True to Life – The Evil Ingredients Watch List for Hair Care

We believe beautiful hair starts with safe, gentle, and effective ingredients, which is why we’ve created our evil ingredient watch list for hair care to help you check out the ingredients in your hair care products.

These are common in mainstream and mass-market hair care, not banned by regulation, but we choose to leave them out for your hair, scalp, and overall well-being.

The Ingredients Watchlist of Hair Care

DMDM Hydantoin – Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservative

Why it’s used: Kills bacteria and mould in water-based products.
Why we avoid it: Slowly releases formaldehyde, which can irritate the scalp, trigger allergies, and contribute to hair shedding in sensitive individuals.
Our alternative: Gentle food-grade preservatives like potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) – Harsh Sulfate Surfactant

Why it’s used: Creates a rich foam and deep cleans.
Why we avoid it: Can strip away natural oils, disrupt the scalp barrier, and cause dryness or frizz, especially in color-treated or textured hair.
Our alternative: Plant-based glucosides that cleanse effectively but gently.

Synthetic Silicones (e.g., Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane) – Artificial Smoothing Agents

Why it’s used: Coats hair to make it feel instantly smooth and shiny.
Why we avoid it: It can build up, weighing hair down and masking underlying damage without repairing it.
Our alternative: Natural silicone alternatives like hemisqualane and broccoli seed oil that are smooth without buildup.

Synthetic Fragrances with Phthalates – Hidden Allergen Sources

Why it’s used: To create a lasting scent.
Why we avoid it: Phthalates (often hidden in fragrance) can disrupt hormones and trigger sensitivities.
Our alternative: Pure essential oils and phthalate-free natural fragrance blends.

Parabens (e.g., Methylparaben, Propylparaben) – Preservatives

Why it’s used: Broad-spectrum preservative to extend shelf life.
Why we avoid it: Linked to hormone disruption concerns and scalp irritation in sensitive individuals.
Our alternative: Natural organic acids and multi-component preservative systems.

Polyquaterniums (e.g., Polyquaternium-7, -10)

Why it’s used: Adds slip, smoothness, and reduces static.
Why we avoid it: Forms a synthetic film over the hair that can build up over time, mimicking softness while preventing true hydration and absorption.
Natural alternative: Plant-derived conditioning agents like guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride.

Petrolatum / Mineral Oil / Paraffinum Liquidum

Why it’s used: Creates a barrier to seal in moisture.
Why we avoid it: It’s a byproduct of petroleum refining. Offers no nutritional value to hair and can block pores on the scalp.
Natural alternative: Butters and oils like shea butter, baobab oil, or marula oil.

Isopropyl Alcohol

Why it’s used: Acts as a drying agent and solvent.
Why we avoid it: It can strip moisture from the hair and scalp, leading to dryness and breakage.
Natural alternative: Use of water-based botanicals or gentle plant alcohols only where absolutely necessary.

DEA/MEA/TEA (Diethanolamine / Monoethanolamine / Triethanolamine)

Why it’s used: Used as emulsifiers and pH balancers.
Why we avoid it: It can form harmful nitrosamines when combined with other ingredients and may cause irritation.
Natural alternative: Plant-based emulsifiers and pH-balancing acids like citric acid.

Synthetic Dyes (e.g., CI 17200, Red 33)

Why it’s used: Adds vibrant colour to products.
Why we avoid it: It can cause irritation, especially for sensitive scalps. Some are derived from coal tar or petroleum.
Natural alternative: We avoid unnecessary dyes. The colour of our products comes from the natural botanicals we use.