Sulfates and Hair Loss?

@PNDESTORE Hair care question. Can a sodium lauryl sulfate in shampoo cause hair loss? Can there be bad side affects from 2 much use?

Answer: To be honest, anything can cause hair loss. Some things can cause it easier, but anything has the potential to cause hair loss.

As far as sodium lauryl sulfate, it has been linked to skin irritation and hair loss, but again everything can have a negative side effect. SLS is found in the majority of shampoos (even though many companies are now moving towards SLS-free shampoos) and serves as the ingredient that rids the scalp of dirt, product build-up, etc.

Since SLS has the capability of removing the hair of "everything", it can often be harsh on those who use shampoo often, which is why so many naturals choose to co-wash because we tend to wash hair more often. If you're using the shampoo too often, it can cause the scalp/hair to dry out because the structure of Black hair is drier than most to begin with, so by using a drying shampoo constantly on top of that can cause drier hair, which leads to scalp irritation and can lead to scalp inflammation. That inflammation can lead to hair loss.

So yes, SLS can lead to hair loss, however, in a roundabout way. Using shampoo is not automatically going to equate to your hair falling out... Continuous and constant use CAN lead to different effects that could lead to hair loss.

Suggestion: Use sulfate shampoos for 911 emergencies. SLS is one of the best ways to cleanse your hair when there's product build-up or when it has been awhile since you washed your hair. For times that aren't an emergency, use 1) a sulfate-free shampoo or 2) co-wash or 3) look into ACV rinses.


More information:
Expand Your Knowledge: Surfactants
Shampoo: 'SLS' For Clean Hair