Sulfate-Free Shampoo Review
All of us use shampoo, but how many of us take the time to question what shampoo is made of? Very few people concern themselves with the ingredients in their shampoo we buy it, we suds up in the shower, we wash our lovely locks with it and repeat the process in a day or two. Beyond that, shampoo doesnt play much of a role in our thought life and we certainly dont sit around wondering what makes shampoo go from a thick liquid to a light, bubbly lather.
The reality is, almost every shampoo on the shelves is made with sulfates (90 percent, to be exact). Sulfates are mineral salts that contain sulphur..yes, sulphur, which can be a poisonous element to humans. Plant and animal decay and industrial processes like mines, steel mills and textile plants are said to produce sulfates. It is said to contaminate the air in highly industrial cities and can cause moderate lung and throat irritation. Plus, if you ingest water with a high sulfate count, you can become ill.
Sulfates are used in a wide variety of consumer products, including cleaning supplies, engine degreasers, car washes and floor cleaners. (Eww.and were putting this stuff in our hair?) Strangely enough, these are the same sulfates used in bubble bath products and shampoos. Manufactures use sulfates extensively in soaps and shampoos because they comprise a family of ingredients that include the worlds most commonly used foaming agents, and the use of sulfates is cheap and convenient.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) are just two of many popular examples of sulfates, known as surfactants. These are found in hair shampoos and cleaning agents because they are classified as surface active ingredients, which means they can interact with, and clean, a surface. The chemical makeup of a surfactant in hair shampoo allows sulfates to surround and trap dirt and oil found on the surface of the hair and scalp.
The use of sulfates in shampoos has been a controversial issue for decades and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that complaints come in every day about chemicals used in shampoos, which have been linked to a number of ill effects on users. Not only do sulfates contribute to moisture loss in every hair type, they are said to cause color-treated hair to fade prematurely. They also clog pores, cause irritation and have been attributed to dandruff and other scalp issues.
As men and women become more and more educated about sulfates, fewer are buying the typical beauty brands, opting instead to use sulfate free shampoo. Sulfate free shampoo helps to protect and preserve color treated hair, maintaining the colors vibrancy long past its typical shelf life. These special hair shampoos, because they lack so many of the harsh chemicals and foaming agents found in normal brands, leave hair feeling softer and more manageable, promoting a lustrous shine and bounce.
If you want to be an eco-friendly, product conscience consumer who values natural ingredients and prefers not to buy products that include harsh chemicals, sulfate free shampoo is for you.
Sulfate free hair shampoos include some of natures best compounds. For instance, seaweed extracts are used to clean and strip the hair of toxins and dirt. Vitamin E, sunflower seed extract and the worlds best botanicals are used to make hair perform at its best. There are a number of sulfate free shampoos on today's hair care beauty market that offer products tailored to specific hair care needs. For instance, there are sulfate free shampoos that have been designed to gently cleanse and condition fine hair; thick hair, curly hair, normal to dry hair, thick and course hair and it is particularly effective when used on severely dry, damaged hair.
The next time you by shampoo, pay attention to the label. If it says sulfate free, go for it! If not, its time for a change. Your hair and scalp will thank you for it.
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