Lustrous Henna®

Five Toxic Chemicals Found in Conventional Hair Dye

It is not uncommon for conventional hair dye products to contain dangerous chemicals that can result in negative health effects. Here is a list of ingredients commonly found in commercial hair dyes that you should attempt to avoid at all costs.

Paraphenylenediamine (PPD)
Made from coal tar, PPD is used as a dye for dark color shades (it is also used as a wood preservative). PPD should not make contact with the skin.

Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is used to lighten your natural color before applying hair color. It changes the structure of hair strands, making them dry and brittle.

Ammonia
Ammonia opens up the hair’s cuticle so that dyes can penetrate the hair shaft. It can cause caustic burns and lung irritation.

Parabens
Parabens like methylparaben and propylparabens are commonly found in hair care products and produce allergies and skin irritation.

Lead acetate
A color additive for darker colors, lead acetate has been linked to anemia and neurological problems.

It is safe to say that the commercial hair coloring industry does not want you to know about the toxins found in their products. Fortunately, a nontoxic alternative to conventional hair dye does exist. Browse our selection of henna hair dye to discover beautiful color results without the use of dangerous chemicals such as PPD.

Taking Care of Your Mental Health with Self-Care

Mental health is of the utmost importance, especially in today’s fast-paced world. Many of us are constantly moving from one thing to the next, checking things off of our to-do list only to wake up the next day and do it again. Technology and the modern world’s love of work have led to the majority of us losing control and forgetting to take care of the most important thing in our life – us. If we aren’t healthy and feeling 100 percent, we aren’t going to be able to do the things we need to do. We can’t fill up others’ glasses if ours is empty as well. However, with some simple self-care practices, we can recharge our batteries and take care of our mental health.

The Relationship of Mental Health and Self-Care

Mental health is a huge part of our well-being. If we are not feeling calm and emotionally centered, then we won’t be productive or able to conquer day-to-day challenges. The smallest setbacks are going to throw you off and ruin your day. Self-care provides us with the sense of well-being we need to live our day-to-day lives happily and confidently. No one wants to walk around feeling hopeless or irritated, and self-care prevents that from happening.

via lustroushenna.typepad.com

Three Tips for Protecting Your Hair from Heat Damage

While hot tools are effective at quickly creating gorgeous hairstyles, using too much heat on your strands is never healthy. By using high levels of heat or directly applying heat for too long, you will start to notice unsightly breakage and a loss of your hair’s natural waves or curls. Before using blow dryers or irons, consider these tips to protect the health of your hair.

Prepare Your Hair
By moisturizing and deep conditioning your hair, the cuticles of your strands are closed and coated, producing a smooth and healthy look. Before using heat to style your hair, deep condition with a hydrating botanical hair care product, such as pure coconut oil.

Use a Heat Protectant
This tip is likely a no-brainer, but you should use a heat protectant anytime you are styling with a hot tool. There are endless sprays, serums, and oils on the market that are specially formulated to protect the hair from the high temperatures that come with heat styling.

Set the Right Temperature
It is unlikely that your flat iron or curling iron needs to be set to 400°F to achieve your desired style. If you have thin hair, try to keep your tool set to below 200°. For thick hair, try not to exceed 300°.