What is a sulfate-free shampoo and should you buy it?

Until recently, sulfate-free shampoo was only in the catalogs of professional brands. Now it is a common and very popular product. What is its popularity and who really needs it?

What is sulfate free shampoo?

We learned about sulfate-free shampoos at the end of the 24th century. At that moment, the persecution of such ingredients in the composition of cosmetics as preservatives, parabens, silicones and sulfates began. And although not a single large-scale study has yet confirmed the harmfulness of sulfates (for example, it was proved that they are not a harmful agent, even potentially, and a negative skin reaction can only be caused in high concentrations and with prolonged exposure – in the experiment, volunteers did not wash off detergent XNUMX hours), the reputation of sulfates, as well as other substances, has been tarnished. Reports began to appear that cosmetics without them (especially shampoos) are better, better, harmless, safer, and the demand for sulfate-free products began to grow.

In fact, sulfates are necessary and useful substances. They are also called surfactants (surfactants) – they foam perfectly, easily and naturally cleanse the skin of impurities and are quickly washed off with water. Sulfates have no equal in cleansing properties. Dust, sweat, sebum, remnants of styling products – surfactants will wash everything away! And if you have oily hair or use hairspray or styling gel every day, then shampoo with sulfates is an absolute must for you.

Sulfate-free products are needed primarily for owners of dry, sensitive skin.

For whom, then, is sulfate-free shampoo good, they are also SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate – sodium lauryl sulfate) and why is there such a revival around them?

Dermatocosmetologist, trichologist Maria Nevskaya believes that “such products are needed for owners of dry, dehydrated and very sensitive skin. If after washing your hair you feel discomfort, burning, tingling, if red spots appear on the skin, try using shampoo without sulfates and silicones.

Benefits of Sulfate-Free Shampoo

Sulfate-free shampoo is good not only for sensitive skin, but also for:

  • colored, highlighted hair – due to the fact that it gently cleanses, the color does not wash out longer. Moreover, such shampoos are usually endowed with the ability to restore hair (and coloring, and even more so bleaching, is a serious burden for them);

  • electrified, fluffy hair, because it does not lift the cuticle and removes static electricity;

  • hair after procedures (keratinization, lamination, biolamination, nanoplastics, hair botox) – due to the fact that it does not wash out the nutritional composition;

  • children’s hair: good sulfate-free shampoos do not sting their eyes (to be sure, always check if this information is on the label), and mild cleansing is enough for babies.

Shampoos without SLS gently affect the hair and scalp without disturbing its protective hydro-lipid barrier.

In fact, sulfates are necessary and useful substances: they foam well and wash off pollution.

Disadvantages of sulfate-free shampoo

  1. The fact that it cleans gently and gently can, under certain circumstances, be a disadvantage. We have already written about oily hair and styling – these are not tasks for sulfate-free shampoos (with rare exceptions), therefore, on average, once a week it is recommended to use shampoo for intensive cleansing.

  2. If you apply a sulfate shampoo and immediately wash it off, then a sulfate-free one needs to be kept on the head and hair for at least 2-3 minutes and only then rinsed with water. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions. Still, shampoos without SLS are special.

  3. Maybe this is a subjective opinion, but it takes a long time to get used to such a shampoo – for some time, after washing, the hair may seem greasy and unwashed (“dirty hair effect”), the usual “squeaky” cleanliness is not felt. But then it’s hard to get off it: when switching to sulfate shampoo, the skin may protest.

  4. For thin and sparse hair, even the best sulfate-free shampoo can be heavy and take away volume from the hair. Therefore, if the hair is thin and sparse, it is better to choose a mild sulfate shampoo for volume.

List of the best sulfate-free hair shampoos: our ranking

And yet, despite these shortcomings, we love these tools. Here is a list of sulfate-free hair shampoos that are Healthy-Food’s favorites.

