Catie Moore
All year round, Florida is awash in a warm glow of abundant sunlight, paradise-like beaches, and cultural diversity. The Sunshine State is prone to drastic weather changes, however, seamlessly transitioning from large swells of rain to scorching heat and humidity. With sweaty conditions in the air, an abundance of sweat is always bound to surface, your hair shielding the aftermath, leaving it to accumulate grease—enough to want to wash it frequently.
However, consistent use of shampoo may backfire. Most traditional shampoo formulas contain sulfates; a clever method of deep purification but if used often, it may damage hair strands in the long run, thus the existence of shampoo without sulfates. Want to know the benefits of transitioning to sulfate-free hair products? Let’s discuss!
First Things First: What are Sulfates?
You know that amazing lather you get when the shampoo hits the water? Those are sulfates. They essentially react with water to create suds, which help you get that squeaky clean feel. They get rid of the dirt and gunk and give you clean, freshly washed hair.
Why Go Sulfate Free with Your Shampoo?
Now, you could be thinking sulfates don’t sound so bad; why do they get such a bad rep? Well, the answer is that squeaky clean results come at the cost of your hair and scalp.
You see, you need some of the oil that sulfates so effectively wash away, especially that oil that comes from your scalp called sebum. Not having it will lead to dry hair that might start to break and a dry scalp that can more easily get irritated, flaky, and itchy. In this case, you may want to keep your sulfate-free shampoo use to a minimum and go for a shampoo without sulfates.
Dispelling Some Sulfate Free Shampoo Myths
Shampoos without sulfates are a relatively novel concept. That means there are a lot of myths about sulfate shampoos going around that are not true. And if you have some of these untruths floating about your head stopping you from going sulfate-free allow us to dissuade you of those notions.
Myth 1: Sulfate Shampoos Don’t Get The Job Done
Sulfate-free shampoos don’t give that squeaky clean feeling to hair but they certainly get your hair clean.
Myth 2: You Don’t Get Any Lather With Sulfate Free Shampoos
Lather does not always equal clean. And depending on the surfactants in a sulfate-free shampoo, you will get some lather. It may not be as impressive as the lather that comes with traditional shampoos but lather is lather.
Myth 3: All Sulfates Are the Devil
While sulfates may over-strip the hair they are not necessarily bad if you don’t overuse them and if your scalp and hair are not prone to dryness.
Myth 4: Sulfate-free Are for Those with Sensitive Skin And Dry Hair
While those with sensitive skin or dry hair may see the biggest benefits from ditching sulfates, other hair types can benefit as well—especially if you’re washing your hair frequently.
How to Choose a Shampoo without Sulfates
Know Your Hair
Hair comes in types and knowing your type will help you choose a sulfate-free shampoo that will get your hair clean without overstripping it. Type 1 hair or bone straight hair tends to get greasy and oily rather quickly especially if it is fine. With this kind of hair, having a shampoo with sulfates isn’t so bad unless you wash your hair often then you can get a sulfate-free shampoo to use alongside your regular shampoo. On the other hand, if you have type 3-4 hair, aka curly and coily hair, then sulfate-free shampoos should be your mainstay. Your hair is already prone to dryness so don’t make it worse by stripping it of its important oils.
Look at the Ingredients
If your scalp and hair have been dry as the desert you may have pinned sulfates in your shampoo as the culprit and that would be a pretty safe bet. But there are loads of stuff in shampoos that you may need to get better acquainted with so that even if you go the sulfate-free route you don’t have the same problems.
Your Lifestyle
If you lead an active lifestyle, for example, going to the beach, spending a lot of time in the ocean, and going to the gym, then you definitely need to wash your hair quite often. Thus, find a sulfate-free shampoo that is easy to use and adds moisture to your hair.
Go for a Tried and Tested Brand
If you already have a traditional shampoo that you like from a certain brand, and it seems to work fine, then maybe check if they have a sulfate-free option that will most likely have the same scent and texture. Not all brands do, but with the awareness of the disadvantages of sulfates, more companies are trying to up their product range.
However, if you do want to switch it up and go for a different brand, try Amika and discover a whole category of sulfate-free shampoos. There’s a product for every hair type, all accounted for.
Finding a Sulfate Free Shampoo Match
Whether you make it a mainstay or use it when you need a not-so-squeaky-clean wash, there are no downsides. So why not add a shampoo without sulfates to your collection?
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