde at just over 10°. These chemicals are toxic.

3. Petrolatum —  A mineral oil jelly that can cause a lot of problems when used on the skin such as photosensitivity (promotes sun damage), and it tends to interfere with the body’s own natural moisturizing mechanism, leading to dry skin and chapping. Manufacturers use petrolatum because it is unbelievably cheap.

4. Propylene Glycol — Ideally this is a vegetable glycerin mixed with grain alcohol, both of which are natural. Usually it is a synthetic petrochemical mix used as a humectant. Has been known to cause allergic and toxic reactions.

5. PVP/VA Copolymer — A petroleum-derived chemical used in hairsprays, wavesets and other cosmetics. It can be considered toxic since particles may contribute to foreign bodies in the lungs of sensitive persons.

6. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate — This synthetic substance is used in shampoos for its detergent and foam-building abilities. It causes eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, and allergic reactions. It is frequently disguised in pseudo-natural cosmetics with the parenthetic explanation “comes from coconut.”

7. Stearalkonium Chloride — A chemical used in hair conditioners and creams. Causes allergic reactions. Stearalkonium chloride was developed by the fabric industry as a fabric softener, and is a lot cheaper and easier to use in hair conditioning formulas than proteins or herbals, which do help hair health. Toxic.

8. Synthetic Colors — The synthetic colors used to make a cosmetic “pretty” should be avoided at all costs. They will be labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number. Example: FD&C Red No. 6 / D&C Green No. 6. Synthetic colors are believed to be cancer-causing agents.

9. Synthetic Fragrances — The synthetic fragrances used in cosmetics can have as many as 200 ingredients. There is no way to know what the chemicals are, since on the label it will simply say “Fragrance.” Some of the problems caused by these chemicals are headaches, dizziness, rash, hyperpigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting, and skin irritation.

10. Triethanolamine — Often used in cosmetics to adjust the pH and used with many fatty acids to convert acid to salt (stearate), which then becomes the base for a cleanser. TEA causes allergic reactions including eye problems, dryness of hair and skin, and could be toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time.

Source: Organic Consumers Association

Images: Culture Mag

Dangerous synthetic chemicals used in every day personal care products.

Isopropyl Alcohol

Is a very drying and irritating solvent and dehydrator that strips your skin’s natural acid mantle, making us more vulnerable to bacteria, moulds and viruses. It is made from propylene, a petroleum derivative and it may promote brown spots and premature aging of skin.

Why use Alcohol Isopropyl?

It is commonly used as a solvent in hair care products. It is extremely damaging to eyes and is a well known skin irritant. Isopropanol is also a potent central nervous system depressant and large amounts can lead to renal failure. It is an animal carcinogen and teratogen.

Data adapted from ‘Dangerous Beauty’ by Peter Dingle and Toni Brown.

For more information about toxic chemicals, synthetics and ingredients used in beauty products click here.

Stearic Acid.

Fat from cows,  sheep, and  from dogs and cats euthanized in animal shelters, etc. Most often refers to a fatty substance taken from the stomachs of pigs. Can be harsh, irritating. Used in cosmetics, soaps, lubricants, candles, hairspray, conditioners, deodorants, creams, chewing gum, food flavoring.

Derivatives: Stearamide, Stearamine, Stearates, Stearic Hydrazide, Stearone, Stearoxytrimethylsilane, Stearoyl Lactylic Acid, Stearyl Betaine, Stearyl Imidazoline.

Alternatives: Stearic acid can be found in many vegetable fats and coconut.

Studies link these toxic chemicals to potential health effects including cancer and hormone disruption.

While teens are deciding what color to use, hot pink for toenails, sparkly lips or purple eyelids, they could be unknowingly exposing themselves to harmful chemicals.  It’s a fact, they probably are.

Adolescent girls typically experiment with lots of different body care poducts which may be potentially toxic to their bodies.  In a teen study participants used an average of nearly 17 personal care products each day, while the average adult woman uses just 12 products daily.

Environmental Working Group (EWG)  Laboratory tests reveal adolescent girls across America are contaminated with chemicals commonly used in cosmetics and body care products.

They detected 16 chemicals from 4 chemical families – phthalates, triclosan, parabens, and musks – in blood and urine samples from 20 teen girls aged 14-19.

Parabens, mimic the activity of estrogen and have been linked to female-specific disorders including breast cancer. While individual products may have low amounts of parabens, they are found in many products.

