Shiraune Says: In viewing your site I have become an instant fan. I appreciate the unbiased information you provide here. My question is: are baby shampoos sufficient enough to clean adult hair? I know they are SLS free and have been looking for this type of shampoo to minimize the drying effect from SLS poos.
The Left Brain Responds:
Thanks for the kind words about the blog. I always try to provide helpful, unbiased information when answering your questions. And your question in particular is a good one because there is a lot of misinformation out there about Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and shampoo.
Is SLS bad?
First of all, don’t believe all the urban legends about SLS causing cancer or being bad for you because it’s used in garage cleaners. We’ve blogged about SLS before and pointed out that these myths have been debunked. Most people can use Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate shampoos without any problem whatsoever.
BUT, some people do find that SLS can dry out their scalp. Those people should consider SLS’s milder cousin SLES (short for Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate) or they should consider using sulfate-free shampoos.
Are baby shampoos good cleansers?
Baby shampoos are good examples of sulfate-free formulas. Instead of SLS they contain materials known as amphoteric surfactants that are less drying to skin and milder to the eye. (Hence the “no more tears” claim of many baby shampoos.
The downside to these types of formulations is that they don’t clean as well as the stronger detergent systems. While SLS is a VERY good cleansing agent that can remove sweat, dirt, styling product residue and scalp oils, baby shampoo formulas are not so effective.
Why not baby yourself?
Is this a problem? It depends. If you’re using a ton of styling product you might have to shampoo your hair multiple times with baby shampoo to get it as clean as an SLS-based product. That’s not such a bad trade off if your scalp is really dried out. I recommend trying baby shampoo for a week or two to see if you like the effect. If not, you can always switch back.
And if you’ve got money to burn, you can also check out the adult version of baby shampoos: EN Joy Hydrating Shampoo, Back To Basics Color Protecting Shampoo, or even Paves.
Want to learn more? You can read another post of our posts on Sulfates, but you’ll have to sit through the Right Brain’s silly ranting about the Foam Gnome and the Detergent Dwarf.
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Enjoy’s shampoo was so yucky. It dried out my hair sooo much.. yick!
You could try a shampoo specifically targeted for dry scalp. E45 Dry Scalp Shampoo might be a good start. It contains Sodium Myreth Sulfate.
Sodium Myreth Sulfate is not much different than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.
In Europe some shampoos, like Dove, Sunsilk and Palmolive, contain Sodium C12-13 Pareth Sulfate. I find them gentler, but is this ingredient realy gentler than SLS and SLES?
It’s the use of the nonionic (PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate) that makes a baby shampoo tear-free. This nonionic and the amphoterics (usually Coacmidopropyl Betaine) are also mild to the skin. A lower irritation anionic is also used, Sodium Tridecth Sulfate, instead of Sodium Lauryl or Laureth Sulfate. I personally find that baby shampoos are very good at drying out my scalp and that nonionic keeps the foam from getting big and rich. Good for rinsing baby’s hair, but not what we expect from an adult shampoo. By the way – BIG FAN of this website!
I actually us Burt’s Bees and L-O-V-E LOVE IT!!! I have tried both shampoos they have and love them both, however I do like the smell of the sugar beet shampoo better. Their shampoos, and all of their products are free from Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates, Parabens, and Phthalates.
It is the only shampoo over the counter that I can use that doesn’t cause me any allergic reactions!
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a harsh cleanser which can leave both hair and skin dry and sensitised. Try elave skincare, they do an SLS, parabens, perfume etc free range which includes a shampoo and baby range. http://www.elave.co.uk Orders over £30 are delivered for free!
Elave also doesn’t put their ingredients on the website (at least I couldn’t find them). If they don’t use SLS or SLES than they are using some other surfactant which may be just as harsh (or not). And the fact that they don’t use parabens is mostly irrelevant.
If you have a look at their website, they have their ingredient list under each product so you can see what it contains. They only sell in the UK and Ireland
thank`s for this good information & we need more
I am a frequent user of baby shampoo but not all baby shampoo is the same. I have fine, thin hair so I like baby einsteins shampoo. I get it at K-Mart. It is kind of expensive but I don’t need conditioner with it so I save money that way. Occasionally I use Neutogena Anti-Residue shampoo when I feel my hair isn’t clean enough. Alot of other baby shampoos have detangler/fixative in them. Even Johnsons. I used it as a kid and on my own children but then they changed the formula. They added detangler/fixature and took out the glycerine. Also, I used to love Baby Magic shampoo on myself and my kids and then they changed the formula to be more like Johnsons and now you can’t get it at all. There is hardly any shampoo I can use. Most have silicone in them and my hair comes out from that
Just wanted to say thnak you for this site, i’m a balding male and looked up things that might help the cause, and using the shampoos that are free of sulfates could improve the condition. Thanks for the heads up on the SLS and others!
if i was using baby johnsons shampoo with aspirin in it?
does that cause my hair and scalp to be very dry??
I have used many shampoos, but my hair keep on falling and thinning. I am a pure vege. Also regularly do oil massage with coconut oil, but no improvement.
Am healthy, regular yogic and gym exerciser, happy go lucky person, eat lots of fruits, green veges etc. but no good.
Can any body kindly suggest or guide me please ?
I am facing hair loss for almost 3 years… derma reommended me royal placenta shampoo with gensis tablets and hair max spray solution.. but royal placenta shampoo has stimulated dandruff in my hair .. what should i do
Kami,
Try a dandruff shampoo. Like Nizoral, head n shoulders, selsun blue, or neutrogena t gel. May I ask how you found your dermatologist? I’m not a doctor, but the set of products you said you were recommended for your hair loss sound unusual to me.
Sarah
I’ve recently been using Johnson’s baby shampoo and since doing so my hair looks so much healthier! It’s super shiny and soft, although I do need to shampoo twice with it as it’s not that great at lathering. The smell isn’t the best either but I can live with that! Combined with my Aussie conditioner, it’s now my hair cleansing ritual from now on =]
As a black girl I have super curly hair so I’m not trying to get rid of oil sence my scalp and hair get very dry . I need a good sulfate free shampoo and amazing condtionary so my hair doesn’t dry out and break. Do you have any ideas
I have been using Johnsons on my hair and it works perfectly for me. I have fine, wavy hair that has also been bleached and dyed….Ok, the smell is no t exactly the best, but with my hair mask and hair conditioner I can say I´ve seen a big difference
Saved myself from the hairstylist´s scissors 
I’m wondering because my hair is natural as you know black hair is prone to dryness and a lot of these shampoos and conditioner dry out out hair. I was wonder does baby shampoo make you hair less dry. I don’t know when was a baby my hair was softer ethics it.
@Sister: Baby shampoo is certainly less drying to scalp but it may not be the best solution for black hair. Try a heavy conditioning shampoo and see if that helps.
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