BLOG
Why Choose Paraben-free Shampoos and Conditioners?
Parabens are synthetic chemical preservatives that have been inserted into cosmetic products around the world for decades. Methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and isobutylparaben are the most common forms of the chemical found in a wide range of hair care and skin care products.
Here is a summary of why you should always avoid purchasing hair care products that contain parabens.
1) Parabens are used as preservatives because they are cheaper than natural alternatives - not healthier!
Parabens are used in hair care products is to prevent microorganisms from growing in liquid-based formulas, therefore prolonging the lifespan of the product. However, the choice to use parabens is steeped in the business-oriented mindsets of large corporations. Synthetic parabens are much cheaper to manufacture and use than natural preservatives. The selection is made based on cost-efficiency, not health-consciousness. The longer the lifespan of the product, the easier it is to market and sell – this of course does not make it healthier or more hair-friendly.
2) Parabens can cause problems to your hormonal system
Studies have shown that parabens are easily absorbed into the bloodstream, where the chemicals are quickly metabolised. The Breast Cancer Fund lists parabens as ‘xenoestrogens’: chemicals with the slight ability to mimic the hormone estrogen, and therefore cause potential disruption to the endocrine system. One study found parabens to be high in concentration in cancerous breast tissue. Although the link between parabens and breast cancer was never concretely established, it is undeniable that parabens can accumulate over time within the body, potentially leading to unattributed health risks.
3) Parabens can negatively affect fertility in men
In 2009, a group of scientists examined the effect of parabens on male fertility. They found that sperm count could be decreased by overexposure to parabens, leading to the conclusion that parabens may not be as safe for frequent use as initially thought.
What can you do to avoid parabens?
At Nellen London, we choose to take a different path and view our customers with intelligence and respect. All our shampoos and conditioners are 100% paraben-free, and instead contain a mixture of natural preservatives that produce a lifespan equal to that of hair care products with parabens. We are concerned with creating affordable hair care products that clean naturally, produce visibly luxurious hair, and are free of synthetic chemical additives.
Our hair care products are designed for three hair types: Coloured, Dry and Frizzy. By doing this, we hope to accommodate people of all races, genders and skin types.
Click HERE to browse our range of products.
Why Choose Sulfate-free Shampoos and Conditioners?
Sulfates, sometimes known as Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Ammonium Laurel Sulfate (ALS), can be commonly found in commercial Shampoos and Conditioners on shop shelves around the world.
Here is a summary of why you should always avoid purchasing hair care products that contain sulfates.
1) Sulfates can fade hair colour and produce brittle hair
Due to the harsh nature of sulfate compounds, the rate at which dyed or coloured hair starts to fade back to its original colour is accelerated by using shampoos and conditioners containing sulfates. The reason for this is that sulfates are essentially detergents. While they do contribute towards the cleansing effect of hair care products, the result is often dried-out, brittle hair strands that have been stripped down by exposure to sulfates.
2) Sulfates can negatively affect more than just your hair
Over the years, 1000s of studies have been carried out by various scientists and research establishments on the effects of sulfate on the skin and body. Aside from drying and stripping the hair of its natural moisture, sulfates can sometimes contain cancer-causing elements and mutagens, produce unhealthy and unsafe levels of toxicity within the kidneys, the liver, the brain and the nervous system.
Heavy users of sulfates were also found to have an increased resting frequency of eye irritation, and extremely heavy users were found to have problems ranging from endocrine disruption and reproductive issues.
3) Sulfates are added to hair care products for marketing/psychological purposes
As synthetic chemical surfactants, sulfates are added to cosmetic and hair care products as agents that, when combined with water, produces the foamy lather that we associate with 'successful application' of chemical treatments. The soap bubbles that form during shampooing are a direct result of this chemical reaction. In this sense, sulfates provide no proven chemical advantage to hair care, and, like salt, is often added for a psychological marketing effect.
In fact, studies have shown that the greatest soapy residue is produced when salt interacts with sulfates and water, thickening the lather generated by the initial reaction between sulfates and water.
What can you do to avoid sulfates?
At Nellen London, we choose to take a different path and view our customers with intelligence and respect. All our shampoos and conditioners are 100% sulfate-free, and therefore do not produce an unnecessary thick foam upon application. We are concerned with creating hair care products that clean naturally, and produce visibly luxurious hair without the trickery employed by other brands.
Our hair care products are designed for three hair types: Coloured, Dry and Frizzy. By doing this, we hope to accommodate people of all races, genders and skin types.
Click HERE to browse our range of products.
Why Choose Salt-free Shampoos and Conditioners?
Sodium Chloride, more commonly known as salt, has been present in commercial shampoos and conditioners for almost a century.
Though there are many articles written on the internet that explain in great detail and length the negative effects of salt on the hair strand, the root, the follicle and the scalp, here is a summary of why you should always avoid using shampoos and conditioners containing this chemical.
1) Salt dries the hair and scalp.
Because of its chemical make-up, salt leads to moisture being stripped from the scalp and hair roots, drying both the skin and individual strands of hair. Research has shown that prolonged use of salt-based shampoos and conditioners can even lead to a decrease in the ability of the sebaceous glands to produce natural oils that are important for lubrication of the hair and scalp.
This can lead to an overall deterioration in hair and scalp health, and in extreme cases, clinical alopecia.
2) Salt can lead to long-term hair loss.
Long-term hair loss is usually caused by an overabundance in the bloodstream of the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which causes the thinning of hair and the eventual death of hair follicles. While in the last decade, advances in DHT-blocking treatments have come leaps and bounds, hair loss in modern society is still on the rise.
Studies have shown that prolonged exposure to salt can contribute to long-term hair loss in both men and women over the age of 23. Although hair loss has been a concern for men for decades, women are now starting to pay attention to the worrying trend of rising female hair loss.
3) Salt is added to hair care products as a thickener.
The reason most brands include salt in their shampoo and conditioner formulations is to trick the user into believing that their product is producing a more substantial effect than it actually is. When mixed with water and various sulfates, the salt component in hair products reacts to produce a thick foamy lather, making it seem like the product is doing its job as advertised.
This is typical psychological manipulation. As humans, we like to see an immediate visible response in our actions that alert us to the fact that what we are doing is working -- even if the visual cue is simply a ruse. This particular trick is present not only across the hair care industry, but also in toothpaste, in which salt is added to increase the amount of foam produced when brushing teeth, convincing the user that their teeth is becoming cleaner and establishing brand confidence.
What can you do to avoid salt?
At Nellen London, we choose to take a different path and view our customers with intelligence and respect. All our shampoos and conditioners are 100% salt-free, and therefore do not produce an unnecessary thick foam upon application. We are concerned with creating hair care products that clean naturally, and produce visibly luxurious hair without the trickery employed by other brands.
Our hair care products are designed for three hair types: Coloured, Dry and Frizzy. By doing this, we hope to accommodate people of all races, genders and skin types.
Click HERE to browse our range of products.
