By Amber Bogumil
Over the last few years, more people have become concerned about the use of sulphates in shampoo.
Most people don’t pay much attention to the ingredients of the products they use and buy what they’re recommended, trusting that they’re doing them good.
However, the use of sulphate in shampoo has been rapidly gaining a negative reputation, and now an increasing number of people are avoiding products that contain it.
Sulphate shampoos are the most common on the high street. Essentially, sulphates are detergents used in products like shampoo, soap and toothpaste and they cause these products to foam and lather but as a consequence, they are surfactants which means they take away both oil and water.
Within shampoo, sulphate aims to keep your hair clean from dead skin and takes away any dirt left on your scalp.
Sound perfect?
Not quite.
This ‘cleanse’ takes away the natural oils in your hair and can leave it feeling dry. If you have sensitive skin it can cause irritation too. It has even been reported that the surfactant can lead to hair loss.
However, don’t fear. There are a large number of affordable shampoos that avoid using sulphates. Here’s a list of a few you can get your hands on:
Palmer’s hair products (available at Superdrug) are mostly sulphate free. In fact, the company advertises itself as using ‘gentle cleaning ingredients with pure cocoa butter and vitamin E to moisturise and nourish hair with stripping’. Reviews speak for themselves and the shampoo is even free from paraben, a chemical which became controversial after it was reported to ‘disrupt hormone function’.
Another brand known for its sulphate-free products is Shea Moisture. Slightly more expensive, the brand has numerous products advertised to leave your hair hydrated and shining, while its use of 100% virgin coconut oil is guaranteed to leave your hair smelling great.
A brand you might not have expected to make the list is LOréal, which has a few good sulphate-free shampoos, including this one. The shampoo is described to leave your hair protected from dryness, exactly what you’re looking for and it’s available from most retailers.
Like LOréal, OGX has a range of sulphate free shampoos at bargain prices. OGX is known to be an organic brand when it comes to shampoo and although not all of its products are free of sulphate, those that are are clearly labelled.
Last but not least is Pantene, another popular brand. The description of the product consistently mentions it being free of ‘harsh ingredients’ and how it cleans ‘without stripping hair of its natural oils’, meaning it couldn’t be more perfect to keep your hair balanced. (The matching conditioner is also available at Superdrug for the same price).
There are so many more sulphate free shampoos with some really cheap prices available online. It’s definitely something to consider if you want to keep your hair healthy and hydrated.
Featured image and gallery: Hoang Phan Notebooks were carried from one workshop to another. Writers from different generations sat around tables, sharing manuscripts and listening to each other. Outdoors, small groups strolled along Oxford Road, pausing before buildings steeped in literary history. This was the scene during the Manchester Writing School Summer Festival 2026, held…
Featured image: Katja Ogrin With many sore heads and limbs this morning after the most hardcore day of the festival taking place yesterday, many are recovering from the moshing and pit brutality of the previous day’s antics. As the tradition of a morning movie in the Serpents Lair prevails, the crowd sprawls out onto the plush,…
Featured image: Abbi Draper After an electrifying start to the weekend, with temperatures slowly climbing, many lather themselves in suncream, shed their band shirts and rise from their tents to trek towards the arena. Saturday has big things incoming for the humans of Bloodstock 2026. Some pace themselves for the day and hide from the early…
Featured image: Abbi Draper After a memorable Thursday opener, Bloodstock 2026 opens its gates once again onto the Hallowed Grounds of Catton Park, kicking off day two of its 25th-anniversary celebration of metal. As the sun rises on Catton Park, festivalgoers emerge from their tents to prepare for another day of mayhem. The morning brings…
Leave a reply