With so many harmful ingredients in hair and skin products, I've been on a mission to find an organic hair color line that actually works, along with holistic hair care products. Because the cosmetic industry is not regulated, there's a lot of bad stuff lurking in products. Through my hours a of searching I have learned that there is no such thing as 100% organic hair color. I have found however, that some hair color lines are definitely better than others. The best I've come up with is OWay (Organic Way).
Oway products come from a biodynamic farm (I had to look it up too) in Italy. So, biodynamic is a step above organic, and it means that not chemicals or pesticides have touched the land for at least 100 years. They grow most of the plant based ingredients that are used and they are harvested by hand (no machinery is used). Any outside ingredients used are also organic as well as fair trade. Wow! Shall I go on?
Oway's packaging is all recyclable, including the aluminum hair color tubes. The hair care products come in beautiful amber apothecary type of glass bottles (pictured above) to protect the ingredients from light since no preservatives are used. They are free of many ingredients which are carcinogens. The surfactants used are from coconut and/or babassu oil. It does contain some forms of sodium, though not all bad for the hair depending on its molecular state. For example, sodium PCA provides the hair with moisture and has the ability to bind moisture to cells, therefor increasing softness and elasticity, whereas Sodium Hydroxide can be detrimental to color and keratin treatments. The more I know, the more empowered I am and therefore can offer the best possible products for my clients as well as myself.
I currently carry some Oway hair care products and will be adding styling products, while I am working towards getting in their hair color line.
My research has been a bit overwhelming to say the least, but I'm happy with the information I've gathered. I'm looking forward to a healthier future for all of us.
Stay tuned for a future post regarding Oway hair color!
Peace, Jo
Ingredients to avoid-
PEGs or polyethylene glycols, PPGs & BGs
Ethylene oxide and 1,4 dioxane
Parabens; methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben,
Ammonium Lauryl and Laureth Sulfate
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
TEA Lauryl Sulfate
TEA-dodecylbenzenesulfonate
Sodium Alkylbenzene Sulfonate
Ammonium or Sodium Xylenesulfonate