Sulfate Free Shampoo

Why switch to sulfate free shampoo?

Last week we spoke about what sodium lauryl sulfate is and why it's not only bad for our hair, but bad for our health. It's connected to hair thinning, dryness, and it strips our natural and essential oils off of our hair - these are the oils that our body naturally produces to keep moisture in our hair and to keep it healthy. So, with that said, I've compiled a list of sulfate free shampoo. You may be thinking that these shampoos will all be expensive, but actually, many of them are similarly priced to the regular shampoos you are buying at your local drugstore.

One thing to remember in using sulfate free shampoo is not to expect results overnight. If you have dry, frizzy, and thinning hair, this will not be cured within a week or two. Growing new, healthy hair is a lot easier than repairing damaged hair. Think about it this way. Hair is predominantly made out of a protein called keratin covered in dead cells. Nails are comprised of mostly the same thing. When a nail splits, you do not attempt to "repair" it. You file it down, and wait for it to grow. Hair acts the same way. The best thing to do is to chop off your damaged hair, and wait for new and healthy hair to grow in. So as you can see, repairing your hair will take time. It could take up to a year for you to see any real improvement. Be patient!

Without further adieu, here is a list of some of the top sulfate free shampoo on the market:

Burt's Bees - this is one of my favorite sulfate free shampoos to recommend to people. At $8, it won't break the bank, and Burt's Bees actually doesn't use sulfate in any of their products.

TIGI Bedhead Superstar Shampoo - this shampoo is actually meant to protect colored hair, but it works with un-dyed, natural hair, too. $16

Moroccan Oil Shampoo - All Moroccan Oil products are sulfate free. I love the shampoo, however it is on the pricier side and generally ranges from $15-$30.

L'Oreal Paris EverStrong Hydrate Shampoo - This sulfate free shampoo strengthens hair and prevents breakage and split ends. Best of all, you can pick up a bottle for $6, making it our least expensive option on the list.

Avalon Organics - All of their products are sulfate free, and they have a huge line with many options to choose from. You can usually find their products in any drugstore or supermarket, and they're affordable, ranging from $8-$15.

There you go - my top picks for sulfate free shampoos. There are many other brands, and what works for one person may not work for someone else. I chose not include anything too pricey, because those shampoos I tend to find work on the same level as the less expensive ones.

In addition to buying sulfate free shampoo, you can easily make some yourself in the comfort of your own kitchen using basic ingredients that you probably already have. We'll talk about that next time.  For now, enjoy your new sulfate free shampoo! Your hair is on the road to recovery!

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

image courtesy of Keith Williamson

As we've already discussed, sulfates are bad for you, your hair, and your skin. This is why many people opt to use sulfate free shampoo. In the past few years, the beauty industry has been switching over to sulfate free shampoos. If you're wondering if you already use a sulfate free shampoo, you can check the ingredients on your shampoo bottle. Though, if it is, it's likely to say it in big bold letters on the bottle somewhere, as it's a positive selling point. You shouldn't have to look too hard.

While we're on the subject, it might be helpful to discuss what exactly sulfates are, why they are so bad, and why you want to keep them as far away from yourself as possible.
The most common sulfate found in shampoos is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). SLS is a harsh grease cutting agent the makes soap foamy. We expect our shampoo to be foamy, because bubbles mean it's working, and we expect it to cleanse our oily hair. So SLS sounds like a good thing, right? Wrong! Even small amounts of SLS are irritation to the skin and scalp. They dry out your hair and damage the hair follicle, which can lead to all sorts of problems such as hair breakage and hair loss.
You might be thinking "Hey, I like my shampoo foamy and my scalp nice and clean." Well, then I should tell you that SLS has been debated as being linked to cancer and weakening of your immune system. Our skin is porous, so when we shampoo, the chemicals in our shampoo our about to enter our bodies. Luckily, our livers are able to process SLS. I'd still stay away from SLS shampoos, though.

The second type of sulfate is Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). This has the same properties as SLS. It's what makes our shampoo foamy and it cuts grease. SLES isn't as irritating to our skin as SLS, however, our livers are unable to process it so it just hangs around in our bodies making it perhaps more harmful. Yikes!

So there you have it, a breakdown of harmful sulfates found in our shampoos, soaps, toothpastes, and any other product which you probably expect to foam up. Luckily, we have many options now so we don't need to be using sulfates in our shampoos any longer. Next we will discuss different sulfate free shampoos that you can get at your local drug store or health food store.

Thanks for stopping by and informing yourselves on the dangers of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Come back soon!

What is "No Poo""?

For most people, the thought of skipping a shampoo for even a day makes us feel icky. But a new trend has emerged over the past few years and they're calling it No Poo. Despite it's bizarre name, No Poo is actually something that will benefit and rejuvenate your hair.

What is No Poo?

No Poo may actually refer to a couple of things. Simply speaking, it's short for no shampoo. Most shampoos contain harmful sulfates that dry out and damage your hair. In turn you need to buy conditioners and other products to put the moisture back into your hair. Sulfates can cause frizz, breakage, and some studies show that they can cause hair loss, as well. So why, you may be wondering, are sulfates in shampoo? They are what makes your shampoo lather up. They are also used in soap and toothpaste, and many other products. If you're wondering what else sulfates are used in, you may be wishing you hadn't asked. Sulfates are also used in laundry detergent. You know how you take your really nice silk blouses to be dry cleaned. Ever wondered what was in detergent that was so bad for your nice clothes? Sulfates.
Not only are they bad for your hair, clothes and skin, but they also raise some health concerns as your body absorbs them through the skin. Some sulfates are processed by your liver, but there are more harmful ones that your liver is unable to process. Sound scary? It is.

Luckily, the problem has been identified and we now have alternatives to ordinary shampoo. So let's get back to the question at hand: What is No Poo?
No poo, for some people, means using no shampoo whatsoever. The idea is your scalp overproduces oil in response to the drying properties of shampoo, so when we stop using shampoo our scalp will quickly return to normal and eventually we won't be walking around with greasy hair.
To other people, no poo means using homemade or natural shampoos. This includes mixtures with baking soda, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and much, much more.
Lastly, no poo can refer to simply using products that don't contain any sulfates. There are brands that make shampoos that contain no sulfates. Some people also do something called a conditioner rinse. Conditioner is able to remove oil buildup from hair, and if it's treated as shampoo (massaged into the scalp) it will leave your hair fresh and clean.

This is just a brief overview of no poo. On this site, you will find information on all things related to no poo (also referred to as no shampoo). We'll be discussing in depth what exactly sulfates are, different types of sulfates, and how to avoid them. We will also review products, give you recipes for homemade shampoos and soaps, and go step by step teaching you how to begin your sulfate free life. Feel free to contact us with any questions you have!

Thanks for visiting us at No Poo Shampoo and check back sooon!