What Sulfates in Shampoo Can Do to Your Hair

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, also known as SLS or sulfate is found in many beauty products, but more so in shampoos. Most commercial shampoos have sulfate because it’s supposed to remove the oil and dirt from your hair. This sounds like a good ingredient to have, right? However, so much talk is circulating about the ill effects of this cleaning agent.

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We know that sulfate can clean. In fact, it is used in a lot of other home care and personal care products like toothpaste, soap, baby products, facial cleansers, bubble bath, shower gel, and a lot more. It’s what creates the foam and suds that we all enjoy so much when we shower or bathe.

Unfortunately, because of sulfate, you also can be at risk for problems with hair growth, loss of protein in your hair which could lead to hair loss, skin irritation, itchy scalp, and eye irritation. All these because of the acid nature of the chemical. Also, it is amplified by the fact that we are not always able to rinse out the shampoo properly from our hair. Thus, a small amount of residue is left, and this can build up gradually, especially if you shampoo daily.

The misconception with sulfates is that the more bubbles you produce the cleaner your hair will get. However, the foam that you get from shampoo has little or no bearing on how clean your hair becomes.

You can have clean hair without these irritants if you switch to a sulfate-free shampoo (Anastasia offers Pureology products). It will prevent all these side effects that you have learned to deal with, and are now feeling the effects of. According to the study done by the American College of Toxicology, the safe level of sulfate exposure should not be more than 1%. This means that you should only use shampoos with sulfate in small amounts and preferably with huge gaps in between. Continuous use is not recommended at all. Plus, if you do use this type of shampoo, rinse very well.

From the other side of the coin, you cannot blame sulfate in your shampoo for all your hair problems. You may have a family history of baldness or sensitive skin. If so, then you should really be using natural shampoo products (again, Anastasia offers Pureology’s natural shampoo, conditioner, and hair products). Try shifting to one and see if there is any improvement on your skin and hair. Most likely, you will enjoy clean hair without the side effects of a shampoo containing SLS.

Call now to book an appointment. Anastasia is a salon hair stylist in Oklahoma City, OK. Out of town appointments welcome.

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