Sulfate Free Shampoo Tips

Looking for a dandruff shampoo for color treated hair that will leave your hair healthy and moisturized, opt for shampoos without sulfates. Incredibly drying hair care products and the heat that we use just to get a decent style make having nice healthy hair difficult to say the least.  Discover the most common cause and the best shampoo for color treated hair.

Harsh sulfates are actually a common ingredient in most shampoos, usually in the form of sodium laureth sulfate.  It’s been found to be one of the most probable causes of dry scalp, dandruff and even thinning hair.

Sodium laureth sulfate is a harsh, detergent like substance used in shampoos, hand soaps, and many other personal and industrial cleaning products.  that actually strips your hair of many nutrients that it needs to stay healthy and vibrant. That alone makes the fact that it is widely used in shampoos ridiculous. Opt for sulfate free shampoos instead. I can’t say they will not strip or damage your hair at all but there is less of a chance.

Problems Using Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Shampoo

When you use shampoo that contains sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) your hair follicles and scalp are actually damaged. Research and case studies have shown they dry out your hair, cause scalp and eye irritation and even hair loss. Sodium lauryl sulfate strips the natural oils from the head and scalp. And because it chemically opens the outer layer of your hair (the cuticle) SLS aids in the removal of the color from your hair! This is not what you want when you have paid good money to have your hair colored.  It gets worse though research indicates that sodium laureth sulfate shampoos can cause an increase in female cancers, such as breast cancer, and increased problems with male infertility.

Benefits of Sulfate Free Shampoo For Color Treated Hair

By switching over to a sulfate free shampoo for color treated hair you remove these potential future health problems and also allow your hair to actually be cared for as you originally intended. SLS and SLES are known to cause color treatments to only last approximately half as long as if you were using a shampoo for color treated hair that did not contain any of these sulfates or sulphates. By using shampoos that are especially manufactured for color treated hair and that do not contain SLS you are ensuring that the keratin and color will remain in the hair follicles for as long as possible. This also cuts down on the costs of having to repeat the color treatments as often.

Sulfates can damage your hair in a number of different ways. First because it chemically alters your hair it can cause your hair to weaken which leads to it breaking off and subsequently falling out. If you are a sufferer of thinning hair this condition has been shown to improve after making the switch.

Secondly, the drying effect that shampoos with sulfates have can cause your hair to be frizzy and hard to manage.  I recently tried one of the most popular SLS free shampoos and found that it caused my hair to frizz anyway so educate yourself on the ingredients in your shampoo.  For those with naturally frizzy hair this is incredibly problematic because it makes your hair even more unruly and difficult to tame and style.

If you have a constantly itchy scalp or have a bad case of dandruff you may find some relief by using shampoos without sulfates.  Sulfates dry out your hair and scalp, and as you may know andruff is often a pesky result of having an overly dry, itchy scalp. Switching to sulfate free shampoos will restore a natural balance to your scalp and the itching will quickly go away.  As I mentioned earlier the brand I tried dried out my hair and made my scalp feel tight and itchy but amazingly that all went away when I returned to the previous brand that had been working well.

Finding the Best Shampoo For Color Treated Hair

The best shampoo for color treated hair is one that is free of sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate but also helps you manage your hair type. Ideally a shampoo that contains natural ingredients such as botanical oils, plant proteins and herbal extracts, while omitting the sulfates, will not only clean your hair and scalp, but will also refresh and moisturize your hair naturally.

In the past natural shampoos that were free of SLS used to be significantly more expensive than their sulfate counterparts, but this is fast becoming not the case. It is now possible to purchase natural sulfate free shampoo for color treated hair from stores such as CVS pharmacies, Walmart, Target and local grocery stores. Brands such as L’Oreal, Renpure Organics, Organix, Abba Pure, Giovanni, Dr. Bronner’s, Alba Botanica, Aubrey Organics, CURLS and Avalon Organics all produce sulfate free lines.  Click here for a list of brands that carry sulfate free shampoos.

It is also important to keep in mind that you can have an impact on the health of your entire family when you make the switch over to dandruff shampoo for color treated hair that doesn’t contain sulfates. In fact, once you begin to look, you will see that there are natural shampoo solutions for all hair types that will leave every family member with a much healthier and alive looking head of hair.

Yes, you’ve got the right page if you are looking for the three sites to help you research sulfates in shampoo.

