What are Sulfates and Why Should I Avoid Them?

SULPHATE FREE

Have you ever wondered why your hair seems to not grow as fast as other people’s? Do you have split ends? Are you finding strands of hair everywhere, like on your clothes and in the sink and shower? Sulfates in your shampoo could be the culprit.

In consumer cleaning products, sulfates come from fatty alcohols made from palm kernel oil or petroleum oil sources. The fatty alcohols mix with sulfur trioxide and sodium carbonate to form sulfate compounds. You can find these sulfate compounds, most notably sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), in the following:

• Laundry detergent

• Dish detergent

• Liquid hand soap

• Car wash detergent

• Carpet cleaner

• SHAMPOO

Do you want to wash your hair with car cleanser? SLS lathers well and lifts grease, dirt and oil. But it is very harsh on your hair and scalp and can actually remove too much oil, washing off the skin’s protective barrier and causing redness and dry, itchy skin. People with sensitive skin or skin conditions like eczema or rosacea could develop skin inflammation and edema from using consumer products containing SLS or SLES.. The harsh, drying suds can leave hair brittle and breakable, causing split ends and lack of noticeable hair growth due to breakage. And the higher the concentration of sulfates (some shampoos are over 50% SLS), the more overcleaning and damage you are doing to your hair. Sulfates also strip color faster, leaving it dull and faded.

StarBars never uses sulfates in our products. We use a gentle blend of five different cleansers, each in a small amount so as not to overwhelm your hair and scalp.

Check the label of your shampoo, and if they contain SLS or SLES don’t throw them away! You can always use them to wash your car.