Finding the right 4A hair product to add to your hair care routine can be difficult. With the hair industry feeling a little over saturated, the search for a product that nourishes and protects curls without any added toxins can be overwhelming.
Finding the right 4A hair product to add to your hair care routine can be difficult. With the hair industry feeling a little over saturated, the search for a product that nourishes and protects curls without any added toxins can be overwhelming.
The 4A hair type is the first of its 4 type category. The strands of the hair are cylindrical coils that resemble an ‘s’ shape when stretched-out. The hair looks soft and often very bouncy but due to its thicker circumference 4A hair is coarse. Its coarseness means the hair is great for retaining moisture but if LOC method is not done correctly 4A hair can be prone to dryness.
Since no two heads of hair are the same, we can’t presume all products work for all hair types. There are three main divisions based on race that we typically classify hair types – Asian hair, Afro Hair, and Caucasian hair. For the purpose of this blog lets just discuss 4A Afro hair. 4A hair is found in people from African decent. Yes, people can be born/living in different parts of the global with lighter complexions and still have afro hair. But, ultimately people with 4A hair must have some African ancestry in their bloodline.
Sulfate is commonly used in 4A friendly hair products advertised around the world. It gives the illusion that your hair is doused with soapy goodness when in reality the ‘soapy goodness’ is sulfate. The chemical extracts your hairs natural oils which with long term use can lead to damage and breakage. 4A hair is prone to dryness so using products with sulfate will work against any moisturising products you use resulting in limp locks.
Phthalates are used in products to enable fragrance in hair products, fragranced lotions, nail polishes, etc. It is difficult to single phthalates out on hair care products as they are lumped under ‘fragrance’. The many variations of phthalates are:
Phthalates have been connected to cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, and endocrine disruption. Phthalates have been banned in the EU cosmetic industry however this is not the case in the United States so be mindful.
Here is the Health Care Without Harms’ closer look at the phthalates dangers for our US and Canadian readers.
Paraben is a mould and bacteria preservative used in water-based products such as shampoos and lotions to help products last longer than 6 months. There are many versions of paraben such as butylparaben, ethylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben. Parabens are a chemical natural hair lovers look at with caution due to its rumoured link to cancer. Paraben, popularly known has hormone disruptors, have been proven to have ulta-weak estrogenic properties. The direct link to cancer has not been completely dismissed as there is not enough sufficient long-term evidence proving this claim. It must be said that parabens’ are in many cosmetic products such as make up, skin care etc, so limiting exposure to this ingredient should be taken seriously.
Regular use of paraben could result in your scalp becoming irritated – as a result of its drying nature – and could result in hair loss.
Moral of the message – STAY CLEAR!
Parabens’ are usually listed as:
Silicones are synthetic ingredients that are made from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Silicone will not cause any real damage to your hair although if the gradient of silicone used is a lower kind then that can cause a build up of silicone round your curls causing them to become weighted. It can also seal your strands and make moisture absorption difficult.
If you’re wanting your 4A hair to give that Beyonce bouncing in the wind moment, you should avoid using silicone filled products.
Discovering 4A hair care without sulfate, phthalates, silicone, and parabens’ can seem impossible if you don’t know the jargon. Are these chemicals disguised with various names to deceit us into excessively using potentially detrimental ingredients. The answer is, we’ll never truly known. Still, you can prioritise your 4a hair and health by spending an extra few minutes checking the ingredient list.
You’d do your research before purchasing anything else right?
