Lauryl sulfate. Sodium lauryl sulfate. Diethanolomine. Parabens. Are you familiar with these chemicals? Chances are, these dangerous chemicals are present in your shampoo and body wash.

SLS is sodium lauryl sulfate, while SLES is sodium laureth sulfate. This chemical that makes your shampoo lather, is probably the most dangerous ingredient. The fact that it is used in engine degreasers and floor cleaners sounds scary but SLS and SLES can also be easily absorbed into the skin and damage the immune system. For those of you worried about hair loss, SLS has corrodes hair follicles and impairs their ability to grow new hair! Of course, some people are more sensitive to this than others, but that is a risk I’m not willing to take.

DEA, or diethanolomine over time. builds up in your tissues and can cause tissue and nerve damage, even premature death.

Propylene glycol, also known by the name propanediol, is used in brake fluid and antifreeze. This colorless liquid causes dermatitis, headache, nausea, kidney damage and liver damage.

Parabens are endocrine disruptors. They impair reproductive abilities and promote sterility. Some of their horrific side effects of are male breast growth, excess fat storage, diminished muscle mass and cancer.

So how are we supposed to wash our hair? After searching and trying many different products, I finally found the answer hiding in my kitchen. Combine baking soda with just enough Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap to make a paste. Now you have the ultimate shampoo and body wash. How thick or thin your shampoo and body wash is depends on the amounts of baking soda and Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap used. A large amount can be made and stored in a plastic container, but you may need to stir some water into it every once in a while to keep the texture of it creamy.

Baking soda, though naturally abrasive, helps to soften and condition your hair while ridding it of dirt and hair product buildup. This abrasive quality gently exfoliates your skin when it is combined with Dr. Bronner’s soap.

If you have trouble with frizzy hair, this may be your answer. No longer do I have to combat frizzy hair. My hair is now silky smooth and easy to control, though I still have to deal with that annoying natural curl.

Dr. Bronner's Soap is all natural. Available in both liquid and bar soap, it is made of many organic oils (coconut, olive, palm, jojoba, hemp) so both your skin and hair are left moisturized and not stripped of essential oils. Dr. Bronner’s soaps come in many wonderful fragrances such as almond, peppermint, lavender and rose. The soap cleans hair and skin well without the addition of baking soda. I prefer my soap and shampoo thicker than the liquid soap, so the baking soda is an essential ingredient for me.

For those of you who prefer a bar of soap to wash with, Dr. Bronner’s also is available in a bar soap.


Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps Pure-Castile Soap, 18-in-1 Hemp Almond, 32-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 2)


Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps Pure-Castile Soap, All-One Hemp Almond, 5-Ounce Bars (Pack of 6)