For a safe effective skin care line use Glimpse Topical Skin Nutrition found here.

*This table includes all possible cancer concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

African-American women under the age of 40 get breast cancer at twice the rate of white women in the same age group. One local researcher is investigating to see if there may be a link between those cancers and hair care products used by African-American women.

Dr. Devra Davis is a nationally known expert and author on environmental health issues. She now heads up the University of Pittsburgh Environmental Oncology Center, which is devoted to studying possible connections between the environment and cancer. One of Davis’ first projects is to try and find out why young black women get breast cancer twice as often as young white women.

As for the Food and Drug Administration, it said it does not require testing on cosmetics before they go on the market.

African-American women under the age of 40 get breast cancer at twice the rate of white women in the same age group.

Look up your hair product ingredient @ http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

Booth rental has a become a very popular salon structure. Salon owner do not have to monitor or regulate stylist, pay insurance for them or even pay federal and state taxes per employee. Booth Rental stylist make their own hours and set their own prices, operating as independent contractor. Booth rental stylist are responsible for their own education and client retention. Independent contracts pay a set amount of money each week to the business owner. The stylist provide their own supplies and products. Products???? What are they using for back bar. What are they retailing. What ingredients are in that last ever lasting  spray that they give you before you give them your money. Can you buy the products on their station at any local drug store? Do you or your stylist suffer from allergies. Is your hair stylist concerned with your health or their bottom line?

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) and SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES) are the most common ingredient in shampoo. What makes these ingredients so popular is that they create the sussing acting when mixed with water. The same suss the you get form dish detergent, washing powder,etc. Why are they used in personal care products? Because they are cheap. A small amount generates a large amount of foam and when salt is added it thickens and gives the illusion of being thick and concentrated.

Matterial Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on SLS warn to avoid skin contact as it is systemic and can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage. A study from the Medical College of Georgia indicates that SLS is systemic, can penetrate and be retained in the eye, brain, heart, liver etc., with potentially harmful long-term effects.

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) and SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES) (MSDS) Potentially, SLS is perhaps the most harmful ingredient in personal-care products. SLS is used in testing-labs as the standard skin irritant to compare the healing properties of other ingredients. Industrial uses of SLS include: garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and car wash soaps. Studies show its danger potential to be great, when used in personal-care products. Research has shown that SLS and SLES may cause potentially carcinogenic nitrates and dioxins to form in the bottles of shampoos and cleansers by reacting with commonly used ingredients found in many products. Large amounts of nitrates may enter the blood system from just one shampooing.

This product is marketed to children but  the product states clearly:  Keep out of reach of children. The product rate as a 10 meaning high hazard! This product has enhanced capacity to absorb through the skin.   The product label states very persuasive and emotional propaganda on package:   Africa’s Best Kids Organics No-Lye Organic Conditioning Relaxer System with Scalp Guard for Fine to Normal Hair, Kids Regular IS IT WORTH IT? Ingredients in this product are linked to:
	Cancer
	Developmental/reproductive toxicity
	Violations, restrictions & warnings
	Allergies/immunotoxicity
	Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Persistence and bioaccumulation,Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards,Biochemical or cellular level changes

Compact for Safe Cosmetics
Non-signer: This company has not signed the Compact.

Olive oil is  excellent for the hair.  It’s use dates back to 6000 B.C.  for use on the body and hair, known as ‘liquid gold’. Mass marketers have taken advantage of the popularity and health benefits by using just the ‘word’ or minute amounts of olive oil with other toxic ingredients in everyday products. Organic Root Stimulator list products claiming to contain olive oil under it’s hair, repair and maintenance section of their website. Product names such as; olive oil  creme, lotion, and sheen spray are stated to protect the hair from heat and  shine with out weighting the hair down. The website has failed to mention that their olive oil products have more toxic ingredients than any of their other products. They have failed to mention of ingredient that cause cancer, reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, irritation of skin, eyes, and lungs. That they have violations, restrictions, and warnings and have not consider researching for less toxic ingredients. Organic Root Stimular is one of the many products that are deciving the mass consumers.

