David Beckham - prolific football player and fashion icon, introduced the world to the Mohawk, a hairstyle that has hair styled to stand upwards in variety of ways. What followed was a Mohawk explosion all around the globe, with every male trying it out. The Mohawk has since then spawned many new hairstyles amongst men. While the Mohawk is supposed to give your looks an edge, it requires the use of a hair gel to do so.
The beginning of Hair Gel,
In 21st century which saw the rise of the metro sexual man, had the macho man image fade away and give rise to a man who wasn’t ashamed to take care of his looks! Gone was the stubble and the rough skin along with the dirty nails and coarse hair, this metro sexual man believed in clipping his nails and taking care of his skin. He also began to style his hair and used various hair gels for doing so …. But this wasn’t always the case.
In fact, the first hair gel was made in 1929 by the now famous ‘Brylcreem’ Company. With many other companies now having jumped in the fray, the markets are flooded with hair gels promising strong hold, moisture retention, relief from dandruff and whatnot! Moreover with our very own Indian male celebrities promoting the use of Hair Gels, it is but obvious that a majority of the male population is seen opting for hair gels to style their hair.
How do Hair gels work?
Hair gels have a topical application, meaning you apply them externally on your hair and not on your scalp. They come in a gel, liquid and spray form. Hair Gels contain a plastic called PVP (which is a polymer sealer) which is needed in order to shape the hair, as desired. The polymers present in the PVP are generally dissolved in water or an alcohol solution, so that they form a clear film between each hair that helps in binding strands of hair together, helping your hair even defy gravity sometimes!
But are Hair gels Safe?
‘Hair gels cause hair loss’ is a very popular yet untrue Hair Loss Myth! A fact that is echoed by the American Academy of Family Physicians, which states that it is improper care which causes hair loss and not the use of everyday products such as hair gel or mousse, hair spray etc
While hair gels may not be the reason why you are going bald, they definitely can be the reason why you have dry, coarse or brittle hair. The main reason why hair gel application can be harmful to one’s hair is because of the ingredients. Hair gels generally contain a lot of chemicals that can not only damage your hair but your scalp too.
Following is a list of some of the chemicals that are generally found in Hair Gels,
- Polyquaternium-11
- Fragrance
- Tetrasodium EDTA
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone
While the above mentioned are just a few amongst a huge list of chemicals used as ingredients in various hair gels, there is an equally huge list of side effects caused by the chemicals too! The side effects range from human immune system toxication to effects on the brain and the nervous systems along with possible effects on the sensory organs too. In fact some of the chemicals used as ingredients in hair gels are even known as possible carcinogens, for eg: Polyquaternium-11. However clinical trials are yet to confirm it as a carcinogen.
So should I apply Hair Gels or not?
Given the probable health risks posed by hair gels, should one go in for regular application? We spoke to a well-known Trichologist, Dr. Dhiraj Chintawar who was of the opinion that Hair gels shouldn’t be used regularly, “Hair gels contribute to the wear and tear of the hair and should not be used regularly, as daily heavy usage can lead to the hair becoming brittle, rough and coarse which in turn can lead to hair loss”. Dr. Chintawar also adds that, while usage of Hair Gels is perfectly acceptable, one should try and keep it to a minimum.
Another thing that can cause harm to your hair is the use of alcohol in hair gels as an ingredient. Alcohol, as an ingredient is widely known for drying out hair and damaging it in the process, hence it would be a good idea to stay away from hair gels that tout alcohol as an ingredient.
So, if you are thinking about getting that famous David Beckham inspired Mohawk, do go ahead just remember to use a hair gel that does not contain alcohol and helps you retain moisture.
