And if you’re a Whovian, you know that the 10th Doctor has it, and it’s a really big deal.
People want to interact with it:
People and birds try to recreate it:
And there’s also a who population who consider taking care of such hair to be their dream job:
or dedicate their blog to it (Oh Yes! There's more than one...):
Yet, for me at least, trying to obtain and manage really REALLY great hair can be difficult. When you’re holistically aware, shopping for shampoos and hair products can be as difficult as shopping in a grocery store (without a tricorder), particularly when you consider ingredients. There’s also the issue of cost. Like groceries, going organic or requiring products to be free of certain ingredients CAN be pricey.
Now there are many theories and schools of thoughts about hair: How often do I wash it? When is it too dry? Why is it too dry? How important is conditioner anyway? How do I get rid of the dandruff?... and so on and so forth. However, I think that one of the biggest debates when it comes to health and shampoo is the subject of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) - the stuff that makes all the bubbles- and similar derivative ingredients.
The Debate
The traditionalist side of the argument is that SLS does not lead directly to cancer. Shampoo is shampoo and we’ve used if for years. If there is a threat, its only a mild one with SLS acting as an irritant to skin or the scalp. Most studies support this argument, and unless you eat 16 pounds of it, or let it sit in your hair for 12 plus hours, you shouldn’t really be worried. The bottom line: Life’s too short to worry about the marginal probability of potentially hazardous shampoo ingredients.
However, no one has yet carried out long term studies of the effects of SLS, so in the short run, it appears that SLS doesn’t cause cancer, but for the long-run, people only really have theories. There’s no real proof, and at one point in recent history, there was a big Sodium Laurel Sulfate scare, and large numbers of people swore off of SLS products. The hardcore anti-SLS fundamentalists will swear up and down that SLS is toxic, and directly contributes to cancer. Sodium Laurel Sulfate is what is commonly used as a chemical to clean industrial floors. The bubbles aren’t worth it. LUKE[I AM YOUR FATHER] WARM members of this side believe that SLS may not be a direct cause of cancer, but as an irritant may lower the body’s defenses against other negative stressors. Their bottom line: Life’s probably too short because of hazardous shampoo ingredients.
So Now What? Do I stay away from Sodium Lauryl Sulfate? Or is it okay?
According to research, you should be okay if you use products that have SLS. Especially if you’re not eating your shampoo (or your toothpaste... Yes, the bubbles in toothpaste are sometimes created by SLS too).
In my personal opinion, however, I try to stay away from SLS products. I just can’t bring myself to buy shampoo with SLS in it, especially not when I have a choice. I find the LUKE[I AM YOUR FATHER]WARM anti-SLS rationalization to be practical, and therefore, I stay away from the sulfates, although I DO like bubbles. And if I’m staying at a hotel and forgot my shampoo, or am borrowing someone else’s, I don’t let it bother me because 90% of the time I’m being proactive about protecting myself from an unnecessary hazard. But I can’t pay money for it. I can’t.
But here’s the good news, and the reason why I’m sharing info about Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (besides the opportunity to blog about The Doctor): It’s QUITE easy to be sulfate free. Now more than ever! You don’t have to pay outrageous amounts or only order shampoo from the interwebs to get it. Yes, you may pay more than you would for some of the more common shampoos, but then again maybe not, and you don’t have to pay $20+ per the bottle either (although you most certainly can if you want).
Most stores now also carry sulfate free shampoos including stores such as Target and Walmart. Both of which carry Organix shampoos, and Aveeno’s sulfate-free line.
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| No BUBBLES! |
So when you are on your quest for Really REALLY Great Hair (which is important because Really REALLY Great Hair really is Wibbley Wobbley Sexy Wexy), remember that you are also responsible for protecting your scalp, and your health (and the universe). Next time you’re picking out your hair products, try out the sulfate-free shampoos. Who knows, you might be contribute more to your overall health, or someone may start a blog about your Really REALLY Great SULFATE-FREE hair.
