Imagine my displeasure when Ralph Nader and the Cancer Prevention Coalition released its new list of the Top 12 Cancer-Causing Products in the Average Home and my hair dye was on it.
I’ve been talking to my hairdresser aka sister-in-law about gradually stopping the dying process and I’m not panicking but I must admit that the timeline is speeding up considerably. I buy Clairol Nice and Easy and take it to her to have it applied. According to the list, it contains a plethora of tongue-twisting chemicals that have been linked to cancers of the blood and lymph nodes. Great. I’ve used it every 3-4 weeks for a few years now. Before writing I made a mental note to visit a health food store and get started on that dye-reduction process. I may have to wear a pony-tail until Christmas but I no longer care.
Take these with whatever skepticism you feel is appropriate but here are the rest of the products:
Baby powder. Years ago, a boyfriend completely flipped out when I mentioned using baby powder because he said it was dangerous. He begged me to stop. I had to throw the container out in his presence! Some researchers have long linked it with ovarian cancer and lung problems.
Cover Girl Replenishing Natural Finish Foundation Make-Up. The Coalition claims this specific Cover Girl product contains several untested ingredients.
Crest Tartar-Control Toothpaste.
Alberto VO5 Conditioner, Essence of Neutral Henna.
Ajax cleanser with bleach. (I have a container of this in my kitchen right now.)
Zud Heavy Duty Cleanser.
Lysol Disinfectant Spray.
Zodiac Tick and Flea Collars.
Ortho Weed-B-Gone. (I use this every summer.)
Oscar Mayer Beef Frankfurters. (I’ve never trusted weiners!)
Whole milk, any brand. (Apparently it’s full of hormones.)
My extreme measures over the hair dye have been coming for a while. Previous studies have also shown dyes that leach into the scalp can be a problem and it only makes perfect sense. I’ve been toying with the idea of going almost-natural for some time and this is just the push I needed. Thanks Ralph!
Go for it Lisa! You are beautiful and a little dye doesn’t change that a bit.
Aw shucks. (blush) It will be a shock to see how much grey I have but I’m sure I’ll get over it.
Please excuse the language, but… holy shit. I either currently have, or have used many of these products in the past.
Between this post & the frozen fruit/ veggies entry, I’m afraid to go grocery shopping by myself now. Sheesh. 🙁
Out of curiosity, have you ever tried using henna for your hair? It’s a little messy, but you can find some pretty natural blends that are harmless to humans, and the planet. I used natural products for my hair a few years ago. It was cool, but tedious, and in the end, I opted to go back to store bought shampoos & salon colouring for my highlights too. *shrugs*
You wouldn’t know this you pup, but grey is too hard to cover by henna! 🙂
Try a semi-permanent color like Wella, it does color grey but not your own natural color. Another advantage is that it goes on clean towel-dry hair, takes about 15-20 minutes and does not turn my hair red like permanent color. My natural color is very dark brown & I use light natural brown or dark natural blonde to color the glittery greys. Looks like an expensive highlight job!
That’s definitely worth a try – thanks. I bought a health store dye kit but who knows how it will turn out. A personal recommendation is always best! Thanks Gloria.
Sorry, but I still say to ‘go natural’. The REAL Lisa – beautiful inside and gorgeous outside. I’m sure Derek would back me up on that one 🙂 Don’t be such a chicken lol
Buc buc buc! If there was a way to remove all of the colour that’s on there now, I would go for it. The trouble is it has to all grow out and one doesn’t want two-tone hair for the next year. Most stylists say just cut it off and go from there but that is not an option for me. It’s a long process! :p
tee hee… I’m a pup. 😉
And I wasn’t aware of that fact… good to know!