This is why you’re the only hair guru I watch. You do so much research and you approach things from a very fair and logical perspective. Love your channel so much! 💕
@@HiThereLindsey I used to watch about a dozen up until a couple of months ago. Almost all of them were doing the same things and using the same products and giving the same (not very well-researched) information. I finally dropped them and went with a hair youtuber I personally feel is more trustworthy and helpful.
I feel the same way. I love how she relies on cold hard science and isn't afraid of educating us on how hair and products actually work scientifically. Science doesn't have to be scary!
THANK YOU!! finally someone who calls out these misleading apps!! I hope this goes viral. People tend to go for the simplicity of red and green = bad or good instead of taking the time to READ. Amazing content as always!
Yes Mell!!! I just got my degree in chemistry!!! Chemicals aren’t scary. Do your own research, use recent peer reviewed articles to make your decision. Scientists are always learning and science is always changing.
Becky Phul I agreed with you. People should read peer reviewed articles (although not accessible to everyone). But I will also disagree with you. As someone with a Chemistry degree, I can acknowledge that some chemicals are “scary”. For example, we (at least at my college) had to signed waivers cause he had to deal with carcinogens, and or dangerous chemicals. The FDA just sucks. Hope I didn’t offend you, and if I did I’ll just delete the comment no need to fight.
I agree, chemicals can be dangerous. But I feel when people read these big names they get scared, when not all chemicals are harmful. And yes FDA sucks lol. Hopefully, chemists like us can educate the public about the harmful and helpful compounds.
The think dirty app was telling me so many of my products were dirty when they work perfectly fine for me and I didn’t know what to use i got so stressed I deleted it and said idc 😂
you forgot to mention parabens, alongside silicones and sulphates. In the US ingredients aren't tested as thoroughly as in the EU. In the US toxic ingredients are a real issue, not just fearmongering. But you're right, natural doesnt mean it's safer or better
Manes by Mell I can’t speak for everyone but I do know that almost all of those ingredients or whatever you call them helped with further damage of my hair (bad curl pattern, frizz, dandruff). I do recall that sulphates can be water soluble though and there’s another ingredient that can be safe as well but I’m not sure. Could you do a video if you haven’t already on the toxic and non toxic versions of those ingredients? I think that would clear up a lot. Thanks!
@@PunsandPixels I agree that there are some bad companies out there but I think what Mel was saying, at least what I heard, was that people should do their own research from reliable sources and then make an informed decision. I'm sorry you're going through hair problems and damage, I hope you are able to get your hair back to health soon. ❤
@@PunsandPixels I thought I was the only one hearing "what does a company get out of poisoning their products", let's not forget their sole purpose is to make profit, if any company paid the real price for contaminating the enviroment and implementing a more clean and sustaneable production, they wouldnt have such millionaire profits
Thank you for this! I get super frustrated with clients when they say they want to find a product "without chemicals". I tell them that doesn't exist. Then when I ask them WHAT chemicals they are trying to avoid, they grow speechless. They don't know. I aim to inform and educate my clients, but for the love of God, that shit kills me.
I “tried” following all these rules for curly hair (not yours lol) and I swear it thinned my hair. I have followed your guidelines for several months now and learned what works for my hair ... I have to use head and shoulders at least 3 times a week, I need to wash my hair at least every other day as much as I hate it, only HOVER with the diffuser. And my hair is getting back to its normal self! I’m done with trends and am now following what works for me thanks to YOU Mell! ❤️❤️
@@smang7866 I tried to do the no silicone/parabens/etc/curly girl methods... but it does not work for me. I found Mell and started doing things she talks about and found what has worked for me. Mell has helped save my hair and helped me embrace my curls!
How long were you trying for, do you think you made it through the transition period? How many different products did you try? 5+ minutes of cowashing and massaging your scalp every time?
Samuel I did not do the complete curly girl method. That will not work for me - my hair is too greasy and I am too vain to be seen in public looking like an oil slick. It is what it is lol My hair does not respond well to the no silicone/paraben products. I tried different ones for almost a year. I also have psoriasis in my scalp. And my dermatologist has highly recommended for me to use the head and shoulders which works wonders for me. It’s what works for me. If the other stuff works for others then that’s what works for them.
Thank you Mell! I was questioning the Think Dirty app, as I really didn't think so many products could possibly be that bad. It all seemed a bit fishy to me, so I'm deleting it! I'm also sharing this video on my FB page. Thanks again girlie! Love ya! You look adorable in this video. :)
hey if you're curious i use an app called INCI Beauty which i think is based on the EU ingredients database (or something lol), it seems to work quite well
That’s the reason why I started following her in the first place. I’ve always felt she shares all she knows and doesn’t withhold any information. She lays it all down. And this video is just exactly why I like her. Thanks!
Thought the exact same thing when first turned onto this app. They also selectively didn't have certain products that I think would have come up as "clean." Possibly due to lack of monetary incentive?
formaldehyde is naturally occurring. we actually eat it. its also in our flu shots, we actually consume it by mouth more then apply it. its in plants and animals and our body metabolizes it quickly, its not persistent and doesn't accumulate. its made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. we eat it when we consume most fruits, grapes i believe have the highest amount, but its in apples and bananas, seafood, beef and chicken.. and get this, even us humans naturally produce it. its necessary for basic biological functions involved in metabolism like the production of certain amino acids. ive read on many occasions that the amount in cosmetics is the same if not less then eating a pear or an apple. the use in these products prevent dangerous fungus from growing and bacteria and yeast. and if your that worried, its water soluble. ps. love ur channel, ur vids are awesome.
I fell prey to the “clean beauty” marketing. I switched everything from household cleaners, makeup, hair products, deodorants etc...and the only difference I noticed was expensive shopping and my skin and scalp reacting negatively. Thank you for making this because I became obsessive and paranoid based of no concrete facts.
So sorry to hear that. Unfortunately you aren’t the only one. The media is misleading and we’re all being fed a lot of nonsense when we deserve the facts
Manes by Mell I completely agree. Most of the natural products use essential oils and coconut oil which my oily Puerto Rican ass cannot deal with and I broke out in zits and rashes from scalp to face to body. It was awful. We deserve to not have fear inducing marketing. It’s not right.
Crystal Figueroa the only good thing that the natural movement has done to me is made me realize the current shampoo I was using was damaging my hair and giving me dandruff. I’m glad I didn’t get too deep and obsessing over chemicals and unsafe ingredients though or else I might have end up with misconceptions and paranoia, it just instead made me alert about the shit that’s bad for my hair.
Fragrance is considered dirty or dangerous on their app because there can be 100s of other ingredients hiding behind that one that companies don’t have to disclose and most don’t because they claim it’s a trade secret. Most consumers don't know that and think of fragrance as only one ingredient. I prefer to stay away from it as much as I can, also because my skin often finds it irritating and it usually gives me a headache. 🤷🏼♀️ To each their own.
This is what I go by as well. And the legal responsibility to ensure safe cosmetics lying within the companies doesn’t ensure safe cosmetics, it ensures large profit margins.
I understand that and while I personally don’t have problems with frangance in hair or skin care products I know several people who do. My favorite teacher in high school could not be around synthetic fragrance at all because she was allergic to it. To the point that she was allowed to issue detention if she could find out which student in her class wore lotion or cologne or perfume to class after the first week of class. And it can be just an irritating ingredient. While essentials oils that most natural or clean brands use can be the same.
Talking about "natural" means safe. Meanwhile, we all know at least one kid from our childhood that ate those berries that were fine for birds but not humans 😂
THANK YOU! when I looked up my favorite products on this app I was horrified that everything was red and then it was just like "fragrance, BAD, bc it may cause a reaction.." like what? also, so many of the products they recommend have horrible reviews. So I didn't believe in the app. I'm so glad you did the research. You're the youtuber I trust the most!!
That’s next, believe me I want to share that but there’s a lot of ground to cover and I really felt the need to clear the air on this one, stay tuned I have so much more to share ❤️
@Crucibelle Really I meant under-whelming. But tell me this.... if you have all of your answers and aren't looking for advice....what are you doing here? just a thought from someone who cant make their own decisions....
