Sulphate-free shampoo bar: gentler for your hair and nature
Sulphates such as SLS and SLES are synthetic cleansers that wash your hair thoroughly but also strip away the natural oils from your scalp, which can lead to dry hair and an irritated scalp.
- SLS and SLES are the most common sulphates in mainstream shampoo
- They cleanse powerfully but strip the scalp of its protective oil layer
- A sulphate-free shampoo bar cleanses with gentle plant-based surfactants that leave the acid mantle intact
- Nature Bar shampoo bars contain no SLS or SLES and are handmade in Amsterdam
What are sulphates in shampoo?
Sulphates are synthetic surfactants used as cleansing agents in shampoo, shower gel and toothpaste. The most commonly used are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). They are effective, cheap and create rich lather. But effective cleansing and gentle cleansing are not the same thing.
Sulphates do not distinguish between good fat and bad fat. They remove everything, including the protective oils that keep the scalp and hair shaft healthy.
Why are sulphates bad for your hair and scalp?
Skin has a natural acid mantle with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. SLS has a higher pH and disrupts that acid mantle with every wash. The scalp dries out, compensates with more sebum and becomes increasingly unbalanced. Hair cuticles open up, making hair dull, brittle and difficult to comb.
Benefits of a sulphate-free shampoo bar
- Acid mantle stays intact: gentle surfactants cleanse without disrupting the pH.
- Less excess sebum production: a scalp that is not dried out produces less sebum. Hair stays fresh longer.
- Shinier hair: closed hair cuticles reflect light better.
- Suitable for colour-treated hair: sulphates wash out colour pigment faster.
- Better for curly hair: curls need the natural oils for definition.
- Less irritation for sensitive or dry scalps.
What does Nature Bar use instead of sulphates?
Nature Bar shampoo bars contain SCI (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate), a gentle plant-based cleanser derived from coconut oil. SCI cleanses effectively without disrupting the skin barrier. It is biodegradable and suitable for all hair types including sensitive scalps and colour-treated hair.
Which sulphate-free shampoo bar suits your hair?
- Normal to oily hair: Shampoo Bar Balance & Deep Cleanse with horsetail and mint.
- Normal to fine hair: Shampoo Bar Strength & Volume with beer and botanical ingredients.
- Normal to dry hair: Shampoo Bar Nourish & Repair with seaweed.
Combine with the Avocado Conditioner Bar for a fully sulphate-free routine. Want to learn how our bars are made? Join a soap making workshop in De Hallen, Amsterdam.