Are there sulfates in your shampoo?

If you read about this page in my book then great, I’m glad you made it here!  If you haven’t already claimed your copy of Sulfate Free Shampoos Exposed then take a minute to grab your copy by just entering your first name and email address in the sidebar.

Research Sulfates In Shampoo

If you want to check out the safety of a particular ingredient then you can do a little research on the web by searching the sites for the FDA, MSDSonline and Consumer Reports. To help you find your way around each of those sites I put together this page to help you navigate each of these sites.  Just bookmark this page to keep it handy!

Cosmetics Division of the FDA

FDA.gov is the main website for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration but we are interested in their Cosmetics division.  Right now at the top of this page is an article that invites you to tell the FDA if you have had a bad reaction to cosmetics, here is the article in a pdf in case they move it.  I love their site because they’ve got a Q&A, you can get info on recalls and they explain cosmetic labeling and labeling claims so take some time to look around.  They also explain the extent of their authority over cosmetics which sounds like it’s mostly marketing related.

MSDSonline

If you don’t know what an MSDS is, it’s a material safety data sheet.  This will give you safety information on individual chemicals along with other pertinent information like other names they go by.  I grabbed the url to their MSDS search for you so if you just want to check on any or all of the ingredients in your shampoo you can just type it into the search bar.

Consumer Reports

If you are like me you think they only let you read their articles if you are a paid subscriber but what I found out is there is a lot of info that is free.  I just went to their site and did a search for shampoo to get to the info I wanted.  I don’t get any kickbacks for telling you this but if you just sign up for the online version it’s fairly inexpensive.  They have articles on products they have tested, their effectiveness, etc.  Here is a link to their site.

Doing Research on the Manufacturers

Some of you may want to do further investigation by visiting the website for each product and I think that’s a great idea.  Here are somethings to keep in mind when doing that 1) the brand doesn’t always manufacture their own products and 2) individual ingredients are usually manufactured separately from where they are all mixed together to produce the final product.

More Than Just Sodium Lauryl and Laureth Sulfate

I realize many of you will be initially interested in the two main ingredients that got this movement going: sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate.  But I do encourage you to continue beyond just these two ingredients, manufacturers have taken notice that a growing number of consumers are looking specifically for these ingredients but that doesn’t mean they are replacing them with chemicals that are in any way healthy.  For example, I just started to test what is supposed to be one of the favorite SLS free shampoo and conditioner combos per my research on Amazon.com but it dried out my hair and scalp so bad I had to abandon the testing early.

Please share your findings, thoughts or questions in the comments section below.

Your shampoo for thinning hair may not be safe or worse it may just be down right ineffective.  Some people bought products over the internet that have now been recalled because the USDA decided they were “unapproved new drugs.”  But I know that it’s always a guessing game as to how well a certain product works to stop your hair from thinning.  Consumer Reports did a study on the effectiveness of some of the most popular thinning hair remedies including some that are available by prescription only.

In this post I’m going to share with you what they found out and who it was that pulled their products from the shelves.

The Results Are In For Your Thinning Hair Remedy

You may be surprised that change in diet and exercise both made a larger impact than Rogaine both the prescription and it’s OTC counterpart.  Yes, diet and exercise also beat out OTC shampoos and lotions that claimed to help, but they didn’t say if they were sulfate-free or not;)  Propecia, otherwise known as Finasteride beat out everything else by a landslide.  Coming in second and third were medicine for an illness that caused hair loss and just plain old change in diet.

Too Much Minoxidil In Your Shampoo Can Get You Flagged

Over concerns for potential health hazards Perfect Image Solutions voluntarily recalled their products after the USDA labeled them “unapproved new drugs.”  The reason for the potential hazard is because the minoxidil can be absorbed into your system and the 10% and 15% concentrations found in some of their products have not been tested sufficiently for safety.

Their hair regrowth shampoo contained ketoconazole and salicylic acid apparently also at questionable levels.  At high enough concentrations both of those ingredients can have adverse side effects.

What This Says About Your Shampoo For Thinning Hair

This may or may not be a reflection on the shampoo you are using, like I keep saying they are all different and they won’t necessarily have the same effectiveness for everyone for various reasons.  I get into some of the reasons shampoos are different for different people in my new ebook Sulfate Free Shampoos Exposed that will be available later today.  I also mentioned that they didn’t say what shampoos they tested and they didn’t mention if any of them were sulfate free.  Since I have found sulfates in shampoos for thinning hair so don’t give up.

