Diary of a Chemist
When I first chose to become a hairstylist, I didn’t know I was signing up to soft study chemistry and how the properties of elements play a huge role in the art of hairdressing. I recall 8th grade science class making dioramas of the elements and studying the periodic table, but that’s about as far as my brain wanted to comprehend chemistry.
So there I was in cosmetology school learning about the periodic table of elements again. When studying chemistry, we need to figure out what role it plays in the hair world. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin, at least it was for me but elements are all around us humans. We breathe oxygen, we absorb hydrogen and excrete carbon dioxide. Hydrogen and oxygen are essential to a healthy life. If we start with something as basic as water we think water is just composed of those two things and it usually is. But the groundwater we use on a day to day basis is sometimes high in what’s called “clear water iron”. This is caused by groundwater and well water being low in oxygen.
So why does this matter? It matters that we look closer and understand there may be disruptive elements hiding within the essential elements. Earth is rich in iron. When this composes and converts into clear water iron then entering our waterways and well systems, it can leave behind mineral deposits on our hair and skin. This is, in most cases, what causes dry skin and brittle hair. If you color your hair or have lighter toned hair, it may make the color fade faster or create a copper cast on lighter, blonder hair.
The understanding of chemistry matters so much when looking at different hair products and their ingredients. Every ingredient is made up of joined elements from the periodic table. Chemicals are not all bad. Most are organic. Literally meaning the ingredient is made up of elements. So we cannot look at chemicals as a bad thing but on the other hand we cannot look at the word organic and think that is means good. Some products that have organic ingredients come marketed as “all natural” to appeal to groups in search for healthier options, but we have to ask ourselves, why are we looking for healthier options? Who told us that chemicals are bad and all natural was better? We have to be skeptical of misleading marketing and false labeling. We can accomplish this by breaking down each ingredient, it’s elemental compound and the function it has to said product.
Have you ever walked down the hair product isle and chose the products that were the least expensive? Trust me, we’ve all been there but let’s think for a second. Why is it that some hair products are way less expensive than others? There is only one answer. Production costs. Not every ingredient costs same to make. This is why some products are more costly than others. Water, is not a very expensive ingredient to make. We are blessed to have such an abundance of water. However, for product companies, water is a sneaky way to cut down on production costs. By adding it, water also dilutes the solution itself creating issues for the consumer like having to use twice as much product. Many major hair product companies dilute their products so consumers have to purchase more product, more often.
The art of chemistry then becomes a way for big companies to con the average consumer who doesn’t understand what goes into their hair products. The more we know, the more resourceful we become. Unlike cheap products from major companies; higher-end products from smaller companies cost more, the product is concentrated not diluted and the ingredients usually come from a more sustainable, reputable source. If we are not careful in what products we choose, use and our skin and hair are absorbing these things, they could later cause hormone, thyroid and endocrine imbalances. The list of chemicals goes on and on and even to the extent of what type of packaging your products come in.
Understanding chemistry, the elements and how it affects our lifestyle can open our eyes to sustainability and choosing the right products with the right ingredients. This amplifies our daily routine knowing we’re doing everything in our power to support small batch companies who care about the consumer’s health and wellness.
