Which sulfates should I be avoiding in a cleanser?

Written by on Oct 18, 2010
Cleansing

Dear Curly Suzy: The sulfate and non-sulfate issue is confusing me. I am trying to start a shampoo free routine and I have no idea what the harsh sulfates are? Please help!

Dear Alice: Here is a handy dandy list of sulfate information to work from.

    Harsh sulfates to avoid in cleansers:

  • Sodium Laureth, Myreth, Lauryl Sulfate

  • Ammonium Lauryl and Laureth Sulfate

  • Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate

  • TEA Lauryl Sulfate

  • TEA-dodecylbenzenesulfonate

  • Sodium Alkylbenzene Sulfonate

  • Ammonium or Sodium Xylenesulfonate

    • Gentler, very mild sulfates in cleansers:

  • Sodium Cocyl Isethionate

  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate

  • Sodium Socoyl (or lauryl/lauroyl) Sarcosinate

  • Ethyl PEG-15 Cocamine Sulfate

  • Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate

  • Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate

  • Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate

  • Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate/Disodium Sulfolaurate – (synonym) Sodium

  • Methyl Cocoyl or Lauryl Taurate – mild, derived from coconut fatty acids

  • Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate

Thanks to our CurlChemist, Tonya McKay Becker, for help formulating these lists.


This entry was posted on Monday, October 18th, 2010 at 1:00 am and is filed under Care Methods, Chemicals, Ingredients, No Shampoo & No-Shampoo Cleansing, Sulfates. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment.

6 comments for “CurlySuzy Q&A: Which Sulfates are Safer Than the Others?”

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