Toxic Chemicals and Plastics in Hairspray Making us Sick

Not many of us actually know how hairsprays and hair styling products work to hold our hair in place, but the plastic sand toxic chemicals in hairspray are not too healthy for us and especially when using super hot styling tools, where these ingredients then get heated to high temperatures and release VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds).

As a professional hairstylist I am here to educate you about the health hazards of conventional hairsprays and to also let you know that there are healthier, safer hair styling alternatives that work just as effectively as their unhealthy, synthetic based opponents, if not better!

Toxic Chemicals and Plastics in Hairspray Making us Sick

parabens
benzyl salicylate
lilial
eugenol
petrochemical plastics polymers
synthetics fillers
artificial fragrances

Artificial fragrances are actually considered the most hazardous ingredients, due to the fact that there can be literally hundreds of undisclosed ingredients that go into the making of just one fragrance. See article Synthetic Perfumes Making Us Sick.

Most hairsprays and hair styling products contain plastic, commonly PVP and we heat these with incredibly hot styling tools and breathe in the vapors!

Popular Brands OF Toxic Hair Sprays & Styling Products

Check out some of the Environmental Working Groups 9-10 Hazard ratings ( their highest) on these well-known mainstream hairsprays and styling products. Plus all these brands TEST ON ANIMALS!

L’Oreal Hairspray EWG Report

Tigi Hairspray EWG Report

Pureology Hairspray EWG Report

Sexy Hair Concepts Hair Styling Gunk EWG Report

Redken Straightening Gel EWG Report

My Experience As Professional Hairdresser And Toxic Hair Sprays

As a professional hair & makeup artist with over 2 decades experience, I have experienced first hand the ill-effects, that synthetic based hair styling products can have on ones health. A decade ago I developed a chronic cough from constant, daily, exposure to synthetic based, hairsprays and styling products.

I was already committed to only using cruelty-free products in my work, but I had yet to branch into all natural beauty products. So the hair products I used for styling the models hair were anything but natural and I was using them in conjunction with extremely hot hair styling irons, tongs and blow-dryers. When heat is applied to these products on the hair they emit a thick vapors and this is what I was continually breathing in.

It took 6 months and various, expensive, medical tests until I made the connection that it was inhaling this toxic vapor that was causing my chronic cough. So I spent time researching for safer, natural and of course still cruelty free certified styling products and once I made the switch the cough vanished.

Certified Cruelty Free, Natural Hair Styling Products Work Just As Well.

We need not expose ourselves to toxic ingredients in hair styling products, as these days there are safer, all natural, cruelty-free hair styling products that are just as effective as the synthetic products. It’s true that they may cost a little more than your supermarket brand of hairspray, but for the sake of our health, those few extra dollars spent is a very worthy investment.

The range of natural professional grade hair styling products that I use professionally are by Ethical Brand Co