Sulfate-free shampoo: what it does for your hair

More people become aware of all the ingredients found in personal care products, including hair products. That’s why you have probably heard about sulfate-free shampoo. But what exactly is it, how do you recognize sulfates and why is sulfate-free shampoo better for your hair? In this article, we are happy to explain everything to you so that your hair will shine better than ever before! 

What is sulfate-free shampoo?

The name says it all, a sulfate-free shampoo does not contain sulfates. It is more gentle on your hair and scalp, which makes it less dry and reduces the chances of an irritated scalp. That sounds wonderful, right? If you like to know more about natural hair care, read this article: Is switching to natural hair care really worth it? 

Why are sulfates bad for your hair?

Sulfates are a surfactant that cleanses your hair and scalp firmly to remove grease and dirt. 

We hear your thinking, ‘’nothing wrong with that’’? Well, that is far from the truth. As the scalp is deeply cleansed, your hair’s natural oils are also removed. Your hair needs these oils to keep it healthy and smooth. Because the sebaceous glands do not have time to repair this on their own when using shampoo with sulfates, the scalp becomes dry and irritated. On top of that, sulfates can disrupt the hair growth and that is not what we want.

Furthermore, many sulfates shampoos contain palm oil. Sulfate-free shampoo is an environmentally friendly option and that is what we like at Nourished!

How do you know if your shampoo is sulfate-free?

Whereas a shampoo with sulfates gives a foaming effect, a sulfate-free shampoo foams less. When you use a sulfate-free shampoo for the first time, it may take some getting used to. A tip is after applying the shampoo on your wet hair, add a bit of extra water, massage and voila, you will experience a foaming effect.

Always check the ingredient list on your shampoo bottle to make sure your shampoo is sulfate-free. 

If any of the following substances are listed on the back of the shampoo bottle, it contains sulfates:

SLS = Sodium Lauryl Sulfate / SDS = Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate
SLES = Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate / Sodium Laureth Sulfate
ALS = Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
ALES = Ammonium Laureth Sulfate

The most common sulfates are SLS and SLES. 

At Nourished, we have multiple natural sulfate-free shampoos. Looking for a lightweight shampoo that gives you soft and voluminous hair? The Volumising Hair Wash from Sans [ceuticals] is perfect! The Nourishing Hair Wash from Sans [ceuticals] is perfect for dry, frizzy and/or coloured hair. The Sans [ceuticals] collection has 3 different shampoos, one for every head of hair.