Ingrediënts to avoid

Sulfates, Parabens, Silicones, Mineral Oils, and Alcohol

These are ingredients to avoid when following the CG method. Let's discuss why each of these should ideally be avoided.

Sulfates

Sulfates are salts or esters of sulfuric acid. They clean your hair and remove grease. Sulfates can be strong cleansers like Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS) and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), or they can be mild. They clean so thoroughly that they wash away essential oils, leaving your scalp dry and your hair frizzy and lifeless. 

For those with dyed hair: sulfates can cause your hair to fade faster. This is because sulfates are made up of small molecules that can penetrate deeply into your hair where color pigments are located and cleanse them away.

Did you know:

• Sulfates are what make your shampoo (or soap) foam up nicely.
• Sulfates are also used in cleaning products.

Parabens

Parabens are used in hair products (and other cosmetics) as preservatives to prolong shelf life. "Parabens" is a collective term for a group of chemical compounds. Various studies have shown that many types of parabens mimic estrogen, which can lead to hormonal imbalances associated with breast cancer, early puberty, and reduced fertility. These include methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and isobutylparaben. There are many different opinions on how bad parabens really are, but since they do nothing beneficial for your hair, it's better to avoid them.

Silicones

Silicones make your hair soft, shiny, and easily combed. They coat your hair, making it appear thicker and shinier, and also protect it from damage such as from a straightening iron. With continued use of products containing silicones, the silicones build up on your hair and skin, giving it a dull look due to the accumulated silicones. It can als clog your pores. Additionally, your hair can become straighter than it naturally is, and other care products can no longer properly nourish your hair because of the silicone layer. 

Only the aggressive sulfates can wash the silicones out and from your hair and skin, preventing further build-up and removing what's already there. This is why it's crucial to use a sulfate-containing, silicone-free shampoo for your final wash to fully remove the silicones and then avoid using them again. Click here to go directly to the Final Wash shampoo.

Furthermore, silicones are bad for the environment as they are not easily biodegradable. Through the shower drain, they end up in surface water.

Mineral Oils

Mineral oils are a byproduct of petroleum extraction. Petroleum and mineral oils are harmful to the environment as they are not easily biodegradable. These oils end up in the ecosystem. Mineral oils create, just like silicones, a layer on your hair and skin. This seals them off and prevents them from receiving nourishment. To fully wash the oils out of your hair, you need a sulfate-containing shampoo, for which the Final Wash can be used.

Furthermore, some studies show that mineral oils can cause cancer. However, many of these studies have been financed by companies that would benefit from these findings. We, therefore, question the results of these studies, but we don't rule them out.

Alcohol

Many types of alcohol have a drying effect. These are often used as fillers. These alcohols work as cleansers and, like sulfates, they wash away the essential oils, which leads to hair and scalp dryness.

There are some alcohols that are good for your hair. These come from fats and ensure that the oils are evenly distributed in your hair. This makes your hair soft and easily combed. These types of alcohols do not need to be avoided when following the CG method.