Chemical Depenency? (No, not THAT chemical...)

[C@ssandr@]

Does anyone else have trouble finding replacements for their "toxin filled" staples? I want to switch out some of my potentially harmful products for stuff that is a bit more natural, safe and economical. For the last month or so I have been battling tangles since I am 4 months post, at this point I am going to keep reaching for what works. Sigh. Help me. Or just feel free to share your struggles.

 

[SimJam]

jane carter nutrient replenishing condish - its not a leave in but I use it to detangle after washing and I dont wash it all out. It melts my tangles away.

giovanni direct leave in isnt too bad either, but the Jane carter works better for me.

If I cud find a more natural replacement to S-Curl I wud be on cloud nine

 

[C@ssandr@]

My hair just loves Suave conditioners. It also loves the Mane and Tail detangler. I see that they share a certain ingredient that happens to be a neurotoxin. I'm just tired of searching, experimenting and spending money.

 

[SimJam]

My hair just loves Suave conditioners. It also loves the Mane and Tail detangler. I see that they share a certain ingredient that happens to be a neurotoxin. I'm just tired of searching, experimenting and spending money.

yep I feel that way too. I mean, I use so many other natural prods in my hair - and on my skin, so Im not really torn up abt thr 2 or 3 not so natural prods I use.

 

[Nix08]

I've been trying to get more natural products in too. Although I use a leave in conditioner my daily moisturizer is Aloe Vera Juice and silk amino acids diluted in water (this is literally pennies a use). I also use the Aloe and Silk for detangling as part of my leave in. I use ACV rinses for porosity and PH balance. That's it so far Although I've picked up giovanni clarifying shampoo and I'm looking to do more co washes so that will eliminate toxin filled shampoo's. The conditioner I use is elucence and the main toxin in there is parabens but I've reduced my use of them in other areas (soap, lotion) so I'm ok with it-sorta

 

[C@ssandr@]

Ya know, now that you guys have mentioned it, since most of my hair-body-health regimen is pretty natural, that should afford me some reassurance. We can't have it all at once, right? I do feel confident that one day, I will have "perfected" my regimen. I feel alot better about this now.

Thanks for the responses!

 

[Nonie]

I try to eat healthily, and use coconut oil as my body moisturizer and cleanse my face with oil. But I have never really gone out of my way to use "natural" products only for my hair or as sunblock. I can't be the only one who isn't too worried about being all-natural. I use SLS without blinking. I love Vaseline and use daily. I don't think I'd even have a clue what is in S Curl if someone hadn't said water and glycerin. *shrug*

 

[IDareT'sHair]

This spring/summer I incorporated more Natural/Handmade products into my Regimen (sort of as an experiment/alternative) to Salon Based Products. And I am impressed. I am also relaxed, and have found that the Natural/Handmade products work very well on Relaxed Hair as well.

So, I've decided to continue using these products throughout Fall/Winter and limiting the 'Relaxer' as my only Chemical Dependency 'drug of choice'.

Some of the things I used this Spring/Summer:

My Honey Child
Hairveda
Afroveda
SheScentIt
Jasmines Bath & Beauty
Christine Gant
Njoi CreationS
Bee Mine
Mozeke
KomazaHairCare
Darcy's Botanicals
Oyin
Claudie
ndbcosmetics
KBB
Qhemet Biologics
Ori Organics
Curl Junkie
Jessicurl
J/A/S/O/N
Natures Gate
Aubrey Organics
Abba
Alba Botanicals
Millcreek
Giovanni

*So, since I have these things currently in my Stash, I will continue to use them. Not sure, currently, "if/when" I'll return back to Salon Productserplexed

 

[Imani]

^^^I just purchased some of the brands on the list above.

I am about to start experimenting with some natural product lines, but honestly, its not for health reasons, its bc I want to see if they work better for my hair. A lot of commercial products seem to leave my hair feeling coated/icky or just plain don't work.

 

[song_of_serenity]

If I cud find a more natural replacement to S-Curl I wud be on cloud nine

The main "moisturizing effect" of S-curl is glycerine. Why not cut the middle man and use pure vegetable glycerine?

 

[starfish]

Ironic that this thread is here. When I started using Aubrey Organics about 2 years ago at first I didn't think it was really moisturizing my hair because I was used to the slip that chemicals gave me. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago I foolishly decided to change it up and use something else. Kenra or Kera something, made my hair extremely dry. It FELT nice in the shower, but when it dried it was much dryer than I was used to and not as soft.

The only chemical hair care product that I"ll use now is the Alter Ego garlic conditioner every once in a while.

Now I'm back to SLS free shampoo and organic conditioners and Moroccon or Bingraj oil. My hair likes simple.

 

[Tiye]

My hair just loves Suave conditioners. It also loves the Mane and Tail detangler. I see that they share a certain ingredient that happens to be a neurotoxin. I'm just tired of searching, experimenting and spending money.

You have to read the scientific literature and understand the conditions and quantities under which the ingredients were determined to be neurotoxins. As you research you'll find papers for and against this idea. And at any rate it's highly unlikely that the suave formula contains significant amounts of anything that's going to poison you unless you drink bottles of it per week. So if suave is what you like then use it - but do your research and make your own decisions. Don't have knee jerk reactions to unsubstantiated lists.

 

[darlingdiva]

I try to eat healthily, and use coconut oil as my body moisturizer and cleanse my face with oil. But I have never really gone out of my way to use "natural" products only for my hair or as sunblock. I can't be the only one who isn't too worried about being all-natural. I use SLS without blinking. I love Vaseline and use daily. I don't think I'd even have a clue what is in S Curl if someone hadn't said water and glycerin. *shrug*

You aren't. I use what works--natural or not. Most of my products are natural, but that isn't on purpose.

 

[SimJam]

The main "moisturizing effect" of S-curl is glycerine. Why not cut the middle man and use pure vegetable glycerine?

yep I know I use to use my glycerine mix but b/c I have to mix with water it makes my twists/puff shrink.

guess I should keep trying

 

[nikolite]

You aren't. I use what works--natural or not. Most of my products are natural, but that isn't on purpose.

I'm with you. I use what works but also what's economical for me (that happens to be mostly natural products by not always). I think its impossible for us to be perfectly natural in every way. The moment I stop using my fav conditioner for some natural substance is the moment I'll find out that the organic chicken I buy is not really organic or that the light emitting from my desk lamp is leaking out a carcinogen or something. Its literally impossible to cover all the bases, so I do the best I can while staying sane about it all.

 

[Imani]

Ironic that this thread is here. When I started using Aubrey Organics about 2 years ago at first I didn't think it was really moisturizing my hair because I was used to the slip that chemicals gave me. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago I foolishly decided to change it up and use something else. Kenra or Kera something, made my hair extremely dry. It FELT nice in the shower, but when it dried it was much dryer than I was used to and not as soft.

The only chemical hair care product that I"ll use now is the Alter Ego garlic conditioner every once in a while.

Now I'm back to SLS free shampoo and organic conditioners and Moroccon or Bingraj oil. My hair likes simple.

this is what happens with me and just about every conditioners I've ever used. They are slippy and feel nice when I put them on my hair, then it dries to a crisp. hopefully some of the products I plan on experimenting with will help.

 

[C@ssandr@]

You guys are awesome. I just wanted to vent, but now I feel a whole lot better. It's true, all my bases can't be covered, an who knows, perhaps the products is not that serious.
Not sticking to what works has been the number 2 cause of setbacks for me (protein/moisture being number 1, lol). I will continue on my merry way and finish up my lovely stash!