Why Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Is Bad For Hair

Why Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Is Bad For Hair

Hey Ladies,

It is very important to know what we are using almost daily on our body.  In one of my articles, I wrote about how bad silicones in shampoos are and today, I am going to tell you why we also should stay away from SLS and SLES.

Why Sodium Laureth Sulfate Is Bad For Hair

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is also called SLS and it is a cleansing product. It only cleans the surface of anything that will be touched by it. SLS is found in a lot of products such as shampoos or floor cleansers, BUT it can be very harsh on the hair and scalp. You are asking yourself probably, “why would companies put this in shampoos when they know it is a harsh product.”  A simple answer; because it is cheap and creates bubbles/lather.

shampoo

I used to think that the more bubbles/lather a shampoo makes, the better it is, but that’s wrong. The less bubbles/lather a shampoo makes, the better the shampoo will treat the hair and scalp. I blame this thought on the advertising commercials. The always show a lot of lather and make it look like it is good that the shampoo makes lather.  L’Oreal has a collection of sulfate-free shampoos:

L'Oreal shampoo

Why SLS is Bad For Scalp and Hair?

It is proven that SLS can cause the hair to thin out permanently which is one of the worst things for us women. Our hair and scalp absorbs everything we put on it and SLS is a harsh chemical that not only will make your hair fall out, but also dry out your hair and scalp. I have heard that when you smell a shampoo that contains SLS and get some of this product in your nose, it will make your nose burn and in some cases even bleed.

Shampoo

A good thing is that you can reverse all the damage that has been done by SLS by switching to a sulfate free (and silicone) free shampoo. Almost immediately, you will notice a difference and of course your hair and scalp will thank you for it.  I will create a list with Sulfate and Silicone Free Shampoos and Conditioners in one of my upcoming articles.

Thank you for your time and reading my article. Take care ladies, xoxo

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37 thoughts on “Why Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Is Bad For Hair

  1. Thanks so much for this info Sahar. I’ve heard about this and I remember sodium lauryl sulphate from my science classes in school, we were taught it’s detergent, so using that on hair must be horrible. Do you know any other brands that don’t have this?

  2. hello sahar…thanks for writing such an informative article :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho:

    i have got my tbs ginger shampoo immediately after reading silicones article and ditched HE :woot: :woot: :woot: and do tell us abt other chemical free shampoos :)) :))

    thanks once again :puchhi: :puchhi: :puchhi:

  3. Waiting for my current shampoo to get over, will buy TBS rainforest range next :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: hope it will suit my hair..
    I think many ppl will hunt for silicone, sulphate and paraben free shampoos after reading two of your articles

  4. That was usefull sahar….me buying the TBS shampoo asap. :yahoo: ..currently using keratinology shampoos & conditioner…dey are terrible :spank: :spank: :spank: …dont even dare to use it….. :nonono: :nonono:

    1. Aruna, i used Think and Long for almost 1 year, its didnt damage my hair, it didnt cause any hair fall too, but it builded up the residue on my scalp severely which i realized only after switching to some other shampoo.
      Also it has sulphates and parabens, so try avoid using it..

      1. sure. Anyways have also bought the TBS shampoo so I’ll try and use that as much as possible amd maybe use this sunsilk for other things like shaving my legs ( :yikes: ) and washing my makeup brushes and all..

    1. No pallavi.. it doesn’t clean heavily oiled hair.. thats the prob, and am still sticking to shampoos with SLS… :((

  5. Very informative post sahar. :yes: We definitely need more awareness abt silicones and SLS/SLES in our regularly used products. :haanji:

  6. Very informative post sahar. :clap: But is this loreal range available in India? or do any of you girls know brands other than TBS that make SLS, SLES, Silicons and parabens free shampoos???!!! :struggle: :struggle:

  7. my comment goes frequently into moderation…!!! did u gals kick me out of IMBB or what?? :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: 😥 😥 😥 😥

  8. Hey SAHAR

    And you rock again :yes: :yes: :yes: ..again an excellent & informative article on SLES & Silicone free shampoos hats off :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: as after your last post i am glued on google to find these shampoos/ conditioner/serums. Waiting for your next article eagerly. :puchhi: :puchhi:

  9. Hi Sahar…..thanks for the info. I am currently using TBS Rainforest shampoo…….made a huge difference to my hair……

  10. Giovanni shampoo is SLS and paraben free…suits all types of hair. Also cleanses the hair so well.Available in all H & G outlets. I’m using Giovanni shampoo and conditioner ( Rs. 495 each) for the past 6 months and I have seen my hairfall completely reduced after using this. Worth for the price. Also better than TBS Rainforest range ( which I have before this).

  11. again great article Sahar wats ur current shampoo?
    also if u have dandruff den wat kind of suphate/ silicone free shampoo v have to use

    1. i am using garnier shampoo silicone and parabene free BUT it contains sls -__- i used this shampoo twice already and i am tryign to buy a sls, silicone and parabene free shampoo within the next few days

  12. Sahar is back again! :puchhi: :puchhi: :puchhi:
    Another lovely and informative article Sahar! Now waiting for the list of shampoos…. :)) :)) :))

  13. thnks Sahar fr throwing light on such imp yet normally overlooked issues :announce: :announce: :announce:
    its really essential tht v must b aware of the compnies tryng to dupe us in name of nourishment/skncare :spank:
    on lighter note plz provide a list soon :jog: TBS shud grant you n IMBB spcl dicount coupons coz their sales must hv surely increased manifold :haanji: 😀 😀 😀

  14. Hi sahar thanks for this & previous Post i am also want to try something which is free from all this..

    TBS Shampoos are free from paraben & silicon & SLS free just want to confirm currently using Head & Shoulders…

  15. My hunt for Silicone free shampoo is on since I read ur last article Sahar and now this!!! :yikes: Waiting for the list of shampooooooozzz now :yahoo: :yahoo: thanks for all the info!!! :teddy: :teddy:

  16. hey…..nice article :yes: …..i too always try my best to avoid SLS shampoos coz id heard its very harsh and only used for lathering…..but im yet to find a dandruff shampoo without SLS :(( …. does any1 here know abt one? if so plz do lemme know

    1. Enliven shampoo & conditioner for dandruff one is free from SLES or silicon :happydance: :happydance: :happydance:

  17. awesome article Sahar :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: I haven’t seen the loreal Everpure range here in India…shuld have pickd it up when I was travelling…but Thank God we have TBS Rainforest 😛 😛
    Does anyone know if the everpure range is available in Mumbai?If yes ,then where?Thanx 🙂

  18. My Ayurveda doctor had told me ages ago that shampoo that lathers well is bad for hair & made me switch over to Areetha+Shikakai+Amla concoction when I was single & had all the time in World to pamper myself. Now again I have that time but am outta India & dun get these herbal stuff here.. 🙁 But your informative & alarming articles @ haircare are encouraging me to look for herbal shampoos which are available here & having no/minimum of harmful chemicals.. :pigtail:

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