Description

The term sulfate-free shampoo has emerged as one of the hottest buzzwords in the haircare industry. While many experts may talk about its countless benefits and promote it, have you ever wondered what sulfate-free really means?

What Is Sulfate-Free Shampoo?

Sulfate is a salt that forms when sulphuric acid reacts with other chemicals. Although various types of sulfates are used across industries, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are the two most commonly used sulfates in the haircare industry.

These compounds are produced from petroleum and plant sources such as palm and coconut oil.

What Do Sulfates Do To Your Hair?

Sulfates are considered to be good cleaning agents [1]. They are said to have deepest cleansing properties as compared to other cleansing ingredients. Sulfates belong to the anionic surfactants class of cleansers that clean away substances.

Most of the shampoos contain the two main types of sulfates. These sulfates create a lathering effect to remove oil and dirt from the hair. However, sulfates are aggressive detergents that may strip your hair and scalp of its natural moisture oils, thereby making your hair dry and brittle. Moreover, if you have sensitive scalp, sulfates can cause irritation, redness, dryness, etc.

Although sulfates may often be regarded as a staple ingredient in shampoos, they might not be suitable for everyone, especially if you shampoo your hair every day. Also, it can be damaging to certain hair types and may even cause skin irritation in some people.

Do Sulfate-Free Shampoos Lather Well?

Most of us think that a shampoo which creates more lather is better at cleansing hair. But, that might not be true. Certainly, if your shampoo makes a lather, it means it contains sulfates. Sulfate-free shampoos, comparatively, produce less lather during your hair wash.

Sulphate-free shampoos can lather well, it all depends upon the composition and strength of surfactants/molecules used in the formulation. Also, lather/foam is not directly associated with cleansing.

Alternative surfactants contained in sulfate-free shampoos works great in removing dirt, grime, and oil from your hair scalp and hair without disturbing your scalp’s pH.