OT: going sodium lauryl sulfate free??? - YouLookFab Forum

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OT: going sodium lauryl sulfate free???

Kate

Veteran

I've been reading about going "no poo" (not using shampoo) or "co washing" (washing with conditioner), and decided to do an experiment over the last 4 days. Dec 11-14 I washed my hair with very diluted peppermint Dr. Bronner's (a castille soap). And even though the ends of my hair got very greasy, my hair certainly didn't smell bad, and most amazingly my dandruff and general scalp itchyness disappeared completely! Oh, and my hair has always been impossible to comb through after washing if I don't use conditioner, but it was easy to comb through after just using Dr. B to wash!

I don't feel comfortable having greasy hair for several weeks straight while my hair detoxes, so today I used some anti-dandruff conditioner (Neutrogena t-gel), with the
intention of going at least another 5 days before using a shampoo again. My hair isn't even done drying, and the dandruff and itchyness are already back!

I have sensitive skin (when I was young I would get a rash from bubblebath, and since elementary school I have only been able to use certain types of sunscreen without getting a rash), and it looks like my skin (or at least my scalp) really doesn't like SLS.

Any advice on SLS free shampoo? Or alternatives to shampoo? Especially if they aren't too expensive...

- We have hard water, so washing with baking soda, followed by an apple cider vinegar rinse won't work.
- I'm afraid to use Dr. Bronner's on my hair for an extended period of time because of the high ph level.
- I might buy a cheap bottle of suave conditioner, but I'm afraid that it might leave my straight, thin hair too greasy. I guess I won't know until I try.

General

24 replies

Latest reply was from Isabel

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I use Living Proof. It's not cheap but they sell it at Sephora.

Steph

Veteran

Kate, I have a conditioner from Aveda (Damage Remedy) that does not have sodium laureth sulfate in it. I don't have the matching shampoo, but I'm guessing they have one without SLS in it.

I was surprised to see that my beloved Frederick Fekkai shampoos have it. I wonder if that's why my scalp has been itchy lately.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I saw a major commercial line advertise a SLS free line just last week in the grocery. I think they simply switched laurel with laureth or sulfate with sulfinate, some thing like that, so I'm not sure it's much different than original formulation. But . . . it means they know people are concerned and wanting a change and trying to market to that! I have heard of Wen, but it might be expensive. Maya is doing the no poo I believe. She might know better than I.

crazyone

Veteran

In India they use a powder from the "shikakai" plant as a shampoo. I haven't yet tried it myself but most people say it cleans hair very effectively. You can get it relatively cheaply at Indian grocery stores...might be worth a try.

Jonesy

Veteran

I second the Aveda stuff: both the Damage Remedy line and the Dry Remedy Moisturizing line are SLS-free.

Jennifer

I just started no-poo! I bought the Tresemme Naturals condition, which has no silicones and is readily available plus cheap. I did one last shampoo yesterday with a sulfate shampoo to get rid of any silicones, and today, I started washing my hair with the condition. So far, so good! If you haven't seen this yet, here's a link to a comprehensive guide to going no-poo.

http://dormroomcurly.blogspot......table.html

http://www.tresemme.com/Products/Naturals/

Christie

I've done no- 'poo with baking soda and ACV ... my hair got too dry, but I have curls which are fragile and dry anyway.

I've also used the cheap Suave Naturals conditioner and really liked it.

Currently, I'm using Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle conditioner and love it. I also use Dr. Bronner's Shikakai Citrus Rinse Conditioner. That stuff makes my hair feel like silk! Love it. I also use Dr. Bronner's Coconut Styling Cream. I've never used the actual Dr. Bronner's soap to wash though.

I've had the best results using these less expensive products. I have used salon brands before and didn't like them as well. Good luck!

Velma

Veteran

Kate, I have straight, fine hair. In an effort to avoid SLS and just stop relying on so many heavily packaged products, I tried just about every kind of No Poo a couple of years ago, without success. I will give you my whole saga--pardon the long remarks.

