In my book, THE GREEN BEAUTY GUIDE, I give you lots of theory on why certain cosmetic ingredients are bad for you. However, some people cannot believe things are really that bad with their trusted brands that you can find everywhere, in distant villages and huge supermarkets.

When I write about certain beauty products, I am not sharing my personal opinion whether I like or dislike the product. In fact, I have used most of these products before I switched to natural beauty. So it won't just be honest, to call all these products bad. I will allow the facts to speak for themselves.

GARNIER NUTRISSE PERMANENT CREME HAIRCOLOR

What they claim: Trust your haircolor to an expert.

Full list of ingredients:

Nutrisse Developer: Aqua/Water, Hydrogen Peroxide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Trideceth-2, Carboxamide MEA, Ceteareth-30, Glycerin, Pentasodium Pentetate, Sodium Stannate, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, F.I.L. D56/22.

Nutrisse Colorant: Aqua/Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Deceth-3, Laureth-12, Ammonium Hydroxide, Oleth-30, Lauric Acid, Hexadimethrine Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Polyquaternium-22, Ethanolamine, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Parfum/Fragrance, p-Phenylenediamine, Pentasodium Pentetate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Carbomer, Ascorbic Acid, CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Linalool, m-Aminophenol, N-BIS(2-Hydroxyethyl)-p-Phenylenediamine Sulfate, Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citronellol, 2, 4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl, Geraniol, Dimethicone, F.I.L. D7326/1.

Fruit Oil Concentrate: Vitis Vinifera/Grape Seed Oil, Parfum/Fragrance, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionine, F.I.L. D1108/3.

Rinse-Out Conditioner: Aqua/Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Esters, Amodimethicone, Parfum/Fragrance, Methylparaben, Persea Gratissima/Avocado Oil, Trideceth-12, Citric Acid, Linalool, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Cetrimonium Chloride, F.I.L. D10011/1.

Why is it Bad for You? It contains...

  • Carcinogenic ingredients
  • Irritants
  • Potentially carcinogenic and teratogenic substances
  • Proven allergens

Some ugly truth: All permanent dye must use p-phenylenediamine (PPD) to adhere to the hair shaft and hydrogen peroxide to open it. Nutrisse is no exception. Other proven toxic ingredients include coal tar dyes, resorcinol (darker shades), and hydroquinone (some shades), all proven carcinogenic in at least one animal species. Since 2001, hydroquinone is no longer allowed for use in cosmetic formulations in European Union countries. However, it remains in many hair dyes sold worldwide.

Other carcinogenic ingredients include aminophenol, phenylenediamine, and ethoxylated compounds that may contain carcinogen 1,4-dioxane.

Carcinogen-forming ethanolamine, potent allergen polyquaternium-22 and a yet unnamed host of chemicals hiding under the "fragrance" label round up the picture.

Compared to this combo, estrogen mimickers, parabens and phthalates, seem to be harmless and benign.

Solution? Switch to greener hair dyes that contain much fewer if any carcinogenic additives. Experiment with black henna if you dye your hair black, because black permanent colorants are most loaded with deadly chemicals. If grey hair is a trouble, considering going blonde because hydrogen peroxide is not nearly as damaging to your health as ingredients of darker hair colorants.