What are Parabens?

Tom Redmond, founder of Aussie hair care products, is the president of Onesta Hair Care. Tom Redford’s new line of natural cosmetics promises consumers beautiful hair without synthetic additives or harmful chemicals.

Many popular hair care lines use synthetic chemicals and potentially harmful preservatives. Fragrances, phthalates, and parabens have become increasingly common despite growing safety concerns. Keep reading to learn more about parabens and how they impact consumers.

Question: What are parabens?
Answer: Parabens like methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben are chemical compounds often used as preservatives in cosmetics. They slow the growth of yeast, bacteria and other microorganisms.

Question: Why are people worried about parabens?
Answer: Inside the human body, parabens sometimes behave in a way that mimics estrogen. Since estrogen is closely related to some types of breast cancer, many people are concerned that introducing unnecessary parabens could lead to cancer. A study from 2004 found parabens present inside of breast tumors.

Question: How can consumers avoid parabens?
Answer: Many natural cosmetic lines are completely free of parabens, and labeled accordingly. Choosing fragrance-free products also reduces exposure, as fragrances can be made from thousands of unlisted chemicals.