First off, I stopped using all hair products (mousse, spray, etc.). With no shampoo at all, my hair and scalp got very, very greasy--I tried both water-only massage and "washing" with SLS-free conditioner--and I gave it up after about two weeks. After that, I tried washing with baking soda (both very diluted with water and as a paste) every other day, followed by apple cider vinegar rinse. The baking soda made my hair wickedly dry and stripped all the shine--it was simply too harsh--but the vinegar rinse seemed nice and made my hair a lot more comb-able. I made my vinegar rinse with 1/4 c. vinegar diluted to fill a 12 oz. squirt bottle, with essential oils (and sometimes a little olive oil) added for conditioning and a nice smell.

So I kept the vinegar rinse, and started washing my hair every other day with very diluted Dr. Bronner's and the vinegar rinse. This I liked a lot. My scalp felt clean, and I kept it up for more than a year . . . until my stylist (who has been somewhat suspicious of my No Poo efforts) announced that my hair was still damaged and suggested cutting it very short so that I could get a "fresh start." Phooey!

At that point (about six months ago now), I cut my hair a little shorter and went into overdrive with conditioning efforts, including lots of deep conditioning with coconut oil. I switched to SLS-free purchased shampoos (Kiss My Face and Burt's Bees are both nice), Suave conditioner, and an SLS-free leave-in conditioner--no other products. I have trained myself to use much less shampoo (about a dime for chin-length hair or a nickel for shoulder length), and I am still washing every other day. Washing less frequently has definitely improved the condition of my scalp.

My stylist says my hair is back in good shape; I think it is softer and prettier now than when I started. I suspect the problem with my hair's condition was aggravated by my hair getting increasingly gray during this period--I really need to baby it more now and work with its new texture. I have been tempted to go back on the vinegar rinse--I think it was never really the problem--but I haven't had the nerve to try it. Maybe next summer.

I envy the ladies with curly and/or very thick hair. No Poo seems to work better for them. Good luck!

Becky

Veteran

I've just started using a Burt's Bees shampoo (none of their products have SLS) and find that my itchy scalp has all but disappeared.

Astrid

Veteran

Mmh, no wonder you had an itchy scalp after the Neutrogena t-gel, I just had a peek at the ingredients: http://www.codecheck.info/kosm....._125ml.pro. And then the Dr. Bronner's in comparison: http://www.codecheck.info/kosm.....nner_s.pro. Only half so much things in it and all natural! I know it's german, but do you know about a similar site in english? Codecheck basically lists every ingredient of different cosmetics and does an assesment of them in reference to different things. I check almost everything now before I buy something only based on the commercials, and my skin thanks me everyday.

I don't have any advice on SLS free shampoo, as I'm using a SLS free shampoo from a german drugstore brand. I tried going with only conditioner for a while, since it's often recommended for curls, but my hair and my scalp didn't like it. In fact I'm leaving the conditioner completely out now. Have you tried to water down your shampoo or conditioner if it gives you greasy hair? If it's simply too much for your hair diluting it might help. I do it all the time, simply because it's much easier to dispense the shampoo this way and I don't dry my scalp out with too much shampoo. The mixing ratio is individual and depends on shampoo/conditioner and your scalp. You may have to try it a few times. And when you're searching for a new shampoo, don't take anything with silicone/polysiloxane (I don't know if you know that already). It may well be that's the culprit if it is in your previous shampoos. It's in so many shampoos and conditioners because it helps a lot to make the hair look and feel healthier after the first application. All it really does is glue damaged hair together (which cannot be repaired), but the hair looks better at first glance. But when you use it more often it can build up on your hair and then it just looks stringy and not so good no matter what you do. And it's really bad for the scalp! My hair got SO much better after leaving the silicone out. Well, perhaps you knew that already? Natural hair care is a pet subject of mine, so I could probably write a lot more... Although I know more about the care of curly/wavy/coarse hair than fine/straight hair.

