4 Alternatives To Sulfate Shampoo You Can Add To Your Regimen Now

One of the first things we learn when beginning a natural hair journey is to cut back on or totally get rid of our favorite sulfate shampoo. Sulfates (seen in product ingredients as sodium lauryl sulfate) is a drying agent that is responsible for the suds or bubbles that you see in your favorite shampoo or body wash.

This ingredient helps get rid of product build up, however it can strip our hair of its natural oils* and leave it drier than before. Our naturally curly and coily hair is already prone to dryness, so we should do whatever we can in our wash regimen to help retain moisture. Here are four alternatives to sulfate shampoo that will clean your hair without totally stripping it:

Co-wash

Cowashing is very popular in the natural hair community, and if you don’t include it in your wash regimen then you might want to. Co washing is simply washing your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. There are a few products out there with cleansing agents specifically for co washing, however you can also cowash with your normal conditioner.

Simply apply the product through your strands and gently into your scalp to remove surface product buildup. Cowashing is also an excellent way to retain moisture in your hair throughout the week.

Just remember that co washing isn’t a permanent solution for product buildup, so you may want to keep a clarifying shampoo* handy for once or twice a month depending on your hair regimen. Also, you can still follow up with a conditioner after cowashing. As I Am Coconut Cowash* and Shea Moisture* Coconut* and Hibiscus* Cowash are two of the most popular cowashes out there.

Sulfate Free/ Organic Shampoo

If you would still like to go the traditional route, you can opt for a sulfate free or organic shampoo. There are plenty of options out there, and some of them boast different benefits. Most organic shampoos claim to be moisturizing.

This is good because it will still gently remove your product build up, but your hair will still feel soft and manageable. These can be used more frequently than your typical sulfate shampoo.

When choosing a sulfate free shampoo*, read the ingredients before purchasing to see what benefits it will provide for your hair. Also make sure that it doesn’t contain any derivatives of sulfates (like sulfonate, etc), because while they aren’t the exact same ingredient they still dry out hair more than necessary.

African Black Soap*

African Black Soap is excellent for cleansing both your skin and hair. It totally clears your hair of product buildup and it’s an all natural alternative for sulfate shampoo. You can use the bar soap or the black soap that comes in a jar. Black soap helps clear impurities and is good for people that may have sensitive skin or dermatological issues like eczema or psoriasis.

It contains ingredients like palm oil to help get rid of intense product buildup. You can focus this on your scalp for best results, but you can also apply it to your strands for a total clean.

Brands like Shea Moisture* have a line of African Black Soap* products which are used for clarifying the hair. Since black soap may be a little stripping as well (depending on the brand you purchase), you only need to use it a few times a month to cleanse your hair.

Bentonite Clay*

Bentonite clay* is the result of weathered volcanic ash and it becomes activated by water. It’s an impure clay, and is supposed to rid the body of toxins while providing nutrients. When you purchase the clay, it should be gray, odorless, and have a velvet feel.

It should have a powder consistency when you purchase it. Simply mix it with water and an oil of your choice (like olive oil*) to make it work for your hair.

Apply it to your hair before stepping in the shower and rinse it out. The oil prevents you from totally stripping your strands and your hair can be softer and more defined.

A good thing about bentonite clay is that it can bring life and definition back to your curls since there won’t be any buildup left. If you want to take the extra time to make your bentonite clay mix, this is an excellent sulfate shampoo alternative.

These are four great alternatives to normal sulfate shampoo. If you do decide to continue to use your normal shampoo, try to modify your regimen. Pre poo your hair before use and definitely follow up with a good conditioner.

You can also add conditioner to your strands before shampooing to make sure that your hair isn’t totally stripped of moisture. Moisture is the key to keeping your natural hair healthy, and little adjustments made now can have a major impact in the future.