Are you guilty of torturing your beautiful hair with sulfate-laden shampoos? Maybe it’s time for you to quit!
You may have heard enough of people or experts asking people to switch to sulfate-free shampoos. But, you must know why shampoos contain sulfates in the first place. In this article, we are going to talk about various aspects of sulfate-free shampoo and which ones are best to use.
What do you mean by sulfate-free shampoo?
If you take your shampoo bottle and look on the back of the label, you might see the ingredients sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate. According to American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), these two components of sodium are the most common ingredients with which shampoos are formulated.
Both are types of detergents that produce a foaming effect that can help get dirt and debris out of your hair. They are sulfate free and people would consider it a chemical free shampoo option. But you don’t have to worry, they will still cleanse and condition your hair!
Are sulfates bad for your hair?
Sulfate-free shampoos get a lot of attention from people, which may make you wonder if using a shampoo with sulfates is bad. The answer is no!
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, lauryl sulphates are excellent cleansers for your hair and are commonly used in shampoos for oily hair. Laureth sulfates, on the other hand, are also known to be good cleansers with a foaming property that can benefit normal to dry hair.
Even though sulfates aren’t considered bad, you should consider using a sulfate-free shampoo for your hair!
Myth-Buster: Do sulfate-free shampoos lather well?
First of all, most of us believe in the idea that the shampoo that lathers the most will have the best cleaning power. But, let us tell you, it’s a myth.
Sulfate shampoos produce more suds when washing hair than sulfate-free shampoos. This allows the former to provide an easier and better rinsing feeling. However, the latter is said to perform the ideal cleansing action.
The alternative surfactants found in sulfate-free shampoos remove grime and dirt from your scalp and hair very effectively, without upsetting your scalp’s pH.
Benefits of using a sulfate-free shampoo
If you were to ask us, sulfates are known to be harsh detergents that could rob your hair of its natural moisture. If someone abuses sulfate shampoos, it would make their hair dry, rough and brittle. It can also cause scalp irritation in a few people.
As the benefits of using a sulfate-free shampoo are many, many people opt for this one.
Some of the most crucial benefits of using a sulfate-free shampoo are:
- Sulfate-free shampoos help you retain your hair’s natural moisture so your hair doesn’t lose its natural shine and softness.
- If you have colored hair, you should consider sulfate-free shampoos a blessing. Unlike their counterparts, these types of shampoos are gentle on your hair and won’t fade your hair too quickly.
- Sulfates are considered harsh on the scalp and can cause irritation and itching. Sulfate-free shampoos are way too mild and can help you control scalp inflammation.
- These types of shampoos are also gentle on your eyes. They do not produce unpleasant inflammation if you accidentally get a little shampoo in your eyes.
- As these shampoos are mainly composed of plant derivatives, sulphate-free shampoos are also known to be environmentally friendly.
- Sulfate-free shampoos work best on low porosity hair. This means that when your hair is having a hard time getting moisture, this shampoo helps to hydrate your hair and tame frizz.
- Sulfate-free shampoos can help you avoid long-term exposure to potentially toxic chemicals.
Who should use a sulfate-free shampoo?
First, those who have dyed their hair should use sulfate-free shampoos. Indeed, if you use sulfate shampoo, the color of your hair may fade very quickly! These are considered quite harsh cleaners, and the effect is visible!
Those with frizzy hair should also embrace sulfate-free shampoos for sure. This is because this type of hair cleanser does not strip the natural oils from your scalp and hair, which ultimately leaves your hair full of moisture. It also helps people who suffer from scalp irritation.
You must remember that since these shampoos are mild, they must be massaged properly into your scalp and hair.
Who should NOT use sulfate-free shampoos?
Many people believe that sulfate-free shampoo makes their hair greasy and oily just minutes after washing it. Well, in some cases this statement is true. This is because most sulfate-free shampoos are formulated in a way that won’t strip the natural oils from your hair and scalp. And since these are very mild shampoos, product buildup stays on your hair and leaves it looking greasy and oily.
Another reason people don’t prefer sulfate-free shampoos is that they don’t have the strength to cleanse the scalp, so they try to compensate for it with higher concentrations of other surfactants in shampoo. These surfactants can be harsh on your hair, causing your sebaceous glands to overreact, leading to overproduction of sebum.
Is your shampoo sulfate free?
If you want to know if you’re using a paraben- and sulfate-free shampoo, you need to read the labels. While doing so, you can watch out for labels containing any of these ingredients:
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or SLS
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate or SLES
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Triethanolamine or TEA
When should you use a sulfate-free shampoo?
If you have pre-existing skin conditions, sulfate shampoos can make conditions worse. If you have conditions like eczema, contact dermatitis, rosacea, or other skin problems, sulfate-free shampoo is one of the great alternatives.
Your doctor may also recommend that you use a sulfate-free shampoo if you are allergic to sulfa products. Some of the most common signs of sulfate allergy are:
- Itching
- Rashes
- Redness
- Urticaria
Is it recommended to wash your hair every day with a sulfate-free shampoo?