I hope this helps you make better decisions on what solutions you want to try to stop your hair from thinning.

It’s time you discover why shampoos without sulfates are best for your hair.  Today, more then ever, people want to look after their health and bodies so that they can live a long, healthy life.  Get answers to questions like: would it really make a difference to the health of your body, and your hair if you were to change the shampoo and conditioner that you use each day? Does using a sulfate free shampoo on your hair really make a difference to the results that you see in the physical condition of your hair and to your overall health?

I’m going to tell you about the problems caused by sulfates and the benefits of using shampoos without sulfates and then I’ll give you some tips on how to find the best one for your hair.  The truth is that research has shown that both your hair and your overall health will be better off by using sulfate free shampoo for color treated hair and all other hair types as well, for that matter.  I know that sounds like the obvious answer but let me explain…

Problems Caused By Using Shampoos That Contain Sulfates

When you use shampoo that contain sulfates like, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), then your hair follicles and scalp are actually damaged. So instead of caring for your hair these shampoos have proven, through research and case studies, to actually dry out your hair, cause scalp and eye irritation and even hair loss. The sodium lauryl sulfate strips the natural oils from the head and scalp and in so doing assists in the removal of the color from your hair follicles! This is not what you want when you have gone to the effort of having your hair colored. Even worse than these problems is the research that indicates that sodium laureth sulfate shampoos can cause an increase in female cancers, such as breast cancer, and increased problems with male infertility.

Benefits of Hair Shampoos Without Sulfates

The FDA has only approved the use of SLS at concentrations of 1% for products that will be in contact with your skin for longer periods of time.  Think about it, isn’t one of the ways you decide on a shampoo the way that it smells after you get out of the shower?  So if the scent is staying it stands to reason at least some of the SLS is staying too.  By switching over to a sulfate free shampoo you reduce potential future health problems and also allow your hair to actually be cared for as you originally intended. SLS and SLES are known to cause hair color treatments to only last approximately half as long as if you were using a shampoo for color treated hair that did not contain any of these sulfates or sulphates.

Then there is the relief to your scalp, constant stripping away of your natural oils can cause the rebound effect where within a day or two you become grease head and are forced to wash your hair with the same harsh shampoo.  This is a common phenomena that has been known for years to occur in dandruff shampoos especially.  The same specialized products that your hard earned money purchases to solve your dry scalp problems actually makes sure they continue.  So there is the benefit of getting off that money sucking treadmill.

Finding the Best Shampoo For Your Hair

The best shampoo your hair is one that is free of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, but you should be weary of other sulfates as well.  Since SLS and SLES have been exposed manufacturers have switched to other sulfate products that are just as harmful.  Ideally a shampoo that contains natural ingredients such as botanical oils, plant proteins and herbal extracts, while omitting the sulfates, will not only clean your hair and scalp, but will also refresh and moisturize your hair naturally.

In the past natural shampoos free of SLS used to be significantly more expensive than their sulfate counterparts and hard to find, but this is fast changing. It is now possible to purchase shampoos that don’t contain sulfates from stores such as CVS pharmacies, Walmart, Target and local grocery stores. Manufacturers such as L’Oreal, Renpure Organics, Organix, Abba Pure, Giovanni, Dr. Bronner’s, Alba Botanica, Aubrey Organics, CURLS and Avalon Organics all produce sulfate free shampoo lines.  From all the reviews I’ve read L’Oreal seems to be giving some of the more expensive brands a run for their money although I still need to double check their label.

It is also important to keep in mind that you can have an impact on the health of your entire family when you make the switch over to sulfate free shampoo.  Don’t forget to check other products like toothpaste, bubble baths and even hand soaps.  In fact, once you begin to look, you will see that there are natural shampoo solutions for all hair types that will leave every family member with a much healthier and alive looking head of hair.

Trying to find the best sulfate free shampoo?  Then you are probably looking for me to tell you there is one that is particularly great.  But your reasons for using this shampoo will definitely determine the product that best fits you.  These 3 main considerations will help you find the perfect fit:

1) Why you are using this type of shampoo?  Are you trying to preserve your hair color from fading, trying to prevent your hair from thinning or trying to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals that are in common household products?

