Natural organic haircare products might be harder to find than many UK women think. Although many products are label “natural” or “organic, ” the definition of these terms is often problematic. Fortunately, for women seeking natural or organic products in Europe, a German organization called BDIH (Bundesverband Deutscher Industrie und Handelsunternehmen) has established guidelines that help manufacturers produce healthy hair care high-quality natural and organic beauty products. Here’s some information about how a product gains BDIH certification.
In general, for organic products to earn the BDIH seal of approval, they must not use “organic-synthetic dyes, synthetic fragrances, ethoxylated raw materials, silicon, paraffin or other mineral oil derivatives” (Source: BDIH). In addition, manufacturers are required to use “high-quality plant-based oils, fats and waxes, herbal extracts, floral waters or essential oils and aromatherapy fragrances, obtained wherever possible from controlled biological cultivation, or controlled biological wild collection” (Source: BDIH). Over 2000 products have been tested since BDIH certification was introduced in 2001.
Products that carry BDIH certification must make a full disclosure of all ingredients. Genetically engineered ingredients must be avoided. Producers of BDIH certified products must uphold environmental standards in all phases of production, including raw materials, manufacturing processes and packaging. On the social responsibility side, BDIH espouses the “fair trade” philosophy. Wikipedia. org tells us that fair trade is “an organized social movement and market-based approach to empowering developing country producers and promoting sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a fair price as well as social and environmental standards in areas related to the production of a wide variety of goods. “
The use of animal testing in all phases of product development and manufacturing is strictly forbidden under BDIH rules. The use of animal fats, animal oils, animal cells or animal collagen also is not allowed. Irradiation of either ingredients or products is forbidden along with the use of inorganic mineral salts like sodium chloride. Emulsifying agents or surfactants are allowed if their source is “fats, oils and waxes; lecithin, lanolin” or other natural sources. Only natural preservatives can be used, such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and salicylic acid obtained from the bark of the willow tree. There are a huge range of hair products available on today’s market and it can sometimes be confusing when it comes to choosing the ones that are appropriate to your hair type. Most of the time, it’s an easy choice but when there are so many different options and you’re looking for a change it can be tough.
There are a few brands which are leading the market at the moment and one of those is Kerastase. Kerastase offer a huge range of high quality products which are easy on the hair and tend to use high quality ingredients which allow your hair to retain it’s natural oils and regenerating cells. If you’re interested in buying some new hair products such as shampoos, conditioners, treatments or styling products then you will have quite a few things to think about before you hit the shops. You will firstly need to think about what you’re looking for in terms of usage.
If you want a completely new haircare regime then it’s a good idea to do a lot of research before you buy anything. Sometimes you may also need to think about testing some products on your hair so that you can be sure you get the desired effect before you buy the product in bulk. Luckily leading brands, such as Kerastase, sell travel sized items which allow you to test the product on your hair in a small dose before you buy the larger sized products. This is a great way to find out if the product you’re interested in is right for your hair type.
80% of women and a growing number of men colour their hair on a regular basis. Every time you wash your coloured hair you are stripping away the colour and nutrients. If your shampoo and conditioner are harsh and contain chemicals the colour is stripped away even quicker. This means that for you to maintain your hair colour, you need to colour your hair more often, and colouring your hair with chemicals weakens the hair shaft. The less often you can colour your hair the healthier it will be, and the more money you will save. You’ll save money on colouring and treating your hair as you will no longer need expensive specialized treatments. Overuse of these products can also lead to dandruff and hairloss.
There are now products which will maintain hair colour for up to 70% longer and prevent colour fade? They contain ingredients such as polyglucoside. This is the mildest, most effective cleanser available today. It is naturally derived from sugar cane and coconut oil so it won’t strip away colour and nutrients like harsh sulfate based shampoos can. It is designed to do what it is supposed to: clean the hair and scalp. Another harmful chemical found in most shampoos and conditioners is silicone. You’ve heard of silicones in hair care products. They are found in most products from inexpensive grocery brands to prohibitively expensive salon only brands because they coat the hair shaft and make the hair appear silky and smooth.