Heads UP! Why Are Sulfates a Problem?

While sulfates are effective at removing grime, they often go overboard—stripping away your hair’s natural oils, which can lead to:

·       Dryness

·       Frizz

·       Brittleness

·       Scalp irritation

This is especially true if your hair is:

·       Curly, coily, or color-treated

·       Chemically processed

·       Prone to dryness or sensitivity

And it’s not just about your hair. Sulfates can irritate the skin, eyes, lungs, and even trigger flare-ups for those with eczema, rosacea, or other sensitivities. Plus, many sulfate-based products are tested on animals—which is a hard pass for us.

Where Are Sulfates Hiding?

They’re everywhere—not just in shampoo. Sulfates are used in:

·       Body washes

·       Toothpaste

·       Dish soap & laundry detergent

·       Bubble baths

·       Even car wash and industrial cleaners

Yes, the same ingredient used to scrub engines might be on your scalp. Yikes!

How to Avoid Sulfates

If you’re ready to ditch sulfates for good, here’s how:

1. Read the Ingredients List

Look out for:

·       Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

·       Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)

·       Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS)

·       Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES)

🕵🏽♀️ Pro tip: The closer a chemical is to the top of the label, the more of it the product contains.

2. Look for “Sulfate-Free” Labels

Brands like ours at Hair Concoction 💚 clearly label our products to save you the guessing game.

3. Check All Your Products

Sulfates aren’t only in shampoo. Look at:

·       Face washes

·       Toothpaste

·       Bubble baths

·       Cleansers and scrubs

If you’re going sulfate-free, go all the way!

4. Choose Gentle, Plant-Based Surfactants

Swap harsh detergents for natural, effective alternatives like:

·       Cocamidopropyl Betaine

·       Decyl Glucoside

·       Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

These provide a good clean without stripping or irritating your skin.

Common Hair Brands That Still Use Sulfates

(Always double-check the label—some have reformulated!)

·       Pantene

·       Head & Shoulders

·       Garnier Fructis

·       Suave Professionals

·       Tresemmé

·       Herbal Essences

·       Aussie

·       L'Oréal Paris Elvive

·       Dove Hair Care

·       OGX (older formulas)

·       John Frieda

·       Matrix (Biolage, Total Results)

·       Redken (some lines)

·       Paul Mitchell (some formulas)

·       Sebastian Professional

·       Clairol (Shimmer Lights)

·       Finesse

·       VO5

·       BIOSILK (some shampoos)

·       Kenra (select lines)

🧴 As sulfate-free demand grows, more brands are reformulating—but always read your ingredients to be sure.

What Do We Use Instead?

At Hair Concoction, we cleanse with care. Our products skip the harsh sulfates and use gentle, plant-based surfactants that get the job done—without stripping your strands or irritating your skin.

Look for alternatives like:

·       Alginate

·       Coco-Betaine

·       Cocamidopropyl Betaine

·       Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine

·       Cocamidopropylamine Oxide

·       Coco-Glucoside

·       Decyl Glucoside -Hair Concoction uses this surfactant in our shampoos

·       Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate

·       Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate

·       Lauryl Glucoside

·       Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate

·       Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate

·       Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate

·       Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate

·       Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate

·       Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate (SLSA)

·       Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate.

Yes, these names are long, but they’re gentle, effective, and often derived from coconut, palm, or sugar.

Perfect for curly girls, color queens, sensitive scalps, or anyone just trying to keep their crown chemical-free 👑

✨ Ready to Go Sulfate-Free?

You don’t have to memorize a chemistry book. Just stick with Hair Concoction—our plant-powered products are always sulfate-free, always clean, and always made with your hair’s health in mind.

Use code NOSulfates - for 10% off as a thank you for reading our first Heads Up Blog

Shop our shampoos to start going sulfate-free