Moisturizing Shampoo for Fine Hair Botanicals Lavender, L’Oréal Paris

What is a good sulfate-free shampoo? According to the editors, this is Botanicals Lavender shampoo. Natural ingredients care for hair: salted with lavender essential oil, coconut and soy oils are ideal companions for sensitive scalp.

Shampoo care Elseve 3 in 1 Low Shampoo “Total recovery 5”, L’Oréal Paris

In the top 3 sulfate-free products, we always include this product. It is ideal for dry and damaged hair. In one bottle – a gently cleansing shampoo, detangling smoothing balm and intensely regenerating care.

Shampoo-care 3 in 1 Elseve Low Shampoo “Color Expert”, L’Oréal Paris

This sulfate-free shampoo is suitable for blondes, brunettes, and redheads – for anyone whose hair is dyed. Thanks to the flax oil in the composition, it gently cares for capricious curls and is responsible for protecting their color.

Sunflower Color Preserving Shampoo with sunflower extract, Kiehl’s

This product does not contain sulfates or parabens. Sunflower and apricot kernel oils work in it not only as nutrients, but also as antioxidants, and give hair softness and shine.

Intensive anti-dandruff shampoo for sensitive scalp Dercos, Vichy

One of the sulfate-free shampoos that purposefully and successfully cope with an unpleasant problem. Piroctone olamine acts on the fungus that causes dandruff and discomfort. In addition, the shampoo soothes the scalp. The result is noticeable after the first application and lasts at least 6 weeks.

How to choose a good sulfate-free hair shampoo

It’s easy – just look for the label “sulfate-free shampoo” and choose the product that suits your scalp type or purpose!

For oily hair There are very few sulfate-free shampoos – simply because such curls should be rinsed properly mainly by foaming products. If you can’t find a good product, buy an all-purpose sulfate-free shampoo, and use a scalp peel once a week.

For colored, highlighted hair, as well as for normal, in fact, any sulfate-free products are suitable. Just choose the right flavor and texture!

For dry, damaged hair and sensitive scalp, it is better to choose SLS-free shampoos with special labeling. They will certainly include soothing scalp and mild restorative ingredients.

What Ingredients Does Your Hair Need? Our test will help you find out.

How to use shampoo without sulfates and silicones?

We provide detailed instructions.

  1. Wet your hair with very warm water.

  2. Squeeze a small amount of shampoo into the palm of your hand, warm it in your hands and transfer it to your hair. Gently massaging the scalp, distribute the product. Pay special attention to hard-to-reach places – the area behind the ears on the back of the head, at the temples.

  3. Leave the shampoo on your hair for 2-3 minutes, then rinse with water. (Usually, the exposure time is written on the package).

  4. If necessary, repeat the procedure 2-3 times.

Sulfate-free shampoos are suitable for daily use.

Summary results

Briefly about the main thing.

Sulfate-free shampoo – what is it? 

A detergent that does not contain surface-active substances (surfactants) – the very ones that create foam, facilitate the dissolution of fatty contaminants and are able to rinse to a squeak. This shampoo is suitable for dry, sensitive skin.

Who is sulfate-free shampoo suitable for? 

Owners and owners (they do not divide into women’s and men’s sulfate-free shampoo):

  • electrifying, fluffy, severely damaged hair;

  • dyed, highlighted strands;

  • hair that has undergone restoration procedures.

What are the disadvantages of this tool? 

The list is very small. It does not foam well and takes volume from the curls, which is essential for thin hair. On this list of objective shortcomings, perhaps, ends.

What to look for when choosing a sulfate-free shampoo? 

Solely on your preferences – and the type of scalp. The most difficult thing is to choose it for oily skin – as an option, you can buy a universal shampoo without sulfates and just use a peeling for the scalp once a week or alternate shampoo without SLS with intensive cleansing.

How to use it? 

Just like regular shampoo! Only very warm water is needed and there is no point in trying to lather it in your hands like a regular shampoo. It’s best to read the label. Often, a sulfate-free shampoo is recommended to be kept on the head for a couple of minutes and only then rinsed with water.

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