Switch to SLS causing oilyness

[NightingaleLHC]

After about 3 years sulfate free, I have started using dandruff shampoo, which has sulfates in it. I have noticed that by the second day my hair is getting greasy, so I have begun to wash it every other day, as oppose to washing on the 4th day. Just an observation!

[Curlsgirl]

I haven't found that to be the case for me but I am sure some have because of the scalp producing extra sebum to compensate for the dryness. Actually I have found the reverse to be true. I do SLS on the scalp and then just conditioner on the length usually. Oh and I only usually CWC about once or 2 times a week too so that might be the difference.

[Kirin]

Mine is the reverse, I will get super oiliness bordering on waxiness if I use non sls shampoos, even some dandruff. It goes away if I return to sls shampoo.

[Tresses]

After about 3 years sulfate free, I have started using dandruff shampoo, which has sulfates in it. I have noticed that by the second day my hair is getting greasy, so I have begun to wash it every other day, as oppose to washing on the 4th day. Just an observation!


I haven't found that to be the case for me but I am sure some have because of the scalp producing extra sebum to compensate for the dryness...

I get that rebound effect when I use any sulfate stronger than SLES. I still have to wash with something (even just CO) 3 to 4 times per week, but the oiliness is worse with the stronger sulfates.

[Kirin]

Oh! You know it dawned on me the shampoo, Head & shoulders is formulated now specifically to moisturize. It could also be the heavy "scalp moisturizers" now in the shampoos.

[Anje]

Another possibility -- how does your scalp respond to winter weather? Mine gets considerably oilier. (It was winter when I finally gave up on WO washing. It's probably fine in the summer months, but in the dead of winter, the grease was constant and eventually intolerable.)

[Tangles]

Not all sulfates are SLS sulfates. Have you tried Suave Waterfall Mist? It has sulfates but ALS instead, which seems to be slightly less drying for me.

[Katze]

I've found the opposite: dull, waxy, stringy hair without occasional (1-4x a month) SLS-SELS use.

Could you be perhaps blaming the sulfates when there is something else in the shampoo? I seem to recall that lots of dandruff shampoos have lots of stuff in them besides sulfates - for my stubborn dandruff/SD, none of them ever made much of a difference...