Scientist here (Senior Microbiologist is my current job title)... many preservatives that products use are likely to be the most toxic ingredient in the list. They literally kill living organisms to keep your product fresh. In small quantities, they won't kill multicellular organisms like ourselves, but if we use them every single day for years, we really don't know what the consequences are. By the time you get cancer later in age, you really can't pinpoint what the exact cause was. Fragrances and essential oils are also very iffy because the company does not have to tell you the actual chemical compounds involved in those. Many essential oils are adulterated with other substances to increase the volume and to get a bigger profit. Working in the science industry myself in for-profit companies, I would not trust any company to ensure my safety or health. I worked for a company that sold a contaminated product for which a recall should had been issued, but they didn't want to lose all that money they made from selling the product. So they just swept it under the rug so to speak. Even many many research studies that an average person would trust the result because "it's science" have a lot of bias involved because they are funded by corporations and political parties to present the story that they want to tell that will make money in their pockets. Anything where money is involved is tainted.
Seriously, thank you so much for speaking TRUTH!!! I am so tired of the "clean beauty" industry. The fact that I have to basically sell my first born son to be able to afford all these "pure" hair care products is outrageous. I honestly believe a large part of clean beauty products are more irritating to the skin because they have to put in higher concentrations of "natural" ingredients in order to do the same thing as a man made ingredient. We live in the year 2020. Science has come a LONG way and I believe in the chemists and scientists behind the large majority of skin/haircare products. Thank you for the information, and I sincerely hope that everyone who has been effected by Deva Curl can begin to trust other hair care companies. Find what works for you and if something causes irritation, then stop using that product and try something else. Keep up the great work Mell! I love your videos!! ❤️
@@Lauren-rl4eu I'm the same way. My scalp is always a lot more itchy when I use products with essential oils. I tried Deva Curl a couple of times, but I always had to wash my hair the next day because my scalp would get so itchy! I really believe essential oils can often be more irritating than synthetic fragrances.
The thing about formaldehyde is it is something that builds up. A little here, a little there, some in your laundry, a little in your pillow, some in your fleece jacket, some in your perfume (which is one of its main uses, preserving fragrance) before too long you are surrounded by it in everything and it is off gassing. I know all this because I’m actually allergic to formaldehyde. So mainly I look for natural fragrance or fragrance free, rather than just fragrance, natural usually and should mean made from natural oils rather than synthetic fragrances. That said the word the FDA doesn’t regulate in any way is “natural”. It is one way you think you are buying something great and “natural” but it literally means nothing but what the marketing department wants you to believe. This goes for food and cosmetics. Another fun fact, in the US “organic” is an FDA regulated word, but it was originally intended ONLY for food. It is a convoluted mess is what it is. And unfortunately, the FDA is operated by lawmakers who own these massive corporations. It needs to be separated out from money vs science vs law. It would make us all a little more trustworthy of the cosmetic industry. That all said, fear-mongering is one of the worst ways to profit. Period! Nice work Mel...
Your statement is partly wrong. Formaldehyde is not something that builds in your system. Your body can natutally break down formaldehyde which is good since our bodies actually make it. Now too much formaldehyde is bad yes. And people can be much more sensitive to outside sources of it. Its quantity you are exposed to thats the issue.
@@muran3371 what I mean by builds up is in reference to exposure. If it is in everything you use the off gassing is building up around you. Poor choice of words, but that is what I was referring too. Not building up inside the body.
Toxic and chemicals- sounds scary until you remember EVERYTHING IS A CHEMICAL. Thanks for your chill approach to investigating and understanding these issues.
Aisha Hassan Unless you have your own Garden, are growing All the the items you listed + for your “Natural” skincare products they are Not 100% Natural. Everything’ is sprayed with some chemical even Organic.
@Aisha Hassan A chemical - by definition - is a substance. It can occur naturally or be produced artificially. All known matter in the universe is made up of chemicals. Even we ourselves are made of chemicals. It's just a matter of breaking things down and classifying them by their smaller individual components.
This is so great. Thank you for directing people to actual science! People hear "clean" and "organic" and just assume it's better, and that's not necessarily the case! I love that you are looking at this issue as unbiased as you possibly can!
You are literally the best. This series is tackling pretty much every thought and question I've had since this whole scandal broke and answering all of my questions so well! Also, kinda weird, but the order of topics which you're tackling in both videos so far has basically been the exact order of my panicked rabbit hole research. You're a HUGE help and I appreciate this sooo much!! Thank you Mell!
Thank you for this! The Think Dirty app told me that basically every product I use was surely going to kill me. I thought it was fishy...The more you know...
THANK YOU for making this video. When I first watched Ayesha Maliks video I downloaded the think dirty app in a panic. But after using the app for about two minutes I immediately realized it was total BS and fear-mongering. Since then I've been quietly following this controversy. I really appreciate how much effort you put into researching your videos and approaching them with as little bias as possible.
@@zaraseastrunk5402 I have no idea. It could be deva curl, it could be the cgm, it could be any number of things. I just think the think dirty app is demonizing perfectly safe and normal ingredients in products only to turn around and sell others. For example, they rated Organix super poorly for having fragrance and yet rated Loma (a brand with super heavy fragrance that is marketed as aromatherapy) really safe and "clean" when both products have very similar ingredients and both obviously have fragrance. Its just a really fishy app and I dont think Ayesha should put that much weight in it when she is working on replacing her devacurl products.
@@ParksAndCreature totally agree about the app, especially if their rating is based on EWG info. What bothers me is "fragrance/parfum" includes over 3,000 different ingredients, so you never know what kind of fragrance you're getting or how much is in the product.
Absolutely love this video. People buy into trends, hypes, and ingredient shaming without doing ANY actual research. Working in the dermatology field, I see this all the time. For example, all mushrooms are natural but not all mushrooms are safe. Same with ingredients used in products. Not all natural ingredients should automatically be believed as safe. The balance between safe, natural ingredients and safe, synthetic ingredients should be the priority, not having ONLY natural ingredients as the priority. Well said Mell!!!
There are actually many other people who have been talking about this for a long time . She's just getting more attention and sadly those others are getting overshadowed despite working on this and talking about this type of topic for years.
Palmundo91 No one is being overshadowed. People will reach different size audiences for different reasons. I watch her because she’s smart, knowledgeable, funny and charismatic.
I am so supportive of your breaking down of pseudoscientific fear mongering, and in a way that respects people experiencing difficulty with their hair. I was impacted by Deva products, which changed my texture drastically from the ends up to within about a half inch of my roots. It became coarse, tangled, and strands would lock together like puzzle pieces - no amount of conditioner would help to detangle. It was unlike anything I ever felt. My doctors said it was topical rather than medical, as it starts in the hair shaft rather than at the roots. I had to big chop more than a foot of hair into a pixie. But, I’ve been really dismayed about some of the claims coming out, like that these products caused autoimmune diseases or personality changes, when there’s absolutely no evidence suggesting that. It’s terrifying what a crowd mentality can do. Look into it, challenge the company to conduct investigations, but the bandwagoning and escalation are scary, and not helping to get to the bottom of the actual issue. That being said, research has found that carcinogenic and hormone disrupting compounds, including ones banned in the EU and California, are used relatively frequently and in high concentrations in beauty products in the US, especially in hair care products aimed at black women and women with textured hair. So the claim that cosmetic products are some of the safest - not so true in the good ol’ US of A. I’m not sure what regulations are like in Canada. People should be conscious of what they’re using, but know that what appears on the bottle and use of the words “natural” and “organic” are all marketing rather than indications of quality. The best thing is to make an educated decision, and see what works for you. I love your channel, BTW. Here’s a summary of one of the studies: www.scientificamerican.com/article/hair-products-popular-with-black-women-may-contain-harmful-chemicals/
Just found your videos, and immediately stopped cowashing because your info helped me realized that I had much thicker hair and more hair density before I started cowashing! Hoping I can use your channel and information to help me develop a new hair care routine. Thanks for all of your research and videos!
Thank you for making this video! I was thinking that way too many products are considered “highly toxic” on the think dirty app when they’ve never caused any issues...
