4 Harmful Ingredients in Beauty Products To Avoid

Beauty products are full of confusingly named chemicals and dyes. Not all these ingredients are bad, but some have detrimental effects on human health.

As a salon owner, you want to choose products that are safe for your clients. But how do you tell which additives are hazardous and which ones aren’t?

To help you filter out the toxic stuff, here are four of the most common harmful ingredients in beauty products to avoid.

Ammonia

You’ll commonly find ammonia in hair dyes and tints. It’s an alkaline chemical that raises the pH level of the hair and lifts the cuticles of hair fibers so color can penetrate the cortex.

While ammonia is safe to use in small amounts, frequent exposure can damage the skin, eyes, liver, kidneys, and lungs.

Ammonia can also be highly irritating to clients with sensitive skin on their scalp or face. It’s definitely one of the worst harmful ingredients in beauty products to avoid at all costs.

Sulfates

Sulfates are another harmful ingredient in beauty products to avoid. They’re common in shampoos, as they create a lathery, bubbly effect.

While sulfates are harmless on their own, they react easily with other chemicals to form nitrosamines.

These nitrosamines belong to a known class of carcinogens that can cause cancer, eye damage, and depression, among other ailments.

Dibutyl Phthalate

Dibutyl phthalate is a plasticizer that prevents nail polish from turning brittle and flaking or peeling off the nail.

When inhaled, it can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation.

It’s also a reproductive toxin that can tamper with male and female fertility and cause various issues for pregnant women and their unborn babies.

Styrene

Styrene—a sweet-smelling liquid found in many wig-extension and lace-wig glues—can cause vision and hearing problems.

It can also make people feel unnaturally tired, which worsens their concentration and reaction time and makes them more prone to falling or getting into car accidents.

It takes extra effort to check the label on everything you buy, but steering clear of harmful products and opting for non-toxic, skin-safe products is important.

This way, you can ensure your clients remain safe and satisfied with the quality of your service.