Switching to sulphate-free shampoo!

Switching to sulphate-free shampoo!

Take a look at the ingredient list of your shampoo, body washes, soap, facial cleanser or even toothpaste, and chances are, you’ll find sulphate—in the form of sodium lauryl sulphate or sodium Laureth sulphate—high on the list.

What is sulphate exactly? In a nutshell, sulphates are great cleansers that cut through oil and dirt. They’re commonly found in hair and skin cleansing products because they have the ability to attract water and oil. Due to this quality, they can efficiently lift dirt and oil from the body and rinse down the drain when mixed with water. Oh, and they’re also responsible for that lovely foam you associate with feeling so fresh, so clean.

So is sulphate or sulphate-free right for your hair type? To help you determine if your hair could benefit from sulphate-free shampoo, ask yourself these questions:

IS YOUR HAIR CURLY AND FRIZZ-PRONE?

If you answered yes, sulphate-free is likely the way to go.

If you introduce sulphate shampoo into the curly-picture, you may be making the situation worse, since sulphate lifts the hair cuticle, making it more likely to frizz. In this scenario, a shampoo without sulphate is best since it won’t strip hair of as much moisture as a regular shampoo would.

IS YOUR HAIR DYED?

If yes, keep your new hair colour intact with a no-sulphate shampoo.

If you come across a shampoo for colour-treated hair, chances are, it will be sulphate-free. Colour-treated hair is BFFs with sulphate free shampoo for two main reasons:

• After a hair colouring service, your hair may be drier than usual. A sulphate-free shampoo, however, won’t dry your hair out as much as a sulphate shampoo would.
• Since sulphate-free shampoos and conditioners are so gentle, they’re less likely to wash away your hair dye.

IS YOUR HAIR COURSE?

If it is, you may want to skip the sulphate!

If you have hair that feels dry and rough, as opposed to smooth and soft, when you run your fingers down the length of the hair, then you probably have coarse hair. This type of hair can also benefit from shampoo without sulphate since a no sulphate shampoo won’t rid your hair of all its moisture. The natural oils on your head can travel down your hair to provide hydration.

Another alternative to using a shampooing without sulphate is co-washing, a technique where you use a conditioner with a shampoo to cleanse your hair.