Sulphate has received a lot of attention in the last few years. More and more hair care brands are opting to create products that are free of any sulphates in an effort to be more gentle and non-damaging on the hair. Many people are also more and more interested in buying hair products free of sulphate, with it often being a major factor in their purchasing decision.
The most common argument for hair products is that it is a harsh ingredient that damages, strips away, or compromises previous treatments done on the hair. This concern is most prevalent for those who have had a Brazilian straightening treatment. You’ve invested a sizeable amount of money and time to achieve your new arrow straight, silky hair, and you don’t want anything to compromise that. Before we can detail what effects it has on the hair, it’s best to first define why the vast majority of shampoos still feature it in their formulas.
What is sulphate?
It’s detergents, or surfactants, used in a huge share of cleaning products for hair and skin. Most skin or hair cleansers feature this form in some way, most commonly in the form of sodium lauryl sulphate or sodium laureth sulphate. These are incredibly efficient cleansing agents. When these forms of sulphate make contact with the hair, they work to lift any build-up of dirt, product, debris, dead cells, or other impurities, allowing them to run off the hair when rinsed. This creates that squeaky-clean feeling we feel just after washing our hair. Sulphate is essentially an effective “de-greaser” for the hair.
It is also responsible for creating that rich foamy lather we love so much in our shampoos. The ability of the shampoo to lather makes it much easier to spread the formula across your entire head of hair. This foamy lather is also very easy to wash out, along with any nasties you had in the hair before you washed it. It’s no secret why hair product brands like using sulphate derivatives in their hair cleansers.
Is sulphate bad for your hair?
Sulphate has received a massively poor reputation in the last few years, and the notion that it can be damaging to certain hair types has unfortunately become quite common, even within the professional hair industry. It is very common for hairdressers to recommend avoiding it at all costs if you have had a hair treatment.
Sulphate has no negative effect on hair treatments. It doesn’t matter if you’ve had a Brazilian treatment, a colouring session, a perm, or whatever else, sulphate will not damage, compromise, or strip it from your hair. It would not be in a brand’s best interest if they produced a shampoo with an ingredient in it that stripped or damaged hair treatments, as this brand would develop a massively negative reputation.
A common criticism of sulphate-based shampoos is that they can cleanse the hair too well, stripping too many natural oils on the hair and scalp, leaving the hair looking and feeling dry and dull. This is usually experienced by those with thinner, more sensitive hair types. Some people may feel it more suitable to use a sulphate-free shampoo instead.
