You may want to watch out for these 6 ingredients in your hair products

"You have half the job done when purchasing basic products for your natural hair. If your main goal is to find a shampoo or cleanser with helpful and healthy ingredients, here are a few to steer clear of next time you go shopping. Notice how most of them may be hard to pronounce and virtually unrecognisable if you aren’t a scientist. If you can’t read the word, don’t buy the product!” says Nyali.

1. DEA (Diethanolamine), TEA (Triethanolamine)

The pH of your personal care products is very important, and these two ingredients are used to stabilise levels. The problem is that DEA and TEA may cause dry hair and skin, and also cause an allergic reaction and eye irritation.

TRY: It's said that lemon juice, aloe vera and apple cider vinegar keep your pH levels in check so look out for these natural ingredients. 

2. Parabens (Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl)

Keeping funky microbes out of your shampoos, conditioners and other styling products is key to extending the shelf life of your products for two to three years. Using a preservative, which parabens are the most commonly used, helps to extend shelf life. Studies have suggested that these chemicals could possibly lead to breast cancer though.

TRY: Avoid these four things when handling products that don't have preservatives - store out of direct sunlight and away from heat, don't dip your fingers into tubs or bottles to avoid contaminating with bacteria, make sure containers are airtight to minimise oxidisation.

READ MORE: There might be feathers, placenta, egg yolk, and even blood in your shampoo

3. Lanolin, Petroleum and Mineral Oil

These are inexpensive fillers used in many hair foods, greases and pomades, manly formulated for black hair but offering zero moisturising benefits. In fact, these ingredients often block moisture from penetrating the shaft of the hair and weigh it down unnecessarily.

TRY: Natural oils like coconut, jojoba, avocado and almond and that are coldpressed and virgin so they aren't processed above a certain heat that destroys nutrients or may be mixed with other ingredients.

4. Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea

These are the next common preservatives after parabens. Under certain circumstances one could develop contact dermatitis when exposed to urea.

TRY: Storing and sampling products as for parabens above.

5. Propylene Glycol

Most women who have gone natural, rave about a product having “slip”. This means that fingers and combs are able to glide through the hair with minimal effort. Propylene Glycol provides this slip in a lot of hair products; the problem is that it’s also the active ingredient in anti-freeze, airplane de-icer and brake fluid. YIKES! Recent studies have shown that this chemical may cause allergic reactions, dermatitis, eczema, hives and severe dry skin.

TRY: You'll have to head to the kitchen for this one. Mix creamed avo or plain yoghurt or pureed banana with your oil of choice such as shea butter and add honey or aloe vera. 

READ MORE: Soothe your skin, eyes and hair with these home remedies this winter

6. Formaldehyde

This chemical is used as a cheap preservative in water based products in order to prevent the growth of bacteria. Formaldehyde is also suspected of being a carcinogenic and could cause skin reactions, trigger heart palpitations, lead to joint pains, allergies, headaches, ear infections and dizziness. As if that weren’t enough, it’s an ingredient used in embalming fluid! 

TRY: Storing and sampling products as for parabens and ureas above.