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Free Shipping with Every Order

Offer Details

*Get 30% off with code VIPCYBERCA. Offer ends on 11/25/2024 at 11:59 PM PST.

Offer valid on all full sized** products, travel sized*** products, and litre**** sizes. Offer is not valid on kits*****. Offer is not applicable to pending purchases, or previously placed orders. Discount does not apply to taxes or shipping and handling charges. Code can be redeemed one time per customer and cannot be transferred, shared or sold. Offer cannot be combined. Offer valid on ca.olaplex.com for CA shipping addresses only. Olaplex reserves the right to cancel any order due to unauthorized, altered, or ineligible use of offers and to modify or cancel promotions due to system error or unforeseen problems. