In recent years, the popularity of sulfate free shampoo has grown as people have become more conscious of the ingredients in their beauty products. But what is sulfate and why is it causing issues with our shampoo?
Sulfates are detergents responsible for the lather that we associate with a good cleanse, but they can also be harsh on the scalp and hair. Sulfates can cause dryness, irritation, and scalp flaking, and they can strip the hair of its natural oils, leading to frizziness and damage.
They were introduced in shampoos and other personal care products due to their ability to lower the surface tension of a substance when mixed with liquids, making them easier to blend with water and produce satisfying foam. The logic was that the more foam there is, the greater head area you can cover with shampoo.
Many believe there are certain benefits of sulfate shampoo to also boost other active ingredients in the formula, working to dig deeper into the hair and clear away dirt and excess oil. Unfortunately, they do this a little too well. As sulfates removes the impurities, they also remove the natural moisture and oils your hair needs to stay healthy, leaving it dry and unhealthy, along with an itchy and irritated scalp.
At Hair & Beauty Kingdom, we are passionate about providing sustainable options for better hair care. In this article, we explore what sulfate free shampoo is, as well as 5 reasons why you should use it.
What is Sulfate-free Shampoo?
As the name suggests, sulfate-free shampoo is formulated without any sulfate-based cleansers. Instead, you'll find various kinds of emulsifiers and cleansers in the ingredients. There might be far less foam than what you are used to, but the trade-off, of course, is that sulfate-free shampoo benefits wider hair care by cleansing hair fibres of dirt and grime, while still leaving much-needed natural oils and moisture behind.
So, why else should you use sulfate-free shampoo?
Benefits of Sulfate-free Shampoo
1. Strengthens coloured hair
Colour-treated hair is already sensitised, meaning the fibres are more prone to damage. Traditional shampoo formulas with sulfates included tend to further strip the nutrients and colour deposits from hair fibres.
Meanwhile, one of the most famous sulfate-free shampoo benefits is how it protects hair and colour from stripping the strands of moisture, lustre, and essential nutrients.
The best sulfate-free hair care products will vary from user to user. What you can do instead is to check organic formulas such as plant extracts, botanical ingredients, and essential oils. Aside from being more nourishing to damaged fibres, organic shampoos are usually sulfate-free.
2. Relieves sensitive scalp
Having a sensitive or irritated scalp is more than enough reason why you should use sulfate-free shampoo. It is incredibly common for these skin types to experience dryness, irritation, or redness from aggressive detergents like sulfates.
Organic hair care products also contain alternative surfactants that work just as well in cleansing your hair and scalp. It is also better because they don't disturb scalp pH.
3. Helps uphold curly hair
If you're naturally curly-haired, you deserve to know the benefits of sulfate-free shampoo.
You might notice that your hair type is more prone to dryness. That's why we recommend avoiding hair products that might rid your hair of necessary moisture. When your hair can't hold moisture, elements like humidity can damage your locks and further form structural damage to your hair fibres, culminating in frizz.
Sulfate's harshness can affect how your hair holds moisture. So, if your goal is to achieve bouncy and non-frizzy curls, you might want to avoid this ingredient in your hair care essentials.
Organic shampoos with no sulfate can help retain your hair's natural shine and oils. As they work to seal the moisture in, these products also save you from long-term exposure to harmful chemicals. These qualities will help you care for your curly hair, especially if it's also colour-treated.
4. Gentle on the eyes
Sulfates are what cause the burning sensation in your eyes, which is another reason why you should use sulfate-free shampoo. It's both gentle on the hair as well as your eyes and skin.
The moisturising agents found in these products also help make your hair shinier with added lustre. We recommend building a hair care routine using completely sulfate-free hair care products to better maximise these benefits.
5. Better for the Environment
In recent years, the environmental impact of personal care products has been a growing concern. This is particularly true for shampoo, which can contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to aquatic life and contribute to water pollution – namely, sulfates. One way to reduce the environmental impact of shampoo is to use a sulphate-free shampoo, it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals, which means that it won’t end up in water systems and contaminate them. This also extends to harm caused to marine life dependent on this compromised ecosystem. There is also a growing trend for sulfate-free shampoo products to offer further benefits by coming in recyclable packaging, further helping to reduce the environmental impact by lowering the amount of waste produced.
Browse Our Selection of Sulfate-Free Shampoos and Hair Care Products from Hair & Beauty Kingdom
Caring for your hair can often feel like a full-time commitment, given the amount of time, effort and investment required. Going the extra mile in switching to a sulfate-free shampoo, however, can pay off in the form of those dreamy, bouncy twists that you could only ever imagine before.
Find your whole routine of sulfate-free hair care products from Australia's premier hair and beauty product wholesaler. Hair and Beauty Kingdom is home to an extensive range of products under the care of experienced professionals in the industry.
If you would like to learn more about the sulfate-free shampoo benefits, or have questions related to specific items in our selection, please feel encouraged to contact us today. Call us at 1300 061 808 or send an email to sales@hairandbeautykingdom.com.au and we will get back to you as soon as possible.