When you think of shampoo, no doubt one of the first things you think of is a rich lather with tons of suds and bubbles. But did you know that the foam that you see is usually created by sulfates? Sulfates are drying to natural hair and can leave your hair feeling stripped after a wash. A non-foaming shampoo can cleanse your hair just as well without leaving your hair feeling so dry.
Many companies are claiming that they are sulfate-free, but are they really?
When many became aware of how stripping sulfates can be to hair, we were on the look out to avoid these ingredients:
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
However, some shampoos are using ingredients that are quite similar to SLS (but not in fact SLS so they get to label their product as “sulfate-free) and are just as drying to hair:
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
Sodium Lauroyl Isoethionate
Sodium Lauroyl Taurate
Sodium Cocoyl Isoethionate
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isoethionate
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
You don’t always need suds
Don’t think you always need suds to cleanse your hair effectively, in most cases a non-foaming shampoo will get the job done.
However, sometimes a foamy sulfate shampoo can be useful…
Tackle heavy product buildup with a sulfate shampoo.
Other than when you have bad buildup or need to clarify, regular use of a moisturizing non-foaming or low foaming shampoo formula will leave your scalp feeling refreshed without being completely stripped completely of the natural oils that keep your hair nourished.