Bye bye sulfates

Removing this one ingredient can improve the condition of your hair

 You may see a lot of shampoos now opting to remove ‘sulfates’ from their ingredients, but what does this mean for your hair?

Sulphate or sulfate, is also known as, Sodium Laureth Sulfate – a very cheap salt chemical found in shampoo’s and conditioners. Though extremely cleansing on the hair, sulfates dry the hair out and absolutely strip natural oils from the hair. This then leads to brittleness resulting in breakage. Sulfate can also irritate the scalp and skin – so that scalp issue you thought you had may be due to using sulfate-laden products. Scarily, some sulfates actually create little holes in your strands, as they go deep to remove oil, leaving hair weaker and more porous. The sulfates that do this are the smaller, harsher sulfates, the ones with lauryl in their name – like sodium lauryl sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate.

Removing sulfates from your hair care regimen will give your hair the chance to benefit from the natural secretions from your scalp. You can still have clean hair but without the risk of damage or skin problems. Your hair will appreciate the extra care it is getting and it won’t be long before you start to notice the benefits.

If your shampoo bottle doesn’t specifically state ‘sulfate-free’, then the likelihood is that it contains sulfates. The best option is to look for products that clearly state that they are sulfate-free. Below we have listed eight sulfate-free shampoos that also hold additional benefits to you hair and scalp.