Does anybody use sulfate Shampoos?

[M.McDonough]

Currently, Im using a sulfate free shampoo. I've been using it for about 10 months, but I kinda have the feeling that I need to switch now to something else. I'm considering going back to regular shampoos, I don't know... I just found these articles.

http://simplyorganicbeauty.com/why-sodium-lauryl-sulfates-sls-are-causing-hair-loss/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/303970-sodium-lauryl-sulfate-hair-loss/

[parkmikii]

I use sulfate shampoo always (anything from Balea) and I never noticed any extreme hairfall. It's the only thing that properly cleans my scalp :)

[pailin]

My scalp is happiest with sulfate shampoo.

[lapushka]

There is nothing wrong with sulfate shampoo if your scalp can take it. I say don't change a winning team. I tried to go sulfate free and tried to CO-wash as well: disaster. I have SD, so I need harsher cleansers. Imagine if they were to all ban sulfates from shampoos. I think I would be having to buy Nizoral all the time. :( Although, I have a backstash that will last me for a few years still. ;)

[Nique1202]

The only problem with sulfates is if you have a particular sensitivity or allergy to them, they can be irritating even in small amounts. For the most part as long as you rinse your hair thoroughly after shampooing (and make sure the length and ends get enough conditioner!) there is absolutely nothing to fear from sulfates.

[arr]

I always use sulfate shampoo, I just make sure it doesn't have sodium lauryl sulfate because that one irritates my scalp. But sodium laureth as well as any of the ammonium sulfates are fine for me. Sulfates are the only way to get my scalp area feeling really clean and volumized and to keep my lengths feeling really good and silky. I think it's because I wash off any chance of buildup at every shampoo so my conditioners and oils can really penetrate, thus keeping my hair moisturized.

edited to add that I have no problems with losing too much hair, I've used sulfates for years and if anything since I found LHC my hair has gotten thicker.

[Anje]

Yep, my shampoo is SLES. I usually dilute it substantially and use it mainly on my scalp. Works fine for me and distributes better watered down.

[school of fish]

Lots of us here use sulphates and I'm one of them :)

I know many hold fast to the notion that our own natural sebum is the ideal oil/conditioner, but that simply doesn't hold true for me. My hair hates the oil my scalp produces and gets sticky with any accumulation - pairs of strands get stuck together as if glue has dried on them, and having to detangle when my strands are in that state is one of the ways I've accumulated a sizeable amount of damage. My hair is happiest when it's stripped regularly of buildup, and for me clear sulphate shampoos are best at doing that job.

My compromise for minimizing possible drying out from sulphate use is to shampoo twice a week, followed by a rich conditioner with a light silicone, and every remaining day of the week I just CO with that same conditioner. In truth, I could probably S&C daily with sulphates and silicones and my hair would be happy happy - I did that for years and my hair was in great condition! In fact it was when I moved to a sulphate-free and a more 'natural' routine that I developed problems with buildup, dryness, tangles and breakage. And it was when I moved back to sulphate shampoo and silicone conditioner that I was able to re-establish hair health and get ahead of the damage cycle. My scalp has never been finicky, so sensitivity to sls/sles has never been an issue for me.

Of course this is what MY hair wants, not necessarily anyone else's. We're all different, and there simply is no one product type or routine that's universally beneficial. Use what works, ditch what doesn't, and be flexible enough to change it up if something stops working for you - I think that's about as universal as hair advice gets ;)

[Wildcat Diva]

I use a sulphate shampoo every two weeks or so. Often it's a clarifying wash like Joico. Sometimes just regular shampoo, sometimes a dandruff shampoo.

[Betazed]

When I was last active on LHC awhile ago, I began an all-natural, no-cones, no-sulfate routine. I didn't really notice a change in my hair, except in the amount of shedding and breakage. It was excessive!

When I ran out of my organic, all-natural stuff while out of the country, I had to use cones and a shampoo labled "low-sulfate" for about 2 weeks. I immediately noticed less shedding while washing/conditioning. Just to double check that it was indeed my all-natural products that was causing the shedding, I returned to it until the bottle was empty. Once I used it up, I didn't re-purchase. Instead, I began using Tresseme Naturals (which, looking at the ingredients, doesn't seem very "natural" at all). I had a half bottle of both the conditioner and the shampoo left over from my pre-LHC days. Again, much less shedding. So now, I'm trying to find a good cone-y conditioner and a lower-sulfate shampoo.