Edit: Velma, I just saw that you condition your hair with coconut oil, just like me! When I started oiling my hair two years ago, my family thought I was round the bent. I didn't tell many people, because most of my friends said something along the line of "WHAT? You are washing your hair just to put oil in and make it greasy again?".

Kate

Veteran

Thanks for all of the wisdom ladies! Please keep it coming!

Astrid, yes, I use http://www.goodguide.com/ and http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ before buying pretty much anything now... it's been great for getting me to really think about my consumption! And I know to avoid silicones, which is why I won't be using aveda (it's SLS free, but has silicones). Unfortunately, a lot of the products recommended in this thread don't check out when looked up on goodguide. For example, the tresemme stuff is healthy, but the company has awful environmental practices.

Also, shampoo and conditioner don't make my hair greasy, my hair is just so used to having them everyday (at the same time) that it becomes greasy if I go more than 25 or 26 hours without washing it.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

I swear by WEN....it has made a world of difference in my hair and scalp. Both were in very bad shape from all my meds, but my hair and scalp are now much healthier, the hair is way smoother and much easier to deal with. There are several formulas available, so I would read up on them....QVC has a 30 day money-back guarantee with absolutely no hassles....so I would definitely order thru them....

Astrid

Veteran

Have you tried slowly changing the time between washing it? My hair simply had to get used to it, as I was washing it everyday a few years ago. I had a few times greasy hair on the second or third day, but then it was okay. I wash every third day now, which is long enough for me, although it would be nice to only wash on weekends. Diluting the shampoo helps with this process, because the hair and your scalp gets used to having less shampoo and you don't strip as much of your natural oils.

Velma

Veteran

Hi again, Kate--

Our hair looks very similar in texture, judging from your pic.

I had to wean my hair off daily washing--now every other day works great. On the "off" day, I brush my hair well using a natural bristle brush and then dampen it with a spray I make from filtered water and essential oils (lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, etc.--smells great!) before styling. I almost think I like my hair better on the second day, in fact.

One of my friends who does No Poo thinks that the only problem with my Dr. Bronner's regimen was that the shampoo should have had a moisturizer--she suggested adding jojoba oil (about 1 t. per 12 oz.). I have not tried that, but it might be something to consider.

Scarlet

Veteran

I second the Aveda recommendations. I have also had good luck with Phyto Jojoba shampoo. The trick is to leave it on for a couple of minutes. If you are not washing often you may need to do a quick lather, rinse, and then the real wash. Having said that though, your hard water could be a big part of your problem. I moved from very soft to very hard water a couple of years ago and it led to all kinds of skin and scalp issues I didn't have before. By the way I also had reactions to bubble baths (especially those salt blocks) as a kid and to most sunscreens even now, so maybe we have similar skin genes.

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Kate I've tried No Poo a couple of times too. I have fairly sensitive skin and dandruffy issue similar to you! (Possibly similar texture too actually!)

The biggest issue I found was that the humidity where I live meant no poo just plain didn't work. Apparently the humidity is the perfect breeding ground for the microorganisms we naturally have growing on our skin - when they get large in numbers they can cause itch and dandruff. These organisms like our sweat, so not shampooing to actually get rid of the sweat and organisms keeps the itchy cycle going... or so I was told!

So I'm not sure if your climate is high humidity or not, but I found that not shampooing at all was not good at all for me.

I started stretching out the washes over winter (so I wasn't sweating as much), and now that I have short hair I probably only shampoo once a week!

I use an aussie shampoo though so that's no use to you LOL Its free of all those nasties and smell-free as well.

Oh that's another thought - if you have sensitive skin, some of the fragrances they put in hair products can actually make the itch issues worse too...

Good Luck!!

Maya

Veteran

I don't have time to read everyone's replies, so sorry if I repeat anything here:

-Don't use a sulfate-free shampoo unless you also use a silicone free conditioner. Silicones aren't actually bad for your hair on their own, and most of the things you read about them from the no poo community are wrong--but they do need to be washed out, and the only way to wash them out is with a sulfate-based shampoo. That is why I stopped using Aveda products. They had a lot of sulfate free shampoos, but silicone-heavy conditioners, and my hair would just get built up with silicones.

