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We are often cautious about the words sulfates, phthalates, and parabens in many products that we use. Many articles suggest choosing products that are paraben-free or sulfate-free. But what do these terms really mean? It can be challenging to separate fact from fiction when trying to make conscious, cleaner swaps in your hair care routine. That’s where we can help. We spoke with our head of Research and Development about sulfates to address the common question, “Are sulfates bad for your hair?”
What Are Sulfates?
In the realm of personal care products, sulfates serve as highly effective cleansing agents. These compounds are essentially salts that occur naturally in the environment, comprising a sulfur atom and four oxygen atoms. When we mention sulfates in personal care products, such as shampoos, we’re talking about a combination of salts and fatty acids.
While sulfates were introduced into personal care products in the 1930s, scientific research indicates that not all sulfates are beneficial for your hair or skin.
Types of Sulfates in Hair Products
Sulfate-free shampoo – however, some of the most commonly used sulfates in hair care products are ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). These sulfates are often found in shampoo ingredients and other hair care products, including conditioners.
Are Sulfates Bad for Hair?
The question of whether sulfates are bad for hair does not have a definitive answer, and there is a lot of misinformation circulating on the topic. In shampoos, sulfates can be less than ideal for you. While they are very efficient cleansers, perhaps too efficient, they have the ability to strip a lot of natural oils from both hair and skin. Their strong cleaning properties can lead to the removal of natural oils from your hair, resulting in a rough, dry, and brittle texture. Sulfates can also cause dryness and scalp irritation, which is why they are sometimes referred to as harsh or harmful sulfates.
For these reasons, we opt to create sulfate-free shampoos and hair products, such as dry scalp treatments, because we believe there is a gentler yet effective way to cleanse hair.
Not all sulfates are harmful. When used in conditioners along with other molecules, they can contribute to making hair smoother, softer, and visibly healthier. In this context, it would be incorrect to say that they are bad for your hair. That’s why we utilize the beneficial sulfates in our products. They help make hair feel softer and smoother to the touch, and they can significantly reduce breakage from combing and styling. Sulfates in conditioners and treatments do not damage chemical treatments or hair color. In this scenario, you only need to be cautious of sulfate-containing shampoo products, but not necessarily all hair products.
Good Sulfates
When sulfates are combined with other molecules to create hair conditioners, they can be highly beneficial. One example is behentrimonium methosulfate, a sulfate that doesn’t strip hair and is excellent for conditioning and detangling.
So, Should I Go Sulfate-Free?
Ultimately, the choice is yours. We recommend avoiding “bad” or “harsh sulfates”—specifically SLS, ALS, and SLES—commonly found in shampoos. However, it’s more about finding products with the best ingredients that suit your hair type rather than completely avoiding all sulfates. The primary purpose of any cleanser is to remove oil and dirt from hair, and both sulfate and sulfate-free products can achieve this depending on their formulation or your skin’s reaction. Just because a hair care product is labeled “sulfate-free” doesn’t guarantee that it won’t strip hair of oil or irritate the skin.
If you’re seeking a sulfate-free shampoo that contains ingredients beneficial to your hair, regardless of your hair type, you’re in the right place. Explore our range of shampoos to discover a hair care product that you won’t want to miss in your routine.
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