Why choose a sulphate without sulphate ?

Needless to say, hair and the scalp are fragile. Using hair products doesn’t exactly help matters either, sometimes having a harmful effect on our hair or even causing scalp irritation. What if this was mainly due to the ingredients they contain? Parabens, sulfates, and silicones are often your hair’s worst enemies. So why choose a conditioner without sulfate surfactants? TdeM tells you everything.

What are sulfates and why are they harmful?

Produced in a laboratory, surfactants are ingredients used for their combined functions as foaming agents, cleansing agents, and emulsifiers. The most harmful are

sulfates, foaming agents used solely for their foaming and cleansing properties. Very appealing because they produce lots of lather, they are nevertheless harmful to hair, stripping it of its natural oils. Used repeatedly and excessively, sulfates eventually make hair dry. In addition, they weaken the hair cuticle, reducing its protection against external aggressors. Finally, deprived of its natural moisture layer, the scalp becomes irritated.

Why use a sulfate-free conditioner and what are the benefits?

Using a conditioner without sulfate surfactants offers many benefits for the health of your hair and scalp.

• Preserving the scalp’s moisture barrier: without sulfates, your scalp’s moisture barrier is preserved. This moisture barrier greatly helps keep your hair healthy.
• Reduced scalp sensitivity: a direct result of the previous point, using a sulfate-free conditioner limits stress on the scalp. Left undisturbed and less dry, the scalp becomes less sensitive and itches much less.
• Color that lasts longer: do you have color-treated hair? Using a conditioner without sulfate surfactants helps your color stay vibrant for longer. Not dried out and not dull, your hair keeps its color for a few more weeks.
• Frizz-free hair: as mentioned above, sulfates weaken the hair cuticle. When it is damaged, this natural protective layer lifts, allowing moisture to penetrate the hair. This increases frizz.

When should you use a conditioner without sulfate surfactants?

If shampoo is used to wash the hair, conditioner is used to make it smoother and more manageable. It helps strengthen its hydration. If it is recommended to use a conditioner without sulfate surfactants after shampooing, it is because it provides real protective coating for the hair. It helps limit breakage while also offering great protection for your scalp. Conditioner is applied after using shampoo, but trends are evolving and some people use conditioner as shampoo. That is what happens with no-poo if sulfate-free products are not used.
Taking care of your hair and scalp is what sulfate-free products are for. By using products that are free from petrochemical-based substances, you can preserve the health of your hair.