Well, regular hair washing is only necessary when your hair is extremely oily. Whether your hair is dry or oily depends entirely on your hair texture. Usually, straight, thin hair is oilier than thick, curly hair.
While regular use of sulfate shampoos can make your hair rough and brittle, on the other hand, you can wash your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner every day without damaging it.
What are the other ingredients in the shampoo?
Detergents strip the oil from your hair, leaving the cuticles exposed and susceptible to further damage. Your hair will be clean if you use soap or dish detergent on your hair, but it may feel limp and lack body and shine. The shampoo contains the right amount of ingredients that replace the protective coating on the hair.
Many shampoos contain additional contents intended to protect the hair. The most commonly found additive is sunscreen. Other chemicals often protect against heat damage from hair dryers or curlers and chemical damage from swimming pools.
Your shampoo may contain cosmetic ingredients that do not affect how well your hair cleans, but may make the shampoo experience more enjoyable or affect the color or scent of your hair. These additives also include pearlescent ingredients, which add shine to the hair product and can leave a slight sheen on your hair, the pungent smell of shampoo and hair, and dyes.
Certain ingredients are added to these hair products to keep them evenly blended, thicken them so that they become easier to apply, inhibit the growth of bacteria, and preserve them to further extend their shelf life.
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To lather or not to lather:
One last fun fact you should know is that mousse is not necessary for your hair cleansing experience. Shampoos lather primarily because users enjoy a good lather when washing their hair (or anything else). All bubbles give hair, skin, etc. a feeling of impeccable cleanliness, which is really never a good thing. Hence the many conditioning agents in your shampoo formulas.
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Shampoo for Hair Loss
Here are some tips that you should keep in mind before buying shampoo for hair loss.
1) Buy a sulfur-free shampoo
Sulfur shampoos are harmful to the scalp as they foam and scrape all the natural oil from the scalp. They also disrupt the pH balance of the scalp.
2) Know your hair type
It is very important to know your hair type before you go on a shampoo hunt, there are different shampoos for different hair types and to use for different reasons, do your research before buying a shampoo.
3) Buy a clear shampoo
Clear shampoos are gentle and help maintain the pH balance of the scalp, they don’t make your hair frizzy and help if you have dry hair.
4) Look for shampoos with natural ingredients
If you suffer from hair loss, you must stay away from all harmful chemicals. Choose a mild shampoo with natural ingredients and see the magic, you’ll notice a visible difference in your hair loss pattern.
Here we have the best shampoo for you if you want to treat your hair loss and make your hair stronger, shinier and nourished.
Anti-hair loss shampoo
Groww B anti-hair loss shampoo protects hair follicles from breakage and makes hair thick and long-lasting. To get a better result, we will advise you to use this shampoo for 60 days and during this period you will notice a change in your hair texture and hair loss.
Ingredients of this shampoo:
This shampoo contains ingredients such as aloe vera extract, watercress extract, argan oil, liposomal caffeine and ceramides, let us find out the benefits.
1) Aloe Vera extract:
Aloe Vera extract is a good component as it helps to reduce dandruff, it can also solve itchy scalp problems. Aloe Vera repairs dead cells and helps regrow hair follicles.
2) Watercress extract:
Watercress extract is enriched with properties that can balance hormones and help stimulate the hair growth process.
3) Argan Oil:
Argan oil is known to moisturize and nourish the scalp, leaving the scalp healthier which will ultimately reduce hair loss.
4) Liposomal caffeine:
Caffeine is a good element to stimulate hair growth, it also works as a natural DHT blocker.
5) Ceramides:
Ceramide is an active agent that helps repair hair texture, if you have damaged or dry hair, it will help treat the hair as a whole.
Carry
If you want to buy our nourishing hair shampoo and many other products like Mino-xidil, Fin., etc. to take care of your hair, you can visit our website of March by GHC.
Frequently asked question
1. Why is my hair oily after using sulfate-free shampoo?
At first it feels greasy at the root, like you haven’t just washed your hair this morning. Don’t worry, this is completely normal and common! Your hair goes through an adjustment period as it adjusts to your new sulfate-free routine. If you’re like most people, you’ve been using sulfate products for so many years.
2. Does sulfate-free shampoo make hair frizzy?
Frizz or dryness is probably not related to whether or not your shampoo is sulfate-free. However, the ingredients in your hair products will make a big difference in how the hair ultimately turns out.
Often, hair overloaded with certain products and poorly cleaned can also show the opposite effects.
3. Why doesn’t sulfate-free shampoo lather?
Most of us assume that a more lathering shampoo cleanses the hair better. But, that may not be true at all. Certainly, if your shampoo produces foam, it is that it contains sulphates. Comparatively, sulfate-free shampoos produce very less suds when washing hair.
References
1. Hair cosmetics: A Insight
Maria Fernanda Reis Gavazzoni Dias