Holy crap i love you. I LOVE THAT YOU MADE THIS VIDEO SO MUCH!!! As a new cosmetic chemist people always make comments to me about “bad ingredients” and i am always having to explain why they arent bad and how everything is safety and clinically tested in the cosmetic industry!!!! Its really the smaller companies that are “preservative free” that you should be worried about.... how do you think they are so quick to market?? Maybe minimal to no safety testing?? And they can get away with it because they are a small company and less likely to be sued... i digress.. amazing video once again mell. 💞
You are so good at breaking down extremely complicated topics like this (and all the while, lookin’ SO GOOD! and making me laugh with your jokes). I love your videos and I’m so glad I found you. You’ve helped me improve my curly hair routine and made me love my hair even more, so much that I want to take proper care of it every day. The DevaCurl scandal fallout sent me on an anxious spiral looking at all of my beauty products and finding ingredients that made me feel like I was poisoning my body. But I know better than that, deep down. People assume that natural = good, and that goes for beauty products AND other things like food, household products, and so much more. But no one wants to think outside of the box and consider the true impact of their choices. Thanks again Mell ☺️
Just want to thank you for this video and to remind everyone that there are so major keys to understanding toxic ingredients. First, you need to understand the mode of transmission I.e. is it absorbed by the skin, ingested injected (IM, IV, and SC). Then you need to understand how the mode of transmission affects the bioavailability of the substance. Then you need to understand the pharmacokinetic properties of the substance. Long story short, something that is skin safe may not be safe to consume or inject. Something may be skin safe, but not in certain situations (like salicylic acid and pregnancy). And most importantly, the dose makes the poison. “Clean” and “organic” are marketing terms first, and not really relevant to health or safety. “Clean beauty” is mostly based in pseudoscience, and is used to target those who have fallen for it. Your body cannot tell the difference between an organic and non-organic apple, and in most cases, an organic apple will contain more arsenic.
I really like this video. When I first heard about the think dirty app I admit I downloaded it but when I started scanning my hair products that I knew to be "safe" and they kept coming up "dirty" it made me question it. The only "dirty" ingredient seemed to be the perfume. It made me think how does this app know what exact perfume/fragrance they used and how can they claim a lot of these known hair products known for being safe/CGF or whatever have used the same fragrance to make it dirty? I was like no way, something is not adding up here. When I noticed the "clean" products were only a select few which I personally never heard of I deleted the app. I'm glad you are speaking out cause I feel bad for the people out there blindly believing it and getting rid of actual good products.
Spot on as usual! I have looked at the Think Dirty app and the first thing I noticed, just like you, is that anything scented is "dirty". I will be 51 in 3 days and have lived this long using "dirty" products, and will continue to do so. Thanks for all you do for your fans!!
Honestly I recently discovered your channel and I LOVE it. You don't just jump on bandwagons and try to explain things with logic, facts, and research. You're so funny and adorable and really go out of your way to make things clear but also entertaining. It's nice to have someone I feel I can trust to be straightforward about curls and how to manage them after a lifetime of hating then trying to love my hair. Keep doing you girlie, you rock! Also your hair accessories are always on point
I've been using innersense hair products since before this situation happened, actually years . my hair always looks the best when I use innersense and I recommend them to people who have fine hair like me with high porosity. They are really good at not weighing down the hair yet being really moisturizing, I like that they have a pH level of 5.5, and they have protein as well so it's a good balance for me at least
Very well done! Those apps are not really reliable (we have something similar in Germany). But it is also clear that the sheer volume of information and ingredients are totally overwhelming for the consumer. In the time you have to spend for research to choose a hair (or other cosmetic) product you could probably cook a four course dinner for 20 people. And that is ridiculous.
YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL!!! I love your contend, your humor, everything! Thank you!! I never knew what to do with my hair. Ever since i was young its been a struggle. All my family had straight or wavy hair, and growing up in Sweden no one i knew had textured hair... It really effected my confidence and i often cried because of my hair and how ugly i thought i was. Im now learning how to care for and love my natural hair and over all appearance and in that process your channel has been an absolute blessing!!! Its so help full, enjoyable and inspiring! Im redefining my very perception of beauty. Thank you
Good job, great video... I'm a chemist and natural doctor and those apps have a lot of inconsistences. They do point out some bad things however like you said they do demonize some materials way more than they should be. It does look like they have an agenda to hide the ingredients of the brands that they are promoting. Keep up the good work Mel. Thanks Ryan J
Ah I'm so happy you made this video! I deleted the Think Dirty app last year when I realized everything with fragrance is "dirty." Seeing people site the think dirty app as confirmation that devacurl is toxic has been driving me mental and I've been begging something to say something all month. In my head. To myself. And yet you heard my prayers!
I also fell into the green is clean products in a notable MLM company. Never again. The reaction to my scalp was awful and I’m happy to report that following your videos have brought back my scalp and hair health. Thank you! For being real .
omg I feel so vindicated right now! just a few hours ago I downloaded the app to have a look, saw the many items being rated with a huge red bad 8 solely because of the non-specific fragrances in them, and called bullshit. the timing of this + video is just amazing ❤
I had the Think Dirty app for approximately 24 hours before I just shook my head and deleted it. I’ve watched my hair get SO much healthier and bouncier by following your advice and discovering what works for MY hair, not other people’s. I didn’t need one more cause of anxiety, and I sure as heck am not giving up my Cake products because one app says they’re “dirty”.
Thank you Mell!! As someone who works in the makeup industry, I truly appreciate your sharing useful and accurate info about ingredients apps, websites, and consumer sources. The apps and EWG put a lot of misleading info out there and I sincerely appreciate your setting the record straight! BRAVA!
Hey Mel. Thanks for making these videos...and by "these videos" I mean... ALL OF THEM! I have been searching answers to a lot of the questions you approach and I find that you answer them with your charisma and wit and better yet, educated logic. You are my natural hair wikipedia guru! You tell the truth according to your experience and that is truly all I could ask for. My sister, my daughter and I don't quite have the goldy lock ringlets you and your sister possess, but I notice we have a wave that sometimes wants to cool more and this prompted me to possibly look into the possibility of our curls being damaged. And that search guided me to eventually find your channel. We all have long hair, my sister cut hers and she is not looking back. Her hair looks amazing and with your guidance it's looking better and better. My daughter and I, however - like your "seester" - decided not to go through "the big chop" instead we are going through the frequent hair cuts...and making sure to pay attention on how the products we use are affecting out hair plus making sure we check the ingredients. My daughter laughs calling it "our hair going on its diet" process...lol I am going to be video documenting our journey to hopefully post when it's done. Your videos are mentioned quite a lot...lol Anyways... I just wanted to thank u for being so frank and teaching serious issues with your quirky videos. I look forward to them even if I don't comment on them.
Girl this 🙌🏼 I love your unbiased take on this; as someone who devoutly used DevaCurl, I made the decision to stop you know just to be safe. But I myself witnessed how apps like Think Dirty will change their information to match a narrative (they did this with the Mist-er Right spray, which I still use as a curl refresher). Thanks for making these videos!
I have been researching individual ingredients and have switched gears alittle my channel to review what I have researched to be clean options for curls without toxins and human carcinogens! This is so important to me.
I LOVE that you put this out there! I'm a clinical aesthetician, and one of the biggest issues I would face with when working with new clients would be that they insisted they only use products with "natural ingredients". I would ask them what did they mean by "natural". A lot of times they couldn't give me an answer or would say that they didn't like to use "chemicals". I would reply, "Jelly fish are natural; poison ivy is natural; dog poop is natural." Just because it's "natural" doesn't automatically mean it's going to be better. And while the Internet has made it easier to educate oneself, the is still a lot of false information out there, so "Caveat Emptor"! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! for helping to educate and elevate! This is why you're my FAVORITE you tuber!
I just have to say that I am new to your channel about two weeks ago. But I have been using deva curl products for about 15 years. I’m intrigued by this whole story. I just find your channel so interesting and you give great information without leaning one way or the other.
I love you Mell, and your videos actually taught me so much! My hair has always made me feel so insecure but you taught me how to embrace it and now I love my curls!!
Wow, thank you Mel. That was was some great content. I appreciate all the research that you did for this video. Truly informative! And you look amazing💓
Thank you for saying this. I am sensitive to lots of ingredients and am careful with what I buy. However, I am wary of these sites and it bothers me when people claim that natural is better or safer, or ignore the fact that formulation and concentration matter, not just the individual ingredients!
I know this is a serious video but I have to tell you. Two days ago I tired finger coiling for the first time because of you and I can't thank you enough! My hair has never looked so defined and soft. OMG! Also because of that, I realized that my curl pattern is even tighter than I thought. I'm so happy I tried it! Thanks again for your encouragement and detailed instructions. I would have given up a third of the way through if it hadn't have been so thorough. :)
I absolutely love and admire your passion to put up the cameras and bring the raw facts to everyone who is willing to watch. Gosh I hope that this doesn't turn into a fad. We need the nitty gritty scientifiy!
Mell you put so much effort into your videos and it shows thank you for being very factual and addressing the issues as well as having our best interest (and our hairs) at heart. It's especially admirable that you establish your platform on facts and by being transparent with your subscribers. I have curly hairs and I work in a lab and I love seeing my two passions come together (science & beauty) and in such a entertaining, real way. ALSO you rock the hairstyle in this video, keep doing your thing much love & support to you and your seester
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Dude. I love you channel. Your personality is what keeps me coming back.