2) Your level of sensitivity is important.  If this is for your baby then you will want to consider products that have a natural surfactant or none at all.  You may have sensitive skin or a dry, itchy scalp.

3) Cost.  I would love to be able to tell you this isn’t important but the reality is for some people this will be a deciding factor.  The good news is there are some selling for under $10 and I even found a couple under $5 for an 8 oz bottle.  I have a growing list of brands producing sulfate free versions of their shampoos.

3 Tips For Finding Your Best Sulfate Free Shampoo

Hair shampoo is one of the products we need to be right for our lifestyles, we use it all the time.  But there are a number of problems with sulfates that may cause us to look out for the best sulfate free shampoo on the market and put away our regular brand.  Reading through the following sections will help you make an informed choice about the products that will work the best for you.

1) Are you using sulfate free shampoo because you’ve colored your hair, it’s thinning or to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals?

Most people that have colored their hair have been referred to some sort of shampoo that won’t strip the color out.  The problem is most of those shampoos both over-the-counter and professional grade contain sodium laureth sulfate (SLES).  There are other compounds in use that are less damaging to your hair like decyl glucoside a natural surfactant.  In a recent visit to the beauty salon I looked at the ingredients being used in shampoos for color treated hair some were using ammonium laureth sulfate, don’t be fooled the active part of the molecule is still present.

Another problem that can occur is in the actual thinning of the hair.  In some cases the hair doesn’t just get thinner, but is lost totally and slowly receding or thinning out of the hair will occur with time.  Research has shown that hair thinning and hair loss improved when using sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) free shampoos.  This is really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the dangers of using products that contain SLS or SLES.  You will want to look for a shampoo that either doesn’t contain a surfactant or only contains natural surfactants like decyl glucoside.

If you are trying to reduce your overall exposure to harmful chemicals that are in common household products you will also want to watch out for substitute sulfate compounds.  A lot of the problems come from these same sulfate chemicals that are also used in a majority of cleaning and detergent products.  Plus you can replace more than just your shampoo, if you would like some ideas for this just email me.

2) Is sensitivity a factor?  (i.e. is this for your baby / child, do you have sensitive skin or are you concerned with perfumes)

Research has shown that hair follicles become dried out due to the corrosive action of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and problems such as dry, flaky scalps all improved and over time went away when the switch was made to a sulfate free shampoo.   These sulfates are known in some cases to be an irritant to the eyes or skins and “claim” to be generally avoided for children’s products. Of course in a shampoo this irritation will lead to things like itchy scalp or even visible signs like redness.

I mention brands that claim they avoid chemicals that are known irritants because I buy everything “sensitive” because I have always had sensitive skin, I can’t even use the laundry detergent for babies.  The problem is they still use SLS or perfumes so it may be best if you stay away from brands sold in the major stores they are cheaper which forces the brands to use cheaper chemicals in their sulfate free shampoos to be able to make a profit.

3) Cost considerations

If your decision is down to price then I want to make sure you can find the sulfate free shampoo that will suit your hair type and fit into your budget.  I put together a list of brands that make sulfate free shampoos sorted by price.

Here is a list of sulfate free shampoo brands that is worth checking out.  These brands are grouped based on their price range so that it would be easier to match it up with your hair care budget.  I’m adding to this list all the time, it has literally double just since the initial writing.

If you have another brand that you think should be listed here please forward the information to me: the name, price and where it can be purchased (send to info@sulfatefreeshampootips.com).  Or leave the info in the comments section below.

With environmental awareness on the rise, consumers are now searching for natural ingredients in the products that they are personally using from day to day. Sulfate free shampoo brands are getting popular as great alternatives to hair care.

Shampoos containing sulfate are starting to be thrown out of the window literally. Although the sulfate ingredient in a shampoo can cause it to lather or ‘foam up’, it is also a primary trigger of scalp and skin irritation to consumers. It was reported that since it can mimic the activity of the hormone estrogen, it could be a potential cause of breast cancer for women.

List of Sulfate Free Shampoo Brands

Under $30

*TIGI

You may recognize them better by their Bed Head line of products.  Bed Head Superstar Sulfate Free Conditioner is selling for $28.99 currently but they do have other products that come in under the $20 mark.

