Posted by Karen Eisenbraun on May.30, 2009

©iStockphoto.com - aldra

The evils of plastic water bottles get a lot of attention in eco-friendly media, but what about shampoo bottles? With most consumers using traditional hair cleansers, the number of shampoo and conditioner bottles headed to the landfill is astronomical. The Census Bureau predicts the number of U.S. households will reach 115 million by 2010, and according to a Treehugger article from 2007, 23 percent of Americans don’t recycle. If every non-recycling household throws away a shampoo and conditioner bottle every other month, that’s 317 million bottles ending up in landfills every year.

Shampoo Bars: One solution to reducing the number of shampoo bottles in circulation is to adopt the usage of solid shampoos. According to solid shampoo manufacturer Lush, one shampoo bar is equivalent to three 250-ml bottles and can last up to six months. That means that each solid shampoo bar purchased saves at least three plastic bottles from potentially ending up in a landfill. It also saves the resources that would have been used to manufacture those plastic bottles in the first place. Solid products also weigh less, so they require less energy to transport. Lush’s Web site reports that one truckload of solid shampoo is enough for 800,000 washes — or the equivalent of fifteen truckloads of bottled product.

The dangers of SLS

For a leading “natural” product manufacture, however, Lush is a bit lacking in its ingredients. Though the shampoo bars contain about 80% organic essential oils, they are also made with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). SLS and its close relative Sodium Laureth Sulfate are foaming agents that are often used in toothpaste and detergents as well as shampoos. According to the Organic Consumers Association, SLS “causes eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, and allergic reactions.”

A statement from Lush defends the company’s use of SLS by claiming, “we only use SLS in our products in the absolutely safest concentrations and in products that are designed to be immediately rinsed away.” A 1983 report published in the Journal of The American College of Toxicology, however, revealed that SLS in concentrations as low as 0.5% caused skin irritation. The report also states that “other studies have indicated that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, the liver, the lungs and the brain from skin contact. This poses question of it being a serious potential health threat to its use in shampoos, cleansers, and tooth pastes.”

Synthetic-free formulas

With NaturalNews.com reporting that “the vast majority of (brand-name personal care) products contain toxic chemical compounds … that contribute to cancer, liver disorders, and neurological diseases,” the best bet for safe, synthetic-free shampoos appears to be handmade natural products from smaller companies.

Chagrin Valley Soap & Craft Company manufactures all-natural body products, including solid shampoos, which are completely free of detergents, synthetic fragrances, artificial preservative, and synthetic additives. Testimonials on the company’s Web site report that use of these natural shampoos has restored luster to dry hair, and that they deliver enough moisture and nourishment that a separate conditioner is not necessary. Formulations include the Café Moreno shampoo bar for brunettes, which contains natural oil from coffee beans to brighten and enrich hair color, as well as a Babassu & Marsh Mallow bar, Carrot Milk & Honey, Chamomile & Citrus, and a Coconut Milk Shampoo Bar with no added scent.

Vermont Country Soap sells a Shampoo Bar made with organic oils. A full ingredients list is not provided, but a page on the company’s Web site is devoted to the dangers of SLS and states, “at Vermont Soap we do not use SLS or any other detergent based foaming agents in any of our products.”

A Wild Soap Bar Yucca Root Shampoo and Body Bar is a preservative-free and synthetic-free moisture-rich body bar and conditioning shampoo bar in one.

J.R. Liggett’s Bar Shampoos come in a variety of formulas and travels packs and are made from 100% natural oils, with no SLS or preservatives. Each bar is the equivalent of a 24 oz. bottle of shampoo.

Missouri-based Evening Shade Farms produces a homemade, all-natural Rosemary Tea Shampoo/Body Bar that treats dandruff.

Burt’s Bees creates a Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar that is billed as 99.9% natural, as well as a Baby Bee Shampoo Bar, which is slightly less natural at 98.51% and contains fragrance.

Handmade bar shampoo from various manufacturers can also be found on Etsy. Always ask for a list of ingredient if not already provided to make sure no synthetic additives or preservatives are used.

Baking soda and apple cider vinegar

For the truly dedicated, washing hair with baking soda and apple cider vinegar provides an alternative to shampoo altogether. Baking soda will remove dirt and grime without stripping hair of natural oils. Some people who have tried the baking soda and vinegar method report that their hair and scalp didn’t feel clean and that they couldn’t get used to the smell. Others love it and claim that their hair has never been softer or more manageable. It’s definitely a matter of personal preference, but making this choice is a huge step in ridding your beauty routine of harmful chemicals. Be aware that your hair may go through an adjustment period until your scalp’s oil production normalizes.

To clean hair with baking soda, add a small amount of water to one tablespoon of baking soda and massage into your scalp. Work it into the roots and let it sit for a minute. For added benefit, massage it into the crown of your head and then the temples. Rinse. To soften hair, add 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar to a cup of water and pour over your head. Let this sit for a minute and then rinse. The smell reportedly goes away after a few moments. It may take some time to arrive at the right level of ingredients for your hair type. If hair is frizzy, use less baking soda or add honey. If hair becomes greasy, use less vinegar and apply only to the ends of your hair.

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