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Warning: This action could be hazardous to your hair. Via BookMom
An article today in the New York Times discussed how, more and more, salons, hairstylists, and customers are eschewing traditional shampoo in favor of sulfate-free shampoos. The New York Times says that sulfates are “cheap lathering detergents long used in many shampoos (and household cleaners).” Household cleaners? That was enough to make me swear off sulfate-rich shampoo forever. Sulfates, which are commonly listed on shampoo bottles as sodium laureth sulfate and ammonium laureth sulfate and are what make your hair lather when you wash it, are especially bad for people with naturally curly hair, as they can dry out hair and make it poofy. Devachan, a salon that specializes in curly hair, is described as a “longtime antisulfate evangelist” and begs their clients to never use traditional shampoo again. Inexpensive haircare companies such as L’Oréal Paris have introduced their own line of sulfate-free products, called EverPure. Debates over whether or not sulfates are needed to properly cleanse the hair are ongoing.
I will admit that I, too, have been drawn into this idea. Although I don’ t have curly hair, I do have very thick, naturally wavy/straight, highlighted hair, and it tends toward the side of dry and frizzy, especially right after washing with shampoo. It always looks better after a day or two of not washing, and never gets greasy (I try to shampoo only twice a week). The other morning, I was watching an infomercial for WEN Haircare System as I was getting ready for work. I don’t know if it was the early morning delirium (since I don’t usually purchase anything from infomercials), but I went right on the website and ordered myself a one-month supply for $29.95. WEN is a cleansing conditioner and a 5-in-1 product that does not contain sodium laureth sulfate and does not lather. The idea that I was damaging my hair every time I washed it made sense to me (doesn’t your hair usually look better the second day?). Also, the celebrity confessionals convinced me as I was not yet fully caffeinated. I am now waiting patiently for it to arrive.
So I ask you readers, have you tried sulfate-free shampoo? If not, would you? What are your thoughts on it? And, for my own edification, have you tried WEN?
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Just an update: I’ve been using WEN for nearly two months now and I’ll never go back to ordinary shampoo. My hair doesn’t feel dry anymore, and if it gets messed up by humidity/weather, it will go sleek and smooth just by combing it. I do feel like I need to wash probably one day earlier than I would if I were using shampoo and conditioner. I waver between washing with WEN 2-3 times per week, but you can wash everyday with it if you want (though a one-month supply does go fast even using just twice a week). I really love this product and it only costs $29.95 a month, but I wouldn’t be opposed to trying a different brand of a similar product.
i tried various organic shampoos. they do make hair softer and shinier but not much take care of the frizz. i have wavy hair which tend to get frizzy. lately i been using a few drops of olive oil on my hair and or organic rose witch hazel. use less fan to dry your hair and try not to break your hair with pony tails. let them dry naturally. also leaving glycerin i your hair for 10 minutes once in a while, or mix of avocado an olive oil, or egg yolks does help your hair. anything natural is good :)
I love WEN, but I’ve gotten it down to a faster process than the one described on QVC or on the bottle. What I love most is that I don’t have to shampoo every day. Lush also has a product called Curly-Wurly that’s great for curly hair and can let you cut down on shampooing.
This makes total sense, thank you for the information. Maybe now I won’t have total frizz.
I do not use sulfate free shampoo, but I do think I will give it a try. Interesting article.
I am mostly sulfate-free and have been for a couple years. I tried to go totally without, but my hair is fine so it gets super tangly and I *need* silicones to smooth it out. So I need sulfates to get those silicones out. But In the end I only end up using a sulfate shampoo about twice a month.
By the way, Sally’s has a knockoff WEN called Hair One.
I converted to the Devachan products and methods a few years ago and never looked back. My hair is fine but naturally curly and their shampoo & conditioners are wonderful. I shampoo 2x a week and condition daily. Of course, it could be that I don’t own a blow dryer, but I basically never have split ends and my hair looks great for longer after a hair cut than it used to . I recommend sulfate-free shampoo to everyone. And for those who say their hair is too oily not to wash daily, gradually decrease the frequency of washing and your scalp will gradually decrease the amount of oil it produces to counteract the effects of the daily washing. I promise. :)
Oh, I forgot to mention, I usually straighten my hair, and I have been able to just use a blow dryer and not a flat iron since I started with WEN!
I went shampoo-free in August. If shampoo strips oils, conditioner adds oils, and our hair varies oil production based on what’s needed…why bother with the haircare tango?
I have shoulder-length, straight hair. I used to have issues with oiliness and built-up product, sometimes dryness too.
Now I wash with baking soda (1 Tbp to 1 C hot water) and rinse with apple cider vinegar.
My hair stays clean longer, and there’s no gunk. It’s never dry. It doesn’t frizz.
If only it would hold a curl…
Thanks for the information all… I’ll let you know how Wen works out for me!
My hair is highly-textured and thick and dries out very easily, especially in this dry climate of California. I’ve been sulfate-free for several months and my hair is so much happier. It’s no longer completely dried out after shampooing and absorbs conditioners better. I have a frend with some gray along with dryness. She started using Wen products 2 months ago and her hair looks fantastic! She said she’s finally found a hair product that actually works for her.
While those folks who have some texture to their hair seem to struggle to tame frizz and curls, they don’t realize how lucky they are that their hair looks better the day after its washed! My naturally straight, not thick hair looks pretty yucky and oily by the end of the day. However I love the L’oreal sulfate free hair products! They really clean my hair well without drying it out. I do use a regular shampoo once a week to clarify my hair of any excess product that may have built up. I really feel like my hair looks and feels a lot healthier without the harsh sulfates. I am a fan!
I went organic, sulfate-free quite some time ago.
You do have to be careful with hair products, since some of them don’t wash out completely without a clarifying agent to break them down.