What Are Parabens?
Parabens are a family of man-made chemicals that are used to preserve items, including cosmetics, hair care, foods, and beverages, and according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they help combat the growth of harmful bacteria or mold in products.
Are Parabens Harmful?
It’s unclear how and if parabens affect human health, but as The Washington Post reports, concerns about parabens first arose in the late 1990s, and the controversy further rose in 2004 when Philippa Darbre, professor emeritus at the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Reading, did a small study that found parabens in the tissue of breast tumors.
However, there has been no confirmed connection between parabens and breast cancer, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA continue to allow the presence of parabens in consumer goods.
And while removing parabens from your hair care routine won’t do any harm, it is important to note that experts do warn that some paraben-free items may last for a shorter time, so make sure to check your product’s shelf life.
How to Remove Parabens From Your Hair Care Routine
Removing parabens from your hair care products is as easy as checking the ingredient list, and parabens are often listed on labels as methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and ethylparaben.