Only My Hairdresser Knows For Sure

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so being a survivor of Domestic Violence I wanted to highlight my hair Purple, in support of Fellow Survivors.  The problem is, due to my Pesticide Poisoning in 1986, I was left with a damaged immune system and with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities.  My means of survival was to eliminate chemicals from my environment and this meant no more hair coloring or perms.

But, times….they are a changing.  The current trend across America is to GO Organic!  Consumers refuse to purchase cancer causing products and corporate America is giving them what they demand.  The latest trend…Organic Hair Salons, where even I can go to get a makeover. 

I remember during the late 1970’s and 80’s there was a buzz around the salons that hair dyes and perms were causing cancer:  non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, breast and bladder cancer due to the chemicals ammonia, formaldehyde, sodium laurel sulphates, parabens, peroxide, PPDs (para-phenylenediamines, the chemicals that creates color and is highly carcinogenic), coal tar, lead, toluene and resorcinol.  But what price beauty?  People have a propensity to dismiss what they do not want to believe, until the Curse of Cancer smacks them down.

How does one get cancer from hair dyes?  One obvious way is through the skin when it is applied to the scalp.  The other way is to breath in the fumes that get into the air.  It was soon discovered that the people most at risk were the hairdressers and employees of hair salons, as they were exposing themselves to the hair products and chemical fumes every day.

Needless to say I was left in a bind.  Where do I find chemical free shampoo?  Where can I go to get my hair cut and not have to breath in the chemical laden air which was impossible for me to do without getting an asthma attack?  Luckily for me I came upon Aubrey Organics.  This company offers a line of skin care and shampoo products that are TOTALLY organic.  There are a lot of companies professing to be organic or “all natural”, but they really are not.  One has to do one’s homework.  And I can “testify”, Aubrey Organics uses 100% pure organic ingredients.

The question remained, where do I go to get my hair cut?  In the late 1980’s, I was introduced to “Ricco”, owner of “A Cut Above”, in Cromwell, CT.  Ricco is not only a MASTER at hair styling but he is as health conscious as I am and his salon is equipped with a State of the Art air purification system that he designed himself, to eliminate cancer causing fumes from the air: for the protection of his operators, his clientele and himself.  Ricco’s system is so unique and advanced that engineers of well-known air purification manufacturers have visited his establishment to talk with him and witness his invention.  If you are looking for the Master Hair Cut of your life, without breathing in carcinogenic fumes, Ricco can be reached at 860-632-9204.

My remaining quest was to find a chemical free hair coloring system.  Not a problem anymore.  The new kid in town?...Organic Hair Salons.  There are 2 main reasons why Organic Hair Salons are in demand and doing so well.  Of course, there is the health advantage I have already talked about.  The other reason?  Organic Hair Products keep your hair healthy and beautiful.  Whereas the chemical perms and dyes have a propensity to dry out and damage hair, stripping hair of its natural oils, leaving it dull and brittle.

I wasn’t able to get my hair highlighted for October, but I did manage to paint my nails purple with a water base, nontoxic nail polish.  But I will be visiting Rootz Organic Salon in Collinsville, Connecticut for a consultation.  I now can get my hair frosted and a perm, and still live healthy chemical free…..