We Really Don't Care

This weekend I went into a beauty supply store to pick up some barrettes for my hair. I couldn't find them so the sales girl took me to the back of the store where I could choose from a small selection that were on sale.

I hadn't gone to that part of the store because it was hair products primarily for African American hair. As I turned around to glance at the product line - which incidentally was pretty extensive - I saw a couple products jumping out at me with the word ORGANIC. I was excited to see "organic" products in this national chain and furthermore, excited to see that they were finally supplying African Americans some alternatives to the chemical-laden products that they are presently marketed.

The first item I picked up was called Organic Root Stimulator with Carrot Oil. Sounded good... carrots are good. So I turn it over and begin reading the ingredients. First listed was water... okay... water is typical. It goes on to say soybean oil and coconut oil. So far so good. Not great - but not bad. Then I see them... screaming out to me from the ingredients DIMETHICONE, PEG-25, PROPYL PARABEN, METHYL PARABEN.... it goes on.

I felt my blood pressure rise 100 points. I stood there alone wanting to scream. I turned the container back over... the GREEN container and read it again, just to make sure I didn't hallucinate originally and there it was again... ORGANIC ROOT STIMULATOR.

ORGANIC? It said ORGANIC!!!

Meanwhile, the African American clerk (who I believe was also a cosmetologist) comes back to check on me. I find myself debating whether to ask the dreaded question that not only makes me appear like some white idiot, but may come across as prejudicial or condescending.... but I went for it. I put it out there. I put my foot into my mouth and asked in a very apologetic way, "So is this the stuff that black people put on their hair and leave on?"

She gave me a look that was definitely begging me for an explanation... so I continued by explaining that I was on a mission to understand products that are for black hair because I want to begin an educational program locally on the dangers of certain chemicals found in such products. I further explained that I taught people how to understand the terms "Organic and Natural" and how to recognize false claims in product marketing.

She listened to me in a very thoughtful way, but my own insecurities began to dominate my thoughts making me more and more uncomfortable. I kept thinking, "Dang I shouldn't have asked her this. I hope I didn't offend her." And also I realized for the first time in my life that I had become one of those crazy "preacher" type people that go around telling people what you think... when if they wanted to know, they would have asked. It felt like I was having an out of the body experience - I had become one of those annoying, mouthy ladies that I used to hide from when I worked in retail!

I began babbling. Mostly to try to regain some confidence in myself. I remember saying FDA does not regulate, I threw out the cancer word, I threw out the green washing word... I just babbled. Then she turned to me and said, "May I be completely honest with you?"

I was thrilled! I encouraged her to be as honest as she needed to me. She continued, "Ma'am, a lot chemicals are actually good for black hair. They make our hair look beautiful. A lot of women WANT these chemicals. To be completely honest, most black women don't care if they feel bad or will get sick from them... if it makes them look and feel beautiful." And then she concluded with, "You know, just being honest."

I stood there in a state of shock. Had I really heard what I just heard? Did she really say to me that people don't care about chemicals? Did she really say that chemicals were GOOD for the hair?? Did she really say that people would rather risk their health if it made them look pretty?

I knew that mentality was out there.... but I had come face to face with it in real life for the first time. I just stood there with my lower lip resting on the cold linoleum floor - next to the other foot that I was about to insert into my mouth.

I continued on more calm this time that I understand chemicals MAY be good for the HAIR...and it wasn't the HAIR I was concerned about. It was the scalp beneath the hair that is absorbing these chemicals. Next stop brain, I said. Next stop blood stream, I said.

Another clerk comes up to relieve this poor soul that I was torturing. This girl is white and roughly the same age as the other. She listens - probably with deaf ears. I felt so foolish as I kept ranting.... again, stepping outside of my own body and looking down at myself standing in this store on my soapbox. But all I kept thinking was, "I just want them to understand that this ORGANIC product is full of chemicals and that chemicals are not safe. It is NOT organic!"

I left the store in a daze. Many apologies flew out of my mouth as I exited through the door. I had not made a difference for the good - for them, for others, for myself....

In fact, as Cheryl, my sponsor, pointed out to me this morning, I had probably offended their very profession and their livelihood. If they went to school to learn how to take care of hair and they built their careers around such knowledge, who was I to come in and threaten that?

But there is still a small part of me that hopes one or both of them went out and looked up the chemicals online, or in a book, and began to question them and wonder if they really were unsafe. Or that perhaps they would stop telling customers the products were ORGANIC just because they said so on the label.

But the reality is that these clerks are probably hoping the same thing about me. That perhaps I heard them honestly tell me... "We really don't care."

~ PS ~

I bought these products and they are online at www.organicrootstimulator.com. They have a CONTACT US button. I highly encourage you to take a few minutes to email them about their blatantly false labeling of these products as organic.

If we can't influence the consumers, let's try to influence the source. :-)

Blessings,
Candy