A sulfate-free shampoo is a shampoo that does not contain a group of degreasing surfactants called sulfates - this includes common shampoo ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, and sodium coco sulfate.
Sulfate-free shampoos contain other bubbly surfactants such as sodium cocoyl isethionate, decyl glucoside, and sodium cocoyl glycinate.
Yes and no. Some sulfates, such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLeS), are much more effective cleansers than others. This means they are able to remove more impurities (such as a oils and dirt), which could make them unsuitable for damaged and dry hair. Sodium coco sulfate (SCS), however, is a much gentler surfactant and is a great ingredient used to cleanse hair without removing excessive amounts of moisture. When shampoos contain hydrating ingredients such as coconut oil and a mix of different sulfates, they can change the effect of the surfactant and make hair feel cleansed and moisturized.
As a general rule, sulfate-free shampoos will not have ingredients that end with the word "sulfate" as one of their first-listed ingredients. If you want a sulfate-free shampoo, look for ones that list surfactants such as sodium cocoylisethonate, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, cocoyl methyl glucamide sodium cocoyl glycinate, or decyl glucoside as the first few ingredients. It's also worth noting that not all ingredients which end with "sulfate" are cleansers. Behentrimonium methosulfate, for example has conditioning properties and is the primary ingredient in most conditioners.
Some people are sensitive to sulfates, or have personal preferences to avoid sulfates where possible. And that's okay! We have created a range of sulfate-free shampoos that are just as bubbly and work just as beautifully on hair.
