In this day and age, people are starting to become more conscious of what goes into the beauty and skincare products they use. This is a good thing because, as they say, knowledge is power, and if we want our skin and hair to look their best and our bodies to be as healthy as possible, we really should be educating ourselves on potentially harmful ingredients lurking in our favourite beauty buys. One chemical that is getting a lot of bad press is sulphate, and here’s why:
Most commonly found in shampoo and conditioner, sulphates are harsh detergents that are made up of sulphur, and the two most common ones are sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium laureth sulphate. These were first added to haircare products in the 1930s because people found that humble soaps were not as effective at cleaning hair. That lather that builds up when we’re washing our hair is because of sulphates, and it’s this lather that has for decades led us to believe that because our hair is clearly being thoroughly clean, the shampoos we are using must be good for it. Wrong!
Sulphates work by clinging to and then breaking down oil and dirt, and the problem is that they do this too aggressively, stripping our hair and skin of the natural oils necessary to keep them supple, hydrated and healthy. Because this chemical solution is cheap, it can be found in all sorts of products, such as shampoos, facial cleansing agents, dishwashing detergents and toothpaste, and it is even used in factories to degrease machinery. The fact that it can do that is what makes it too strong for use on, and in, our bodies.
So what is the alternative? Fortunately, because more people are becoming aware of the dangers of sulphates, more and more sulphate-free shampoo, conditioner and skincare options are becoming available. Most are labelled as such, but taking a quick look at the ingredients list will also indicate whether or not a product is safe to use. And if you are worried that making the switch will have a negative impact on your appearance, don’t worry – most people report that their skin and hair feels healthier, more hydrated and less frizzy after going sulphate-free, which just goes to show that making healthy choices and looking good go hand in hand.
Image: iStock/ttatty
ALSO READ:
Tips for curly hair
5 ways to fight frizz
How to treat dry, damaged hair
