The fact that many of our personal care products--especially black hair care products--that contain synthetic hormones that can cause cancer in women is definitely one of many reasons why I went natural in 1999.

Health expert Devra Davis, author of "The Secret History Of The War On Cancer," states that "9 out of 10 women were born with healthy genes" which is an astonishing statistic because this means that only 1 out of 10 women were born with cancer... which means the other 9 may be exposed to man made elements that caused cancer.  She also highlights the fact that African American women are more likely to die from breast cancer than Caucasian women and the fact that it is largely due to our hair products we use that contain placenta.

Listen to "Devra Davis: Chemicals, Cancer and You" or download it to your computer.

If you are newly natural, the first thing you should be doing is going through your product cabinet and tossing out products that have any man made chemicals that should not be going on your head.  However, some chemical-sounding ingredient names may not be harmful but actually may be a natural ingredient.  I used to assume that any ingredient that you can't pronounce is a chemical that should not be used in products, but that was wrong thinking.  These days, products list the "technical name" for even natural ingredients.  One of the few ingredients I avoid right off the bat are:

• Mineral oil
• Petrolatum
• Petroleum

You should absolutely avoid any hair product with these listed anywhere in the ingredients list.  I've stood by this for the past decade.  The reason why these ingredients are used in products is because they are CHEAP and therefore companies who feel we aren't worth the better ingredients (if you so choose to take it this way) or who don't want to spend anymore than they have to on a product, will use these ingredients in our hair care products.

Some other ingredients to avoid: Isopropyl Alcohol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, and Ethyl Paraben, Imidazolidinyl, DMDM Hydantoin, DEA, MEA, TEA, Fragrances, and Colors.

So this cancels out 70% or more of black hair products on the market today.  Fortunately, there are many other alternatives one can find for hair care.  You just have to be more open to trying unconventional ways of either obtaining your haircare products, or making/mixing them yourself.

Having natural hair is one thing, but using natural hair products is yet another ball game.  Search for natural hair products and take your own health in your own hands.  Make an attempt to follow a healthier lifestyle, and encourage those closest to you to do so as well.  I definitely believe breast cancer research is still necessary and vital.  Please consider sponsoring me by making a tax deductible donation for the EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women's Cancers by June 11, 2010!