Your Bathroom Has Become A Chemical Lab
I will not become my almond mother…
But I might research why I am getting in trouble for shopping at Bath & Body Works, or why she'd yell, "Spray it outside!" when she heard the spray of a dry shampoo can. The women who would sneak oils onto my feet before bed might have been onto something.
So I listened. Then I fact checked…
My beautiful ladies and gentlemen. It is time to come to terms with what is in our hair products and what we inhale daily.
Why does my texture spray have to hurt so good? What is my $8.99 TJ-Maxx candle releasing besides the joy of "pumpkin spice?" What's up with that smell coming from my nail polish, and the pain from the UV lamp?
I am guilty. After all the years of knowing how bad it is, why throw something out that works so well? I am not trying to be an evil holistic queen, but I will educate you on the reality of our best-working products, and maybe why they work so well… Beauty is pain, they say. Beauty is toxic, too.
We've all heard the talk of outside pollutants— cars, factories, modern life, etc. But where's the conversation about the inside of our own homes? That is where the actual impact could be. There are many studies into the connection between brain health and air pollutants from our environment. So let's clear the air—literally.
It's a quiet health hazard and has to do with different ingredients and chemicals, such as aerosols and keratin, a known cancer-causing compound. The damage and effects move slowly but are apparent and should be known.
But anything for that blowout, right?
So what are Aersols? Aerosols are tiny particles released from spray cans, air fresheners, hair products, and candles. These particles include particular chemicals called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
VOCs are scientifically proven to irritate the respiratory system, and the fine particles released are easily inhaled and stick in your lungs. It's a VOC, with a whole bar vibe in your bathroom and a gas leak on the side. Not only are we accidentally inhaling these chemicals, but they are lingering like an ex-boyfriend, babe.
Dry shampoos come in pressurized spray cans. These use propellant gases to disperse the product because that is how spray cans work. Every spray contains 10-70% gas, not even product. So while your hair looks clean, we contribute to greenhouse emissions and air pollution.
These chemicals alter your home's air composition, and they love a small indoor space. So if you're going to take this information lightly, please ventilate so we can go hiking when we're old and not pass out at mile 1. Open some windows for a change, let that sticky-humid-Florida breeze pass through your chemistry lab.
How could I know my 'Champagne Toast' collection would betray me like this? The kind of wax most sellers use for candles is Paraffin wax, which releases known carcinogens such as benzene and toluene. When you see an ingredient as 'fragrance,' that is a broad way of saying mystery blend, with all kinds of synthetic chemicals.
Let's indulge in a humidifier. Some essential oils release scents that ease the mind and soul—a soy or beeswax candle from your local farmers' market. Cotton wicks are in—nothing like inhaling lead from your metal wick holder.
There are tons of replacements and ways to use these products. I get it, I need dry shampoo at the last minute, but yes, I will be taking it outside. On your next run, check for low-VOC, fragrance-free products, no silicone, or parabens. Look for labels like 'no synthetic fragrance' or 'EU-compliant.'
People employed in nail salons are not just wearing masks to prevent germs from their clients. Nail polish is a little chemistry set in a bottle loaded with the VOCs I explained. They might not be a spray, but toxins are coming from our products, and we need to be aware of the ingredients we continuously put on our bodies and into our air.
There is powdered dry shampoo sold by different brands, which won't release the toxins from a spray can. They use starches and clay-like material to suck up the oils. Look for non-aerosol pump sprays or foam formulas.
Labels like clean, natural, and non-toxic do not matter anymore. We need real facts. The market is flooded with 'clean' claims, and the real transparency lives in the fine print. Certifications like EWG Verified, Cosmos, and Made Safe are true shields against the labels we know and love, as well as proper health certifications.
It's an unbelievable world where we live, with mass production of easily made materials for your short-term benefit. Take care of the saggy and youth-minded grandma you will once be.
I don't want to be dramatic, but your bathroom shouldn't contain flammable gas and mystery fog. I'm not saying to throw anything out, but hotboxing your bathroom with dry shampoo could be minimized. A little ventilation and a short glance at ingredients can go a long way.
Strike out,
Kaden Horn
Boca Raton
Kaden Horn is a content writer for Strike Magazine Boca. She is a free-spirited Leo who loves to write humorously, but also in a way that is intentional and meaningful. She thrives in peaceful environments, whether it’s at the beach, working out, or rewatching Vampire Diaries for the 100th time. You can reach her at kaden.horn813@gmail.com, or her Instagram @kadennhunter
