Everyone's talking about it:
Sulfate Free Shampoo.
People are growing more and more concerned about the ingredients used in their
hair products, and for good reasons too. One of the major ingredients that
people have become aware of is Sulfates. So what are Sulfates and just how bad
are they for you? We've got the info you need on Sulfates, including Sodium
Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, as well as a list of Sulfate
Free Shampoos. Read on!
Buy Sulfate Free Shampoo
What is a Sulfate?
Surfactants are the cleansers found in everything from facial cleansers to
shampoo and conditioner. Depending on the electric charge of the molecule, the
surfactant falls into one of several categories. When we say Sulfate, we are
talking about Alkyl Sulfates.
There are two major types of Alkyl Sulfates, which are the most commonly used Sulfates
in hair products. These are Sodium Lauryl Sulfates and Sodium Laureth
Sulfates. Both of these are cheap, harsh detergents that are
found in the majority of Shampoos. These sulfates are added to shampoos
because they are cheap and create lather (aka foam, bubbles).
Why do companies use Sulfates in their formulas?
Sulfates are what makes your shampoo nice and foamy. All that great foam is
really appealing to a lot of people; it makes them think that their shampoo is
really working. What you don't know is that you don't need all that foam
to clean your hair. Another reason companies use Sulfates is because they are
cheap! And who doesn't love cheap? Not only is it cost effective for companies
to use Sulfates, but they are also really good cleaners! SO good, in fact, that
they make up the detergent used at car washes, garage floor cleaners and as
engine degreasers! Yum!
Why are Sulfates bad for you?
Hopefully you read the above paragraph (engine degreaser ... ew), but if
that isn't reason enough, we've got more. In shampoo formulas, Sulfates are
thickened by adding salt (this mainly pertains to the Sodium Lauryl
Sulfates). Sulfates alone can rob your hair of it's natural oils, as well as
your skin. When you add salt to those harmful Sulfates, you double the effect,
dehydrating your hair and possibly damaging it. Some people are also sensitive
to Sulfates. Because they are generally derived from petroleum and are
accompanied by salt, they can cause eye irritation, scalp irritation and tangled
hair.
If products do not contain Sulfates, can they still clean?
Of course they can! While sulfates are really good cleaners (engine
degreaser ... ew) they are not the only cleaner found in hair products. Common replacements for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate are
carboxylate, also known as Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate and Laruyl Sulfoacetate
Sodium, a sulfonate. These ingredients are derived from plants and are of a very
high quality and are very mild to human skin and eyes.
Sulfate Free Shampoos
Sulfate Free Shampoos
