Sulphate Free Conditioner 101: Benefits, Myths, and How to Choose

Your hair care routines can work against you due to sulphates. These cleansing agents not only remove the bad guys from your hair, but also the good. Switching to a sulphate free conditioner can protect your hair’s natural structure and also keep keratin or colour treatments from fading too soon. 

What Sulphates Do to Your Hair

Sulphates are detergents. The composition that creates foam in your shampoo can also be found in your dish soap. It is great for cleaning, but for hair, it is bad because it removes moisture. And your hair needs moisture to be healthy.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, sulphates affect people with sensitive skin more. They disrupt the bond that is present in the hair that protects it from losing moisture and keeps it from damage. 

What you end up with is hair that is dry and brittle and tangles up easily. Hair dye molecules slipping through the open cuticle cause quicker colour fading. If you have had a keratin treatment done, the sulphates actively undo the bond to the keratin. The National Institute of Health states that overwashing the hair can also disrupt the scalp pH and increase hair breakage over time.

 

The Complete System: Sulphate Free Shampoo and Conditioner

Using a shampoo and conditioner that are sulphate-free gives you a “complete hair care system” of sorts, because they work great together. The shampoo will provide a more gentle cleanse, while the conditioner will provide a gentle but effective replenishment. 

GK Hair’s Moisturising Shampoo and Conditioner are the perfect pair to start with. The Moisturising Shampoo is infused with Juvexin V2, a plant-based protein made from quinoa and pea that will strengthen your hair as you clean it. 

When using the duo for daily washing, apply the shampoo on your scalp and let it rinse through your ends to avoid that stripped feeling. Then apply conditioner from mid-lengths down and leave it for three minutes before rinsing.

Here’s a tip: Unlike most shampoos that just wash away the dirt and leave it as is, this one will actually leave beneficial proteins behind with every wash instead of just removing dirt. Then, the conditioner can create a protective layer with natural seed oils that your hair loves.  

Special Needs: Sulphate Free Conditioner for Curly Hair

Naturally curly, coiled, or wavy hair tends to have more difficulty retaining moisture, as oils produced at the scalp have difficulty reaching hair ends. Oil production from hair follicles acts to seal in moisture, leaving the roots greasy and the ends dry. Sulphates contribute to the moisture problem, as they strip away any moisture. 

A sulphate free conditioner for curly hair doesn't just need to be sulphate free. It needs to contain a lot of moisture and ingredients that improve  the curl pattern without weighing the hair down too much. GK Hair's Balancing Conditioner effectively addresses this in a very thoughtful way. 

With natural plant extracts that hydrate and a formula that balances different levels of pH, it also aids in keeping the hair’s curls in their defined shape rather than frizzing them out.

When there's too much moisture, the curls sag. When it contains too much protein, the curls will become crunchy. Finding the right balance between the two is the sweet spot, and this is precisely what the natural seed oils and Juvexin V2 provide. Hence, the curls come out all defined and soft.

Slather wet hair with conditioner. This is because water helps curls clump together, and conditioner helps hold onto that water. Scrunching as you go is better than combing and promotes the formation of more curls. 

If you can stand it, rinse with cool water. It seals the hair cuticle and reduces frizz.

Taking Care of Your Investment: Sulphate Free Shampoo and Conditioner for Keratin Treated Hair

People spend a lot of money on keratin treatments! The most important reason is because they bond proteins into the structure of your hair. This process smooths frizz and helps you save time during your daily hair routine. 

The problem is with these often is, those proteins get broken with treatments containing sulphates, and your keratin treatment is washed out far too soon.

Therefore, your shampoo and conditioner must be sulphate free for your keratin treated hair. This is not a choice, it is maintaining your investment. And your investment is also taking care of the environment. 

Not only are the entire aftercare products free of sulphates, but the Colour Protection Moisturising Shampoo and Conditioner also deposit proteins that extend the life of the keratin treatment.

You will need to wait the full 48-72 hours for your keratin treatment to set before you can wash your hair. After that first wash, you can use lukewarm water and gentle pressure to wash your hair. GK's Hair Moisturising Shampoo is keratin-rich and won’t compromise your treatment, because it has the same Juvexin technology that the smoothing treatment does.

Make sure to have conditioner in this step too! It matters just as much. The Leave-In Conditioning Cream is great for this step, providing extra protection. It helps to prolong your treatment by preventing humidity and heat damage to your hair. 

A small amount of this leave-in and it will keep your hair sealed and smooth until your next appointment!

Want to learn more about how you can use a deep conditioner? Read more on: Deep Conditioner for Dry Hair: The Weekly Rescue Treatment You Need

Myths Regarding Sulphate-Free Hair Products

A lot of myths are flying around about the efficacy of sulphate free products. But here’s what you might not  know: 

• "Using a sulphate-free hair product means you need to wash your hair more often." This is incorrect. You don’t need to wash your hair as often with a sulphate-free shampoo because oils are not being stripped and sebum is not overproduced.

• "These products are only for damaged hair." All hair can benefit from gentle cleansing.

• "These products don’t foam." Most sulphate-free products don’t foam. A foam or lather is not an indicator of cleaning ability.

• "These products don’t clean thoroughly." Not true, they clean effectively while remaining gentle on the scalp and hair.

Choosing the Right Formula for Your Hair

If you have fine hair, lightweight options free of sulphates that won't weigh down your hair are best. Formulas that have strengthening proteins work well. Thick or coarse hair can handle richer formulas.

Colour-treated hair needs special consideration. The dye process opens the hair cuticles. Therefore, the more hair is processed, the more porous it becomes and the more susceptible it is to colour fading. 

Using sulphate-free shampoos and conditioners slows colour fading, but sulphate-free GK Hair Shield Conditioner is a sulphate-free conditioner that cleanses and gives colour-treated hair UV protection.

If your hair is damaged or dry, use GK Hair’s Deep Conditioner Hair Treatment once a week. This treatment contains Juvexin V2 and natural jojoba seed oils that repair your hair from the inside out and help with any hair shaft problems.

The Long-Term Benefits

Stick with sulphate-free shampoo for a couple of months and you will see the difference. New growth is not damaged, so hair grows healthier. Length retention improves due to less breakage. Stronger hair structure allows styles to hold better. It gets better. With no harsh chemicals, the natural microbiome of your scalp can restore itself and come to a balance.

GK Hair products are 100% sulphate and paraben free. Our formulations serve a singular purpose: improving hair’s health. Our sulphate free conditioner and other formulations help repair hair from the inside out, giving a long lasting result.