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Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is an ingredient found in an estimated
90% of shampoos.1 SLS are also used in
other products such as toothpaste and garage floor cleaners.
This ingredient is not the only ingredients of concern in shampoos
but is the focus of this e-bulletin.
Why do you care?
- We all use shampoo - most of us everyday.
- SLS, a derivative of coconut oil, is an inexpensive foaming
agent that removes dirt from hair - producing those delicate
little suds that make us feel so clean.
- SLS is mainly known as a potent skin irritant. In
shampoos it has been linked to some of the following hairy
issues:
- Eye irritant - this is what makes your eyes burn when
shampoo gets in.
- Skin rashes, scalp scruf (similar to dandruff) and is
associated with eczema - since SLS degreasing ability dries
the skin.2
- Highly corrosive to hair follicles, impeding hair growth
and may even cause hair loss. (Tell us it ain't so!)
- Concerns that SLS causes cancer have been refuted by the
American
Cancer Society. Their Web site states: "This chemical
and its other compounds are known irritants, not known carcinogens."
- However, SLS is often combined with TEA, DEA and MEA which
together can cause the formation of cancer-causing nitrosamines.3
See Avoid List.
The Know How
- Does your shampoo have SLS or its derivatives like SLES?
Check the label!
- Consider alterative shampoos - you may have to try a few
before you find one that feels right. Remember you may not
get the suds you're use to.
- The
Guide to Less Toxic Products lists several brands - including
Aubrey Organics and Druide - take
a look.
- Don't be afraid to step over the wheat germ … Health
food stores often have a wide selection of hair products.
- Careful - even some "natural" and "organic"
products use SLS. So, you've got it…read the label!
- Other ingredients to avoid include DEA, TEA, MEA,1,4-dioxane,
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and parabens.
Know and Tell
- Tamey now suds-it-up with a few different brands - the one
thing she had to get use to was the limited number of bubbles.
Just recently she had a bottle of Druide shampoo delivered
right to her door by The
Collective Conscience - See her Product
Reviews.
- One interesting point is after about 4 months of Tamey
using a product without SLS, her hairdresser mentioned that
she had tones of new hair growth. Coincidence?
- Patti has been bringing shampoos without SLS to the shower
stall for a while. With 5 heads of hair in her family - each
with specific preferences - it has been a lot of trial and
error. She has a few
favourites now but is always on the look out.
Pure Know How Kids
- Does SLS in kids shampoo have any further effects? Check
out Kids - Shampoo.
1 Healthy Home
Workbook
2 natural-health-information-centre.com
3 Townsend
Letter - Makeup's Ugly Secrets
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