IN WITH THE NEW: Hairspray
Welcome to my weekly featured ”IN WITH THE NEW” CLEAN SWAP! This week we are taking a closer look at hairspray!
I’m always fielding questions from clients and friends about how to swap out their favorite products for safer, toxin-free options without a loss in quality, taste, or performance (depending on the product). Each week I cover food, cosmetics, personal care, cleaning and laundry products (and sometimes even behavior), so if you enjoy these Clean Swaps, please follow me on Instagram and sign up for my 360° OF WELLNESS Newsletter (⬅️by clicking on this link to the left) so that you never miss a new one.
Let’s talk HAIRSPRAY!
Hairspray is a staple in every woman’s cabinet (and many men’s too—just ask my husband!). It’s one of the most popular hair styling products and many of us can’t live without it. But have you ever thought about the chemicals that you are releasing into the air you’re breathing?
SO WHAT’S SO BAD ABOUT hairspray? 💁♀️
All day hold? Yes!
A volume boost? Of course!
A lovely scent? Gimme!
But what else are you getting when you bring home that can of hairspray?
Well, you get a few bonuses:
An increased risk of cancer
Possible skin irritation, and
Carcinogenic gasses (my favorite!)
Yup, hairspray is probably one of THE most toxic beauty products you own. The National Institute of Health says that they don’t know if all ingredients in hairspray are safe for human use. And the U.S. National Library of Medicine lists out 6 poisonous ingredients in hairspray and warns of hairspray poisoning if inhaled. If that doesn’t make you wonder if you should be using this stuff at all, I don’t know what will.
In the 1970s, hairspray used to contain an ingredient called, vinyl chloride, which was a known carcinogen, linked to liver cancer. However, even though companies were aware of this link, their products containing this poison remained on the shelves for another 10 years. Why is this relevant? Because there are thousands of other toxic chemicals in our everyday products that are still on the shelves, because it is up to each one of us to take our health into our own hands and make the right choices about what we bring into our homes and use on our bodies.
The good news is that we no longer have to worry about vinyl chloride in hairspray. The bad news is that there are still some horrifying ingredients in today’s formulations that you want to avoid, such as:
🚫 FRAGRANCE or PARFUM (which should just be listed on the ingredients label as “hidden toxins”) is packed with dangerous, synthetic chemicals, such as phthalates, which are powerful hormone disruptors linked to pre-term births, birth defects, decreased sperm counts, reduced female fertility, and a worsening of allergy and asthma symptoms. However, this innocuous but misleading term is meant to hide hundreds of these ingredients because they are considered “trade secrets” in the eyes of the government, which seems to place the interests of the corporation above the safety of us, the consumers.
🚫 DIMETHYL PHTHALATE is part of the phthalate family and thus, a known endocrine disruptor that has been linked to increased risk of breast cancer, early breast development in girls, and reproductive birth defects in males and females. Phthalates add flexibility to otherwise stiff and brittle polymers, so it is often used in hairspray to prevent the notorious helmet-hair effect that was common in the past. However, they have been classified as an environmental toxin and are banned from use in toys and baby-care products.
🚫 FORMALDEHYDE is a naturally occurring preservative that is effective at killing mold and bacteria that might otherwise find a home in many consumer products, such as hairspray. It’s classified as a “probable human carcinogen” and is directly capable of causing cancer in living tissue. It can also cause a burning sensation in the eyes, nose and throat as well as coughing, wheezing, nausea and skin irritation. Since formaldehyde is also present in household materials such as carpet adhesives and wall insulation, the addition of hairspray-released formaldehyde may be another additional source that may take your exposure past the tipping point.
🚫 CYCLOPENTASILOXANE has a smoothing effect on your hair. Some studies have shown that it can disrupt hormones and negatively impact fertility.
🚫 PROPYLENE GLYCOL (frequently found in antifreeze and brake fluid) has been linked with dry skin, rashes, and dermatitis, and high levels may contribute to blood and kidney disorders.
🚫 AEROSOL PROPELLANTS are gasses (e.g., butane and propane) and help propel the hairspray out of the can. Propellants aren’t just bad for the environment, but for our health, too. They have been linked to allergic skin reactions, asthma and breathing difficulties. Propellants are also highly flammable, so just imagine how harsh it is on your hair when you blast a blow dryer on it while it’s coated with a flammable substance. The EPA strongly suggests that you should avoid using aerosol sprays that are designed to be sprayed directly on your body, such as deodorant, hairsprays or sunscreen.
🚫 VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCS) are extremely dangerous chemicals that evaporate at room temperature. These are emitted by a wide array of products used in homes, including aeorsol sprays cans,, cleaners and disinfectants, paints and lacquers, paint strippers, varnishes, glues, pesticides, building materials and even furnishings. VOCs are released from products into the home both during use and while stored. While a strong smell is a sure signal to be careful, these chemicals can still be present and cause damage even at concentrations that you cannot smell or perceive. According to the EPA, VOCs can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, frequent headaches, nausea, and can also damage the liver, kidney and central nervous system.
🚫 POLYVINYLPYRROLIDONE plastic is used to give hair structural support. It is a possible carcinogen and it’s other uses include binding together layers of wood in plywood. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound like something you really want on my hair.
READY FOR the CLEAN SWAP?🙋♀️
Why use the nasty stuff when you have a safer option that works just as well? Check out Innersense Organic Beauty Create Finish Hairspray. It’s brimming with moisturizing ingredients and antioxidants, has a lovely lavender scent—from what else, but organic lavender, which also normalizes dry and oily hair and eases dandruff. Most importantly, it works great on my hair, keeping flyaways down, taming frizz, adding shine and providing flexible hold and manageability—all without making hair feel coated or dry.
Innersense uses all natural and organic ingredients, such as organic honey as a natural resin and organic rooibos tea for antioxidant protection. Aloe and rice proteins help with moisture and strength. And of course, it is paraben-, sulfate-, and cruelty free.
Do you have a favorite clean brand?
Send me a message or leave a comment below and share what it is. If I feature it, I’ll give you credit and may even send you a free gift!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Victoria Gregory is an Integrative Nutritionist and founder of NEWTRITION NEWYOU. Her focus—whether with private clients, readers of her blog, or her followers on social media— is whole body wellness, incorporating whole-food nutrition, supplementation, exercise, toxin-free living, and mindset coaching. Victoria’s personal mission is to help make the world a healthier place, one person at a time, and she has helped thousands of people find joy and self-love through better eating habits and mindfulness. Learn more about Victoria.