By Seth Ramirez – April 20, 2021

Sulfates have come under fire for causing hair damage. Sulfates can and do dry your hair and scalp out. They can also cause skin irritation, which is where the bad reputation is coming from. Sulfates certainly don’t add nutrients to your hair. So, why are they used?  

The reason sulfates are pretty standard ingredients for many hair products are the sudsy effect they create. The most common types are sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate. Sulfates are the things that turn shampoo and conditioners into a thick lather for a supposedly deep clean. But suds do NOT equal healthy cleansing power.

So, what happens when you don’t have sulfates in your hair care products?

You get to hold on to your natural hair and scalp oils. Sulfates dry out your scalp and hair by removing all the natural oils from your scalp and leaving your hair exposed to the elements and the wear-and-tear of daily styling.

Sulfates lather and bubble up to get rid of all of the oil and dirt from your hair, unfortunately they also take out the good stuff too. If you have dry hair or skin already, then you want to keep as much of the good stuff as possible. Sulfate-free hair products will help hydrate your hair from the word go.

Sulfates can wreak havoc on anyone’s hair type, especially if you have colored treated hair. You will notice your salon color fading after using a shampoo containing sulfate. You can save the condition of your hair and extra color appointments by using sulfate-free hair care products.