For us ladies nail care and beautifying has always been a cosmetic pleasure that we've often taken for granted throughout the years. However, wellness has 'polished' our nail care industry :() and it's now up to us to carry this out for the benefit of our health.
Being aware of what ingredients were placing onto our body topically is just as crucial as what goes into it, from our bath products to perfume, lotions shampoos and yes nail care too.
We are fortunate to be living in an age where we have available to us a wide variety of responsible nail care companies who produce natural nail care polish and other products that are also high performing. This time of year, many of us want those holiday perfect nails full of luscious colors to 'nail' those celebrations :() with friends and family. We don't have to fear, especially those of us with illnesses such as Asthma and other lung afflictions, those who live with cancers, allergies and others.
There are many choices for at home nail care and many nail salons are too hopping on the healthy nail care bandwagon for all our benefit! There are a few major chemicals used in nail care products to be aware of and avoid like the plague!
The fumes that assault our nasal passages when we walk into a nail salon or use home care products should be a warning that you're about to apply layers of TOXINS onto you body. Let's start with the Trio of Toxins most common:
Toluene is one of the common nail polish and nail glue ingredients with a dizzying array of safe effects ranging from headaches and dizziness to dry & cracked skin to numbness of the eyes, nose and throat, and irritation of the lungs. Toluene has the potential to cause liver, kidney and reproductive system damage depending on the amount taken in and the duration of exposure.
Formaldehyde, found in nail polish and nail hardners can cause difficulty breathing, coughing and wheezing along with allergic reactions of the skin, eyes, and throat. This toxin may contribute to the developments of cancer and it's categorized as a human carcinogen and neurotoxin.
The last of the trio but not the last of the chemicals to look for is DBP ( Dibutyl Phthalate) which is a plasticizer found in nail polish that could mimic estrogen. Most common immediate reactions include: nausea, irritation of the skin, eyes mouth and throat. Some research suggests that this chemical can cause developmental damage to an child in utero.
These claims have been stated from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, a part of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.
The good news is that there are many nail beautifying products which get the thumbs UP because they are FREE! :() Well, not free in that way, but even better freeing for our well being!! {Well I tried! LOL!} These free nail products are classified by how many toxic chemicals they've eliminated from the product. For example 3-Free means that the product is free of the dirty trio as mentioned above. 5-Free are free of the top 3 plus camper and formaldehyde resin-free. 7-Free means the product is 5 free plus without ethyl tosylamide and xylene. 9-Free means 7 free minus acetone and parabens, see how it builds?!
I love the choices we have!! Acid free is another classification which refers to the absence of chemicals like Methacrylic acid found in nail primers. This product causes skin burns, eye, skin, nose, mouth and throat irritation and difficulty breathing. Whoever said beauty hurts was full of it, it absolutely should NOT hurt or it's not worth it!
Polishes made without harmful chemicals will say so on their labels. These safer alternatives can be found in many stores, markets and online. Acetone free polish removers, organic lotions and natural based products offer and make for healthful alternatives to toxic ingredients used in conventional nail care! We definitely don't have to sacrifice our health for beauty.
Nail salons allow you to bring your own 'free' nail care products and many of them supply these options as well. These days nail salons are motivated to purify their use of toxic products because today's informed consumer will go the extra mile to do what it takes for their health and safety. Many products from water based to vegan and free from chemicals are being implemented in many modern salons. A quick internet search should turn up results in your area or nearby.
Look for salons that look out for customer and employee well being by ensuring good ventilation through opening doors and or windows, air purifiers or good exhaust ventilation systems that have been shown to reduce chemical exposure to workers by half. Many salons now supply one time use tools like nail files, buffers and pumice stones, as well as using disposable liners replaced with each client to prevent the spread of bacteria, fungus and other infectious diseases.
For further nail product information refer to the Environmental Working Group website's Skin Deep Cosmetic Database to find nail beauty and care products evaluated by brand name.
We can move into the holidays and beyond with beautiful nails done with products that don't break down our health and well being, but allow us to enhance without chance!
Wait! We're not done yet, here are a few more chemicals found in nail products to be on the lookout for:
Acetone:Nail polish remover. Could lead to dizziness, headaches, and irritations of the eyes skin and throat.
Acetonitrile: Nail glue remover. Many cause irritations of the nose and throat, breathing problems, nausea, vomiting weakness and exhaustion.
Butyl acetate: Found in nail polish and remover. May cause headaches, skin nose eye and throat irritations.
Ethyl acetate :Found in nail polish removers, and nail glue. May cause irritations of the eyes, stomach, skin, nose mouth and throat and fainting.
Ethyl methacrylate: Found in artificial nail liquid. May cause Asthma, irritated eyes, throat, skin nose and mouth, and difficulty concentrating. Exposure while pregnant may affect unborn child.
Isopropyl acetate: Found in nail polish and remover. May cause sleepiness, irritated eyes, nose throat.
Methacrylic acid: Nail primer. May cause skin burns, irritated eyes nose throat, mouth and difficulty breathing.
Methyl methacrylic: Found in artificial nail products, this has been banned in many states. May cause Asthma, irritations of the eyes skin nose mouth and difficulty concentrating, and loss of smell.
Connect with Living Thru Grace on social media and continue the conversation:
www.instagram.com/LivingThruGrace
www.twitter.com/SOMAA
www.Pinterest.com/DDebi