Under $20

*John Masters

Consumers are raving on the cleansing and somehow new hair growth effect of the John Masters Organics Lavender Rosemary Shampoo. The Lavender and rosemary extracts are combined with other 13 organic ingredients including soy protein and wheat amino acids. It generates not much lather which is typical of a sulfate free shampoo.  Amazon is selling their 236 mL bottle (roughly 8 oz) for $19 and people that have bought it through Amazon previously have given it 4 out of 5 stars.  Their own site lists the same bottle for only $16 for the same size so don’t always assume Amazon is cheaper.

*Loma Pearatin

It is one of the high end shampoo products in the market. A shampoo from Loma Pearatin though contains over 30 percent organic Aloe Vera gel, an ingredient that is proven to be effective in cleansing and moisturizing the hair. Apparently, their shampoo products are scented with essential oils that are distilled directly from the plant to bring a feeling of calm and relaxation to the consumer.   Their Volumizing Shampoo is selling on Amazon for $18.99, I don’t know much about this brand but it gets 5 star ratings.

*Sei Bella

This is the one I have been testing for the last month or so because I really wasn’t sold on the fact that it’s not a truly “sulfate free” product like so many other companies they are using sulfates in different forms.  However I have had such great results with this shampoo and conditioner combination that I couldn’t deny it’s benefits.  Plus I know the manufacturer is dedicated to making products that are healthy for the family and for the environment.  The shampoo and conditioner each run $22.50 unless you become a preferred customer then the price drops to $15.50 for 10 fl. oz.  (I would be happy to share more info with you if you are interested, just email: info@sulfatefreeshampootips.com).  BTW I am writing up a full review of these products for you so keep an eye out for it.

*TIGI

You may recognize them better by their Bed Head line of products.  The Bed Head Foxy Curls Frizz-Fighting Sulfate-Free Shampoo, 8.45 oz is selling for $17.99 at Walgreens.  For the Rockaholic line Living The Dream is selling for $16.95 at Target.  I did list TIGI twice because of the difference in price between their different product lines.

$10 or less

*Burt’s Bees

Burt’s Bees has a wide array of organic shampoos choose from. These shampoos can transform a fine, lifeless hair into a thick, voluminous hair with an amazing body. A sulfate free shampoo that is worth your time to try in their product line is the
Pomegranate & Soy Shampoo. It blends the natural oils of pomegranate, soy, coconut and sunflower to help cleanse hair.  I usually buy this at Target for my toddler, theirs still lathers. Like the John Masters brand they use decyl glucoside which is a natural surfactant certified for its eco-clean production values.

*JASON

JASON is a firm believer of natural products since they started in 1959. Their best-seller shampoo is the JASON Natural Cosmetics Shampoo (Tea Tree Oil Hair & Scalp Therapy) because it is known to effectively eliminate excessive dead cells and dandruff on the scalp. Another alternative for everyday hair care is the JASON Natural Cosmetics (Natural Biotin Shampoo, Ginseng & Chamomile).  According to their online store their shampoos and conditioners run from $8 to $10.  You won’t find this at the big box stores so much as a local natural foods store.

*L’Oreal Paris

L’Oreal has one of the most popular sulfate free shampoos around. Based from the common feedback of consumers, their
EverStrong Hydrate Shampoo can transform a dry, brittle hair into a silky, moisturized hair. Even though it is sulfate free, it can still generate a rich lather when you apply it to your hair. It would invigorate your senses because of its rosemary and minty fragrance. It does what it advertises to do at an unbelievably affordable price for such an international brand.  According to Walmart’s website this is selling for just under $6.

Update 1/17/12: I have been seeing the L’Oreal products on sale a lot lately, they are easy to find at Target.  According to my search at Amazon.com this is the most popular sulfate free shampoo being used right now.

*Ultra Sheen

The have a hydrating shampoo called Ultra Care, I found it at Walgreens.com.  I have never heard of this brand but considering it was selling for only $3.99 for an 8 oz bottle it may be of interest to you.

The brands in this sulfate free shampoo list can be purchased online or at stores near you.  I’ve found a few of the more common brands at stores like Walmart, Target and Walgreens. It might take some time for you to get used to a non-foamy shampoo but the healthy benefits of a sulfate free product are too good to pass up.

****Note: some of these shampoos are made to work together with their corresponding conditioner.  Some manufacturers actually take the time to pH balance the two so they should be used together.***

I like to keep a look out for coupons and sales on these brands and then post what I find on my facebook page, don’t forget to like the page so you will stay up-to-date!