Look up your hair products at: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

Hair product ingredients have evolved from 2-5 ingredients to over 100 ingrediets. FDA does not require companies to list all ingredients on their packaging. (really shady) This means that ingredients can and may cause health issues with many consumers.  Allergies, infertility, rashes, coughs, sneezing, but even more crucial CANCER! Consumers  sacrifice their health for beauty by trusting mass marketers with their life! Ask your stylist about their product choices. There are not that many products in the mass market that are not toxic because products need ingredients that can prolong shelf life. Some hair products can out live humans! Stylist that make organic hair products help their clients and the environment. Using ingredients that consumers can actually eat do not have the harmful effect that buying mass marketers hype does. Check out the ingredients in you hair products at http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

Brazilian Keratin hair treatments have many names but they all use either the terms; Brazilian or Keratin treatments.  This product is the new ‘BIG’ salon seller to elimination frizz, relax curly hair and extend chemical relaxers at a price of $150-$350. This product makes clients hair easier to manage after they shampoo it or work-out. All of these products list and have different ingredients. Formaldehyde is the main ingredient that makes the hair appear straighter and shiny. Formaldehyde is the same product that dry- cleaners use to make clothing stiff and creased. When  heat is applied to the hair with a flat- iron it takes on the same characteristics as ’stiff jeans with a crease’.

United States is one of the few countries that still allows the use of 0.02% Formaldehyde as a safe chemical  but some of  straighter’ s contain as much as 20% Formaldehyde.  Some straighter’s claim not to have any Formaldehyde but the use of Vanilla or Chocolate is used to replace Formaldehyde. These Formaldehyde-free straighter’s have the same effect but does not last as long in the hair.

Clients report to love the new straighter’s and they always rebook. Some Clients have complained about the strong smell of  the Formaldehyde while their hair is being flat ironed. The salon must be well ventilated  by opening doors and windows.  Most of the stylist where face mask to prevent the smell for over whelming them. Pregnant women have been known to faint from just being in the same building but not getting the service.

Straighter’s have not been on the market long enough to have any studies done on the side effects of them. The FDA is slowly  monitoring  the product but companies do no have to list all the ingredients on the packaging. Some product from other countries do not conform the all of the US FDA guidelines, if any conflicts occur they just take the product back and rename it and resell it.

The highly  marketed quest for straight hair has clients over looking the severe  side affects of  Formaldehyde. Make wise choices when selecting a hair service because some ingredients have a life long effect.  Look up Formaldehyde at: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

CALLING ALL RED HEADS – THIS SHADES FOR YOU

Marquise D. lipstick from MAC ,as I understand, is part of the Brunette , Blonde, Redhead collection of MAC cosmetics designed to complement skin & hair tones. I’m guessing that this shade would do well for red-heads considering the fact that Marquise D. sported a lovely reddish-brown coiffure. The peachy pink with soft shimmer looks like it would work for a pale skinned redhead. I think on me .. it could look a little washed out.

One thing to point out about the product are that the ingredients used in this stick are toxic- hopefully some light will be shed on the toxicity of ingredients like polyethylene and alumina to name a few , so that consumers and manufacturers alike will be more informed in this area.

1)     Self Hatred is a deadly disease.
•    Through continuously straightening an African American child’s hair to make it more manageable one could be placing a seed of hatred in the child because the new look is one of a European standard of beauty.  Most African American children are not familiar with what their natural hair looks like and neither do their peers so they are not taught to respect and love it.

2)     Lye Relaxers are subject to cause alopecia areata and male patterned baldness in 60% of men women and children who use Lye Relaxers on a normal basis say once every four weeks.

3)     A child’s head is not strong enough to handle a
lye relaxer such as Dark and Lovely, Just For Me, Motions, Empress,
African Gold, African Pride, Bantu, Soft and Beautiful & Cream of Nature.
•    These relaxers are formulated with Sodium Hydroxide. They are also referred to as ‘alkaline relaxers’ because they contain alkaline caustics, which can cause chemical burns similar to those a person would get if they came in contact with a strong acid.
•     The pH levels are higher than no-lye relaxers. the pH is of 12-14, which is extremely high and these relaxers are formulated with Sodium Hydroxide.
•    The higher the pH the greater risk of damage and hair loss.
•     The “no lye” relaxers are formulated without Sodium Hydroxide and instead are created with calcium hydroxide, guanidine carbonate, and ammonium thioglycolate to make guanidine hydroxide.
•    The ingredients found in Relaxers such as the Sodium Hydroxide are found in drain cleaners, bleach, oven cleaners, toilet cleaners, and other household cleaning supplies.
4)     Though the combination in “no lye” relaxers results in less scalp damage than lye relaxers the damage to the scalp can potentially be the same if not used properly.

