Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are frequent cleansing elements in shampoos. There is numerous debate concerning the “toxicity” of the elements, however that’s a dialog for an additional time. Those with curly hair ought to keep away from them for one quite simple purpose: They’re very harsh and drying!
Curly hair is of course dryer and extra vulnerable to breakage, so it’s worthwhile to decide very delicate cleansers. Think of it like your pores and skin: If your pores and skin was vulnerable to irritation, you’d swap to a delicate cleanser, proper? Well the identical applies to your strands!
The excellent news is there are lots of glorious sulfate-free shampoos in the marketplace. Look for choices which are additional buffered with hydrating elements like botanical oils and butters: glorious choices embody shea butter, coconut oil, oat oil, and so forth.
Co-washing (or conditioner-washing) may also assist maintain the hair clear—whereas additionally hydrating within the course of.
“The concept is to make use of conditioner, although not simply any conditioner, as a alternative for shampoo. An perfect co-wash very gently cleanses the hair utilizing gentle surfactants whereas a typical shampoo makes use of extra concentrated surfactants that basically work to deeply cleanse the hair,” says Sunny, proprietor of Lumiere Vive Salon.
If you resolve to include co-washing (a superb concept), achieve this alongside the occasional shampoo session for a deeper clear. This may help you keep away from buildup and scalp irritation. “It’s essential to deep cleanse your hair; it is simply that many occasions it will not be essential as regularly,” notes Sunny.