Health and Fitness

There are many different versions of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate but the important thing to remember is that the results are the same no matter what version of SLS you are consuming. There are many growing concerns regarding the content of SLS in hair care products today and it is important for consumers to be aware of these concerns.

Some of the most common effects of SLS consist of:

* Irritation of the skin
* Increase of enzymes in the skin to create redness and swelling
* Dry skin
* When SLS penetrates the eyes it will immediately enter your body and can cause more serious side effects
* Damage to your immune system
* Maintains levels in your heart and liver after long periods of usage

Research has proven that the average shampoo found on the shelves today contains more than 50% of SLS. It is quite amazing how much this chemical is used in everyday products and how dangerous it can really be in the long run. Because these chemicals are found within products we use externally, it is easy to assume that we cannot be harmed. The fact that many people do not know is that our skin absorbs everything we put it in contact with and therefore these chemicals do make it into our internal systems.

The exposure level of SLS can make the difference when considering the different types of effects you may experience from this chemical. As you may imagine, since this chemical is found within your everyday shampoo, the effects can quickly escalate because of daily use for years and years. No matter what brand of shampoo you use you can be sure SLS is part of the ingredient list.

This chemical is cheap for companies to use within their hygiene products but as consumers we do not experience lower pricing because of their cheaper production costs. The reason for mentioning the cost of SLS is that there are much safer alternatives that can be used but of course they would cost the corporations ten times the amount of SLS. Clearly, the price of production is more important to today’s corporations than the health of consumers using their products.

There are many permanent affects your body can suffer from by using hair products containing SLS and because of this the natural hair care industry is beginning to blossom more than ever. Many consumers, men and women alike, are beginning to find out more about naturally made hair care products. Consider what natural ingredients can do for your health and consider what these harsh chemicals are and have been doing to your health. Don’t let mainstream hair care products cause long term harm to your body and health, especially when there are natural shampoos on the market for less than half the price and half the health risk.

Janice Johnson is the founder of the http://www.CurlyHairSalon.com website. An online multi-ethnic curly hair magazine that offers information, tips and advice to care for curly hair.