Click here to visit the Beauty Brains blog.
Welcome to the new Forum. Please feel free to start a new discussion.
Sulfate free ain't so great.
  • JamiSingsJamiSings
    So the past few months because I couldn't find anything else in the house and I really didn't want to go shopping, I picked up any of the hundreds of "special" shampoos my mom buys. The ones she says we're going to use from now on because "It'll make our hair so much healthier" and somehow end up in the back of the cupboard never used. All of them have been sulfate free. Different brands. Like right now I'm using Samy. The others I can't even remember the names of.
    Let me tell you, they SUCK! My hair, which was unhealthy looking to begin with - I don't know if it's overprocessed or because I have PCOS (apparently receding hair is one of the symptoms) or both - is even more unhealthy looking. It doesn't keep a style. It's super fly away. Basically it looks awful. Even though I can't style my hair in anything other then a topsy tail and always do wash-and-wear, my hair looked way better when I was using Pantene or Dove products. Heck, even Sauve gave me better results.
    Soon as this stuff is used up, I'm switching back. Bring on the silicones and sulfates, because my hair looked SO much better then!
  • crystalcricket
    This just made me laugh!- Although I know it's not so funny to you. I totally agree- I get the same dried, flyaway nasty results without my silicone and sulfate happy shampoos.
  • JamiSingsJamiSings
    I don't mind you laughing. I'm laughing too. Thinking of all the people who pay extra for this stuff because "it's so much better for you/the environment" blah blah blah and end up with cruddy looking hair. Always taken in by the "IT'S GREEN!" propaganda. Hey, at least mom paid for this, it's not wasted money out of my pocket on some hyped up nonsense.
  • Ally E.Ally E.
    I was using sulfate free shampoo for the last 1,5 months probably and I haven't noticed any difference. I was using Naked brand (I think it's UK brand) and saw no improvement. My hair didn't get worse either. I was using Tresemme before that and somehow my hair just started to feel heavier overtime so I switched.
  • JamiSingsJamiSings
    Well, different hair and skin types do need different things. So I wouldn't be surprised to find some people do better with sulfate free and some don't see any difference. But for those who keep pushing sulfate free on everyone - well, one chemical formula does not fit all.
  • Left BrainLeft Brain
    Sulfate-free is really just a claim that marketers use to differentiate their products from everyone else's.  You can make good sulfate free shampoos, average ones, and bad ones.  The same can be said about sulfate shampoos.
    There really is no extra benefit that sulfate-free shampoos give no matter what marketing companies tell you.  I have yet to see a single scientific paper to validate any benefits (e.g. less damaging, won't strip color, etc.)
  • JamiSingsJamiSings
    That's kind of my point, LB. People keep saying "OH! ONLY use sulfate free! It's better for your hair and the environment! If you don't then you are EVVVVVVIIIIIIILLLLLL!!!!!!"
    I can see going sulfate free if you're allergic to sulfates. But I've had nothing but trouble with my hair since I started using sulfate free shampoos and condictioners. I'm going back to my Pantene and Dove today.
    Sulfates and silicones rule!
    Seriously though, like I said, one chemical formula does not fit all. It's just like anything in life. Just because one fat woman looks good in an empire waist doesn't mean we all do - I, myself, always look pregnant when I wear an empire waist. Not everyone can pull off the color red. And not everyone has healthier hair with sulfate free.
    Plus I bet it's not any better for the environment then those with sulfates.
  • cascade
    Well, I just used my first sulphate free shampoo and conditioner today (Alchemy, Australian brand), just to try something new.....it doesnt lather as well as the sulphate shampoos, and had to shampoo twice, and the conditioner is a bit lighter that the regular ones, but the smell is heavenly.....its like i bathed in essential oils of ylang ylang and avacado. i guess I will alternate between my regular Loreal royal jelly and Alchemy and see which suits my scalp better.I washy my hair twice a week, and I have dandruff but by the second or third day after washing I build up a lot of oily flakes on my scalp and i get tiny itchy sores....when i scratch my scalp i get a dot of blood mixed with flakes. Do you think the SLS/SLES free shampoos will improve this ? Or just use head and shoulders anti-dandruff shampoo?
  • sarahf
    I find if I use one, I have to wash my hair twice to get it clean. My favorite products tend to have sodium laureth sulfate as the primary surfactant (I think it's called).

    Ally, what is it about UK brands called "naked" and "nude" lol.

    Jami, I'm overweight and also look pregnant in empire waist, most of my extra weight is below the waist so my true waist is actually the narrowest part. Agree w/ you about the one-size-fits-all recs (such as dewy makeup for women over 40, they have rules about what kinds of jeans we can wear, etc).
  • Moi
    I just started using a sls shampoo - very expensive but I can't see any down side to it except that I prefer the suds. Afterwards, I rinse and condition with a vinegar and water solution and my hair is manageable and has 'some' shine, not like my previous conditioner. I'm going to keep using the shampoo and see if there's an improvement like they promised.
Add a Comment