I was recently given a ground-breaking education on one of our everyday-use products. What I learnt is so important for our well-being that I’ve got to share. Learn the truth about what’s actually in your shampoo!
Did you know?
Myth: Suds in shampoos help to ensure my hair is fully cleansed.
Fact: The suds do cleanse your hair, but perhaps more than you want them to. These rich foamy shampoos can be over-drying and lead to unhealthy tresses.
Culprit:
Sulfates, the foaming agent found in most hair care products that makes shampoo turn into a thick lather in the shower.
What are sulfates?
…the lathering truth about sulfates in your shampoo.
Sulfates = Harsh detergents
Sulfates are cleaning agents (detergents) and you’ll find them in most industrial and home cleaning products, such as:
– Engine degreasers
– Floor cleaners
– Bike cleaners
– Oven cleaners
– Car wash soaps
– Bubble bath products
– Your shampoo
Sulfates causes:
– Scalp irritation
– Pronounced hair loss
– Dry hair problems
– Breaking brittle hair
– Split ends
The main aim of sulfates are to completely encapsulate dirt and all oils, including the good ones so that water can wash it away. In fact, sulfates are actually used as the baseline standard irritant for sensitive skin, meaning that all other irritants to the skin are tested against it.
Sulfates can be absorbed through the hair fiber, skin and scalp. When that happens, it is very difficult to completely remove the foaming agents even after washing the hair, leading to sulphate deposits in hair and scalp
To be honest, I’m not usually the most savvy and educated consumer. I’ve only been starting to cultivate the habit of reading the ingredient list on products and am slowly starting to find out what’s good and bad for you, and what to avoid. Having been recently educated about the harmful effects of sulphates and the harsh truth of most shampoo and hair care products in the market, I am astounded that these products are even allowed to go on shelves in the stores. Although you may think that shampooing the hair is usually quick and only a brief exposure, do think about the cumulative effect of the sulphate deposits in your hair and scalp, and how long-term exposure is going to seriously damage your well-being. I, for one am not going to run the risk of ruining my mane and well-being after this education on sulphates!
What to do now?
Alternative: Use a sulfate-free shampoo
Introducing: L’Oréal Paris Hair Expertise
L’Oréal Paris, recognized by women worldwide as the leading expert in hair care, zeroed in quickly on this ‘sulphate in shampoo’ problem by providing premium sulfate-free options for consumers. L’Oréal Paris Hair Expertise is one of the first affordable, high-quality ranges with a 100 per cent sulfate-free ingredient list!
Sulfate-Free Can Still Be High-Performance
To prove that sulfate-free hair care products can still be effective and provide high-performance, L’Oréal conducted a research with Republic Polytechnic’s Centre for Innovation and Enterprise to test the effectiveness of the L’Oréal Paris Hair Expertise system.
The system was tested against both traditional mass non-conditioning shampoos and a high-end Salon brand system containing shampoo, conditioner and hair mask.
This qualitative research focused on smoothness and detangling – the top hair concerns for Singaporean women. The results showed that the L’Oréal Paris Hair Expertise system performed 16 times better than the non-conditioning shampoo and two times better than the expensive salon brand, at an average of 7.72 seconds, with more consistent results than the other two.
I was sent the EverSleek range (for frizzy and damaged hair) from the L’Oréal Paris Hair Expertise system to try and I decided to do my very own short mini experiment to see if it was true!
This is what I did:
1. Shampoo and condition my hair with my usual salon brand system.
2. Towel dry my hair after getting out of the shower.
3. Use a regular comb to run through from the top of my head to the ends of my hair and time how long it takes for the comb to run through.
Time taken for comb to run through hair with salon brand system: 5.6sec
Amount of hair fall after that 1 run through my hair with salon brand system. (Please excuse me for this icky picture!)
I repeated the same steps with the EverSleek shampoo and conditioner.
1. Shampoo and condition my hair with L’Oréal Paris EverSleek.
2. Towel dry my hair after getting out of the shower.
3. Use a regular comb to run through from the top of my head to the ends of my hair and time how long it takes for the comb to run through.
Time taken for comb to run through hair with L’Oréal Paris EverSleek: 3.8sec
Results:
It took 8 secs faster to run the comb through my hair with L’Oréal Paris EverSleek as compared to my usual salon brand system. It was easier to comb through my hair and my hair felt softer and smoother.
More importantly, check out the hair fall after the use of L’Oréal Paris EverSleek!!! There was only 1 tiny strand of hair fall as compared to the small clump in the above picture!! This made me most happy because my hairstylist and I have noticed my hair thinning over the years and hair fall has increasingly become a concern of mine. I drop soooo much hair everytime I wash and comb my hair everyday, it was getting kinda scary.
Already I notice lesser hair fall shampooing and conditioning with L’Oréal Paris EverSleek in one wash. This run-through-comb-in-the-hair experiment has shown that indeed I am dropping less hair!! Yipeeeee!
If you’re also wondering, I did not get a less satisfying experience from shampooing my hair with a sulphate-free shampoo. The shampoo still lathered up (with the infusion of botanical oils!) and my hair still felt clean from the wash.
About the EverSleek range:
The L’Oréal Paris Hair Expertise range contains four different ranges for all hair types and needs, the EverSleek range is perfect for hair that is frizzy and damaged due to hair styling or colouring. The lack of sulfates, as well as silicones and parabens mean that your hair will be softer and silkier for longer, with its infusion of botanical Argan Oil, Olive Oil and Sunflower Oil. Your scalp will also be protected from the buildup of sulfates, helping to restore its natural moisture to a healthy level, leading to smoother hair right out of the head. The dense foam, while different to the touch, is the proof that sulfates are gone from the formulation, and ensures that hair is still cleansed deeply, without the elimination of essential scalp oils or moisture.
About the rest of the L’Oréal Paris Hair Expertise range:
However, if you want to try out the recent rainbow hair trend, don’t give up, because L’Oréal Paris Hair Expertise has you covered with the EverPure line that is formulated especially for coloured hair. The natural botanical infusions of rosemary, mint and juniper are milder on the scalp as well as the hair strands, leading to longer- lasting colour and a healthier scalp!
With its patented Bio-Ceramide Complex, the L’Oréal Hair Expertise EverStrong range helps to reduce hair fall. Perfect for the Singapore weather, where wind and pollution can damage hair, EverStrong repairs the damage made to hair by using a ceramide + a cationic polymer to strengthen hair.
Instead of getting rich foam in the shower but leaving with dry hair, L’Oréal Hair Expertise EverCrème line is formulated without these sulfates to ensure that you leave the shower with intensely moisturized hair. With an ultra-gentle formula rich in Omega 3 and 6, the 3 Botanical Oils (Apricot Oil, Grapeseed Oil and Camelina Oil) combine to penetrate the hair surface, providing nutrients for long lasting hydration, while also coating the surface of hair for ultimate smoothness and manageability.
L’Oréal has created a microsite just for sulphate education and guess what? I’ll be helping you along in this education!
xoxojeneen.com 