You know the deep lather you get when washing your hair that leaves you feeling as fresh as a Herbal Essence advert? Well, that’s down to sulphates. So why are we looking for sulphate-free shampoos, you ask? Because too much of a good thing can lead to dry, brittle and frizzy hair.
Sulphates, aka sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium laureth sulphate, are chemical cleansing agents. When combined with the ingredients in your shampoo, they work extra hard to remove grime, product buildup and excess sebum. However, they also strip hair of natural oils, colour and chemical processes, ie, your expensive keratin blowdry. This is not to demonise sulphates. It’s all about understanding your hair texture and deciding what suits you.
Kinky, coily, Afro hair can suffer from drying, which isn’t helped by sulphates. Those of us with sensitive scalps can’t handle the heavy chemicals without irritation. With coloured and chemically processed hair, sulphates tend to strip the stands, meaning your treatments aren’t as long-lasting. There’s no need to throw out all your shampoos and go sulphate-free. If you have thick, oily hair or tend to use a lot of product, you may need the extra cleanse that a sulphate shampoo can provide. But if you have any of the hair types above, it might be worth adding one of these products to your shower shelf.
1. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo £29, livingproof.co.uk
2. Nala’s Vanilla Cloud Body Wash & Shampoo £5.75, nalasbaby.com
3. Pureology Hydrate Sheer Shampoo £22.23, lookfantastic.com
4. Aveda Damage Remedy Restructuring Shampoo £30, aveda.co.uk
5. Pattern Hydration Shampoo £25, cultbeauty.co.uk
6. L’Oréal Metal Detox Shampoo £26.50, boots.com
7. Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo £28, theouai.co.uk
8. Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo £18.85, moroccanoil.com
9. Olaplex No 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo £28, olaplex.com
10. Straand The Crown Cleanse Concentrated Anti-Dandruff Prebiotic Shampoo £20, sephora.co.uk
