Sulfates In Shampoo: Are They Bad For Your Hair Or Not?

Sulfates are common in almost all hair care products. You will commonly find sulfates in shampoos as they are the foaming agents that help cleanse your scalp and hair. Sulfates have been controversial for years. Even today, most people consider it bad for their skin and scalp and prefer “sulfate-free” products as they are thought to be gentler. However, have you ever thought about why sulfates are demonized in the beauty industry?

Trivia

The first sulfate-based shampoo was made by Procter and Gamble in 1930. It was the first modern shampoo with synthetic surfactants and was produced and sold till the 1970s.

This also makes us wonder if it is possible to cleanse our hair and scalp without the suds. This article explores the reality of sulfates, their effects, and potential risks. Read on.

What Are Sulfates And What Do They Do?

Sulfates are cleansing agents or surfactants found in products like shampoos and detergents. When mixed with water, sulfates quickly form foams.

Surfactants like sulfates help reduce surface tension between your skin and the shampoo. This allows the active ingredients in the shampoo to do their work effectively. In other words, sulfates make your shampoo more effective.

All sulfates have different intensities and may or may not irritate the scalp. The most common sulfates used in hair care products are:

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate
• Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
• Ammonium Laureth Sulfate

The laureth sulfates are milder than the lauryl sulfates, and the ammonium sulfates are much gentler than their sodium counterparts.

The question is, are sulfates really bad for your scalp and hair? Let’s find out in the next section.

Are Sulfates Bad For Your Hair?

They are both good and bad for your hair, depending on your hair type, scalp condition, the concentration of sulfates, and the usage frequency.

Sulfates may damage your scalp and hair in the following circumstances:

• Regular And Excessive Usage: Studies indicate that daily shampooing with products containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (another name of SLS) may cause protein (keratin) loss, leading to dryness and split ends (1).

• Induce Contact Dermatitis: High concentration (3%) of sulfates, especially SLS, can cause moisture loss from the skin, leading to irritant contact dermatitis (2). Sulfates can irritate your scalp if you have conditions like erythema, eczema, and psoriasis.

• May Cause Hair Loss: Sulfates are not directly linked to hair loss. However, it may irritate a sensitive scalp, cause protein loss, weaken the hair, and cause hair fall and loss.

• Cause Dryness And Brittle Hair: Excessive use of products containing sulfates can strip the natural oils and make the hair dry, frizzy, and brittle. Among all hair types, natural hair is more vulnerable to sulfates.

• May Strip Your Hair Color: If you have dyed hair, avoid sulfates as they can strip the hair color. We already have enough reasons to hate sulfates. However, some people with specific hair types may benefit from sulfates. For instance,

• Sulfates Are Excellent Clarifying Agents: If you have an oily scalp and fine hair, a good clarifying shampoo with sulfates can efficiently provide thorough cleansing and wash out all dirt, grime, and oils. It removes product buildup to keep your scalp healthy.

• Sulfates May Help If You Have Dandruff: The fungus Malassezia feeds on the excess sebum and lipids on your scalp. Using sulfates can help clean the oil, minimizing the effect of the fungus.

However, in both cases, moderation is key. Sulfate shampoos should be used not more than once or twice a week. However, it is also possible to clean your hair without sulfates.

Sulfate-Free Shampoos: Are They Better For Your Hair?

Yes, if you have a dry and sensitive scalp and natural, kinky, and damaged hair. Sulfate-free does not mean surfactant-free products. Non-sulfate shampoos usually contain non-ionic surfactants like coco glucoside (extracted from coconut oil and fruit sugars) and decyl glucoside. Both are ECOCERT approved and completely biodegradable.

A few sulfate-free shampoos may also contain lauryl glucoside and disodium laureth sulfosuccinate (a gentle anionic surfactant). These are great alternatives to SLS and SLES and suitable for sensitive skin. Other than these, sulfate-free shampoos contain hydrating ingredients and cleanse the scalp without irritating it or stripping the natural oils and keep the hair moisturized and soft.

However, with a sulfate-free shampoo, you may have to work hard and massage the scalp thoroughly to clean it. Naturally, derived surfactants are mild, often do not lather well, and are not as efficient as SLS. However, they are great for dry, damaged, and natural hair.

If you have fine hair and oily scalp, you may use shampoos with sulfates occasionally. If you want to go low-sulfate, switch to products with milder sulfates and go gentle with them.

Did You Know?

Sulfate formulas are tested on animals to analyze their impact on human skin, lungs, and eyes.

However, you should switch to natural options if your skin does not respond well to sulfates.

Who Should Avoid Sulfates?

Avoid using sulfates if:

• You are allergic to them.
• You have a sensitive scalp.
• You have rosacea, eczema, contact dermatitis, and related skin issues.
• You have natural (kinky and coily) hair.
• Your hair is dry and damaged.
• You have chemically processed and color-treated hair.
• Your hair is frizzy.

In a community-based study with 321 women of various racial backgrounds, including Black, Latina, Vietnamese, Mixed Race, and White, it was found that parabens and sulfates were mentioned by Black, Latina, Vietnamese, and White women as ingredients they avoid. Around 50% of Black, 42.3% of White, and 53% of Mixed Race women reported avoiding these, while only about 14-15% of Latina and Vietnamese women did.

When choosing a sulfate-free shampoo, keep the following things in mind.

How To Choose The Best Sulfate-Free Shampoo

Look for the following surfactants before buying:

• Coco glucoside
• Decyl glucoside
• Sodium cocoyl glutamate
• Sodium cocoamphoacetate

Also, pick a product that does not contain:

• Artificial fragrances
• Artificial preservatives like paraben and PEG
• Synthetic colors
• Alcohol and propylene glycol
• Essential oils

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to use sulfate-free shampoo every day?

Yes. If you need to wash your hair every day, using a sulfate-free shampoo is a good choice as it is formulated to be gentler on your hair and help retain moisture.

Does sulfate-free shampoo cause dry scalp?

No. Sulfate-free shampoos are gentle on your scalp and do not dry out your hair and scalp like sulfate-based hair products do.

Does sulfate-free shampoo reduce dandruff?

Most sulfate-free shampoos do help in reducing dandruff as they are gentle on the scalp, retain moisture, and prevent a dry scalp environment that can increase dandruff issues.

Watch this informative video to understand the pros and cons of the commercially used ingredient sodium lauryl sulfate, and make informed choices for your skincare and haircare routines. Click play to know how dafe it is and more!

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Dr. Somodyuti ChandraMBBS, MD DVL & DNB

 

Dr. Somodyuti is a board-certified dermatologist with 9 years of experience, who specializes in skin, hair, and nail problems, laser surgery, and esthetic procedures. After completing her MBBS and MD DVL and DNB, she went on to do DNB Dermatology from the National Board (New Delhi) and MRCP - SCE Dermatology, from the Royal College of Physicians, UK. She has...more

Ramona SinhaEditor

 

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal. She also did a certificate course in dermatology offered by the Novosibirsk State University...more

Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor

Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy. She has taken it upon herself to show...more

Monomita ChakrabortyBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Monomita has a graduate degree in mass communication and video production from St. Anthony's College, Shillong, and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the Royal Global University, Guwahati. She is also a certified skincare coach with a keen interest in skin, hair, tattoos, nail art, and lifestyle trends. Her passion for and understanding of all things related...more