If you’ve ever complained about dry and brittle hair, the number one recommendation has probably been to use a sulfate-free shampoo. And unless you live and breathe hair chemistry like us, then you might blindly purchase a sulfate-free shampoo without fully knowing if or how it can restore your hair! 

With so many misleading marketing tactics, it’s hard to figure out what ingredients are actually damaging your hair and which ones aren’t something to worry about. Let’s find out if you really can benefit from a sulfate-free shampoo!

WHAT ARE SULFATES?

Sulfate is a salt that forms once sulfuric acid reacts with another chemical, but to put things simply, it’s what makes a shampoo sudsy. Sulfate is a broader term for other synthetic-based chemicals, such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), which are common ingredients in personal care and cleaning products. 

Whether we’re scrubbing our scalp or our kitchen counters, we always expect the soap to bubble up so that we can feel satisfied. We tend to think that if a product doesn’t lather, it’s not cleaning as well as other products do. The question is, do we actually need the suds? Not really!

WHY ARE SULFATES BAD FOR YOU?

_Irritation

While sulfates do remove dead skin cells and built-up grime, the main issue is that it strips your hair of its natural oils, which leaves you with dry and brittle strands. If you have an oily scalp, a little dryness probably sounds like a relief. However, overusing sulfates can irritate the scalp, eyes, and skin in the process, especially for those who already struggle with sensitive skin.

_{HAIR BREAKAGE}

Prolonged exposure to sulfates may also weaken the hair strands due to protein loss, leading to breakage and split ends. Sulfates haven’t yet been shown to be directly linked to baldness, but to keep your hair as thick as possible or if you already have thin or damaged hair, it’s best to avoid products containing sulfates.

_{HAIR COLOR}

If you have color-treated hair, staying away from sulfate shampoo is likely your best bet to help your color last as long as possible. Sulfates can be harsh on the hair and strip the color after too many shampoo sessions.  

It’s usually recommended that dyed hair should be washed less than virgin hair, simply to avoid weekly touch-ups in the salon. However, sulfates can dry out the hair so quickly and leave us with no other option than to turn to over-washing as a solution. As most of us know, washing the hair too frequently not only strips the hair of moisture over time but it takes your color with it.

_ETHICS

Last but not least, many products containing sulfates are first tested on animals to figure out the level of irritation it’ll cause to people’s skin, eyes, or scalp. At Luseta, we’re firm believers in beauty brands having a social responsibility, which is why we don’t support the industry testing on animals of any kind!

THE ALTERNATIVE TO SULFATE SHAMPOO

If you’re worried about irritation, hair thinning, or the ethics of sulfates, the alternative is pretty straightforward; start using a sulfate-free shampoo! The most common concern is if going sulfate-free also means having greasy hair. The answer is, absolutely not! Your hair may take a few weeks to adjust, but once it’s not being stripped of its natural oils every other day, your hair will restore its natural shine and look healthier than ever. We can guarantee you that the sulfates won’t be missed!