There’s always been a little bit of buzz around sulphate-free shampoos in the beauty biz, especially amongst those who go for regular Brazilian blow-drys or keratin treatments.

Lately, though they have been getting a lot more airtime, and for quite a few different reasons.

If you aren’t sure what a sulphate free shampoo is or how it could improve the condition of your hair then this post is for you! Plus I have two brands that I’ve been trying out that I’m going to share with you!

Before we get into why a sulphate free shampoo is said to be better for your hair, let’s chat about what sulphates actually are.

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What are sulphates

Sulphates are a stock standard ingredient in the majority of shampoos and household cleaning products, giving shampoos the ability to lather and foam, and they are excellent surfactants.

Hold up, what’s a surfactant?!

Basically, a surfactant is a group of molecules that can attract both water and oil. This means that when they are in a cleaning agent, body wash or shampoo, the product can remove the dirt and oil from your skin or the surface being cleaned.

Sulphates and your hair

So where does the problem come in? Why are so many people going the sulphate free shampoo route these days? Quite simply, sulphates are very harsh and can cause irritation, dehydration and many people claim that it strips their colour.

If you have a particularly sensitive scalp or have very dry hair, switching to a sulphate-free shampoo may actually do the world of good for you!

In fact, when I ran a poll on Facebook and Instagram, many of you commented and said that you found shampoos with sulphates, damaging to your hair.

Choosing a Sulphate Free Shampoo

There is no shortage on our shopping market shelves when it comes to sulphate-free shampoos, I think that we aren’t used to reading labels and so we assume that sulphate free shampoos are more difficult to come across.

Recently I tried two different brands and want to share them with you because they are actually quite different.

L’Oreal Elvive Low Shampoo

First up are the L’Oréal Elvive Low Shampoos. These affordable shampoos contain no sulphates and gently cleanse the hair.

It took me a little while to get used to the Elvive Low Shampoos as they do not foam, at all. You dispense some product into your hand, apply it to your hair and then leave it for 2-3 minutes.

The first time that I used these sulphate free shampoos it didn’t feel like it was going to cleanse my hair at all, but I was so surprised! My hair was wonderfully clean, not at all stripped and felt super soft when it was dry.

I tried two variants:

• Elvive Extraordinary Oil: Made specifically for those with very dry or fragile hair, this zero-sulfate shampoo smells heavenly! The formulation is gentle and is infused with the original Extraordinary Oils blend of precious oils to help keep your hair looking less frizzy and more fabulous.

• Elvive Colour Protect: If you have colour-treated hair, you know by now that you need to take extra care of your locks, the Colour Protect Low Shampoo contains Linseed Oil Extract to do just that.

Also good to know that there is a hair mask and conditioner available in this range.

Naturals Beauty Shampoo

The second brand that I tried is Naturals Beauty. They launched a shampoo and conditioner, both of which are sulphate and paraben-free, plus they have no artificial fragrances or mineral oils.

As a brand, Naturals Beauty prides itself on creating products using natural ingredients, and organic wherever possible. Every product is handmade and is cruelty-free and locally made.

Naturals Beauty Shampoo: Even though this shampoo is sulphate free, it foams up with the second cleanse, so if you miss the lathering action from your regular shampoo, this might be an option for you. It also has the most incredibly clean, fresh scent thanks to spearmint and rosemary oil.

Naturals Beauty Conditioner: I am used to quite a thick conditioner, but even though this one’s consistency is on the thinner side, it still packs a punch. Like the shampoo, it contains essential oils to give it a great aroma.

My Results

I’ve been using sulphate-free shampoos for a good month now and I have to admit, I have noticed a change in my hair; it doesn’t look or feel as damaged, it is definitely more nourished and there is a lot less frizz.

Will I only use sulphate free shampoo from now on? Probably not. But I will make a point of using sulphate-free products every other wash to minimise damage to my hair.