I have to admit that I am befuddled as I stand in the drug store looking at an array of shampoos for various types of hair. Reading the directions is a snap but when it comes to understanding those with strange sounding ingredients, I have to admit I am at a loss to understand most of them.

 

I know organic is the way to go and I have tried a few shampoos but some of them had harsh ingredients that burned my eyes.  In  desperation I sent an e-mail to www.femmetoxic.com a project of Breast Cancer Action Montreal for a recommendation.

 

FemmeToxic's goal is to educate young Canadian women about the potential dangers of cosmetics ingredients and provide people with the tools they need to create personal change and to influence national legislative reform.

 

They were very helpful in recommending two brands Green Beaver and Druide who make natural, eco-friendly and organic certified products here in Canada.

 

Know Your Hair Type

 

The best way to choose a shampoo for your hair is to start with the basics.

What type of hair do you have? Texture? Condition? Chemically treated? Style? When speaking about texture, I mean fine, medium and coarse. Is your hair predominantly oily or dry?

 

If your hair is excessively dry, you'll want to select a shampoo designed specifically for dry hair. These shampoos contain a higher level of essential fatty acids which bond to the hair shaft helping to retain moisture.

 

If you have oily hair, you'll want to select a shampoo with deep cleansing properties to remove the build up of oils from your scalp which can cause hair to be limp and lacking in body. It's important that your shampoo not be excessively harsh since stripping the scalp completely of oils can result in the sebaceous glands overcompensating by producing even more oil.

 

Is your hair excessively curly, kinky, or color treated? Curly hair responds best to a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner designed for dry hair, while kinky hair is best treated with a shampoo and conditioner that's high in protein.

 

How can you tell if a shampoo is high in protein? Protein should be listed as one of the first ingredients on the bottle.

 

One warning, sometimes using the same shampoo, conditioner and other hair care products over a long period of time can result in excessive build up which causes the hair to be limp. This is where a clarifying shampoo can make a difference in your hair's appearance. A clarifying shampoo removes the buildup of hair care products that can weigh down your hair and causing it to be dull and greasy in appearance. Try using a clarifying shampoo once every 10 days to revive dull hair,

 

Go Organic

 

The first reason for going organic and nontoxic with our shampoos is an ingredient called sodium lauryl sulfate. This chemical is what makes regular shampoos suds up. Among other things, it can lead to skin damage, permanent eye damage in children and even liver toxicity. Skin Deep rating 3 Moderate Hazard.