Shampoo,and anything that foams,is essentially a surfactant.
Whatever your hair type, we suggest avoiding sodium laureth sulphate and sodium lauryl sulphate based shampoos.If you are struggling with alternatives, try not to rub the shampoo into your scalp. Gently massage into the hair and rinse out as quickly as you can. Ammonium laureth sulphate and ammonium lauryl sulphate based shampoos are less damaging. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and ammonium lauryl sulfate are known skin irritants. Sodium laureth sulphate is more easily absorbed into the skin than ammonium lauryl and ammonium laureth sulphate. However, there is insufficient evidence to condemn SLS as carcinogenic – see sodium lauryl sulfate cancer risk. And for an interesting analysis of dandruff shampoo ingredients see shampoo ingredients.
Out of the range of surfactant chemical based shampoos which are available, most of which are inevitably sodium laureth or sodium lauryl sulphate based, we prefer sodium lauryl and ammonium lauryl (not laureth) based shampoos which are, overall, milder.
Shampoo creates more lather and suds than natural shampoo
Remember, ammonium laurels are milder than ammonium laureths, but it’s the other way round with sodiums as many people find sodium laureth less irritating than sodium lauryl. The ammonium lauryls and laureths claim to be plant derived surfactants. However, the materials used in the extraction and chemical formulation of these surfactants are often chemically based. We recommend you avoid these chemical hair care products altogether especially if you have very dry, damaged, or sensitive hair and scalp.
It’s fine to experiment and see how your hair feels with different ingredient bases and whether you experience sensitivity and itchiness anywhere else apart from your hair and head.
Rhassoul” aka “ghassoul”, is a naturally silicone rich cleansing and moisturising clay from Morocco which can be used as a natural cleansing clay to cleanse, and moisturise, hair and skin. It is also a natural body cleanser and a natural face wash used for drawing out impurities from the skin. It is cleansing, conditioning and moisturising all in one go ! Look out also for reetha powder, shikakai powder, and amla powder, all of which can be used to effectively and naturally cleanse hair and skin.
no poo rhassoul clay will naturally cleanse hair, body, and face and restore your skin’s natural ph
Soap and Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
If you use soap to wash your hair, opt for organic cider vinegar for your final hair rinse to get the correct ph. Add just add a dash of cider vinegar to a jug of warm shower water and rinse your hair with this after you have washed your hair with natural soap. You can also add 25% cider vinegar to a bottle of shampoo; it won’t work as effectively as with soap, but it may help to lessen the damage and irritation caused by surfactants.
Natural Soap for hair cleansing should be followed by a cider vinegar hair rinse
Go easy on bubbles in your hair ! You’ll find a range of natural hair washes in our natural hair care shop They don’t lather as much as surfactant based shampoo, but they do naturally cleanse and condition your hair and will leave it feeling and looking beautiful.
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