-There are lots of sulfate free and low sulfate shampoos on the market. This is my preference, as opposed to not washing or just washing with conditioner. I hate how my hair looks and feels when I cowash, although I know it definitely works out well for some ladies, especially those with very curly hair (which is not you or me). I just use a tiny amount, once a day or every other day depending on my hair's condition, and follow it up with a generous smattering of conditioner.

-If you choose to cowash, you'll have to be very thorough. Conditioner does have cleansing agents in it, but you do need to work harder to get it to loosen all the dirt and grime because it isn't as harsh as a sulfate shampoo (obviously that's the point). You'll also have to deal with greasy-looking hair for a few weeks, perhaps even longer since you have straight hair.

-Make sure you brush your hair thoroughly, with the tips of the brush reaching the scalp, to help distribute the oils down the hair shaft. A greasy scalp with dry ends is just about the grossest thing ever.

I found my hair had a weird musty odor sometimes when I used sulfates and silicones, and that is no longer the case thank heavens. My hair is in much better shape in general, and I'm a huge skeptic most of the time, so surely it must work.

Kate

Veteran

Maya, which shampoo are you using?

Maya

Veteran

I am currently using Tresemme Naturals, but I see that's on your no list. Before that, I used Arrojo Gentle, but the conditioner has silicones so I had to give that up.

Burt's Bees might work. Whole Body has a ton of natural sulfate-free and silicone-free options too.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Kate, I've been sodium laurel and laureth sulphate free now for some time, and my shampoo of choice is John Masters. It's probably a bit more expensive than some of the other options listed here, but I find it works really well, and there are shampoo formulae for different types of hair. I have fine, oily hair and I absolutely love the honey and hibiscus reconstructing shampoo/conditioner. I only condition once a week and that's enough for me. They have a variety of other hair care products too, in case that doesn't float your boat.
I'm quite into natural body care in general now, and this site is a great resource for lesser-known but still great products. They have the odd hair care item, but most of their stuff deals with face and body care:
http://www.carenonline.com

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Kate I'm in Australia so won't offer you specific examples, but I've tried about 4 different brands of SLS-free shampoos & conditioners here in Australia this year. Well conditioners mainly, I am still on my first bottle of shampoo as I am using it less than once per week. Seems to be working well for me, some more so than others. I just buy them at the supermarket/chemist and spend a long time reading the label. For some reason brands available in each store seem to vary over the months. Good luck and let us know how you go!!

Lisa

Veteran

I'm another WEN user. I like the almond mint one, and sometimes use the pomegranate for variety. I wash every other day. I found it took a few tries to get the hang of how much WEN to use, but now I swear by it. The only other product I put in my hair, is hairspray when I have a braid to keep the smaller hairs in place. Otherwise I do not add anything to my hair after the shower.

LeahJanes

Have you tried using a dry shampoo on your off days? I have the same textured hair as you, and that's the only way I can stretch my shampoo out longer than one day. My hair looks better on the second day cause the dry shampoo gives lots of volume.

I use a SLS free shampoo called "Organix" from the grocery store. It's really good but the conditioner does still have dimethicone in it. It works for me though, my hair has never been nicer.

Isabel

Veteran

I also use WEN by Chaz Dean - I have been for almost a year, and I love it - my sister-in-law no uses it and loves it. This winter, I have even started to wash my face with it because my face was so dry, and it works wonders. It seems expensive, but I don't need to wash my hair anywhere near as much, so a medium bottle lasts me 6 months !

I use Burt's Bees on my children's hair. And I just read that Ken Paves is coming out ( or has) with a detergent free line of hair care,

Good Luck with it...I think that it is worth it. BTW - I love peppermint castille soap, I actually wash my laundry with it, I use it with baking soda for bathrooms and kitchen and I wash stained coffee cups with castille soap and baking soda.