Thanks Mell for, not only taking the time to do research that is actually reliable, BUT for actually sharing it with us. This whole curly girl drama has been confusing so thanks for clarifying and exposing the truth!! Absolutely appreciate it and look forward to hearing more from you!! Well done 👏👏❤️
Thank you for spending your time researching all this information for us. Not like other UA-camrs who just see everyone and do the same thing. It reassured me that my products are not "toxic."
French girl here : yes, they are. Especially in France and Germany. I do believe our products are safer. But the green organic beauty market is also blowing up here and you can find loads of them at very low prices, yet still very clean. Using organic beauty products here has become quite mainstream.
It’s because the US tends to value companies over consumers. There are fewer consumer protection laws in general because the government tends to share Mell’s point of view that the companies aren’t there to hurt people, therefore they shouldn’t need to cut into their own bottom line to prove that. Not to mention that republicans favor smaller government, meaning they don’t want government intervention to begin with.
Girl you are the queen of truth because of you I finally started using sulfates AND silicones and my hair changed overnight to being so healthy I get compliments from hairdressers Bless you!
The tea is scalding, hunty!!! Your video reinforces that people need to be smart consumers. It takes research to be an informed consumer, but we're the ones driving product. We can change things to reflect what we want. Thanks, Mel!
I'm just learning how to treat my wavy hair (and discovering I have waves), and you are now my new favorite youtuber. You had me going. Which side are you on girl? I love the research you did. You hit the nail on the head. There are a ton of other resources out there people can look up. Like if the FDA has given a warning letter to a company (aka they done messed up!) and other things. It's all available on the FDA website. You made this chemist happy. ;)
I’m really glad you said this, especially about the Think Dirty app. I downloaded it and 99% of the products I use (all bigger name brands) weren’t even listed on the app itself. So I deleted it. Also because all of the “clean products”, like you said, are super expensive. And I had also never heard of the brands they were recommending. I also appreciate your knowledge and effort! Keep on providing great content for us!!! And your outro/ending is GOLD! Why is that me? Lmao
Just saw Dr. Dray posted EXACTLY the same PSA regarding the Think Dirty app. Everything you said in your post has just been substantiated by a board certified and practicing dermatologist. I love your videos and their content and have always felt when you get all "scientify" on us you are sharing excellent and sound information. This just goes to further prove that. I love the way your brain works. It's icing on the cake that that brain is shrouded by glorious curls and a beautiful face. :)
THANK YOU FOR POINTING THIS OUT my first thought when all this devacurl bs went down was a) an app is not a lab or a scientist and can not confirm allegations against devacurl b) all the stories coming out are anecdotes and do not replace actual lab testing
Thank you for this video! I can't believe I got sucked into the fear tactics from these companies. I followed the herd and believed social media when I should've known better and have done my own research in the first place. All of the shit that has been going on with DC has left me so confused. Thank you for waking me up and opening my eyes! I like your videos because you plays devils advocate and seem honest...which is hard to find these days.
Thank you for being so unbiased..I love your content. People need to realize that a lot of these influencers are not actual “professionals”. You can have a pretty face and hair and be considered an influencer.. and I do not say this to cause offense but it is time for people to do their own research instead of taking the word of people who only know the superficial benefits and results. I feel for those who are going through the hair trauma, this should be a lesson to all of us that a lot of the influence we get these days are based from advertisements which equals money.
I definitely find your video interesting - thank you for your perspective and words. I find your videos very informative and I'm a new subscriber, and you've helped me keep a balanced view on clean beauty/clean hair products. However, the whole situation with J&J shows that companies WILL lie and poison their customers and not say anything until they are caught because it helps their bottom line. Having lost a grandmother to mesothelioma, these hidden chemicals and toxins and what have you are really scary to me, and I'm more worried about them than some of the chemicals I see on the bottle ingredients list. I find it really frustrating and upsetting that cosmetics aren't really rigorously vetted by the FDA - it's up to the beauty companies most times.
Thank you so much for your honesty on this issue. The Think Dirty app did help me find some better shampoo and conditioner that works better for me, but after digging in the app, I did question how they came up with some of their ratings.
You are the best Mell, I knew that your videos about this issue were not going to be drama based but full of facts and research. Thanks for your videos!!
Hi Mell! I have been watching your videos non-stop for the last few days. You are hilarious and fun to watch, and you are so knowledgeable! Thank you for sharing your suggestions and advice with us. My curls are in good hands now!
I somehow accidentally stumbled across the curly community due to the DevaCurl scandal and all of this has lead me to find your channel, I absolutely love your personality, your gorgeous hair and videos! Always cheers up my day, when I watch one of those.
Again another super helpful video! I've never tried any of those types of apps before and I won't bother now. Natural definitely doesn't mean better! My scalp needs better than that for a true cleanse or it gets irritated. Thank you Mell for time you put into research to keep us as well informed as possible.
Thank you so much for this!! I literally downloaded the Think Dirty app two days ago and it gave my shampoo a score of 8...just because of the fragrances?! From there I thought it was fishy. So glad we have you who puts so much time and effort into your research and videos to help make people aware of these apps and websites!
Many thanks for all the research and presentation of sane and accurate information! I tried "Think Dirty" and not only could I not figure out how to easily use the app, but I was inundated with adds for products. Needless to say, it is no longer on my phone.
Thank you so much for putting in the time and research, and for also giving your sources! I had pause about the think dirty app, but I really didn’t know why. Now you have put my mind at peace!!
Omg!!! I just deleted this app 2 days ago! I knew this app was not it. You're litterally my go to hair guru. My husbands deployed but when we do communicate, I always talk about what I've learned about my natural hair by watching your videos. Keep up the great work Mel♡
Thank you for bringing light to this misinformation, 100% natural is not always best in fact my friend recently had a sever allergic reaction from using several all natual products that containd beeswax, and once she stopped using them her issue cleared up right away
Thank you for this video! With these apps something as simple as fragrance will make a product be “red” or “bad”. 😬 it can be very misleading and sometimes people don’t check things like that. Great video lady!
This is why you’re the only hair guru I watch. You do so much research and you approach things from a very fair and logical perspective. Love your channel so much! 💕
Thank you it means a lot ❤️❤️❤️
You're right.
You should watch more. It doesn't hurt to get info from different sources.
@@HiThereLindsey I used to watch about a dozen up until a couple of months ago. Almost all of them were doing the same things and using the same products and giving the same (not very well-researched) information. I finally dropped them and went with a hair youtuber I personally feel is more trustworthy and helpful.
I feel the same way. I love how she relies on cold hard science and isn't afraid of educating us on how hair and products actually work scientifically. Science doesn't have to be scary!
THANK YOU!! finally someone who calls out these misleading apps!! I hope this goes viral. People tend to go for the simplicity of red and green = bad or good instead of taking the time to READ. Amazing content as always!
Yes Mell!!! I just got my degree in chemistry!!! Chemicals aren’t scary. Do your own research, use recent peer reviewed articles to make your decision. Scientists are always learning and science is always changing.
Becky Phul I agreed with you. People should read peer reviewed articles (although not accessible to everyone). But I will also disagree with you. As someone with a Chemistry degree, I can acknowledge that some chemicals are “scary”. For example, we (at least at my college) had to signed waivers cause he had to deal with carcinogens, and or dangerous chemicals. The FDA just sucks.
Hope I didn’t offend you, and if I did I’ll just delete the comment no need to fight.
I agree, chemicals can be dangerous. But I feel when people read these big names they get scared, when not all chemicals are harmful. And yes FDA sucks lol.
Hopefully, chemists like us can educate the public about the harmful and helpful compounds.
Becky Phul completely agreed with you
Karen Polanco the nicest conversation on the internet right here :). Thank you!
As much as a layperson would like to inform themselves like that, there is always the issue of access.
The think dirty app was telling me so many of my products were dirty when they work perfectly fine for me and I didn’t know what to use i got so stressed I deleted it and said idc 😂
Omg me too 😂
Same lol
So true
if it ain't me....