Anyone have any opinions on low-sulfate vs. Regular ol' sulfate-y shampoos? I think it's the cones that are making a difference in my shedding and breakage so I'll need some kind of sulfate to prevent build up. I'm interested to see if anyone here thinks low-sulfate is any different or less damaging than shampoos that aren't labeled "low-sulfates".

[Obsidian]

I use sulfate shampoo every 2-3 days. I do at times use sulfate free, I really like how soft it leaves my hair but sulfates are the only thing that really clean my scalp and remove build up on my hair.

[Groovy Granny]

I had tried without sulfates and my scalp hated it; they pose no problem for me.

[01]

Yeah, when I shampoo (every couple of months) I use SLS shampoo. My hair can take it if I oil heavily before washing. I'm not really impressed by all these 'natural', 'gentle' shampoos.

[Vrindi]

I think it really depends on the person. Sulfates make my scalp over-produce oils, and give me crazy split ends. If I use them too long, my scalp breaks out. But my scalp will also break out with some natural shampoos if they have an ingredient my skin doesn't like. My hair gets clean enough with sulfate-free, and if I need some extra, I add some baking soda or use a clarifying shampoo, like Malibu. But it's different for everybody. If your hair does better with sulfates, use them.

[Kat]

I use sulfates. I think I tried going sulfate-free and wasn't impressed (it was years ago, so I can't remember if it didn't clean as well, or if it just didn't do anything to improve my hair so I didn't feel it was worth the effort to find).

I could maybe get away with gentler shampoos if I wanted to wash more often, but I don't want to...



I know many hold fast to the notion that our own natural sebum is the ideal oil/conditioner, but that simply doesn't hold true for me.

Not for me, either. My scalp gets itchy when I've gone too long without washing, and my hair smells icky.

[Arctic]

Lots of us here use sulphates and I'm one of them :)

I know many hold fast to the notion that our own natural sebum is the ideal oil/conditioner, but that simply doesn't hold true for me. My hair hates the oil my scalp produces and gets sticky with any accumulation - pairs of strands get stuck together as if glue has dried on them, and having to detangle when my strands are in that state is one of the ways I've accumulated a sizeable amount of damage. My hair is happiest when it's stripped regularly of buildup, and for me clear sulphate shampoos are best at doing that job.

- -

Our hair seems to react the same way to being oily. My hair looks and behaves always so badly when it's dirty.


ETA: To answer the question, I use sulphates. I also have a sulphate free shampoo which I rotate with sulphate one, but I mostly use sulphate stuff (usually sles or coco sulphate). I don't think sulphates have cause me hair loss (although who can say for sure). To me it feels like that sulphates keep my scalp happy so a happy scalp leads to healthy hair. All the alternative methods I've tried have never worked for me (irritating my scalp).

[littlestarface]

Yea I use sulfates but only on my scalp, except when chelating I do the whole length as well.

[H o n є y ❤]

I use sulfates as well. They're great for getting hair clean. I dilute my shampoo in a spray bottle. Sulfate free shampoos have worked for me as well as long as I did not have severe build up. Maybe you could rotate the two.

[lapushka]

OP, didn't you start a similar thread on this? I seem to recall you had your doubts about sulfates a while ago too. Could be that I'm wrong, though. Maybe my memory isn't what it's supposed to be. :)

[cathair]

Went back to cones; needed sulphates. Don't want to ditch the cones, so I carry on.

If I want curly hair, I clarify then use no sulphates and no cones. But that happens once every never, to be honest. It doesn't get worn down any more.

Coconut pre-wash oiling protects it anyway, I believe.

[cathair]

OP, didn't you start a similar thread on this? I seem to recall you had your doubts about sulfates a while ago too. Could be that I'm wrong, though. Maybe my memory isn't what it's supposed to be. :)

Yep, I get the feeling OP needs reassuring.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=136933

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=132786

[Lavendersugar]

Sulfate free makes me really oily fast. I already have a naturally oily scalp and skin.

I've never had an issue. I say do what works for you. You won't know until you give it a real try. It may take a few washes to know if you like it or not.

[dansyl]

I do. I've tried sulfate free and they don't get my hair clean enough. (I wash once a week)

[molljo]

I've seen this repeated a lot here recently and I think it's one of my favorite LHC adages: you have to do what your hair and scalp want, not what you want. For some people that means sulfates every wash, sometimes, rarely, or never. Just pay attention and listen to what's on your head is saying versus what's in your head is saying. It's very easy to get scared reading articles on the internet where X has ruined Y for Z people, but that doesn't mean that just because the possibility exists doesn't automatically you'll be one of them (and that also ignores A people where if they don't use X then B will happen!).

