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Sulfates are a class of chemicals that manufacturers use as cleansing or foaming agents. Many household products, such as foaming cleansers, toothpaste, and shampoos, contain sulfates.
Sulfates provide the foamy texture that occurs when a person mixes a product, such as a shampoo, with water.
Some people have concerns about the inclusion of sulfates in their cleansing products and shampoos. When people use them correctly in normal quantities, sulfates are generally safe.
However, some people may be more sensitive to specific products, and there are times when a person should avoid sulfates.
Keep reading to find out more about sulfates, why products contain them, and who should avoid them.
Sulfates are types of chemicals called surfactants that play an important role in the effectiveness of shampoos. Surfactants lower the surface tension of the liquid they are in, which makes the liquid easier to mix with water and work up into a good foam.
The foaming action means that a person can spread the shampoo over a greater area of their head. It may also help any active ingredients in the shampoo work deeper into the hair to remove dirt and excess oil. Of course, this may also mean that the person uses less shampoo.
The most common sulfates found in store-bought shampoos include sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, and ammonium laureth sulfate. Other products may contain slight variations of these compounds, as well. These are not true sulfates, but they carry out the same role.
There may be some downsides to including sulfates in shampoo.
One downside is that sulfates may be too effective at cleaning. Sulfates help a shampoo to strip oil and dirt away from the hair. However, the hair needs to retain a bit of its natural moisture and oils to stay healthy.
Sulfates may strip away too much moisture, leaving the hair dry and unhealthy. They may also make the scalp dry and prone to irritation.
Aside from the possible drying effects, there is little risk to a person’s health from using sulfates correctly.
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Sodium lauryl sulfate might carry some minor risks, such as eye irritation, skin irritation, and general toxicity if a person drinks the product. However, most people should experience little or no side effects when using sulfates.
For the most part, the effects of sulfates are mild, and many people benefit from the effectiveness of shampoos that contain them. People with especially greasy hair or dandruff may notice that shampoos containing sulfates are the only products that clean their hair effectively.
However, some people should avoid sulfates and choose sulfate-free options. These people include:
People with sensitive skin or skin conditions
A person with a sensitive scalp or sensitive hair may experience strong drying effects from sulfates. Those with a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis who use shampoo containing sulfates may also experience itching, redness, and cracking in their scalp after use. These people could consider using sulfate-free shampoos.
People with dry, frizzy hair
People with naturally dry, curly, or frizzy hair may want to avoid sulfates. Sulfates could increase the dryness and frizziness of hair due to increased friction caused by the stripping of the natural oils and moisture.
People with dyed and chemically altered hair
People who color their hair or regularly straighten or curl it may want to avoid sulfates as these processes can damage the hair. Finding ways to prevent any additional stress or dryness in the hair can help keep it healthy.
Shampoo containing sulfates may also strip the color from dyed hair more quickly.
People with sensitive skin and hair who experience side effects from using sulfate shampoos may want to try a sulfate-free product to see whether their symptoms persist or clear up.
While there is a variety of sulfate-free shampoos available, it is important to note that many of these products still contain chemical compounds that are similar to sulfates.
People with particularly sensitive skin and hair should look for the most natural, truly sulfate-free options to help prevent side effects.
Sulfate-free shampoos may feel different at first. They will likely take longer to create suds, and people may have to use more of the shampoo to clean their hair thoroughly. A person may also have to use extra water to rinse these shampoos from the hair.
However, sulfate-free shampoos will generally clean the hair just as effectively as those that contain sulfates.
Sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners are available online.
For the most part, sulfates in shampoos are safe. They help the shampoo strip dirt and oil from the hair.
For people with sensitive hair and skin, shampoos containing sulfates may cause some mild side effects, such as dry, brittle hair, and dryness or redness of the scalp.
Anyone experiencing these symptoms may want to switch to a sulfate-free shampoo to see how it affects their symptoms.
Anyone uncertain about their symptoms or the effects of a product should speak to a doctor or dermatologist.
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