home. Just mix a tablespoon of fine sea salt in a cup of water and add a drop or two of your favorite
essential oil. Peppermint, jasmine, and neroli work wonders for boosting circulation in the scalp
while keeping hair deliciously scented.
A word about a common styling product ingredient, PVM/MA copolymer. Chemically known as
polyvinylmethyl ether maleic acid, this petroleum derivative is frequently used in toothpastes and so-
called “natural” hair products. In fact, there’s nothing green or natural about PVM/MA copolymer, but
there are many things that concern me. This synthetic resin is formed from vinyl methyl ether. The
U.S. Personal Care Products Council, formerly the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association,
insists that PVM/MA copolymer is safe for use. However, the U.S. consumer safety organization
Environmental Working Group found that this chemical has never been assessed for human safety.
Personally, I would rather not use anything that has undergone ethoxylation, especially if vinyl, a
highly questionable compound, is present. I found a very disturbing study by scientists of the
University of Wisconsin Medical School in 1997 that clearly shows that vinyl ethers form “mutagenic
and tumorigenic metabolites” in animals (Park et al. 1997). As science begins to look closely at the
toxic potential of various polymers, including vinyl, I would rather err on the side of caution and stick
—pun intended—to botanical hair spray ingredients. Luckily, as technology moves on, green
alternatives to petroleum-derived plastics become available.
Want shine and definition? The usual shine booster is pure silicone, a petroleum-derived clear
liquid that works pretty much the same way Vaseline does on your skin. “Silicones provide an instant
effect, but they do more damage in the long run,” says John Masters. “Hair reprograms itself and stops
producing natural emollients. As a result, the hair shaft becomes dull and lifeless, and you need to use
more and more silicones to keep up the shine.” Instead, use plant-based styling products that contain
gum arabic and sugars for definition. Good green choices include B5 Design Gel by Aubrey
Organics, Kiss My Face Upper Management Natural Styling Gel, and Lavera Volume & Shine Extra
Strong Hold Styling Mousse. Trick of the trade: because organic styling sprays are much harder to
find than organic styling gels, pour some gel into a spray bottle and dilute with water and grain
alcohol or witch hazel. Here’s what I use for my homemade styling spray: 1 ounce of B5 Design Gel
by Aubrey Organic mixed with 2 ounces of purified water (avoid using mineral water because it may
leave unsightly residue) and 1 ounce of organic grain alcohol (vodka). Combine all ingredients in a
spray bottle, add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil for a truly luxurious green
experience, and shake well.
Green Hair Coloring
If you take to heart only one piece of advice from this book, make it this one: do not color your hair
with the toxic brew of chemicals sold in every drugstore and used in every salon. What makes the
following information extremely important is not only the good condition of your hair. Synthetic hair
dyes directly affect our health. We are talking serious health risks here.
To the dismay of cosmetic manufacturers and hairstylists worldwide, it eventually became clear
that synthetic hair dyes were dramatically increasing the risks of some of the deadliest cancers. It was
found that permanent hair dyes contain ingredients that are not only irritating—they are proven
carcinogens (Bolt, Golka 2007; Miligi et al. 2005).
Two out of three women today color their hair. They color their hair every five weeks on average.