Today, sulfates are an everyday part of our bathroom. Plenty of people use them daily without realising it. Most of us aren't aware of the drawbacks of sulfates and only focus on the benefits, namely beautifully fresh, shiny, freshly washed hair. But after a while, that lovely shiny hair turns into a greasy style...
Why does hair get greasy so quickly?
The purpose of sulfates is to cleanse our scalp, but they also strip away our natural oils. Our scalp needs these oils to stay healthy and supple. These natural oils, also known as sebum, form a protective layer on our scalp. When you wash your hair, a lot of foam is often released. That's because sulfates such as SLS are aggressive foaming agents.
Because sulfates remove that layer, excess sebum production kicks in to protect your scalp. So if you wash your hair every day with a shampoo that's generously loaded with sulfates, your hair will get greasy faster because it wants to produce more sebum. This leaves our sebaceous glands too little time to keep up... As a result, your scalp can become dry and irritated, making it look dull and dry.
Where else are sulfates used?
Shower gels contain a lot of sulfates. Excessive and/or long-term use leads to a damaged skin barrier. That damaged skin barrier in turn leads to skin that lacks moisture and is no longer able to absorb it. You get a tight, dry feeling.
Sulfates are even found in toothpaste! The ingredient "sodium lauryl sulfate" (SLS) makes toothpaste foam. SLS is present in almost all toothpastes. It feels pleasant in the mouth, but it has its drawbacks too. It's irritating and can quickly cause sores and ulcers in the mouth.
What are sulfates actually made of?
Sulfates consist of salts or esters of sulfuric acid, an oil-soluble part and a water-soluble part. The oil-soluble part attaches to the dirt in your hair. Thanks to the water-soluble part, the dirt dissolves in the water and is rinsed away. The more aggressive the sulfate, the more it degreases and cleanses, but the greater the risk of skin irritation.
Bad for your hair, but also for the environment!
Palm oil is an essential part of producing sulfates, but that's anything but good for the environment! Read more about palm oil here.
Top 10 sulfates from harsh to mild
It's important to know that there are both harsh and mild sulfates. They aren't all equally bad for your hair and scalp. Below you'll find an overview of harsh and mild sulfates.
- Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate - ALS
- Ammonium Laureth Sulfate - ALES
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate - SLS
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate - SLES
- Sodium Myreth Sulfate - SMES
- TEA Lauryl Sulfate - TLS
- TEA Laureth Sulfate - TLES
- Sodium Coco Sulfate - SCS
WONDR bars are sulfate-free, how is that possible?
Our WONDR bars are completely sulfate-free! We replace sulfates with SCI, sodium cocoyl isethionate. This is an ingredient of plant origin (coconut). SCI has high foaming power and produces a stable, rich and velvety-soft foam that doesn't dry out the skin. When you use the WONDR shampoo bars, your hair may need a little time to adjust, because sebum production has been disrupted. But afterwards it feels much nicer!