What Are Sulfates, and Are They Bad for Your Hair?

Key Takeaways

• Sulfates are a common ingredient found in personal care products.
• The most common types of sulfates are Sodium Lauryl Sulfates (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfates (SLES).
• While sulfates can help cleanse your hair, they can also cause it to become dry, frizzy, or brittle.

Jump to

• What Are Sulfates?
• Are Sulfates Bad for Your Hair?
• What Is Sulfate-Free Shampoo?
• SLS/SLES-Free Shampoos and Conditioners

What Are Sulfates, and Are They Bad for Your Hair?

If you’ve ever taken a close look at certain shampoo and conditioner bottles, you may have noticed that they highlight being sulfate-free, SLS-free, or SLES-free—but what does that mean? Learn more about this common haircare ingredient and if you should avoid it.

What Are Sulfates?

Sulfates are typically found as salts. When you hear about sulfates in haircare, it’s a broader term for synthetic sulfate-based surfactants.The two most common types of sulfates found in personal care and cleaning products are Sodium Lauryl Sulfates (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfates (SLES). There’s a small difference between these two sulfates: SLES is much milder than SLS.

Imagine you’re washing your hair. You take shampoo and rub it between your hands, and it becomes bubbly and foamy. In some shampoos, Sodium Lauryl Sulfates or Sodium Laureth Sulfates are responsible for those foamy bubbles. Sulfates are also sometimes used in hair products because they can help remove dirt, sebum, and product residue.

Are Sulfates Bad for Your Hair?

There are a few reasons you might want to avoid sulfates in shampoos. While sulfates can help cleanse your hair, they might do their job a little too well and can pull too much natural oil from your hair and skin. This can cause your hair to feel dry, frizzy, or brittle. Another common complaint about sulfates is that they can potentially dry out and irritate your scalp. You might also notice acne on your back or around your hairline if you use haircare products that contain sulfates. Sulfates can also strip and dull color-treated hair and diminish the smoothing effects of keratin treatments.

Sulfates aren’t necessarily bad for allhair types, but if you already have dry, overly processed, or damaged hair, you might want to avoid them. And if you have sensitive skin, you might also keep shampoos or conditioners with sulfates out of your hair routine since they can cause skin redness or irritation.

If you’re worried about sulfates damaging your hair, look for shampoos and conditioners that are SLS and SLES free.

What Is Sulfate-Free Shampoo?

As you may have guessed, sulfate-free shampoos don’t contain SLS and/or SLES. Instead, sulfate-free shampoos rely on alternative cleansing ingredients such as:

• Alginate
• Coco-Betaine
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine
• Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
• Cocamidopropylamine Oxide
• Coco-Glucoside
• Decyl Glucoside
• Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
• Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
• Lauryl Glucoside
• Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
• Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
• Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
• Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
• Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate (SLSA)
• Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate

SLS/SLES-Free Shampoos and Conditioners

If you want to add SLS/SLES-free shampoos and conditioners to your haircare routine, here are a few to try:

OLAPLEX N^o.4 Bond Maintenance® Shampoo

OLAPLEX N^o.4 Bond Maintenance® Shampoo is an SLS/SLES-free shampoo that helps repair and maintain healthy-looking hair. Use N^o.4 when you want to gently cleanse and hydrate your hair.

OLAPLEX N^o.5Bond Maintenance® Conditioner

Reach for OLAPLEX N^o.5 Bond Maintenance® Conditioner if you’re looking for an SLS/SLES-free moisturizing and hydrating conditioner. Try this conditioner if you want to help detangle your hair and improve its manageability.

OLAPLEX N^o.4C Bond Maintenance® Clarifying Shampoo

Try OLAPLEX N^o.4C Bond Maintenance® Clarifying Shampoo to remove heavy metals, minerals, chlorine, pollutants, and product buildup without SLS or SLES. This clarifying shampoo is PH Balanced to maintain hydration.

OLAPLEX N^o.4P Blonde Enhancer™ Toning Shampoo

If you want to cleanse your hair while protecting your blonde, gray, or silver color, try OLAPLEX N^o.4P Blond Enhancer™ Toning Shampoo. With this SLS/SLES-free purple shampoo, you can neutralize brassiness and boost brightness after just one use.

OLAPLEX N^o.5P Blonde Enhancer™ Toning Conditioner

Nourish, hydrate, and brighten your blonde, lightened, or gray hair with this SLS/SLES-free purple conditioner. OLAPLEX Nº^.5P Blonde Enhancer™ Toning Conditioner is clinically proven to smooth, strengthen, and reduce brassiness after just one use when used as a system with N^o.4P.

All OLAPLEX® shampoos and conditioners are SLS/SLES free, so you can gently cleanse and hydrate your hair without the dryness or frizziness that may come with some sulfates. Take our Hair Quiz to get a personalized OLAPLEX routine or find the OLAPLEX routine that targets your top hair concern.

Sources

1. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/sulfates
2. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/sulfates-and-sulfate-free-beauty-products-facts
3. https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/hair/hair-care/sulfates-bad-for-hair
4. https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/sulfates-hair-care-rcna140701

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