Shampoo Advice? Sulfate or not.

[xtinkx]

Hello everyone. First off I'd like to say this is my first post, I'm new, so =]

Anyways, my recent problem is finding the right shampoo. I used to use whatever was in the shower or just anything cheap for colortreated but now I notice how important shampoo really is. I been researching a lot and saw how sulfate seems to be a big debate and it's "bad" for us. I don't want anything too expensive. I'm an average budget person and like to get things locally. I bought the Repure Organics I Love My Hair Body & Shine and noticed a huuuuuge difference. My hair was thinker and softer and I could go up to two days without re-washing, which I have never been able to do! Well, I noticed after a few months my highlights(i have am naturally dark blonde but have high&low lights) were not really staying as long as usual so I was adviced to get an actual "color treated" formula not just "color safe". So, I got the Repure Color Protecting Moiusterizing one and it made my hair flat. So, I was at this point still trying to find a sulfate free shampoo and I gave into the super cheap Finesse at Meijer and it did nothing to my hair at all. So I went back to "natural" and got Organix Coconut Milk and when I straightened it it really fried and dried my hair out. I've never seen my hair like this.. so now my hair is dry, damaged, blah, and =[ So, I picked up Dove Color Treated Repairing, which I have used before and worked. So, far it's keeping my driness tame until I can get it trimmed up. But my hair is still flat and greasy now to where I have to shampoo daily again.

So, anyone have experience with Repure, maybe I should just go back to that? It wasn't so well on my highlights but at least my hair was healthy. And whats your imput on sulfate frees? Is this why I'm shampooing more? Or any other brand advice??
Thanks!!!

 

[GirlyEnthusiast]

Welcome to MUT! /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I have actually been sulfate-free for 3+ years now. I started researching sulfates because I noticed my hair was becoming noticeably thinner (I was only 22 at the time). I learned that sulfates can damage your follicles and do all kinds of crazy stuff to your scalp, so I cut them out of my hair routine and haven't looked back since. Today my hair is thicker, stronger, healthier, etc.

Annnnyways, I actually love those brands you mentioned. RenPure and Organix are two of my favorites. It makes sense that the Organix one was leaving your hair more stripped, it does that to mine too. Whereas RenPure shampoo leaves my hair feeling conditioned without even conditioning. I think a lot of your issues depend on what type of conditioner you're using. If you pair the RenPure with a light weight conditioner, you will cut down on the flatness. Organix needs to be paired with a more hydrating conditioner because it's more stripping. I never use the Organix conditioner because it's not moisturizing enough.

Hope that helped somehow! lol

 

[Dragonfly]

I don't buy the idea that sulfates damage hair.

If you want your hair to retain its colour, you need to go as long as possible before washing it/getting it wet.

It is my understanding that water is the culprit, and not the shampoo/conditioner/styling products.

Wearing a hat also help keep colour from fading.

I came across Suave Clarifying shampoo, a few months ago.

It is the best shampoo I have used in years - I go 3-4 days without washing my hair.

And it is loaded with sulfates.

If you are concerned about sulfates, consider the no-poo method.

You would use only no silicon conditioners to wash your hair.

 

[divadoll]

I use the no-poo and I use homemade castile soap 2x a week.  

 

[xtinkx]

thanks girls!

GirlyEnthusiast  - which ones have you tried? maybe i should get the 'my hair is parched!' one for the driness... i loved the body and shine though =] have you tried the hairsprays and mouse?

the dove is still helping with driness and not damaging.. but it seems i'm shedding more..

 

[amarareese]

I'm not really sure what sulfates do, but I started using Sulfate Free L'Oreal Shampoo (right now I'm using Everstrong) & I love it! Organix dried my hair out too & didn't really work for me. & I switched to this & I really like it. It eliminates my hair of frizz & makes my hair super shiny & It smells SO amazing! 

 

[Ray of sunshine]

These sulfate free shampoos are just tricking you out of your money. If you want thicker stronger hair... Wash it less Avoid curling irons, flat irons, and blow dryers Improve your diet and take vitamins I wash my hair once every 7 days, and I shampoo TWICE and then condition. You have to build up to going an entire week because you have to slowly allow the oils in your scalp to balance. Suave is like the anti-no sulfate shampoos :] :] it's great.

 

[GirlyEnthusiast]

If I went 7 days without washing my hair I would look like I rubbed my head with butter and crisco

 

[Bonnie Krupa]

Originally Posted by GirlyEnthusiast /img/forum/go_quote.gif

If I went 7 days without washing my hair I would look like I rubbed my head with butter and crisco

hahahaha me too :X

 

[Ray of sunshine]

It took me about 4 or 5 years to get to where my hair doesn't look greasy until the 7th day. It's not an overnight result. I don't recommend anyone with an oily scalp try to go a week without washing their hair. It won't be pretty. :]

 

[GirlyEnthusiast]

So when you're showering but not washing your hair, you just basically rinse it with water?

 

[Firefox7275]

My hair is naturally curly with dry ends from mechanical and chemical damage. I tried many many commercial shampoos designed for coloured hair, and found they all stripped the red dye from my hair and left my hair feeling like straw: to counteract this I was using a ton of silicone-heavy products.There is research demonstrating that sulphates damage the skin in susceptible individuals (see eczema charity websites). Whilst they don't damage hair directly anionic surfactants certainly strip the natural oils, lift the protective cuticle and change the polarity; all this can be problematic when the hair is already dry or porous.

I now wash my hair with cationic surfactants, i.e. those which are found in conditioner. These surfactants are present in order to make the product's oil emulsify with the water but there is enough present in some products to make sebum emulsify in the washing water. On quitting sulphates both my scalp and T-zone became less greasy overnight, my hair became more manageable and felt slightly squeaky but not stripped, my small patches of eczema almost cleared, and I have not had to trim my hair since March! I use Inecto coconut conditioner OR Gum Juice florida orange conditioner to wash my hair AND Garnier Fructis repair & shine (triple nutrition in the US) as a leave-in conditioner OR Inecto plus extra coconut oil to deep condition.

You have to quit silicones if you quit sulphates or you will get build up which tends to feel and look greasy. The problem with going sulphate and silicone free but still heat styling is that silicones are the main ingredient used to protect hair. They supply a haux 'healthy' shine, prevent water from entering the hair shaft which stops you getting that fluffy look in humid weather; if you use a high temperature when flat ironing on damp hair, any water in the shaft literally boils and destroys the hair. I got this information from an online article written by a dermatologist and presented at a meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. From what I have read (see Proctor & Gamble microscopy images) heat styling is far more damaging than using sulphates.

 

[drew]

I too looked into sulfate free hair products because I attributed it to my dry scalp (I have come to realize it is my overly greasy hair that is the culprit thus my residue removing shampoo and light conditioners). The products I used were Avalon shampoo and conditioners, which left my hair feeling really dry. For my oily hair I now use Neutrogena Non-Residue formula shampoo and a light argon based conditioner that I don't leave in for more than a couple minutes now.

 

[pandy1021]

Hmm well I don't think sulfate is a good option for your hair. Try a shampoo that is more like a conditioner-shampoo combination.

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