Rigth 😂👍
you forgot to mention parabens, alongside silicones and sulphates. In the US ingredients aren't tested as thoroughly as in the EU. In the US toxic ingredients are a real issue, not just fearmongering. But you're right, natural doesnt mean it's safer or better
Believe me this is still the tip of the iceberg and I’m not done here yet. There’s a lot more to all of this for sure
Manes by Mell I can’t speak for everyone but I do know that almost all of those ingredients or whatever you call them helped with further damage of my hair (bad curl pattern, frizz, dandruff). I do recall that sulphates can be water soluble though and there’s another ingredient that can be safe as well but I’m not sure. Could you do a video if you haven’t already on the toxic and non toxic versions of those ingredients? I think that would clear up a lot. Thanks!
@@PunsandPixels I agree that there are some bad companies out there but I think what Mel was saying, at least what I heard, was that people should do their own research from reliable sources and then make an informed decision. I'm sorry you're going through hair problems and damage, I hope you are able to get your hair back to health soon. ❤
@@PunsandPixels I thought I was the only one hearing "what does a company get out of poisoning their products", let's not forget their sole purpose is to make profit, if any company paid the real price for contaminating the enviroment and implementing a more clean and sustaneable production, they wouldnt have such millionaire profits
Parabens are the safest preservatives in skincare. Watch Dr. Dray she explains all of this and the myths involved.
Thank you for this! I get super frustrated with clients when they say they want to find a product "without chemicals". I tell them that doesn't exist. Then when I ask them WHAT chemicals they are trying to avoid, they grow speechless. They don't know. I aim to inform and educate my clients, but for the love of God, that shit kills me.
Jennifer M This is me with my family🤦🏻♂️
Tell them that water is a chemical. When they exempt it, you tell them "like i can exempt the other ones?"
This is exactly what I thought! That the app was biased.
I “tried” following all these rules for curly hair (not yours lol) and I swear it thinned my hair. I have followed your guidelines for several months now and learned what works for my hair ... I have to use head and shoulders at least 3 times a week, I need to wash my hair at least every other day as much as I hate it, only HOVER with the diffuser. And my hair is getting back to its normal self! I’m done with trends and am now following what works for me thanks to YOU Mell! ❤️❤️
mandarue Same!!!! Cowashes inflamed my scalp
@@smang7866 I tried to do the no silicone/parabens/etc/curly girl methods... but it does not work for me. I found Mell and started doing things she talks about and found what has worked for me. Mell has helped save my hair and helped me embrace my curls!
How long were you trying for, do you think you made it through the transition period? How many different products did you try? 5+ minutes of cowashing and massaging your scalp every time?
Samuel I did not do the complete curly girl method. That will not work for me - my hair is too greasy and I am too vain to be seen in public looking like an oil slick. It is what it is lol My hair does not respond well to the no silicone/paraben products. I tried different ones for almost a year. I also have psoriasis in my scalp. And my dermatologist has highly recommended for me to use the head and shoulders which works wonders for me. It’s what works for me. If the other stuff works for others then that’s what works for them.
Samuel I did the cgm for about 7 months- I used devacurl for like 4 ish months and it fricked up my hair 😂
Thank you Mell! I was questioning the Think Dirty app, as I really didn't think so many products could possibly be that bad. It all seemed a bit fishy to me, so I'm deleting it! I'm also sharing this video on my FB page. Thanks again girlie! Love ya! You look adorable in this video. :)
You’re awesome thank you thank you for sharing💕💕 no more fear mongering!
hey if you're curious i use an app called INCI Beauty which i think is based on the EU ingredients database (or something lol), it seems to work quite well
That’s the reason why I started following her in the first place. I’ve always felt she shares all she knows and doesn’t withhold any information. She lays it all down.
And this video is just exactly why I like her. Thanks!
Thought the exact same thing when first turned onto this app. They also selectively didn't have certain products that I think would have come up as "clean." Possibly due to lack of monetary incentive?
formaldehyde is naturally occurring. we actually eat it. its also in our flu shots, we actually consume it by mouth more then apply it. its in plants and animals and our body metabolizes it quickly, its not persistent and doesn't accumulate. its made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. we eat it when we consume most fruits, grapes i believe have the highest amount, but its in apples and bananas, seafood, beef and chicken.. and get this, even us humans naturally produce it. its necessary for basic biological functions involved in metabolism like the production of certain amino acids. ive read on many occasions that the amount in cosmetics is the same if not less then eating a pear or an apple. the use in these products prevent dangerous fungus from growing and bacteria and yeast. and if your that worried, its water soluble.
ps. love ur channel, ur vids are awesome.
This is so great. You're just kicking hysteria to the curb. The voice of reason! Thank you!
I fell prey to the “clean beauty” marketing. I switched everything from household cleaners, makeup, hair products, deodorants etc...and the only difference I noticed was expensive shopping and my skin and scalp reacting negatively. Thank you for making this because I became obsessive and paranoid based of no concrete facts.
So sorry to hear that. Unfortunately you aren’t the only one. The media is misleading and we’re all being fed a lot of nonsense when we deserve the facts
Manes by Mell I completely agree. Most of the natural products use essential oils and coconut oil which my oily Puerto Rican ass cannot deal with and I broke out in zits and rashes from scalp to face to body. It was awful. We deserve to not have fear inducing marketing. It’s not right.
@@crystalsellers480 omg you see those "essential oils"... makes my chest close up..."natural" doesn't always mean good
Lori Dupuy I know! And some people drink them in their water. Freaks me out because they can legit send you to the hospital.
Crystal Figueroa the only good thing that the natural movement has done to me is made me realize the current shampoo I was using was damaging my hair and giving me dandruff. I’m glad I didn’t get too deep and obsessing over chemicals and unsafe ingredients though or else I might have end up with misconceptions and paranoia, it just instead made me alert about the shit that’s bad for my hair.
Fragrance is considered dirty or dangerous on their app because there can be 100s of other ingredients hiding behind that one that companies don’t have to disclose and most don’t because they claim it’s a trade secret. Most consumers don't know that and think of fragrance as only one ingredient. I prefer to stay away from it as much as I can, also because my skin often finds it irritating and it usually gives me a headache. 🤷🏼♀️ To each their own.
Hampton Ivy This!
This is what I go by as well. And the legal responsibility to ensure safe cosmetics lying within the companies doesn’t ensure safe cosmetics, it ensures large profit margins.
Lots of fragrances cause me to get terrible headaches and start sneezing my head off. So I try to stay away.
I understand that and while I personally don’t have problems with frangance in hair or skin care products I know several people who do. My favorite teacher in high school could not be around synthetic fragrance at all because she was allergic to it. To the point that she was allowed to issue detention if she could find out which student in her class wore lotion or cologne or perfume to class after the first week of class. And it can be just an irritating ingredient. While essentials oils that most natural or clean brands use can be the same.
Talking about "natural" means safe. Meanwhile, we all know at least one kid from our childhood that ate those berries that were fine for birds but not humans 😂
hahahahahahah!
Poison ivy is natural, as one of my friends found out when she tried to use some as TP on a hike.
this is getting old
@@trev1463 That's so tough. 😬
Lol I was def that kid. I turned out fine. Mostly 😜
THANK YOU! when I looked up my favorite products on this app I was horrified that everything was red and then it was just like "fragrance, BAD, bc it may cause a reaction.." like what? also, so many of the products they recommend have horrible reviews. So I didn't believe in the app. I'm so glad you did the research. You're the youtuber I trust the most!!
I was so scared when i installed the think dirty app, i thought all the products i have are harmful, now i feel so much better!! Thank you!!
now I just want a video telling me what to use...im so clusterfudged
That’s next, believe me I want to share that but there’s a lot of ground to cover and I really felt the need to clear the air on this one, stay tuned I have so much more to share ❤️
@Crucibelle your compassion is overwhelming.
@Crucibelle Really I meant under-whelming. But tell me this.... if you have all of your answers and aren't looking for advice....what are you doing here? just a thought from someone who cant make their own decisions....
"Chemicals", a word that includes every single substance un the world
Scientist here (Senior Microbiologist is my current job title)... many preservatives that products use are likely to be the most toxic ingredient in the list. They literally kill living organisms to keep your product fresh. In small quantities, they won't kill multicellular organisms like ourselves, but if we use them every single day for years, we really don't know what the consequences are. By the time you get cancer later in age, you really can't pinpoint what the exact cause was. Fragrances and essential oils are also very iffy because the company does not have to tell you the actual chemical compounds involved in those. Many essential oils are adulterated with other substances to increase the volume and to get a bigger profit. Working in the science industry myself in for-profit companies, I would not trust any company to ensure my safety or health. I worked for a company that sold a contaminated product for which a recall should had been issued, but they didn't want to lose all that money they made from selling the product. So they just swept it under the rug so to speak. Even many many research studies that an average person would trust the result because "it's science" have a lot of bias involved because they are funded by corporations and political parties to present the story that they want to tell that will make money in their pockets. Anything where money is involved is tainted.
