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This latest shampoo craze has become a big deal in recent months and many brands have introduced shampoos whose labels now sport the phrase “sulfate-free". Nicole Raab of Stylebar says that about 70% of her customers ask for this shampoo in her salon.
Instead of following this trend blindly, without knowing whether it will suit us, we decided to investigate this new craze.
What are sulfates?
Sulfates are found in many of our every day personal care products: shampoos, shower gels, soaps, toothpastes, you name it. They are basically the ingredients that cause products to lather well. The most common sulfates are listed under the ingredients of a product as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLETH) and ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS).
"Sulfates are detergents and they’re extremely good at what they do, cleansing [hair and the scalp] by cutting through dirt and grime," said New Jersey-based cosmetic chemist Ni’Kita Wilson to Women's Health.
Are sulfates dangerous?
Many a fear-inducing article claiming that sulfates are linked to causing cancer have been doing the rounds over the years, but it seems there is little truth to this. According to sources from the American Cancer Society, it's all about the level of concentration of the sulfates in the products: there is no evidence that suggests the small amounts in our shampoos would be enough to cause cancer.
Read more: How to stop wasting money and shop the right skincare for you
So what's the downside?
Sulfatefreeshampoos.org notes that this foaming agent can cause frizziness, strip your hair of essential oils, leading to dryness, can be an irritant to your scalp and eyes and can cause long-term damage to your hair.
When used for a prolonged period of time it can also cause some people's hair to become brittle and prone to breakage.
So if your hair is naturally dry and you want to keep it naturally moisturised, a sulfate-free shampoo can help with that. Also, if you have a scalp that is sensitive to the effects of sulfate, such as eczema, then it is best to replace your regular shampoo with a sulfate-free one.
Similarly, if you had your hair dyed avoid using a shampoo containing these ingredients. Shampoos that contain sulfates causes pigmentation from hair dye to fade away much faster, making your dye job last for a shorter period (note that they do not actually strip the colour).
Should I really switch to a sulfate-free shampoo?
The downside to using a sulfate-free shampoo is that it will not create a great foaming sensation and will not remove the oily, grimy buildup of dirt in your hair as effectively as products that do contain sulfate. As a result, it'll take a while getting used to.
So if you have been using a shampoo containing sulfates over the years and haven't experienced any side effects, you can continue doing so. On the other hand, if you suffer from sensitive skin or want to maintain your pricey salon colour for longer, then we suggest you do the switch to a sulfate-free formula.Read more: Soothe your skin, eyes and hair with these home remedies this winter
If you're thinking of going sulfate-free, here is a list of shampoos to consider:
Hask
Clicks recently ran a special on this brand and even though I hadn’t tried it before, I stocked up on six bottles. Luckily, I’ve been more than happy with the results!
Retails at Clicks for R139.95.
Nu-Hair
Get it at Clicks for R93.95, at Dis-Chem for R79.95 or at Takealot for R76.
Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco
The reviews on Takealot speak for itself.
Available at Takealot for R105.
Kerastase Aura Botanica Bain Micellaire
Shop it on Retail Box for R300.
Vichy Dercos Ultra-Soothing Treatment Shampoo
Elvive Extraordinary OIL Curl Nourishment
It's our new hair bestie. The Low Shampoo is a gentle cleansing cream with no foam due to its low sulfate concentration.
Shop it at all main retailers for R99.95.
The Curl Company
As the name suggests, this brand is best suited for curly hair.
Available at Clicks for R119.95.
Earth Sap Tea-Tree Shampoo
