Are sulphates bad for your hair? What even are sulphates? And “formaldehyde” what now?

Estimated Read Time: 3.5 minutes

Phew! Ingredient lists can be exhausting! But when it comes to haircare, what one’s should you be looking to avoid...?

Sulphates

WHAT ARE SULPHATES?

Sulphates attract both water and oil, making them surfactants. This makes them attractive to use in things like shampoo and shower gels as they take dirt and grime away from the body and hair: they are essentially detergents! They’re also responsible for causing those products to foam when we stimulate them during use.

The most common sulphate you’ll find on an ingredient list is sodium laurel sulphate or SLS.

ARE SULPHATES BAD FOR YOUR HAIR?

Yes, sulphates are safe to use but they’ve developed their bad reputation over the years because, quite frankly, they’re too good at their job!

If you’re experiencing excessive dryness or slight irritation on your scalp, it may be because of sulphates stripping it of its natural oils. Although they can make products feel more luxurious during use, sulphates are the showboating ingredient in most products. At the end of the day, they don’t contribute to the quality or effectiveness of your shampoo or conditioner at all.

If you’re experiencing a dry or irritated scalp/skin, try eliminating sulphates from your personal care routine for a week to see if your symptoms ease. Then, you’ll know if sulphates are something you should avoid.

Parabens

WHAT ARE PARABENS?

Parabens are obtained from a chemical known as para-hydroxybenzoic acid (or PHBA). Parabens are synthetic chemicals and are used as a preservative because they prevent bacteria growth. That means that they give a longer shelf life to food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The most common parabens you may see on the bottle are methylparaben, propylparaben, benzylparaben, and butylparaben.

ARE PARABENS BAD FOR YOUR HAIR?

Parabens are usually found in skincare, but also crop up in hair care products too. They have their bad rap because alongside being synthetic, they can also cause oestrogenic activity in the body. That means they can have an effect over a female’s menstrual cycle, the reproductive and urinary tracts, the heart, the blood vessels, bones, skin and hair, and the brain.

Studies have linked parabens to breast cancer as parabens have been located in tumours. So, no they aren’t bad for your hair but they can be bad for your body. However, parabens are highly regulated in both America and Europe and only appear in very small amounts in products you can buy in a store.

Fragrances

WHAT ARE FRAGRANCES?

Fragrance is simply what a product will smell like. It is unlikely going to contribute to the final effect of the product. In most hair care and skin care products, these are synthetic (so do not occur naturally).

ARE FRAGRANCES BAD FOR YOUR HAIR?

Arguably not for your hair, but potentially for your scalp. Synthetic fragrances are one of the top five allergens worldwide, and can exasperate symptoms of asthma. Most usually contain a number of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) too.

EDCs can interfere with your body’s hormonal and gland functioning – not good! You want to look at hypoallergenic shampoos and conditioners if you have a sensitive scalp, as any fragrance that the product omits will be natural (from an essential oil, for example).

Formaldehyde

WHAT IS FORMALDEHYDE?

Formaldehyde is a colourless, strong-smelling gas and can be made synthetically or occur naturally in the environment. Although usually found in household products and building materials, it can be used (at a low level) as a preservative in cosmetics.

IS FORMALDEHYDE BAD FOR YOUR HAIR?

No, but it can be bad for your health. On the ingredients list, if you see quaternium-15, diazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin or bronopol these can all release formaldehydes into the air whilst being used, and this can mean you inhale them. Formaldehyde can exasperate asthma and cause skin irritations. It has also been linked to DNA damage and cancer.

Final thoughts

If you’re looking for a shampoo and conditioner that doesn’t contain any of the above ingredients, look to Cel’s Microstem Shampoo & Conditioner. They’re paraben and sulphate free, hypoallergenic, only contain naturally occurring fragrances, cruelty free and suitable for all hair types including damaged and coloured.

You won’t look back with this dynamic and gentle duo! Both protect your hair from day-to-to day damage and strengthen each individual strand to prevent breakage. Give it a try to today!

Read up on what’s inside our Cel products here.