Sulfates are a group of ingredients used in shampoos that create lather and help to lift dirt and oil away from hair and scalp. The most commonly used sulfate is Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which has a long history of safe use. It is an effective and mild foaming agent that imparts softness to the hair.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate are ingredients primarily used in cosmetic "rinse off" products. For several years, a rumor has been circulated on the Internet stating that these ingredients are unsafe. This story relayed via the Internet is false and unsubstantiated, and is typical of Internet rumors which spread inaccurate information.
There is no evidence of health risk from either of these ingredients as used in cosmetic products. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not found them to be harmful when used for the purpose and at the strength intended. Both ingredients were reviewed by the Cosmetics Ingredient Review Expert Panel (CIR), an independent group of world-renowned physicians and scientists. The CIR also determined that both ingredients are safe.
We do not use SLS or SLES in our shampoos. We do use ammonium lauryl sulfate, coco-babassu sulfate and many other surfactants derived from babassu, palm and coconut. We like to blend our plant-based ingredients to meet the needs of the specific hair type for which we are formulating.
What is the difference in Sulfates? These are all foaming ingredients used for cleansing and so have similar functions and names. The difference is what is used to make these foaming ingredients. The starting materials can be from petroleum, from animal by-products or from plant sources. When the foaming ingredient appears on the label of a product, there is no way to know which starting materials were used. Aveda always uses plant (coconut, babassu or palm) for these foaming ingredients where other companies will use petroleum or animal by-products, but the foaming ingredient name will be the same.
Aveda formulas are specially designed to deliver conditioning properties without drying out the hair.
In May of 2008 a wash fade analysis for color treated hair comparison study was done on Aveda shampoo, conditioner and treatment regimens. The purpose of the study was to explore the extent to which Aveda shampoo and conditioner regimen or Aveda shampoo and treatment regimen caused colored hair to fade. Hair swatches were washed repeatedly and then evaluated instrumentally to measure both color fading and shift.
The results were all of the products tested either faded less or equally to water alone. There was no ‘stripping’ observed.
Aveda has created exclusive technology with organic Coco/Babassu Sulfate and organic Babassu Betains sulfate-free options. All of these options feature a combination of plant-based protecting extracts, beautifully aromatic, functional essential oils, and plant based conditioning agents. This combined with specific ingredients for a particular hair need protects and will not strip the hair.
Sulfates don’t strip hair, bad shampoos do.
Using Aveda’s exclusive Babassu Betaine technology, Aveda has offered sulfate-free shampoos since 1996. Why should some shampoos contain sulfates and some do not? There are different foaming characteristics. Sulfate based foam will have large, ‘lacy’ bubbles. Non-sulfate based foam with create a denser, richer foam. They provide a different feel on the hair and offer different rinsing and spreading characteristics. Although they are different, one is not better than the other.
Aveda currently offers 4 sulfate-free shampoos.
• Scalp Benefits Balancing Shampoo
• Damage Remedy Restructuring Shampoo
• Dry Remedy Moisturizing Shampoo
• Men’s Pureformance Shampoo
Aveda currently offers 9 sulfate-free skin cleansing products.
• Caribbean Therapy Body Wash
• Green Science Perfecting Cleanser
• Enbrightenment Cleanser
• Outer Peace Foaming Cleanser
• Personal Blends Smoothing Body Formula
• Pure Comfort Eye Makeup Remover
• Botanical Kinetics Purifying Crème Cleanser
• Botanical Kinetics Purifying Gel Cleanser
• Smoothing Body Polish
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