Modern Organic Products for Hair Care

Organic Hair Care

Hair care products contain many chemicals and synthetically derived ingredients. The fragrance, preservatives, foaming agents and many other ingredients are likely to have come from chemically derived sources. Unfortunately for the organic shopper, it is not simply a case of looking for products with the chemicals taken out. Finding an organic replacement is a lot more complex than that.

One of the key challenges when looking to buy organic hair care products is determining exactly what "organic" means. For instance, some products may state that they contain organic ingredients, however this does not by any means suggest that they would meet your definition of organic. Likewise, other products may be labeled "natural," and again this does not mean necessarily that the product is 100 percent organic. This situation is compounded by the fact that there is no single set of standards for manufacturers to comply with, thus making it difficult for the consumer to identify suitable products.

Ingredients in Hair Care Products

Reading labels of hair care products to determine whether they are suitable to use may at first seem confusing. Ingredients may appear to have complex names, which are completely different from the names that we use in normal life. This isn’t meant to confuse, however, and is there to assure that the customer does know exactly what they are buying.

The ingredient names on personal care products, including hair care products, are part of a naming convention known as the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients, or INCI for short. This is an internationally recognized standard whereby every single product has a single name that is used and recognized worldwide. This means that a visitor to Europe, for instance, will be able to pick up a product and recognize precisely what the ingredients are, regardless of language.

This is helpful to the organic shopper as it means that chemicals and synthetic ingredients will be instantly recognizable and not hidden behind "pseudo-natural" names. There are many online directories and resources that explain INCI names in more detail, one of which is the Somerset Cosmetic Directory which has a directory listing over 6,000 INCI names.

How Organic Hair Care Products Are Different

Traditionally we are used to having hair care products that foam. In particular we expect shampoo to lather when it is used. The lathering or foaming is caused by chemicals, and does not happen to the same degree in organic haircare products. This does not mean that they are any less effective; indeed, some would argue that they are more effective.

The ingredients in shampoos and other foaming products that cause it to lather are sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, also known as SLS. These are cheap, harsh detergents used in shampoos for cleansing and foam building. Many people, regardless of whether they are looking for organic products, will seek to avoid items with SLS as an ingredient.

Buying Modern Organic Products for Hair Care in Stores

There are modern organic products for hair care available in stores. These are available from main street stores, specialist shops, mail order and online. Some of the key brands to look for are:

• Aubrey Organics – full range of hair care products

• Kiss My Face – a range of hair care products with out SLS and parabens.

• Organicle – range of hair care products.

Further Research

As with so many aspects of leading an organic lifestyle, determining the right hair care products for you entails determining your own standards. This involves researching more the definition of organic used in personal care products, understanding the labeling requirements for products and what purpose the different ingredients actually serve. The Organic Consumers Association has more interesting reading. This may seem time-consuming and unnecessary, but until there is a single set of standards for manufacturers to conform to, this is unfortunately a necessary part of "going organic."