Hey hey,
When I first went natural I was a bit overwhelmed by
all the info on products, regimens, what to do and what not to do. I always
wanted to know why? Why shouldn’t I use shampoos with sulphates? Why should I
use certain oils? So I decide to do a little series about my basic rules of
caring for natural hair and do some research on the logic behind the rules. So
you know what the rules are and why they matter. These are my top 5 tips on
caring for natural hair (the regimen side of things):
2) Always condition your hair
3)Use oils to seal in moisture
4)Always use a leave-in conditioner
5) From time to time use a protein rich conditioner
They boil down to 3 essential things: shampoo,
condition and oils. So here goes post one on the first rule. Use sulphate-free
shampoos.
Introduction
to Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)
The most common sulphate used in shampoos is Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), it binds
to and dissolves the dirt and grease on your hair and scalp and allows it to be
washed away in water. SLS produce a rich, thick foam. Foam doesn’t actually
remove any dirt from your hair; it’s just a visual aid that makes it easier for
you to work the shampoo through your hair. SLS is a potent degreaser and has a drying
effect i.e. its takes moisture away from what its put on. SLS is a very
effective cleaner so it’s used in a lot of products.
Uses of
SLS
·
Soaps
·
Shampoos
·
Conditioners
·
Toothpaste
·
Dish washing
soaps
·
Floor cleaners
· Engine degreasers
· Engine degreasers
·
Pesticides
(it dehydrates and kills bugs, scary to think that’s what you put on your hair)
SLS on
skin
SLS has a drying effect, thus takes moisture and
protective oils from the top layer of skin and can cause:
·
Dryness
·
Redness & rashes
on sensitive skin
·
Allergic
reactions
·
Inflammations/dermatitis
SLS on Hair
SLS washed out all the dirt and grime in hair but it
also washes out all the moisture and natural oils we need leaving hair dry and prone
to breakage. Residues of SLS may remain on your scalp after rinsing and can
continue to dry out hair for days after it has been used. SLS apparently also breaks down the protein in hair and
damages hair follicles which stunts hair growth.
Afro hair
Afro hair is the curliest kind of hair in the world,
its kinky because the curls are so tight. Afro hair can also be the driest kind
of hair because its struggles to retain the moisture it needs to grow and be
healthy. Thus shampoos that have sulphates in them do you no favours.
Relaxed or
coloured hair
Afro hair is in its strongest state when it is
natural, chemically treated or heat-treated hair is already weaker and needs
more TLC thus shampoos that have sulphates in them do you no favours.
Myth
Some people believe that SLS can cause cancer but
there seems to be no evidence to support this
Alternatives
SLS has been in use since the 1930s but is being
replaced by milder versions such as:
·
Sodium laureth
sulphate (SLES)
·
Ammonium lauryl
sulphate
·
TEA laureth
sulphate
They may be milder but they are still sulphates. A lot of shampoo brands make sulphate-free shampoos, dispersed throughout this post are pictures of some sulphate free shampoos.
Quick
summary
Sulphates
dry out you hair and can damage hair follicles which could lead to breakage and
stunt hair growth so go for a sulphate-free shampoos.
Remember to subscribe by using the follow by email option just above the blog archive on right.
Kinks and Curls,
Feyi
References
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