[M.McDonough]

OP, didn't you start a similar thread on this? I seem to recall you had your doubts about sulfates a while ago too. Could be that I'm wrong, though. Maybe my memory isn't what it's supposed to be. :)

Right haha still on the fence.

[lapushka]

Right haha still on the fence.

Just bite the bullet and give it a try. Now, it's different with curls. I say if you react great to the sulfate-free, I think I'd stick to that, for sure, as sulfates can be drying (or do a clarifying wash with them once a month or every two months). But if you follow that up with a nice thick conditioner, all should be good!

[Mademoiselle]

I use sulphate shampoo one a month, H&S to more deep cleaning, I think that helps my scalp to remove any residue 100%:)

[spidermom]

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. I buy shampoo and conditioner by what is on sale and smells nice.

[Mirabele]

I alternatve between sls and sls free.

[wispywinnie]

Right now I use Mane n' Tail which has sulfates. Honestly there isn't a huge difference in my hair when I use sulfate free shampoo.

[Stepo_NiNha]

Theres nothing wrong about it

[Upside Down]

I've been off sulphates, off shampoo altogether (egg wash) and back on sls now.

It is just easier. Diluted shampoo + aplicator bottle + scalp only wash = me happy with more time to do nothing :)

[jazzhands]

I've always used sulfate shampoos. Last October I switched to a Vichy dandruff shampoo that happened to be sulfate-free but it was expensive and did nothing for my itchies. Then I went low-poo (Urtekram Lavender and Aloe Vera) and am now using XZ Chocolate & Vanilla shampoo after hearing Arctic rave about it :D It's wonderful and so, so cheap. Going sulfate-free isn't recommended if you have SD (and just plain doesn't work for some people).

[lapushka]

I've always used sulfate shampoos. Last October I switched to a Vichy dandruff shampoo that happened to be sulfate-free but it was expensive and did nothing for my itchies. Then I went low-poo (Urtekram Lavender and Aloe Vera) and am now using XZ Chocolate & Vanilla shampoo after hearing Arctic rave about it :D It's wonderful and so, so cheap. Going sulfate-free isn't recommended if you have SD (and just plain doesn't work for some people).

Yep! SD here too. Need the harsh sulfates as well. Tried going sulfate-free and tried CO-washing. Boy, did that ever bite me on the butt! :lol:

[Complexity]

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. I buy shampoo and conditioner by what is on sale and smells nice.

Exactly this. Or sometimes I get sent free samples and just use those. I'm still in the process of figuring out what my hair/scalp likes/doesn't like, though.

[yahirwaO.o]

I use the cheapest drugstore mexican brand here in my area. It has both sulfates and dimethicone. What can I say, my scalp likes it and that is gretates thing for me, my budget and my scalpy!!! LOL :p

[sillyme]

I have both sulfate and sulfate-free shampoos in my stash and switch them out almost daily with no problem. My hair doesn't seem to get build-up as bad this way as it does with using only one type of shampoo for long periods of time.

[BroadwayBeauty]

I have both sulfate and sulfate-free shampoos in my stash and switch them out almost daily with no problem. My hair doesn't seem to get build-up as bad this way as it does with using only one type of shampoo for long periods of time.

I do almost the exact same thing! I switch between sulfate-free shampooing, CO-washing, and sulfate shampoos (although less frequent than the others). I've never once had an issue with buildup.

[RottenMango]

My hair loves sulfate shampoo. I’m currently using Herbal Essences Honey I’m Strong Strengthening Shampoo and it is my favorite shampoo so far. It contains sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate. Stripping my hair of all product build up allows my deep conditioner to penetrate deeper/better so my hair actually feels moisturized and soft after washing.

[blackgothicdoll]

Yep, I rotate between sulfates and non-sulfates. Most sulfates make my hair feel like garbage except V05 shampoos, those are the bomb. I find they are good for my lo-po hair, if I want to keep it moisturized I've really got to get the oils off first.

[hollygolightly]

I use sulfates and I haven't experienced any problem whatsoever. Besides since I wash my hair 1-2 a week I need something that really cleans my hair

[Dark40]

Yep, I rotate betweem sulfate shampoos, non-sulfates, and co-washing with all sorts of cheap conditioners. My hair is much happier being washed that way.

[YvetteVarie]

I use a sulfate conditioner. I use shea butter, so I need to clarify frequently. No issues at all with the sulfate shampoo

[Begemot]

I use a deep cleansing shampoo with SLES once a month and shampoos with coco-sulfates pretty regularly (goes about half and half with a sulfate free shampoo).