Is your shampoo stripping your hair?

Is your shampoo stripping your hair of moisture?  Does your shampoo contain sulphates?  

Sulphates (sulfates) are the agents that make cleansing products lather.  Most shampoos contain Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.  These ingredients, which are standard for most shampoo (and household cleaning products), strips the hair from natural oils, over-dry the hair and cause frizz (especially in curly hair).  Sulphates also damage coloured hair.  In fact, after a chemical treatment, colouring or hair extensions, hair stylists will often recommend a sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner.

Without sulphates there is no lather when you wash your hair so it takes some getting used to.  Cleansing your hair with a sulphate-free shampoo is very similar to co-washing (washing with conditioner only).  If you choose to co-wash, always use a sulphate-free and silicone-free conditioner.

However, if you use silicone-based hair products (conditioners, gels, creams, serums, etc.), you do need to use a sulphate shampoo to remove build-up!

So what can you do to make it less harsh?  Diluting your shampoo will help you get that perfect clean feeling while limiting the hair stripping and damage.

How to dilute your shampoo:

Mix 1 part water and 1 part shampoo in a spray bottle or applicator bottle.  You could also use an empty shampoo bottle.

Benefits:

• You can target your scalp with the spray bottle or applicator bottle.
• Makes thicker shampoos easy to spread and lather.
• It’s less concentrated so less of your natural oils are being stripped out of your hair (less drying).
• You use less shampoo and save money in the long run.

Do you dilute your shampoo?  What about co-washing and sulphate-free shampoos?  Have you tried any?  Let me know in the comments below.

XOXO

Euphrasie85

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