If you fell down the natural hair movement rabbit hole, you would’ve seen everyone screaming ‘NO SULFATES, NO SILICONES’. But why? Are they really that bad?
The short answer is yes. But there’s much more to it than just that. Let’s dive deeper to understand what Sulfates and Silicones really do to our hair.
What are Sulfates?
Sulfates are a cleansing agent, and they’re what makes your off-the-shelf shampoos foam and lather so much. Because they emulsify grease, sulfates really do clean your hair and scalp well. So what’s the problem? Well, sulfates also strip your hair off its natural oils in the process, leaving your hair dry and therefore more prone to breakage and damage. This is especially problematic for curly heads because curly hair tends to be drier already.
What are Silicones?
You’ll usually find Silicones in your conditioners or styling products. Silicones are the magic ingredient that makes detangling that much easier by adding slip to your hair. They coat your hair, locking in moisture and giving it more shine. They can also be used in heat protectant products too. That all sounds good, right? But there’s a catch. When silicones coat your hair, they don’t allow moisture in – so whatever moisture was in your hair is locked in place but no new moisture is allowed) and it also attracts dirt and product buildup. They’re also water resistant so they’ll need to be washed out with a strong cleansing agent. And that’s where sulfates come in to play.
The Vicious Wash Cycle
How can you avoid the vicious cycle?
Start by switching to sulfate free shampoos and silicone free conditioners. You may have to wash your hair with sulfate free shampoo to remove all product build-up from previous silicone based products, but then you’ll be ready to start fresh. If you’re in the market for curl definition, the Curl Wonder Shampoo, Conditioner, Leave-In Conditioner, and Deep Conditioner are an absolute must have. If you want to give your hair intense hydration, then our Moisture Bae Shampoo, Conditioner and Leave-In Conditioner were made for YOU.