While prolonged and daily use of sulfate shampoos can make the hair rough and brittle, sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner can be used every day without damaging your hair.
This can lead to hair becoming dry and brittle. People with curlier hair could benefit from using a sulfate free shampoo, around 2-3 times per week. Washing less often can help to contain as much of the natural oils as possible.
Sulfate free shampoo will get you feeling clean, but not stripped of moisture. The results? A healthier scalp with balanced oil production. Dry scalp types will find that their scalp is more moisturized (not oily), and oilier scalp types will find that their excessive oil production will be reduced over time.
There is also a slight adjustment period to sulfate-free shampoo, so your hair may loose some of its volume that ingredients in other shampoos falsely supply. Not to mention, most sulfate-free shampoos don't help to alleviate dandruff, though there are a few products designed for this on the market.
If you have sensitive skin or eczema, ditching sulfates might cut down on scalp irritation, and King warns sulfates can be “too strong” for fine, delicate hair. “It is possible to get hair clean without sulfates," says Schweiger, but they really do a good job of getting the hair and scalp clean with minimal effort.
Your hair may turn greasy either due to your hair type or the constituents of the shampoo. Abandoning the harsh SLS-based shampoos for a sulfate-free decyl glucoside or coco glucoside shampoo means lesser cleaning action. However, these shampoos may not be able to develop lather quickly and build up in an area.
Last but not the least, sometimes sulfate-free shampoos contain a lot of conditioning ingredients. It feels less like you are shampooing, and more like conditioning your hair. This again leads to a buildup. All in all, sulfate-free shampoos are not bad for your hair, but you need to check if they work for you!
Those with a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis who use shampoo containing sulfates may also experience itching, redness, and cracking in their scalp after use. These people could consider using sulfate-free shampoos. People with naturally dry, curly, or frizzy hair may want to avoid sulfates.
Some forms of sulfates — like sodium lauryl sulfate — can cause significant scalp irritation, especially in people with sensitive skin. If sulfates cause enough irritation, they may contribute to hair damage and hair thinning in some people.
Keep Your Hair's Natural Oils
One of the benefits of using a sulfate-free alternative is that your hair is cleansed without removing your natural oils that keep your hair shiny and scalp happy & moisturized.
All that being said, it should take about 4-6 washes for your hair to adapt to the new shampoo and conditioner formula fully. You can expect to see a bit of improvement with each wash until one day your hair is truly the healthiest it's ever been.
These ingredients might be effective in cleaning the hair of dirt and oils but can often lead to damage and scalp complaints if they are too strong. Some of the main chemicals and ingredients now being avoided in salon shampoos are: Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. Silicones.
Although everyone's experience may differ, it may take about 6 washes until your hair adjusts to sulfate free shampoo. Remember, you have been using shampoos with sulfates for years, and now your hair simply needs time to adjust. Be patient, and don't throw in the towel!
If you're tired of ineffective treatments for hair loss, try changing your shampoo to a sulfate-free variant. It may help you manage hair loss better and avoid hair damage, irritation, inflammation, and breakage.
Is sulfate-free shampoo good for fine hair? The short answer is yes. Sulfate-free hair cleansing options like Better Not Younger's Wake Up Call Volumizing Shampoo and Second Chance Low Suds Repairing Shampoo for Dry/Damaged Hair are superior solutions to treat the physiology of your aging hair.
Sulfates aren't currently known to affect scalp DHT levels and, as such, aren't directly linked to pattern hair loss in men. However, sulfates can be indirectly linked to male hair loss.
However, some people find that sulfates can be harsh on their scalp, causing irritation and dryness. Sulfate free shampoos are designed to be gentler on the scalp, and they often contain moisturizing ingredients that can help to keep hair healthy and hydrated.
Sulfates are essentially detergents. When used in soaps, they leave skin feeling clean and refreshed. In shampoos, sulfates create a frothy lather that removes dirt, oil and styling product buildup from the hair and scalp. The result is hair that feels fresh and lightweight.
"Sulfates may strip away too much moisture and leave the hair dry and possibly damage it," she says. "They may also make the scalp dry and irritated." For those with color-treated hair, sulfates can also strip and dull your hair color, says Jennifer Korab, a professional hairstylist.
Sulfates can be replaced with other less harmful ingredients with comparable cleansing abilities, but they're traditionally more costly to produce. That's why sulfate-free shampoos and products are usually more expensive than those with sulfates, and more than 90% of all shampoos contain sulfates.
Hair Type Considerations
Since sulfates are essentially a detergent, they typically appeal to those with greasy hair. In fact, they can be so effective at cleansing that sometimes they actually strip the hair of its natural oils and nutrients.