5)     The FDA lists hair relaxers and hair dyes among its top consumer complaint areas.

6)     Lye and No Lye Relaxers can cause severe burns when irresponsibly placed on the scalp of a child.
•    Dr. Gary Wasserman, chief of the medical toxicology section at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO., still recalls an incident from thirty years ago in which a two year old boy got a taste of a caustic cleaning agent similar to these relaxers and suffered burns in his esophagus and stomach to the point to where he had to get a new esophagus and stomach using a  portion of his bowel.
•     Scarring is the ultimate concern of the chemists and doctors testing these products because some of the scarring can only be removed through surgical procedures.

7)     The hair is made up of protein and this protein is necessary to promote the growth, strength, and health of the hair.

      Hair relaxers and perms destroy the protein that makes up the hair by rearranging and breaking the bonds that hold the hair in its natural shape.

9)      The time, patience, and treatment of a child with alopecia areata damage caused from extensive use of permanents is immense and oftentimes discouraging.
•    The FDA and Board of Cosmetology have not done enough extensive research to explain and warn of the dangerous effects of hair relaxers due to the capital boom of the cosmetology industry and the high demand dollars that particularly blacks spend on hair care.

10 )      The period of age 5-12 is a very crucial time for child development and when a child has low self esteem due to poor self image during this time the results are often times difficult to reverse.

•    More than 40% of African American girls have a case of hair loss or alopecia areata by the time they reach the age of 16 and are forced to thus wear wigs and weaves for the rest of their lives to cover up the damage.

INFORMATION TO KEEP IN MIND

Use a certified organic mascara instead of the mainstream brands, a natural cosmetic product for beautiful lashes. It’s perfect for sensitive, dry eyes and contact lens wearers as it does not contain any synthetic chemicals sensitizing and causing allergies.

My favorite is the miessence certified organic black mascara. It is made with nourishing jojoba oil, shea and beeswax. And the color comes from natural mineral pigments.

There’s no such thing as organic nail polish. Lacquers are made from chemicals, FD&C dyes (approved by the F.D.A. as safe), and possibly colorants derived from the cochineal beetle, which are commonly used in cosmetics. But a handful of brands are now free of dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, and formaldehyde—ingredients that either have confirmed or suspected health risks to you and the nail techs that paint fingers and toes eight hours a day. These “three-free formulas” aren’t available everywhere, so it’s best to do as we suggest with pedicure tools: Buy your own polishes and bring them to the spa with you. (All the better to touch up any chips, as well.)

Our favorite “three-free formulas”:

PRITI POLISH
We miss Kim D’Amato’s tiny East Village organic spa, but her 100-plus polishes and soy-based remover are alive and well online and at eco-friendly spas and boutiques around the country. In fact, Priti is offering free mini manicures next week at ABC Carpet and Home (888 Broadway at 19th St., rsvp@abchome.com) on Sept. 22 from 6 – 8 p.m. Priti Polish, $12.50, www.pritinyc.com

CND
Every Fashion Week finds CND artfully coating the claws of the catwalk. But this year the models wore the new range of 50 custom colors (you layer them with 15 variously shimmered effects), all formulated without the bad stuff.
Where to get polished: Visit CND for spas that will be carrying the new colors, $9, www.goindulge.com and www.CND.com

SPARITUAL
The glamorous green sister brand to OPI is also vegan. That means no insect-derived colorants. The fall colors rock. Or are inspired by them, as well as minerals, metallics, and gems, like Regal (pictured). Where to get polished: Great Jones Spa (29 Great Jones St., 212-505-3185). SpaRitual, $10, www.sparitual.com

Do you bring your own nail polish to spas? Tell us, here!

Hair products marketed to black women have some of the highest levels of toxins in their ingredients. Products such as: hair grease, pomades, relaxers, color, hair spray, hot oil treatments, shampoo and conditioners. Consumers are enticed by catch phases claiming to grow hair without any further evidence, they proceed to purchase, use and buy more of these hair products. Cheaper prices and the allure a long hair has enslaved the black hair market just as the slave masters feed their slaves pork to keep them full, sleep and unaware. To take control of your health become aware of what you consume because what goes on your hair goes into your body!

10 ingredients to avoid

PHENOL

P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE

FRAGRANCE

RESORCINOL

CETEARETH-25

BUTYLPARABEN

4-AMINO-2-HYDROXYTOLUENE

BHA

MINERAL OIL

RETINYL PALMITATE