In one of my recent posts, I wrote about if a person should shampoo their hair every day or not. While researching that topic, some articles mentioned sulfate free shampoo, and how it can be beneficial for hair so I thought I would follow up and write a blog about sulfate shampoo.
To understand better, sulfate is “a type od anionic detergent that’s found in various care products, including soaps, toothpaste, and, as mentioned,Madiz123 It is essentially what makes the shampoo thicker to lather in your hair, and helps remove the dirt, oils, and other substances from your hair. Although you may not notice the difference in your hair when using a sulfate-free shampoo, there is a difference. The sulfate is actually to blame for frizzy hair and strips hair that has been colored, which is why most salons recommend and sell sulfate-free products. So instead of this salt like substance, sulfate-free shampoos use a different type of detergent to remove the grime from your hair, like sodium lauryl sulfoacetate.
However, “The Health Site” contradicts the idea that sulfate-free shampoo is the better option and says, “Sulfates are responsible for the actual cleansing action. Sulfate-free shampoos will therefore not have that level of cleansing and this could lead to resultant dandruff and other associated problems. Thus, a small amount of sulfate is important. This way, the damage is minimized and cleansing is maintained. Remember, finally, any shampoo which lathers has to contain sulfates.”
So, is it worth it to spend the extra money and buy sulfate-free shampoo? Well, it is more of a personal preference once again. If you feel as though your hair is dry, frizzy, or the color of your dye is fading; try a sulfate free shampoo.
I have never heard of sulfate-free shampoo so this article was very interesting to me. I also commented on your previous shampoo article and i must say i do agree with one of the commenters theory of there being a third variable. It could be the water, chemicals in the water, or even the season that can also cause frizziness in the hair. But nonetheless i feel like if one uses too much of something it could end up damaging something…or so i thought. After researching about changing out shampoos and trying new ones i kept reading the same thing which is, ” hair doesn’t actually get used to anything”. It could just be affected by the chemicals in the shampoo. I tried researching alternatives to sulfate-free shampoo and what i found was cocamidopropyl betaine . The website explains it better than i could but in conclusion it could be mildly irritating to use and also doesn’t cleanse as much as a sulfate-free shampoo or even regular shampoo
I have never used sulfate free shampoo before even though I get my hair colored. My hair dresser never recommended it to me because my hair gets oily quickly and sulfate free shampoo is for people with dry hair. However, I may start to use it a couple days a week now because it seems like it is better for one’s hair. I definitely agree with you that it all depends on one’s hair type for which type of shampoo they should use. They can work differently on each person’s hair. Some third variables can include the thickness of one’s hair, the style of it (curly or straight), and how often one washes their hair. This article clearly states the pros and cons of using sulfate free shampoo!
http://aranthasgourmetbeauty.com/2012/10/17/pros-cons-of-sulfate-free-shampoo/
Whenever I get a different brand of shampoo I’ve always wondered why some lathered better than others. For the past few years I have been using Tresemme, and found that it lathers well. After a few months of using the shampoo, I noticed that I begin to get dandruff. First I thought this was due to the frequency of washing my hair, but it turns out that long term usage destroys essential oils that the scalp needs to stay healthy. Here’s an article that reiterates what I just said. Although the long term usage can be detrimental, using Tresemme every now after a few washes with another shampoo can be restorative for one’s hair
Personally I started using Sulfate Free shampoo when I got a treatment done to my hair and wasn’t sure if I should continue to use it now since the treatment has grown out of my hair. I found that by continuing to use sulfate free shampoo my hair was less frizzy and more manageable. Sure it is a few extra bucks that a college student does not necessarily have but I think it is worth it. But i am just one person I think there should be a study conducted with many different woman with different hair types and lengths, using a placebo group with sulfate shampoo vs. sulfate free shampoo and see in the person’s opinion if their hair seems to be calmer and more manageable. I think this study needs to be conducted because personally i don’t know if my hair is more manageable or if it is just in my head because i am using Sulfate-free shampoo. I think a double-blind trial is the only way to find out the really results of this mystery.
I completely agree. I dye my hair and as soon as I started using sulfate-free shampoo, the color started staying longer. I do not believe it is necessary to use every time you wash your hair. Like Women’s Health states, sulfate-free shampoo can dry out your hair when used too much, or even cause split ends. Or, it also states if you have oily hair, the shampoo might not be powerful enough to wash your hair. They say it really depends on your hair type, and I definitely agree.
Since living here at Penn State, I noticed my hair becoming more dry and brittle than usual, so i began using a sulfate free shampoo, recommended by my hair stylist, in hopes that the condition of my hair would improve. Personally, I have noticed some differences in my hair. While reading this post, I though of some 3rd variables that could also contribute to frizzy and or dry hair such as, diet, levels of chemicals in the water, and the type of hair a person has in general. I think that this New York Times article touches on controversy of sulfates in shampoos, and is definitely worth the read! I guess it comes down to personal preference, and of course, as you said, risk factors. Is it really harming someone to use a lower quality, and possibly cheaper shampoo vs. an expensive sulfate free shampoo?