Sulfate Free Shampoos (The Pros and Cons)

Sulfate-free shampoos are composed of natural ingredients and are free from both sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium Laureth sulfate. The Sulfate-free shampoos do not make lather due to no sulfates in composition. These sulfates remove moisture and natural oil from your scalp; which leaves your hair and scalp dry.

Mainly most of the shampoos have Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), and Ammonium Laureth Sulfate. Sulfate-free shampoos can cause harm to your scalp if regularly used because it will dry your scalp by removing natural hair oils.

Shampoos that contain sulfates have been popular because they can make hair look clean, and smooth and feel thicker.

But did you know that there are some cons to sulfate-free shampoos? This can be good to know if you’re making a decision about whether or not you should use one.

What Are Sulfates In Shampoo?

Sulfates are a group of chemicals that has cleaning properties and also acts as surfactants.

Like most surfactants, sulfate also has a hydrophobic part and a lipophilic part. The hydrophobic part has the ability to attach to water.

While the lipophilic part which you can also call the hydrophobic part can attach to grease, oil, or dirt particles.

So, it is sulfate in your detergents, soaps, and shampoos that help in cleaning. But regardless of its benefits, there are also some harmful effects.

What Does Sulfate Do to Natural Hair?

Sulfate is a harsh chemical that strips the natural oils from your hair, leaving it dry and brittle. If you have natural hair, you probably know that sulfates are the main ingredient in most commercial shampoos and conditioners.

These products might clean your hair well, but they also strip away its natural oils, which are actually what keep your hair healthy.

Luckily, there are a number of sulfate-free options available that still clean your hair effectively without stripping away its natural oils.

Benefits of Sulfate Free Shampoo

There are many advantages of sulphate free shampoo to your hair. Here are some of them:

1. It prevents sebum removal

Our skin and scalp have a natural oily layer named sebum, using sulfate-free shampoos can protect your skin from sebum loss.

These shampoos are good for those who have dry skin.

2. It makes hair less kinky

Sulfate-free shampoos also have some oily substances. These oily substances prevent kinky and curly hairs from sulfates and are present in sulfate-free shampoos.

3. It prevents hair color

Using sulfate-free shampoo, your hair dye can last long and you don’t need to be cautious about your dye.

4. Potent in straightening or curling hairs

If you like to straighten or curl your hair you can do it more often if you employ sulfate-free shampoos.

Disadvantages of Sulphate Free Shampoo

Though using sulfate-free shampoo have many good aspects, there are also problems with sulfate-free shampoos.

1. No lather form

Sulfates have lather-making properties. The sulfate-free shampoo doesn’t make foam. This thing makes it hard to predict if your hairs are clean or not.

2. Difficult to wash hairs

Sulfates being surfactants easily can remove debris stuck in hairs. Using sulfate-free shampoo you may need to use more shampoo to immaculate your hair.

3. Hair loss

Most sulfate-free shampoos are suitable only if used in a specific quantity. So, their inaccurate use can cause a lot of hair loss.

Who Should Use Sulfate-Free Shampoo?

If you have dry or damaged hair, it’s a good idea to give sulfate-free products a try.

They won’t leave your hair feeling stripped or weighed down by residue like regular shampoos do.

Some people find that their hair looks shinier when they use sulfate-free products as well.

Sulfate-free shampoos are often touted as being better for people with sensitive skin or scalps because the sulfates may cause irritation or dryness.

If you have curly, frizzy, or color-treated hair, you might be tempted to add sulfates to your shampoo. But there are plenty of sulfate-free shampoos that can help you fight frizz and keep your curls bouncy and beautiful.

Can You Use Sulfate-Free Shampoo Every day?

It is important to remember that sulfate-free shampoo should not be used every day. This type of shampoo uses different ingredients than traditional shampoos, so you need to give your hair some time to get used to it before using it all of the time.

If you use sulfate-free shampoo too often, it can dry out your scalp or cause other problems. You should only use the sulfate-free shampoo once a week or so if you want to keep your scalp healthy and happy.

When to Use Sulfate-Free Shampoo

If your hair is fine or prone to breakage, you might want to consider using a sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfates can also strip color from hair, so if you’ve recently dyed your hair, you may want to consider switching as well.

If you have oily hair, sulfates may not be the best option for you either, because they remove oils from your scalp and hair follicles, and they can make oily scalps even oilier than usual.

Does Sulfate-Free Shampoo Cause Dandruff?

Yes, it can. The longer answer is that some people are more prone to dandruff, especially if they have dry skin, sensitive skin, or a history of eczema, psoriasis, or other skin conditions.

If you’re prone to dandruff and you switch to a sulfate-free shampoo, it’s possible that your scalp may become irritated and flaky from the change in pH levels.

The same thing can happen if you switch back and forth between sulfate-free and sulfate shampoos on a regular basis, which could happen if you have both types in your shower.

So why not just use one type of shampoo all the time?

Can Sulfate Free Shampoo Cause Hair Loss?

No. Sulfates don’t cause hair loss. They can irritate your scalp, but that’s it.

The good news is that there are plenty of sulfate-free shampoos available on the market today that can help improve your hair’s health without causing any damage or irritation.

Shampooing your hair alone won’t cause you to lose any strands. But if you’re concerned about losing your hair as part of an underlying condition, it’s important to see your doctor immediately.

Does Sulfate-Free Shampoo Lather?

The sulfate-free shampoo doesn’t lather up as much as sulfate-packed shampoo, but it does not mean it is not doing the work.

When you use a sulfate-free shampoo, it won’t lather up as much as its sulfated counterpart but that’s because there’s nothing for it to remove from your hair.

Sulfates are a detergent that’s used to clean your hair, and they’re often added to shampoo to make it foam. Sulfates can be drying, though, so many people have started using sulfate-free shampoos instead.

Does Sulfate-Free Shampoo Help Hair Grow?

A sulfate-free shampoo is a great option if you’re looking for a shampoo that will help your hair grow.

Sulfate-free shampoos are typically made with natural ingredients like coconut oil or argan oil, which leave your hair soft and shiny without drying it out. They also won’t irritate your scalp as much as regular shampoos might.

That being said, sulfate-free shampoo is an excellent choice if you want to maintain healthy hair.

Sulfates are detergents used in many shampoos to help remove oil and grease from your scalp, but they also strip away natural oils that help keep your hair healthy.

They can also cause inflammation and irritation for some people.

Does sulfate free shampoo makes hair fall out?

The truth is, sulfate-free shampoo is not going to make your hair fall out.

Can sls cause hair loss?

Yes, SLS can cause hair loss.

Conclusion

As for the cons of sulfate shampoos, there really aren’t that many to speak of. While sulfates are still found in a vast majority of shampoos, some famous shampoos have gotten rid of them and seen sales increase.

Speaking from personal experience, I’ve been using sulfate-free shampoos for quite some time now and haven’t noticed any ill effects.

In fact, my hair has actually been looking great. Even with the reduced lather, I actually think it’s easier to clean my scalp so an even deeper clean is achieved.