Why Are Sulfates Bad for My Natural Hair?

Check out Queen Soraja's Hair Journey & Regimen

Check out Queen Chelsea's Hair Journey & Regimen

Check out Queen Jessica's Hair Journey & Regimen

Sulfates are a detergent or if you want to use the fancy term, they are a "surfactant". They are regularly used in the formulation of shampoo.

If you have very oily hair or if your hair has a massive amount of product build up, they are okay to use. Almost every shampoo that is commercially available, however, contains sulfate.

"Greasy" or oily hair is a common problem for white folk but black people tend to have the opposite problem, dry hair, so the omnipresence of sulfate containing shampoos can present a bit of a challenge!

Why are sulfates bad for natural black hair?

• They dry the hair and scalp out. This is the chief reason they are not ideal. Dry hair is more brittle and prone to breakage; a dry scalp is more likely to get dandruff and is not in the best condition for the delivery of nutrients to the scalp.
• They wash all the good oils out of hair
• They increase frizziness; dry hair is more likely to get frizzy than well moisturised hair

---

If you go for a sulfate-free shampoo you will be better able to retain moisture and this in itself will promote better growth of hair and better length retention.

That said, not all sulfate-free shampoos are made equal.

Some manufacturers combine so many surfactants into one shampoo making it more harsh than a sulfate-containing one - sigh.

​Read this for tips on how to shop for a shampoo. 

Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Moisture & Shine Sulfate Free Shampoo For Dry Hair and Dull Hair, with Aloe and Rose, is designed to clean your hair without stripping it of all the amazing natural oils.

---

Get your FREE ebook on How To Grow Long, Healthy Natural Kinky or Curly Hair.

---