Is Sulphate-Free Shampoo Right for You? Answer These 5 Questions to Find Out
In the world of hair care, one simply can’t escape sulphates. You either buy products with them or look for the ones explicitly without. And while they remain extremely common, common enough to make us believe they’re safe, but some hair types are better off without them. But are sulphates really bad for your hair? Or how do sulphate-free shampoos benefit your luscious locks? Let’s find out.
What are Sulphates?
One can’t really discuss the benefits of sulphate-free shampoos before discussing sulphates. In a nutshell, sulphates are great cleansers that cut through oil and dirt. They’re commonly found in hair and skin cleansing products because they have the ability to attract water and oil. Take a look at the ingredients of your current shampoo for instance, you may just come across a sodium lauryl sulphate(SLS) or sodium laureth sulphate(SLES), high on the list. Oh, and they’re also responsible for that lovely foam you associate with feeling so fresh, so clean.
So far, sulphates seem to be on our team. However, the catch is that they can be a tad ‘too good’ at their jobs. While sulphate shampoos wash away dirt and grime, they may also wash away the natural oils our scalp creates and needs, leading to a moisture loss. This cleanse may not suit all hair types. Week after week, your scalp interacts with these sulphates. Soon, dry scalp, frizz, brittleness, and breakage follow.
This is where the benefits of sulphate-free shampoos step in, giving you a much milder, gentle, and nourishing cleanse every week.
What is a sulphate-free shampoo?
A shampoo’s purpose is to deliver a thorough cleanse. Can one really do it without sulphates? Turns out, yes. A sulphate-free shampoo is just as capable of cleansing all residual impurities from your hair and scalp, while being gentle on your hair and scalp. The benefits of sulphate-free shampoos come from the alternative, gentler cleansers they make use of.
With all the information, you might find your hair care journey at crossroads. Is sulphate-free shampoo good for your hair? Or are you better off with stronger cleanses? To help you determine if your hair could reap the benefits of sulphate-free shampoo, ask yourself these five questions:
1. Is your hair curly and frizz-prone?
If you introduce sulphate shampoo into the curly-hair picture, you may be making the situation worse. Since sulphate lift the hair cuticle, they make it more likely to frizz. In this scenario, the benefits of sulphate-free shampoo come in handy as it won’t strip the hair of as much moisture as a regular shampoo would.
For instance, the Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate sulphate-free shampoo works up a rich lather that intensely moisturises your hair. The gentle and fortifying shampoo offers rich hydration and frizz control, making it ideal for curly or coiled hair.
2. Is your hair color-treated?
Keeping your new hair color intact for longer is one of the benefits of a sulphate-free shampoo. After a hair coloring service, your hair may be drier than usual. A sulphate-free shampoo, however, won’t dry your hair out as much as a sulphate shampoo would. Since sulphate-free shampoos and conditioners are so gentle, they’re less likely to wash away your hair color.
The Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate is sulphate-free shampoo specifically formulated with an acidic pH to defend against the negative effects of hair coloring, styling tools, and even hard water minerals.
3. Is your hair coarse?
If it is, you may want to skip the sulphate! If you have hair that feels dry and rough, as opposed to smooth and soft, when you run your fingers down the length of the hair, then you probably have coarse hair. This type of hair can also use the benefits of a sulphate-free shampoo since it won’t rid your hair of all its moisture. The natural oils on your scalp can travel down your hair lengths to provide hydration. Another alternative to using a shampoo without sulphate is co-washing, a technique where you use a conditioner with a shampoo to cleanse your hair.
4. Is your hair damaged?
This may be an obvious one. It's best to steer clear from sulphate shampoos. If your hair is fragile or damaged, the benefits of a sulphate-free shampoo will come in as gentle enough to not make the situation worse, preserving whatever moisture you have left on your hair. This is why you’ll see that most repairing shampoos are sulphate-free.
In Redken's most concentrated all-in-one formula, the Acidic Bonder Concentrate sulphate-free shampoo fortifies all types of damaged hair. With an ultra-rich formula, the sulphate-free solution gives ultimate strength repair and intense conditioning to your damaged hair.
5. Can you get away with not washing your hair every day?
If yes, then invest in a sulphate-free shampoo. You may be able to skip daily shampooing because your hair doesn’t produce a lot of natural oil. So, using a milder shampoo will be enough for you. You may want to use a cleansing conditioner alongside your sulphate-free shampoo as it will give you the extra conditioning you may need to make up for the loss of oil.
Additionally, to battle the oiliness you may have in between your shampoo routines, go for a dry shampoo to soak up grease at the roots.
If you answered “no” to many of these questions, then a well formulated sulphate-containing shampoo is a good pick. However if the signs point toward malnourished hair, sulfphate-free shampoos are the way to go.
6. Conclusion
So, whether it’s sulphates or no sulphates, making informed decisions can change your hair care routine for good. With everything that there is to know about the benefits of sulphate-free shampoos, go ahead and make your pick with the wide varieties of either options at Redken India.