How Dangerous Are Shampoos That Contain Sulphate?

In the recent past, there’s been a surge in demand for sulphate-free shampoos and other haircare products. Does that make sulphate dangerous for hair? Let’s find out.

What Are Sulphates?

Sulphates are a group of chemicals used in the production of shampoos and other household cleaning agents. To explain simply — sulphate is the reason your shampoo lathers. Sulphate acts as surfactants that make it easy to remove dirt and grime from the scalp. If you want to check whether or not your shampoo has sulphate, turn it around and read the ingredients section. Shampoos with sulphate generally contain sodium laureth sulphate (SLS). Hence, sulphate-free shampoos are also known as SLS-free shampoos. Other common sulphates found in shampoos include sodium lauryl sulphate and ammonium laureth sulphate.

Here are some benefits of using haircare products that include sulphate:

• The lathering effect makes hair feel cleaner.
• Sulphate shampoos create foam which helps easily spread the shampoo over a larger area.
• The foam and lathering effect also means that you’ll end up using less shampoo.
• Sulphate might help active ingredients in the shampoo penetrate deeper into the hair and scalp, and get rid of dirt.

Are Sulphates Dangerous?

Well, not explicitly. However, some people do have concerns about the fact that many household cleaning agents contain sulphate. When it comes to haircare products, usingshampoos that contain sulphates isn’t technically bad. In fact, if used in limited quantities, there’s nothing wrong with it, unless you’re particularly sensitive to sulphate. Using haircare products with sulphate can sometimes result in itching, irritation, or redness. In such situations, people prefer to go for SLS-free shampoos just to be on the safer side. Another strong reason for people to ditch sulphate is that sulphate shampoos tend to dry out your hair more than SLS-free shampoos. They suck the moisture and natural oils from your hair. Sulphate-free shampoos are also ideal for people who have gotten professional hair colour done.

Who Should Avoid Sulphate Shampoos?

Generally, sulphate haircare products aren’t all that damaging. In fact, people with particularly greasy hair or skin issues like dandruff might actually prefer them as sulphates help cleanse more effectively. Yet, one can’t deny the side effects. So here are some reasons to ditch the chemical and go for SLS-free shampoos:

• If you have particularly sensitive skin, then ditch the chemical and go for sulphate-free shampoos and haircare products.
• If you have serious skin issues like eczema or psoriasis, then using a shampoo that contains sulphates might trigger your skin condition.
• People with dry and frizzy hair should also consider using SLS-free shampoos and haircare products so as to not further dry out their hair.
• If you have coloured hair, then using a sulphate-free shampoo is a wise choice as such haircare products help the dye last longer.
• If your hair is chemically altered, then using haircare products that contain sulphate is not advisable. Instead, use an SLS-free shampoo meant for chemically-treated hair.

Best Sulphate-Free Shampoos

Godrej Professional has a whole sulphate-free range that is created to benefit many different types of hair type, including chemically treated hair. You can consider using the Keracare Recharge Shampoo that is suitable for all hair types or the Keracare Repair Shampoo that is made for chemically treated hair. Club these with the Keracare Recharge Conditioner and Keracare Repair Mask respectively for best results!