Ambarian asks…What exactly are Sodium Laureth Sulphate , Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Ammonium Lareth Sulphate and Myreth Sulphate . What is their main purposes in a shampoo? Is it true if you buy a shampoo that contains ALS it is not as harsh on you hair . Is it true that these will strip hair of natural oil and moisture hence if you have dry / curly hair it is best not to use shampoo containing these?
The Left Brain responds…We’ve talked about Sulfates in your shampoo before and we encourage you to read this first.
In the industry, these compounds are known by acronyms such as SLS, SLES, ALS, etc. While we cosmetic chemists like to say really long words to describe chemicals, they can hamper conversations. These sulfates are all primary detergents that make shampoos, body washes and other cleansers clean and foam. Without these ingredients cleansing products wouldn’t work nearly as well as they do.
Practically speaking, ALS is just as harsh on your hair as SLS. ALS is the main detergent of brans like Pantene, Herbalessences, Dove and Suave. SLS is used in Paul Mitchell, VO5 and lots of other brands. Of the ones you listed Myreth sulphate would be least harsh (although it is still more harsh than the things you’d find in a baby shampoo).
These ingredients will not strip your hair of oil any worse than other surfactant bases. All shampoos strip your hair of natural oil. That’s how they clean. In this regard, avoiding these ingredients will not be helpful to you. Some people find these surfactants a bit more irritating than others so you might take this into consideration when buying a product with them in it.
If you have dry/curly hair than you can use any shampoo but make sure you use a conditioner afterwards. This will help replenish the oils that are lost.
If you are concerned about stripping natural oils, the only thing you can do is stop washing your hair. But remember the natural oils help capture dirt, dust and pollution that you walk through every day. For clean hair you really don’t want natural oils.
Beauty Brains bottom line
Sulfates are used in many personal care products and are some of the most effective ingredients you can use for cleaning. They often get bad press and the Natural crowd hates them, but they are perfectly fine ingredients. They’re what all of the Beauty Brains use.
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It is interesting to listen to all the clucking about evil chemicals from those who are a bit misguided in their fears and prejudices, but I digress.
One of the best things to do, which was mentioned in this blog in another entry, is to use either olive oil or coconut oil to condition your hair. Sometimes just a teaspoon’s worth on the ends of long hair is all it takes to restore some of the oil that is stripped during shampooing. This is especially necessary for those of us who are Women of Color and have our hair chemically straightened. These oils are natural and easier to apply without creating that heavy, greasy look.
It’s good to know that there is really no reason to worry about some of the ingredients that have bad press. People should really learn about the products they use on their hair and skin. I always try to give good information on my site and am glad to see you doing the same!
There’s one other really important point that the anti-sulfate people in the world continue to skip right over…there are other ingredients in shampoos and bodywashes and complex and/or interact with the sulfate-surfactants and your skin, thus reducing the irritation potential of these key ingredients.
Thank you for this insight. SLS/SLES has been the subject of many a name calling and it’s refreshing to see another point of view regarding this matter. I personally have no problem with products containing SLS/SLES, but am very much aware that others are more mindful about avoiding this ingredient.
There is one flaw to the information in the article. Sulfates, no matter which one, are not used “alone” in a shampoo or bath formula. Many other ingredients are added, some of which eliminate (couteract) the irritation of sulfates. It’s just like baking a cake. Baking soda alone may be caustic, but when you add the flour, sugar, etc. it provides a function without a negative. Go for the performance in shampoo, it’s perfectly safe. And other ingredients add luster, shine, body, anti-static etc. that you can’t get from soap.
We didn’t say that these things were used alone. We just suggested that all things being equal, some people will find formulas with sulfates in them more irritating than those without.
It is true about the rumors that dishwashing liquid is composed also of sulfates, if yes what kind of sulfate does it compose?
I totally disagree. SLS is very drying to your hair. At least for wavy or curly hair. I stopped using it about a year ago and now I have absolutely no frizz. I could never just go out of the house after letting my hair dry without doing anything to it. Now I can. It is like a miracle. Sulfates strip hair. Maybe straight hair can handle it but I know by my own hair that is was very damaging.
plz somebody tell me about sls free shampoos selling in pakistan….
….It’s not about stripping your hair, it’s about causing irritation to your scalp and skin…as a manufacturer, when you order sulfates, what accompanies the material is a report – use, precautions, etc….even on THOSE documents sulfates are warned to cause skin irritation when exposed. Bottom line: ALL sulfates are a KNOWN skin IRRITANT and a common cause of contact dermatitis. If you don’t trust me, look it up for yourself: the American Journal of Toxicology has linked sulfates with skin irritation, hair loss and impaired hair growth. It’s a cheap foaming agent…and most know that foaming has nothing to do with CLEANSING…it’s just an association we have been making with formulas for a long time.
We don’t disagree that sulfates can be irritating. In fact, it’s typically used as the positive control for irritation in skin studies. However, it can be used safely in shampoos & other cleansing products that are quickly rinsed off. If it irritates someone, then they should avoid them. If not, there is no reason to avoid them.
Please provide a link to research that shows sulfates have been linked to hair loss and impaired hair growth.
I’m a 24 year old male and I have (or used to have) soft, straight, silky hair that I could easily tame. I use ordinary shampoos.
. When I scratch me head, there’s some dandruff-like thing that sticks into my nails. I also had some scabs in very limited areas coming off.
In december 2008, I put on some spray gel and mousse to style my hair and didn’t wash for 3 days! :/ In mid January 2009, my hair grew sort of frizzy, wavy and started falling out. I switched my shampoo and it the falling out stopped. But in July (like last month)something terrible happened…my hair was all sticky, uneven textured, wavy, ‘non-style-able’, frizzy and it even started falling out again. My scalp also hurts sometimes in different patched. It’s like a constant burning sensation in random sections of the scalp. It’s even hurting now
I’m sooo confused! I don’t know what to do. Is it SLS? Well whatever it is, it hurts and it makes me look horrible!:(…..I need help…
oops…i was so depressed that i made some typos above. Please ignore any typing mistakes..thanks.
It is about stripping the hair. I’ve been using WEN, also featured on this site, for about 3 years and my hair (kinky/negroid) is not hard and tangly as it would be after shampoo. I believe this perspective is based more on straighter hair types than mine. Kinky hair needs as much moisture as possible. My hair has been far more manageable since eliminating the sulfates, but reading this, I guess I feel a little less intimidated about using regular shampoo; I’d just condition before and after. And only shampoo if without a choice.
Hi Help Me, how’s it going for you now? Reading your symptoms I am inclined to think that it is likely to be SLS. Sulfates are known to be an scalp irritant. I certainly suggest using a sulfate free shampoo but to get full benefit from it please stick with it and only use natural hair care products in the future. Lots of people who use a natural shmapoo continue to use silicon laden gels, conditioners and other hair products that strip their hair of it’s natural moisture – they may as well use a conventional shampoo as well if they do not switch the rest of their products too!The reason why I say to stick with it is that if you switch to using a natural SLS free shampoo from having previously used a conventional shampoo it will take a little while to remove the chemical residues. Persevere with it and I wish you all the best!
Well thank you all for the usefull info.I have query related to skin.a few days ago I came back from K2 expidition and got sun burn!now my face,neck and hands are very dark and two different shades are clearly visible in my skin! Kindly help me out!
Hello again and thanks Hal. I’m now using raw ingredients for a natural shampoo and atleast the pain is almost gone. As for the looks, its still wavy and bad…not what I used to be. You’re right, the residual effects will take some time to wear of. I don’t know what the new growth of hair would be like…straight as it was or again wavy and frizzy. Time will tell I think.