Re: Question for James about Hair.

Do you avoid shampoos that contain SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate)? Is it true that SLS is bad due to being a toxin that may cause cancer or other health problems?

I think this is another over hyped issue.  SLS has been shown to be an irritant in humans, but not carcinogenic.

Animal studies have also primarily shown irritation.

In some cases DNA mutations that include DNA inhibition.  Animal studies have also shown an increase of cellular and humoral immune responses.  These factors would indicate more likely that SLS would help prevent cancer as opposed to cause cancer. Although, we still have to keep in mind that studies on rats and other animals do not always correlate to humans, and in these studies they use concentrated, isolated substances.  This is way different than exposure to dilute levels of a substance for shorter periods of time.