What do sulfates do?

Aug 9, 2012

Kaitlin K.

Hello! Okay, so I know sulfates are bad for your hair, but what exactly do they do?

Aug 10, 2012

Jennifer C.

Sulfates strip oil from your hair. In response the body produces more oil to compensate.

Aug 14, 2012

It doesn't just strip your hair though... It's nearly impossible to rinse out completely. The hair acts like a sponge soaking up the soap, and refusing to let it go... Basically it sits in yor hair and dries it out. Cheap companies cover up the dryness and fizziness with waxes and paraffins that coat the hair and cause hair to feel heavy and lifeless over just a few weeks. I use Alterna products. They're mainly all natural/organic as actually feed your hair rather than stripping it.

Aug 14, 2012

Kiri K.

Frizziness* (no I'm not sure that's a word, but you catch my drift)

Aug 16, 2012

Shelly T.

Sulfates are surfactants; they're what give you the suds. Some sulfates are harsher than others. You can also find them in your toothpaste, your dishwashing detergent, among other places. And at least one (Sodium Laureth Sulfate, or SLES) can be naturally-derived.

http://cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient_details.php?ingredient_id=178 (SLS and ALS)
http://cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient_details.php?ingredient_id=519 (SLES and similar)
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=147187
http://shawnawilson.hubpages.com/hub/All-Shampoos-Are-Not-Created-Equal-A-Comparison-of-28-Brands
http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/09/24/should-my-shower-stay-sulfate-free/
http://thebeautybrains.com/2007/06/30/sulfates-in-shampoos-what-are-they/

They are actually safe to use, but they may irritate your scalp and strip too much natural oils away.

If you're into chemistry in general (cosmetic chemistry in particular), here's a blog post on Personal Care Truth regarding surfactants in general...
http://personalcaretruth.com/2012/04/ive-been-researching-surfactants-here-are-my-notes/

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