Seriously, thank you so much for speaking TRUTH!!! I am so tired of the "clean beauty" industry. The fact that I have to basically sell my first born son to be able to afford all these "pure" hair care products is outrageous. I honestly believe a large part of clean beauty products are more irritating to the skin because they have to put in higher concentrations of "natural" ingredients in order to do the same thing as a man made ingredient. We live in the year 2020. Science has come a LONG way and I believe in the chemists and scientists behind the large majority of skin/haircare products.
Thank you for the information, and I sincerely hope that everyone who has been effected by Deva Curl can begin to trust other hair care companies. Find what works for you and if something causes irritation, then stop using that product and try something else. Keep up the great work Mell! I love your videos!! ❤️
I can't use any of those "clean" natural products because they're usually full of essential oils
@@Lauren-rl4eu I'm the same way. My scalp is always a lot more itchy when I use products with essential oils. I tried Deva Curl a couple of times, but I always had to wash my hair the next day because my scalp would get so itchy! I really believe essential oils can often be more irritating than synthetic fragrances.
The thing about formaldehyde is it is something that builds up. A little here, a little there, some in your laundry, a little in your pillow, some in your fleece jacket, some in your perfume (which is one of its main uses, preserving fragrance) before too long you are surrounded by it in everything and it is off gassing. I know all this because I’m actually allergic to formaldehyde. So mainly I look for natural fragrance or fragrance free, rather than just fragrance, natural usually and should mean made from natural oils rather than synthetic fragrances.
That said the word the FDA doesn’t regulate in any way is “natural”. It is one way you think you are buying something great and “natural” but it literally means nothing but what the marketing department wants you to believe. This goes for food and cosmetics. Another fun fact, in the US “organic” is an FDA regulated word, but it was originally intended ONLY for food. It is a convoluted mess is what it is. And unfortunately, the FDA is operated by lawmakers who own these massive corporations. It needs to be separated out from money vs science vs law. It would make us all a little more trustworthy of the cosmetic industry. That all said, fear-mongering is one of the worst ways to profit. Period! Nice work Mel...
Your statement is partly wrong. Formaldehyde is not something that builds in your system. Your body can natutally break down formaldehyde which is good since our bodies actually make it. Now too much formaldehyde is bad yes. And people can be much more sensitive to outside sources of it. Its quantity you are exposed to thats the issue.
@@muran3371 what I mean by builds up is in reference to exposure. If it is in everything you use the off gassing is building up around you. Poor choice of words, but that is what I was referring too. Not building up inside the body.
Loved the video. I downloaded the Think Dirty app. and totally agree. The things they recommend are hard to find and expensive.
Toxic and chemicals- sounds scary until you remember EVERYTHING IS A CHEMICAL. Thanks for your chill approach to investigating and understanding these issues.
Can I like this a million times!!!!
Are fruit and veggies chemicals- no. Do they have a chemical composition- YES they do.
Aisha Hassan Unless you have your own Garden, are growing All the the items you listed + for your “Natural” skincare products they are Not 100% Natural. Everything’ is sprayed with some chemical even Organic.
@Aisha Hassan A chemical - by definition - is a substance. It can occur naturally or be produced artificially. All known matter in the universe is made up of chemicals. Even we ourselves are made of chemicals. It's just a matter of breaking things down and classifying them by their smaller individual components.
This is so great. Thank you for directing people to actual science! People hear "clean" and "organic" and just assume it's better, and that's not necessarily the case! I love that you are looking at this issue as unbiased as you possibly can!
You are literally the best. This series is tackling pretty much every thought and question I've had since this whole scandal broke and answering all of my questions so well! Also, kinda weird, but the order of topics which you're tackling in both videos so far has basically been the exact order of my panicked rabbit hole research. You're a HUGE help and I appreciate this sooo much!! Thank you Mell!
Thank you for this! The Think Dirty app told me that basically every product I use was surely going to kill me. I thought it was fishy...The more you know...
THIS WAS A MUCH NEEDED VIDEO!! YOU DESERVE SO MUCH APPRECIATION!!
Lmfaooo big conspiracy vibes with this vid, imagine if you recorded this in the dark with a light under your face.
THANK YOU for making this video. When I first watched Ayesha Maliks video I downloaded the think dirty app in a panic. But after using the app for about two minutes I immediately realized it was total BS and fear-mongering. Since then I've been quietly following this controversy. I really appreciate how much effort you put into researching your videos and approaching them with as little bias as possible.
So what do you think happened to Ayesha Malik's hair?
@@zaraseastrunk5402 I have no idea. It could be deva curl, it could be the cgm, it could be any number of things. I just think the think dirty app is demonizing perfectly safe and normal ingredients in products only to turn around and sell others. For example, they rated Organix super poorly for having fragrance and yet rated Loma (a brand with super heavy fragrance that is marketed as aromatherapy) really safe and "clean" when both products have very similar ingredients and both obviously have fragrance. Its just a really fishy app and I dont think Ayesha should put that much weight in it when she is working on replacing her devacurl products.
@@ParksAndCreature totally agree about the app, especially if their rating is based on EWG info. What bothers me is "fragrance/parfum" includes over 3,000 different ingredients, so you never know what kind of fragrance you're getting or how much is in the product.
I’d looooove to see your elongated curly hair routine 😍
Working on it ASAP!
Absolutely love this video. People buy into trends, hypes, and ingredient shaming without doing ANY actual research. Working in the dermatology field, I see this all the time. For example, all mushrooms are natural but not all mushrooms are safe. Same with ingredients used in products. Not all natural ingredients should automatically be believed as safe. The balance between safe, natural ingredients and safe, synthetic ingredients should be the priority, not having ONLY natural ingredients as the priority. Well said Mell!!!
A rare, rational voice in the beauty community! You’re making a real difference! 😘
There are actually many other people who have been talking about this for a long time . She's just getting more attention and sadly those others are getting overshadowed despite working on this and talking about this type of topic for years.
Palmundo91 No one is being overshadowed. People will reach different size audiences for different reasons. I watch her because she’s smart, knowledgeable, funny and charismatic.
I am so supportive of your breaking down of pseudoscientific fear mongering, and in a way that respects people experiencing difficulty with their hair. I was impacted by Deva products, which changed my texture drastically from the ends up to within about a half inch of my roots. It became coarse, tangled, and strands would lock together like puzzle pieces - no amount of conditioner would help to detangle. It was unlike anything I ever felt. My doctors said it was topical rather than medical, as it starts in the hair shaft rather than at the roots. I had to big chop more than a foot of hair into a pixie. But, I’ve been really dismayed about some of the claims coming out, like that these products caused autoimmune diseases or personality changes, when there’s absolutely no evidence suggesting that. It’s terrifying what a crowd mentality can do. Look into it, challenge the company to conduct investigations, but the bandwagoning and escalation are scary, and not helping to get to the bottom of the actual issue.
That being said, research has found that carcinogenic and hormone disrupting compounds, including ones banned in the EU and California, are used relatively frequently and in high concentrations in beauty products in the US, especially in hair care products aimed at black women and women with textured hair. So the claim that cosmetic products are some of the safest - not so true in the good ol’ US of A. I’m not sure what regulations are like in Canada. People should be conscious of what they’re using, but know that what appears on the bottle and use of the words “natural” and “organic” are all marketing rather than indications of quality. The best thing is to make an educated decision, and see what works for you.
I love your channel, BTW.
Here’s a summary of one of the studies: www.scientificamerican.com/article/hair-products-popular-with-black-women-may-contain-harmful-chemicals/
Just found your videos, and immediately stopped cowashing because your info helped me realized that I had much thicker hair and more hair density before I started cowashing! Hoping I can use your channel and information to help me develop a new hair care routine. Thanks for all of your research and videos!
I actually have a bald spot now too, which was never an issue for me. My hair has always dense, even though it was on the finer side.
Thank you for making this video! I was thinking that way too many products are considered “highly toxic” on the think dirty app when they’ve never caused any issues...
