Posts
First, I popped over to my shower and grabbed a random bottle of shampoo (keep in mind, my shower is stocked with more bottles of shampoo than a SoCal sorority house bathroom so it really was quite a random sample). Sure enough, the second and third items on the ingredient list were “Ammonium Laureth Sulfate” and “Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate.” Next, as any savvy internet sleuth might do, I checked out our old friend Wikipedia, my magic eight-ball of information about everything and anything. According to Wiki, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate is a “surfactant,” which is a detergent that helps to break down excess oils in the hair. Its partner, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, is a “high-foam” surfactant that works into that rich, foamy lather from the shower-scene on the shampoo commercials, that makes us feel like our shampoo is doing its thang! Extensive studies have been conducted on both of the above sulfates as well as their partners-in-crime, sodium laureth- and sodium lauryl-sulfate, all revealing that the ingredients are perfectly safe for humans, BUT are they damaging or drying? Yes and no. Here’s why: Ingredients that dissolve oil (i.e., any kind of detergent including most shampoos and many face- and body-washes), can deplete the natural oils on the skin or hair, resulting in dryness or damage to the moisture barrier. However, damage is more likely to result from shampooing too often, rather than from sulfates specifically. Not too keen on the fact that the main cleansing ingredient in your shampoo is probably the same one that’s in your dishwashing detergent? In that case, there are some fabulous alternatives to sulfates and… as any beauty-obsessed gal pal would… I’ve got some favorites to tell you about!
Another sulfate-free line that I adore, but is a bit harder to find, is called Hair Rules. The line was created for women with naturally textured hair, so for those of you with pin straight strands, pass this one by. The Daily Cleansing Cream leaves hair so soft, you’ll be tempted to skip conditioner! Feel like your hair has developed some buildup? Check out the Aloe Grapefruit Clarifying Shampoo – if your shiny hair doesn’t make a lasting impression, the amazing fragrance will! The shampoos and conditioners in the line are about $20-22 for an 8 oz bottle, but they’re certainly worth indulging on for those days when your hair needs some serious restoration. Check out www.hairrules.com to find out more about products for your hair type.
So what's the bottom line? Go ahead and try the sulfate-free selections - they're not much pricier than traditional shampoos and they certainly can't hurt! However, if like many of us you've got your tried and true that you just can't venture too far from, then stick with what works and try to shampoo a bit less often; there's nothing but beauty in the "less is more" mantra!
XOXO
