As a mom-to-be or new mom, it’s important to be conscious of not only what you are eating, but what you are putting on your skin, scalp and hair. Sure…you might not be booking hair straightening or color treatments, but did you know there are ingredients to avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding in hair care products like shampoo, conditioner, and styling products?

A new study published in Environmental Science & Technology found per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the breast milk of 100% of the participants who submitted samples. Not only are PFAS absorbed into breast milk but, according to research published in Environment International, they can cross the placenta and reach unborn babies.

PFAS are chemicals widely found in everyday products, from cosmetics to cleaning products, and scientific research by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry found that they have links to a wide range of health risks, including a weakened immune system, pregnancy-induced hypertension, thyroid disease, and cancer.

This information on PFAS is concerning enough. But there are plenty of other risky ingredients to avoid in hair care. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist personal care products have been found to contain mixtures of endocrine disruptors (e.g. parabens, phthalates, fragrance, etc), that are not listed on product labels. Toxic exposure has been associated with infertility and miscarriage or obstetric outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight, neurodevelopmental delay such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and adult and childhood cancer.

Don't let this information scare you away from using high-performing shampoos and hair products. As more consumers are made aware of hidden chemicals in their products, independent and clean beauty brands are popping up around the world. It is important to be your own advocate, or shop with highly-strict beauty companies, like Maneprint, which vets ingredients in our Keepin' it Clean Collection to ensure products are meeting their clean standards.