Started looking at the ingredients of skin care products you buy? Good, you are getting serious about taking care of your skin and hair.
Whether you are new to skincare or a veteran, you must have heard about the negative rap sulphates (or sulfates, the American spelling) have as ingredients in hair care products.
Be it a shampoo or any other type of hair cleaner, many people try to avoid any shampoo or hair care products that have the dreaded ingredient ‘sulphate’ in them. But does the fear have any reason?
Are sulphates really bad for your hair and scalp? And if they are really bad, then how come almost all the shampoos have it? Let’s get to the ‘root’ of the question; what are sulphates in shampoo and are they harmful to your scalp and hair?
The Basics: What are Sulphates in Skin Care
Sulphates are surfactants used in skin care products as they are active cleaning ingredients. The dirt and pollutants on your skin and scalp are stuck there because it is mixed with oil and sweat.
Dry dust or pollutants can be just dusted off, like cleaning the dust off an old book. But when you add oil and sweat, you get dirt and grime that cannot be dusted off. You need something stronger.
Water alone is not enough to clean it. Why? Because water and oil do not mix. You need something that can make the water hold oil. This is where surfactants come in. Sulphates and other compounds (found in soap and detergents) can mix with oil and water.
So you add the surfactant with water, and water mixes with oil (and dirt) and washes off your body or hair. As simple as that.
Sulphates are great surfactants perfect for body use. They do not cause any harm to the body and have been approved by almost every country’s health board; from the American FDA to Europe’s strict board.
The general rule of thumb is this; if the shampoo, body wash, soap, etc makes foam while using, there is a high chance that it contains sulphates. For shampoos, the most common one is sodium lauryl sulphate.
So if everything about sulphates is so great, then why do people (and some dermatologists) recommend using shampoos that are sulphate-free? Sulphates are great at cleaning, but sometimes, they might over-clean.
The Problem with Sulphates
As we mentioned before, sulphates are great at cleaning, but sometimes, they overdo it. Remember how sulphates are great at removing oil from the skin and scalp? The problem is that oil is necessary for healthy skin and scalp.
Sulphates strip off the oily layer from your skin, making it dry and prone to skin conditions. In shampoos, the sulphates can make your scalp dry, flaky, irritated, and in some cases, infected.
Who Should Avoid Sulphates in Shampoos?
People with dry scalp, or with preexisting skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema, contact dermatitis, etc must avoid using shampoos with sulphates as it can worsen the condition. Sulphate-based shampoo.
If you have sensitive skin or scalp, it is better to avoid products with sulphates. People with thinning hair, fine hair, or damaged hair should avoid shampoos with sulphates as they can be very harsh leading to more damage and hair loss.
Also, people with frizzy hair should avoid sulphate shampoos as it dries your hair and makes it negatively charged which can make the condition worse. Some people are also prone to an allergic reaction when using sulphate-based shampoos.
So Should You Use Sulphate-Based Shampoo?
The answer to this question depends. As mentioned before, if you have a sensitive scalp or an existing condition such as eczema, it is better to consult a dermatologist and use whatever is prescribed.
For people with normal scalp or oily scalp, using sulphate-based shampoo would be beneficial in providing deeper cleaning. Make sure that you properly test the shampoo, and if you notice any signs of irritation, redness, or dryness, stop using it.
If you want to stop using sulphate-based shampoos altogether, you can. There are many options of mild shampoos without these ingredients that you can try. Just make sure to take care of your hair, and your skin.
Also read: How Biotin is great for your hair and skin!
