NoahJenda asks…I’m trying to replace my salon-bought hair products with something less expensive that I can get at the drugstore. The alleged advantage to my current brand is that the products are sulfate-free and salt-free. Does this make any difference to hair, or is it just a marketing gimmick?
The Beauty Brains respond:
Salt free is a marketing gimmick. All it means is that there is no salt added to the product as a separate ingredient. There could still be salt carried in from other ingredients, especially the cleansing and foaming agents, as a “left over” from their manufacturing process. In the end it doesn’t really matter because short term exposure to salt that is rinsed off doesn’t do anything bad to your hair anyway.
Sulfate free is not the panacea that marketers claim. Some people do find sulfates too drying/too irritating. But MANY MANY MANY people have no problem whatsoever using sulfates. If you’re one of those people who are bothered by them (and you’re sure the problem is the sulfates and not something else in the formula like the fragrance) then you may be better off with a sulfate free formula. It will cost you more but if you really have an issue with sulfates then it’s probably worth it.
I suggest you start with L’Oreal’s Ever Free line which has good formulas and is less expensive than high end salon products.
Image credit: http://farm1.staticflickr.com
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi there, I thought that salt/sulphate free products were better for hair that had keratin/brazillian treatments, in terms of keeping the product in longer.
What is the difference between normal shampoo/conditioner compared to the expensive brazillian/keratin aftercare ones?
And the articles said that is still possible to find salt and sulfate from other ingredients. So I must guide my self so they wouldn’t cheat me. Many of them saying the truth for 50% to 70%. But I didn’t means sales promotion is bad. Based on experience they love to do that and that depend on you want to try or not.
Salt free is a marketing gimmick.
I admit I have fallen for the idea that a cleansing cream without sulfates was best for my hair. After about 2 months of use I saw really no difference.
They may use different cleansing agents and they may have higher level of conditioning. It depends on exactly which two products you want to compare. If you have a “normal” shampoo in mind that you’d like us to compare to a specific “expensive” one, just leave a link to the ingredients of each and we’ll review them for you.
Most sulfate free shampoos are less stripping than Sulfate Free (SF) shampoos.
As a makeup artist, buying and trying products is a huge part of my job- I consider fun and serious and it overflows into all areas of beauty ESPECIALLY hair. There. Those are my credentials. ie. I buy a lot.
Of course, you should be buying poos based on your hair type. If your hair needs a moisturizing poo, and you are looking for the most moisturizing poo that beats out ALL Sulfate and SF poos, it’s Nexxus Therappe Ultimate Moisture Shampoo. Ingredients in case anyone was super curious.
Water
SLS
DLS
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Sodium Chloride
Glycol Distearate
Polyquaternium-10
Peg-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
Fragrance (Parfum)
Cocomide MEA
Citric Acid
Disodium EDTA
Coumarin
Pantenol
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Hyrdolzed Keratin
Methylisothiazolinone
Honey (Mel)
Magnesium Citrate
Allantoin
Propylene Glycol
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
Urtica Nettle Extract
Rosemary Leaf Extract
Polysorbate 60
Matricaria Flower Extract
Stearic Acid
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Myristic Acid
Palmitic Acid
Wheat Flour Lipids
Ceramide 3
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Soybean Sterols
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Avocado Oil
I don’t know the science behind it but it is AMAZING, non-stripping and gentle. My naturally dry hair can with stand 2 shampoos of this. 3 if it’s super dirty however, at 3 shampoos I usually experience drying. However, after one shampoo my hair usually is clean and does not need a “repeat”. Oh, and because my hair is colored, it is very important to me that poo is gentle on my even dryer ends and this one is.
VO5 Shea Cashmere is less expensive but a true quality alternative.
I got my mom to buy everpure because she has roseacea and she had been using a shampoo with SLES and had a red and irritated scalp, she has sensitive skin so it would make sense that could be bothering her. I tried it for the heck of it, and found it was actually probably damaging my hair more than SLS containing shampoos because of the mechanical damage it takes to get the hair clean. I love how you have to put in caps MANY MANY MANY lol
I love L’Oreal Ever Free I use that after putting coconut oil in my hair
Isn’t is great for maintaining your color?
Before I thought that sulfates can really damage the hair. I usually blame them for making my hair dry and dull but when I used a non-sulfate formula I have observed that nothing differs. Still got dry and dull hair, until I found out that I just lack some important vitamins and did some hair treatments. It came back to its natural glow.
It’s a myth that sulfates are responsible for hair color loss. We’ve tested it in the lab and shown no difference at all.
1.
It IS a myth that sulfates are responsible for hair color loss.
However, isn’t it a fact that sulfates often contribute to dryness already experienced by colored hair?
Once breakage or unflattering dryness starts in colored hair, everyday can be a bad hair day and YOU WILL DEFINITELY LOOK UNPOLISHED. To be on the safe side, I would only ever use (SF) poos just in case.
(sorry if that is a repost).
2.
Olefin Sulfonates often contribute to the harshness experienced in Sulfate Free shampoos.
I have dry hair from damage (bleaching the eff out of it) should I take care in choosing SF or sulfate-containing products?
That’s very interesting that sulfates are not responsible for hair color loss. I always learn something from your blog! Thanks!