What's the deal with Sulphates & SLS in Shampoos?

We all love lathering up our shampoos into that foamy goodness but let’s get real, is 30 seconds of pleasure really worth the damage these foaming chemicals will do to your hair?

Time to get scientific, but stick with me – sodium lauryl sulphate is a chemical commonly found in shampoo, toothpaste and other hygiene products that form a lather or foam. It can be described as a surfactant, typically used to break water tension; in other words – it helps to bind water and oil together. This chemical degreases your hair when rubbing your shampoo into your scalp, however even after rinsing it away, the residue remains which in turn dries out your scalp. This is one of the reasons why many individuals suffer from dandruff as even after religiously using anti-dandruff shampoos, the core issue is only temporarily resolved.

Credit: Bephon

There is debate around the subject of the link between hair loss and SLS, however we believe that there is significant research to prove that it is certainly a contributing factor. Seeing as on average an individual will shed 100 hairs daily, when the hair follicles are open and exposed, SLS can attack with it’s harmful and acidic properties which over time can weaken the follicle and therefore stunt hair growth.

Sulphates are known to dry out hair shafts and cause frizz and split ends; they are also skin irritants and are commonly used to irritate skin when testing lotions and skincare products – explains why your eyes sting like hell if you get shampoo in them (1st world problems, am I right?). Why voluntarily buy products that are harmful to your body, I mean between paying your rent and dealing with the stresses of work, do you really need another thing to be worrying about? Skip out on sulphates and look for #slsfree products, your hair and body will thank you in the long run for this life changing decision.

At NO GUNK, we grew tired of being casual observers of the damage and irritation that these off the shelf products are doing to your hair. We spent over 18 months working on a game-changing shampoo, and we’re pleased to announce that our NEW Fig Barbary Musk Shampoo is precisely that. It’s Vegan, 95% Natural and contains NO SLS and NO PARABENS. You’ll be excited to know that it’s available to pre-order with 23% off right now!!