The Sulfate Question
Why You Should Say No To Sulfate Shampoos Do you or someone you know suffer from scalp irritation, alarming hair loss and other similar issues? Have you tried coloring your hair, spending hard-earned money only to see the color fade so fast? The cause could be sulfate, the component that is almost always present in many products not only in shampoos and conditioners.
You could have been using it for the longest time, not knowing its ill effects.
But you might ask: If sulfate is supposed to take the grease out of your hair and help your shampoo lather like your hair is a piece of cloud when you use it, then there should be no issue, yes? Don't we experience a more squeaky clean hair after a bath using hair cleaners that bubble generously? A quick look at sulfate says that...
In most commercially available shampoos and conditioners, sulfate is an ever-present content and that there are three kinds: ALS (ammonium laureth sulfate), SLES (sodium laureth sulfate), sodium myreth sulfate and the most common of all, SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate).
SLS is inexpensive and works effectively in reducing water surface tension so that it sticks to dirt and grime making it easy to wash away from hair.
However, the chemical components of sulfate strip away hair moisture and other essential hair oils that hair dries so fast and leaves the scalp vulnerable to irritations.
Other disadvantages include...
1.
Dry hair due to dissolved natural oils stripped away each time you shampoo.
It is more evident if you have curly hair.
2.
Irritated scalp that could lead to other conditions like eczema, severe dandruff, tightening and severe itchiness.
3.
Dull color and brittle strands caused by the harsh and destructive cleaning with sulfate.
4.
Corroded and damaged hair follicles that lead to hair loss.
With continued use, the follicles will have a hard time recovering, unable to replace strands.
5.
Negative effects that may not be limited to your hair and scalp and overall health but also to the environment as shown in some studies.
The good news is...
There are non-sulfate products that you can use so that you don't expose your beautiful mane to the dangers of sulfate.
Typically these are natural shampoos and conditioners that are mild to the hair and scalp.
The benefits include: 1.
Less damages because most non-sulfate hair products use natural ingredients like aloe or honey.
2.
While they don't produce as much bubbles, they can also effectively clean.
3.
They make the best choice for color-treated hair hence widely recommended and used by experts.
4.
Sulfate-free shampoos are not known to inflict permanent damage to the scalp, hair, skin and the environment.
That is doing your bit to a cleaner, greener planet.
The final analysis is that...
Sulfate, while very common in many products, does more bad than good when used as a shampoo ingredient.
But don't let that stop you from pampering your precious tresses whether it is curly, straight or mixed hair.
Opt for products that can help restore hair moisture, shine and health.
Often, the all-natural products work way better and they are guaranteed to be sulfate-free because healthy, natural hair is the primary concern of such manufacturers who truly know and understand hair.
You could have been using it for the longest time, not knowing its ill effects.
But you might ask: If sulfate is supposed to take the grease out of your hair and help your shampoo lather like your hair is a piece of cloud when you use it, then there should be no issue, yes? Don't we experience a more squeaky clean hair after a bath using hair cleaners that bubble generously? A quick look at sulfate says that...
In most commercially available shampoos and conditioners, sulfate is an ever-present content and that there are three kinds: ALS (ammonium laureth sulfate), SLES (sodium laureth sulfate), sodium myreth sulfate and the most common of all, SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate).
SLS is inexpensive and works effectively in reducing water surface tension so that it sticks to dirt and grime making it easy to wash away from hair.
However, the chemical components of sulfate strip away hair moisture and other essential hair oils that hair dries so fast and leaves the scalp vulnerable to irritations.
Other disadvantages include...
1.
Dry hair due to dissolved natural oils stripped away each time you shampoo.
It is more evident if you have curly hair.
2.
Irritated scalp that could lead to other conditions like eczema, severe dandruff, tightening and severe itchiness.
3.
Dull color and brittle strands caused by the harsh and destructive cleaning with sulfate.
4.
Corroded and damaged hair follicles that lead to hair loss.
With continued use, the follicles will have a hard time recovering, unable to replace strands.
5.
Negative effects that may not be limited to your hair and scalp and overall health but also to the environment as shown in some studies.
The good news is...
There are non-sulfate products that you can use so that you don't expose your beautiful mane to the dangers of sulfate.
Typically these are natural shampoos and conditioners that are mild to the hair and scalp.
The benefits include: 1.
Less damages because most non-sulfate hair products use natural ingredients like aloe or honey.
2.
While they don't produce as much bubbles, they can also effectively clean.
3.
They make the best choice for color-treated hair hence widely recommended and used by experts.
4.
Sulfate-free shampoos are not known to inflict permanent damage to the scalp, hair, skin and the environment.
That is doing your bit to a cleaner, greener planet.
The final analysis is that...
Sulfate, while very common in many products, does more bad than good when used as a shampoo ingredient.
But don't let that stop you from pampering your precious tresses whether it is curly, straight or mixed hair.
Opt for products that can help restore hair moisture, shine and health.
Often, the all-natural products work way better and they are guaranteed to be sulfate-free because healthy, natural hair is the primary concern of such manufacturers who truly know and understand hair.
Source...