Julie Meyers Pron from Julieverse will be sharing #CentsibleBeauty posts on the blog twice a month to help you find budget-friendly beauty products that really work.
Have you ever wondered what sulfate-free shampoo means? Or why you might want to use it?
Think about how shampoo works. Anything you wash your hair with doesn’t just sit on the hair, but can seep into your permeable skin, through the roots. Additionally it goes on your body as you rinse your hair and into your lungs as you breathe in. That’s why it’s time to take a good look at the chemicals in your family’s shampoos.
With so many shampoos in stores boasting “Sulfate-Free!” I figured I’d start my healthy-shampoo research there. What are sulfates, and why wouldn’t I (or would I) want them in my shampoo?
Sulfates are the chemicals that make your shampoo lather. They’re also found in household cleaning products, bubbles baths and, even, carwash soaps. They’re a compound found in nature, including in water, rocks and minerals. While there were unfounded reports that sulfates could lead to cancer, it has been found that severe over-exposure could lead to diarrhea. But, if you’re ingesting shampoo with sulfates in mass extremes, you’d probably have diarrhea anyway.
So while they won’t cause cancer and, likely, won’t make you sick, they still aren’t necessary in your shampoos. In fact, lather, in general, isn’t necessary in your shampoo.
Sulfates in shampoos have been found to lead to dry, itchy scalps and hair, and are known to clog your pores.
About a year ago, I stopped using shampoos with sulfates and I have definitely noticed a difference in my scalp- I used to have to apply a prescription ointment to my neck and scalp due to dryness and no longer need to. I’ve also noticed my curly hair is less dry (though still dry) and easier to manage. I’m completely content passing up a strong lather in favor of a healthy scalp and manageable hair.
The Best Sulfate-free Shampoos
Aveeno Pure Renewal Shampoo
($8.87 for 10.5 ounces)
We switched our daughter’s shampoo from a kid-friendly, super-lathery shampoo to Aveeno’s Pure Renewal Shampoo and Conditioner. Her thin, blond hair has been far more manageable since it’s last cut (in July!) with less knots and tangles, which makes for a very happy 5-year-old.
OGX Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo
($13.99 for 25.4 ounces)
I prefer to straighten my hair using Moroccan Argan Oils which add an extra conditioning oil to help protect my hair and help it shine. I selected Organix for both the price, and the lack of sulfates. As I stated above, since making this change, my scalp is far less scratchy. Organix says all of their shampoos are Sulfate-free.
L’Oreal’s Ever Shampoo Line
(under $6 for 8.5 ounces)
The least expensive Sulfate-Free shampoos are made by L’Oreal. While we haven’t yet tried L’Oreal’s Ever- line, Amazon users give them 4-star ratings and prices fall below $6.
Do you use sulfate-free shampoos? Are there other topics you’d like to see for future #CentsibleBeauty post?
Julie
[…] take a closer look at the chemicals that are in so many of our day-to-day beauty treatments (see my Sulfate-free shampoo post on TCL) and took a stronger interest in not just what my dermatologist was sharing with me, but also what […]