Holy crap i love you. I LOVE THAT YOU MADE THIS VIDEO SO MUCH!!! As a new cosmetic chemist people always make comments to me about “bad ingredients” and i am always having to explain why they arent bad and how everything is safety and clinically tested in the cosmetic industry!!!! Its really the smaller companies that are “preservative free” that you should be worried about.... how do you think they are so quick to market?? Maybe minimal to no safety testing?? And they can get away with it because they are a small company and less likely to be sued... i digress.. amazing video once again mell. 💞
You are so good at breaking down extremely complicated topics like this (and all the while, lookin’ SO GOOD! and making me laugh with your jokes). I love your videos and I’m so glad I found you. You’ve helped me improve my curly hair routine and made me love my hair even more, so much that I want to take proper care of it every day.
The DevaCurl scandal fallout sent me on an anxious spiral looking at all of my beauty products and finding ingredients that made me feel like I was poisoning my body. But I know better than that, deep down. People assume that natural = good, and that goes for beauty products AND other things like food, household products, and so much more. But no one wants to think outside of the box and consider the true impact of their choices.
Thanks again Mell ☺️
Just want to thank you for this video and to remind everyone that there are so major keys to understanding toxic ingredients. First, you need to understand the mode of transmission I.e. is it absorbed by the skin, ingested injected (IM, IV, and SC). Then you need to understand how the mode of transmission affects the bioavailability of the substance. Then you need to understand the pharmacokinetic properties of the substance.
Long story short, something that is skin safe may not be safe to consume or inject. Something may be skin safe, but not in certain situations (like salicylic acid and pregnancy). And most importantly, the dose makes the poison.
“Clean” and “organic” are marketing terms first, and not really relevant to health or safety. “Clean beauty” is mostly based in pseudoscience, and is used to target those who have fallen for it.
Your body cannot tell the difference between an organic and non-organic apple, and in most cases, an organic apple will contain more arsenic.
I really like this video. When I first heard about the think dirty app I admit I downloaded it but when I started scanning my hair products that I knew to be "safe" and they kept coming up "dirty" it made me question it. The only "dirty" ingredient seemed to be the perfume. It made me think how does this app know what exact perfume/fragrance they used and how can they claim a lot of these known hair products known for being safe/CGF or whatever have used the same fragrance to make it dirty? I was like no way, something is not adding up here. When I noticed the "clean" products were only a select few which I personally never heard of I deleted the app. I'm glad you are speaking out cause I feel bad for the people out there blindly believing it and getting rid of actual good products.
Spot on as usual! I have looked at the Think Dirty app and the first thing I noticed, just like you, is that anything scented is "dirty". I will be 51 in 3 days and have lived this long using "dirty" products, and will continue to do so. Thanks for all you do for your fans!!
Thanks for the support and happy birthday ❤️❤️😘😘😘
Umm can you post videos on different ways to wear turban headbands cause this look is amazing
Joshua Burns yasssssss
Honestly I recently discovered your channel and I LOVE it. You don't just jump on bandwagons and try to explain things with logic, facts, and research. You're so funny and adorable and really go out of your way to make things clear but also entertaining. It's nice to have someone I feel I can trust to be straightforward about curls and how to manage them after a lifetime of hating then trying to love my hair. Keep doing you girlie, you rock! Also your hair accessories are always on point
I've been using innersense hair products since before this situation happened, actually years . my hair always looks the best when I use innersense and I recommend them to people who have fine hair like me with high porosity. They are really good at not weighing down the hair yet being really moisturizing, I like that they have a pH level of 5.5, and they have protein as well so it's a good balance for me at least
Very well done! Those apps are not really reliable (we have something similar in Germany). But it is also clear that the sheer volume of information and ingredients are totally overwhelming for the consumer. In the time you have to spend for research to choose a hair (or other cosmetic) product you could probably cook a four course dinner for 20 people. And that is ridiculous.
YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL!!! I love your contend, your humor, everything!
Thank you!! I never knew what to do with my hair. Ever since i was young its been a struggle. All my family had straight or wavy hair, and growing up in Sweden no one i knew had textured hair... It really effected my confidence and i often cried because of my hair and how ugly i thought i was.
Im now learning how to care for and love my natural hair and over all appearance and in that process your channel has been an absolute blessing!!! Its so help full, enjoyable and inspiring!
Im redefining my very perception of beauty. Thank you
Good job, great video... I'm a chemist and natural doctor and those apps have a lot of inconsistences. They do point out some bad things however like you said they do demonize some materials way more than they should be. It does look like they have an agenda to hide the ingredients of the brands that they are promoting. Keep up the good work Mel. Thanks Ryan J
Ah I'm so happy you made this video! I deleted the Think Dirty app last year when I realized everything with fragrance is "dirty." Seeing people site the think dirty app as confirmation that devacurl is toxic has been driving me mental and I've been begging something to say something all month. In my head. To myself. And yet you heard my prayers!
I also fell into the green is clean products in a notable MLM company. Never again. The reaction to my scalp was awful and I’m happy to report that following your videos have brought back my scalp and hair health. Thank you! For being real .
omg I feel so vindicated right now! just a few hours ago I downloaded the app to have a look, saw the many items being rated with a huge red bad 8 solely because of the non-specific fragrances in them, and called bullshit.
the timing of this + video is just amazing ❤
I had the Think Dirty app for approximately 24 hours before I just shook my head and deleted it. I’ve watched my hair get SO much healthier and bouncier by following your advice and discovering what works for MY hair, not other people’s. I didn’t need one more cause of anxiety, and I sure as heck am not giving up my Cake products because one app says they’re “dirty”.
The truth is, you say it like it is and you care about educating us for real. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Mell and Amanda. Be safe!
Thank you Mell!! As someone who works in the makeup industry, I truly appreciate your sharing useful and accurate info about ingredients apps, websites, and consumer sources. The apps and EWG put a lot of misleading info out there and I sincerely appreciate your setting the record straight! BRAVA!
Hey Mel. Thanks for making these videos...and by "these videos" I mean...
ALL OF THEM!
I have been searching answers to a lot of the questions you approach and I find that you answer them with your charisma and wit and better yet, educated logic.
You are my natural hair wikipedia guru!
You tell the truth according to your experience and that is truly all I could ask for.
My sister, my daughter and I don't quite have the goldy lock ringlets you and your sister possess, but I notice we have a wave that sometimes wants to cool more and this prompted me to possibly look into the possibility of our curls being damaged. And that search guided me to eventually find your channel.
We all have long hair, my sister cut hers and she is not looking back. Her hair looks amazing and with your guidance it's looking better and better. My daughter and I, however - like your "seester" - decided not to go through "the big chop" instead we are going through the frequent hair cuts...and making sure to pay attention on how the products we use are affecting out hair plus making sure we check the ingredients.
My daughter laughs calling it "our hair going on its diet" process...lol
I am going to be video documenting our journey to hopefully post when it's done. Your videos are mentioned quite a lot...lol
Anyways...
I just wanted to thank u for being so frank and teaching serious issues with your quirky videos. I look forward to them even if I don't comment on them.
Girl this 🙌🏼 I love your unbiased take on this; as someone who devoutly used DevaCurl, I made the decision to stop you know just to be safe. But I myself witnessed how apps like Think Dirty will change their information to match a narrative (they did this with the Mist-er Right spray, which I still use as a curl refresher). Thanks for making these videos!
I have been researching individual ingredients and have switched gears alittle my channel to review what I have researched to be clean options for curls without toxins and human carcinogens! This is so important to me.
I LOVE that you put this out there! I'm a clinical aesthetician, and one of the biggest issues I would face with when working with new clients would be that they insisted they only use products with "natural ingredients". I would ask them what did they mean by "natural". A lot of times they couldn't give me an answer or would say that they didn't like to use "chemicals". I would reply, "Jelly fish are natural; poison ivy is natural; dog poop is natural." Just because it's "natural" doesn't automatically mean it's going to be better.
And while the Internet has made it easier to educate oneself, the is still a lot of false information out there, so "Caveat Emptor"!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! for helping to educate and elevate! This is why you're my FAVORITE you tuber!
I just have to say that I am new to your channel about two weeks ago. But I have been using deva curl products for about 15 years. I’m intrigued by this whole story. I just find your channel so interesting and you give great information without leaning one way or the other.
I love you Mell, and your videos actually taught me so much! My hair has always made me feel so insecure but you taught me how to embrace it and now I love my curls!!
Wow, thank you Mel. That was was some great content. I appreciate all the research that you did for this video. Truly informative! And you look amazing💓
Thank you for saying this. I am sensitive to lots of ingredients and am careful with what I buy. However, I am wary of these sites and it bothers me when people claim that natural is better or safer, or ignore the fact that formulation and concentration matter, not just the individual ingredients!
