Look down any health and beauty aisle, and you’ll see ”sulfate-free” highlighted on a bevy of new products. But what exactly are sulfates? More importantly, what’s wrong with them?
Well, sulfates are aggressive detergents made of sulfur-containing mineral salts, and the most common Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). First introduced into modern hair care in the 1930’s, sulfates revolutionized the health and beauty industry. Prior to their introduction, people relied on simple (yet not always effective) soaps and other methods to clean their skin and hair. In comparison, sulfates were powerful, inexpensive and easy to acquire. Best of all, they were responsible for the foaming lather we’ve come to associate with being clean. But now that it’s one of the most common chemicals used in our households, we are beginning to understand that sulfates have an impact on both our health and beauty.
First, let’s talk about how they work. Sulfates are primary surfactants – this means they are a mixture of molecules that can attract both oil and water: one end of the molecule clings to dirt and oil, while the other clings to water. Translation? They can lift the grime off of our skin and hair, then rinse it down the drain.
Surfactants also make water “wetter.” That sounds strange, but consider this: when rain falls on a freshly waxed car, the water beads up. But if you were to spray the car with water mixed with a surfactant, it would then spread all over the car. Water molecules tend to gravitate towards one another – part of the phenomena known as surface tension. Surfactants reduce the surface tension of water and allow for it to spread over larger surface areas, making it even easier to remove dirt and oil.
The surface tension of water
Sulfates are powerful, cheap and everywhere: not just in lathering shampoos, body washes, face cleansers and toothpastes, but also household cleaners, laundry detergents and dish soaps. In fact, because they are so effective, sulfates are also used in the manufacturing and construction industries to clean and degrease heavy machinery. The problem? We are not machines!
Sulfates and Your Hair and Scalp
Our skin and hair are part of our natural living ecosystem known as the biome – and sulfates disrupt its delicate balance. Here’s how:
Sulfate-free? Look again. Although many consumer products are now labeled “sulfate-free,” many of them rely on chemical compounds that are only an atom or two away from a true sulfate. This allows them to wear the badge “non-sulfate” even though they are as destructive as sulfates are. Check your labels - the most common forms of both sulfates and their “close chemical cousins” include:
So, what’s the alternative?
If you’ve decided to give up sulfates for the myriad of symptoms they cause, you still have to get clean. Our hair and scalp needs to be washed to stay healthy: When we cleanse, we remove dead skin, sweat, dirt and the excess oil and bacteria we don’t need. Surfactants make this process much more efficient. The good news? There are gentler surfactants available that don’t disrupt your biome. Science has progressed past the harsher chemicals of the 1900s. Now that you know, it’s that simple! Read your labels, and look for truly sulfate-free cleansers that can remove excess dirt and oil, and leave you clean, protected and healthy.
If you are ready to rid your haircare regimen of harmful sulfates, parabens and silicones, try illumai! Discover how products designed to support your body's natural ecosystem can transform the way your hair looks and feels without damaging its natural function.