Exciting questions: sodium lauryl sulfate

At present, a whole discussion has begun about the benefits and harm of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Some believe that the use of the funds that make up this component is very harmful to health. Others, on the other hand, allow the use of goods with SLS.

Negative impact of SLS

In the United States, the National Institute of Health has identified possible consequences from the use of substances with sodium lauryl sulfate. Harm to the human body, this substance can cause, causing dry skin, ulcers in the mouth, eczema. Also, SLS is toxic to the gastrointestinal tract and liver.

What is sodium lauryl sulfate?

This product is obtained as a result of repeated processing of coconut oil by chemical means. This surfactant is used in detergents, especially in shampoos. Due to the safety of use, efficiency and low cost, SLS has become very popular in cosmetology. This product is part of shampoos, shower gels, bath foams, toothpastes and mouthwash lotions. Also sodium lauryl sulfate is used in household chemicals and technical detergents.

It is known that SLS can cause skin irritation. However, in the form in which it is presented in cosmetic preparations, lauryl sulfate is safe.

The main advantage of this component is foaming. With the help of foam, the shampoo perfectly "separates" the dirt from the hair and "holds" it in its volume. If this does not happen, the dirt and grease will again settle on the hair. You can see this by washing your head with soap. In addition, foaming shampoo is quite economical in use and brings a pleasant sensation during washing.

One can not help saying that each shampoo contains soft cleansing substances that significantly reduce the aggressive effect of SLS. And some of them (cocoamphodiacetate sodium, sulfosuccinate, cocamide DEA) are used in shampoos "without tears", intended for children.

You probably noticed more than once that after washing, the hair roots quickly become fat. Why is this happening?

The thing is that, washing off dirt from the hair, sodium lauryl sulfate also removes fat, which is a protective barrier. Therefore, hairless hair becomes easily damaged. To prevent this, the body begins to actively develop fat with even greater force. Therefore, the roots of the hair become salted fairly quickly, losing its appearance.

Shampoos without sodium lauryl sulfate

What should be the ideal tool for washing hair? It turns out that it should effectively remove impurities and at the same time not degrease the scalp. Today this task is solved. Shampoos of high quality are able to wash off the fat layer from the hair, replacing it with the surviving additives. These substances include vegetable oils, derivatives of lanolin and fatty acids, animal fats, lecithin. Additives are part of the shampoo in the form of microdroplets. In the process of washing, the fats are exchanged: the dirt is washed, the jojoba oil or coconut oil is moistened in the scalp.

As a result of studying the composition of the means for washing hair, shampoos without SLS were detected. Here are some cosmetic products:

• Most Japanese companies are engaged in the production of shampoos without SLS: Lion, Kracie, Lebel, Resche, Kanebo Pola, MoltoBene. These funds are created using surfactants, extracted from fruits of plants, flowers and algae.
• French cosmetic company Melvita instead of SLS uses a surfactant of vegetable origin - decyl glucoside.
• The German brand Dr.Hauschka also produces hair care products that do not contain sodium lauryl sulfate using saccharotenes as a surfactant.
• Some shampoos, produced by the leaders of the modern cosmetic industry, also do not contain SLS. This is "Professionnel Delicate Color" from L'Oreal and "Professional Bonacure Color" from Schwarzkopf. These cosmetics are designed for colored hair. Shampoos from the serie "Rainforest" from the manufacturer The Body Shop include in its composition bilberry extract, sugar and flaxseed oil.