I know this is a serious video but I have to tell you. Two days ago I tired finger coiling for the first time because of you and I can't thank you enough! My hair has never looked so defined and soft. OMG! Also because of that, I realized that my curl pattern is even tighter than I thought. I'm so happy I tried it! Thanks again for your encouragement and detailed instructions. I would have given up a third of the way through if it hadn't have been so thorough. :)
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ music time my ears thank you for sharing
@Bridget Ann how difficult was it for you as a first time ? I've been intimidated to try but have wondered what my curls would look like.
@@lilliegranados4532 Well, my hair straight is passed my butt so it took me about 45 minutes. Long but not as long as I expected.
@@lilliegranados4532 Also going into it knowing if a curl looks like crap to just coil in the opposite direction really helped.
I absolutely love and admire your passion to put up the cameras and bring the raw facts to everyone who is willing to watch. Gosh I hope that this doesn't turn into a fad. We need the nitty gritty scientifiy!
Mell you put so much effort into your videos and it shows thank you for being very factual and addressing the issues as well as having our best interest (and our hairs) at heart. It's especially admirable that you establish your platform on facts and by being transparent with your subscribers. I have curly hairs and I work in a lab and I love seeing my two passions come together (science & beauty) and in such a entertaining, real way. ALSO you rock the hairstyle in this video, keep doing your thing much love & support to you and your seester
Dude. I love you channel. Your personality is what keeps me coming back.
Your research is so appreciated Mell! From where I sit you really did a great job!
( I made popcorn and watched right here from the Manes by Mell rabbit-hole! :) )
I found you because Olena once shared you in her stories on Instagram and OMG, I’m obsessed with you!!!!!
Oooo scientify Mel is about to get in the nitty gritty
Thanks Mell for, not only taking the time to do research that is actually reliable, BUT for actually sharing it with us. This whole curly girl drama has been confusing so thanks for clarifying and exposing the truth!! Absolutely appreciate it and look forward to hearing more from you!! Well done 👏👏❤️
Thank you for spending your time researching all this information for us. Not like other UA-camrs who just see everyone and do the same thing. It reassured me that my products are not "toxic."
I’ve heard the standards for ingredients in cosmetics in Europe are stricter than in the USA so that they are safer. Is this true? If so, why?
French girl here : yes, they are. Especially in France and Germany. I do believe our products are safer. But the green organic beauty market is also blowing up here and you can find loads of them at very low prices, yet still very clean. Using organic beauty products here has become quite mainstream.
It’s because the US tends to value companies over consumers. There are fewer consumer protection laws in general because the government tends to share Mell’s point of view that the companies aren’t there to hurt people, therefore they shouldn’t need to cut into their own bottom line to prove that. Not to mention that republicans favor smaller government, meaning they don’t want government intervention to begin with.
Girl you are the queen of truth because of you I finally started using sulfates AND silicones and my hair changed overnight to being so healthy I get compliments from hairdressers
Bless you!
The tea is scalding, hunty!!! Your video reinforces that people need to be smart consumers. It takes research to be an informed consumer, but we're the ones driving product. We can change things to reflect what we want. Thanks, Mel!
I'm just learning how to treat my wavy hair (and discovering I have waves), and you are now my new favorite youtuber. You had me going. Which side are you on girl? I love the research you did. You hit the nail on the head. There are a ton of other resources out there people can look up. Like if the FDA has given a warning letter to a company (aka they done messed up!) and other things. It's all available on the FDA website.
You made this chemist happy. ;)
I’m really glad you said this, especially about the Think Dirty app. I downloaded it and 99% of the products I use (all bigger name brands) weren’t even listed on the app itself. So I deleted it. Also because all of the “clean products”, like you said, are super expensive. And I had also never heard of the brands they were recommending. I also appreciate your knowledge and effort! Keep on providing great content for us!!! And your outro/ending is GOLD! Why is that me? Lmao
Idk why you don’t have more subscribers. Your knowledge 👏🏼
Just saw Dr. Dray posted EXACTLY the same PSA regarding the Think Dirty app. Everything you said in your post has just been substantiated by a board certified and practicing dermatologist. I love your videos and their content and have always felt when you get all "scientify" on us you are sharing excellent and sound information. This just goes to further prove that. I love the way your brain works. It's icing on the cake that that brain is shrouded by glorious curls and a beautiful face. :)
THANK YOU FOR POINTING THIS OUT my first thought when all this devacurl bs went down was a) an app is not a lab or a scientist and can not confirm allegations against devacurl b) all the stories coming out are anecdotes and do not replace actual lab testing
We always want to think that natural is best. Poison ivy is natural but we wouldn't want to rub it on our skin. Great video Mel!
Thank you for this video! I can't believe I got sucked into the fear tactics from these companies. I followed the herd and believed social media when I should've known better and have done my own research in the first place. All of the shit that has been going on with DC has left me so confused. Thank you for waking me up and opening my eyes! I like your videos because you plays devils advocate and seem honest...which is hard to find these days.
Thank you for being so unbiased..I love your content. People need to realize that a lot of these influencers are not actual “professionals”. You can have a pretty face and hair and be considered an influencer.. and I do not say this to cause offense but it is time for people to do their own research instead of taking the word of people who only know the superficial benefits and results. I feel for those who are going through the hair trauma, this should be a lesson to all of us that a lot of the influence we get these days are based from advertisements which equals money.
I definitely find your video interesting - thank you for your perspective and words. I find your videos very informative and I'm a new subscriber, and you've helped me keep a balanced view on clean beauty/clean hair products. However, the whole situation with J&J shows that companies WILL lie and poison their customers and not say anything until they are caught because it helps their bottom line. Having lost a grandmother to mesothelioma, these hidden chemicals and toxins and what have you are really scary to me, and I'm more worried about them than some of the chemicals I see on the bottle ingredients list. I find it really frustrating and upsetting that cosmetics aren't really rigorously vetted by the FDA - it's up to the beauty companies most times.
Thank you so much for your honesty on this issue. The Think Dirty app did help me find some better shampoo and conditioner that works better for me, but after digging in the app, I did question how they came up with some of their ratings.
You are the best Mell, I knew that your videos about this issue were not going to be drama based but full of facts and research. Thanks for your videos!!
My Lord, that hairstyle looks bomb on you! It distracted me from the video😭
Thank you so much for making this video. So sick of seeing people trying to get UA-cam famous off of a fake controversy.
Hi Mell! I have been watching your videos non-stop for the last few days. You are hilarious and fun to watch, and you are so knowledgeable! Thank you for sharing your suggestions and advice with us. My curls are in good hands now!
I somehow accidentally stumbled across the curly community due to the DevaCurl scandal and all of this has lead me to find your channel, I absolutely love your personality, your gorgeous hair and videos! Always cheers up my day, when I watch one of those.
I’m so happy to here that! Thanks for tuning in 💕💕
You are absolutely amazing for standing up and telling the truth, instead of fearing and hiding behind all the "big companies and influencers"
Again another super helpful video! I've never tried any of those types of apps before and I won't bother now. Natural definitely doesn't mean better! My scalp needs better than that for a true cleanse or it gets irritated. Thank you Mell for time you put into research to keep us as well informed as possible.
I love your clear honesty! And non biased information! Keep being you x
Thank you so much for this!! I literally downloaded the Think Dirty app two days ago and it gave my shampoo a score of 8...just because of the fragrances?! From there I thought it was fishy. So glad we have you who puts so much time and effort into your research and videos to help make people aware of these apps and websites!
Many thanks for all the research and presentation of sane and accurate information! I tried "Think Dirty" and not only could I not figure out how to easily use the app, but I was inundated with adds for products. Needless to say, it is no longer on my phone.
Thank you so much for putting in the time and research, and for also giving your sources! I had pause about the think dirty app, but I really didn’t know why. Now you have put my mind at peace!!
Omg!!! I just deleted this app 2 days ago! I knew this app was not it. You're litterally my go to hair guru. My husbands deployed but when we do communicate, I always talk about what I've learned about my natural hair by watching your videos. Keep up the great work Mel♡
Thank you for bringing light to this misinformation, 100% natural is not always best in fact my friend recently had a sever allergic reaction from using several all natual products that containd beeswax, and once she stopped using them her issue cleared up right away
Thank you for this video! With these apps something as simple as fragrance will make a product be “red” or “bad”. 😬 it can be very misleading and sometimes people don’t check things like that. Great video lady!
Oooooh biiiiiish. I've been following quietly for a bit (only recently found you) but now I'm fully on board. Your "closing statement" is everything.
Hell yeah girl, a real creator doing research and not being swayed by a sponsor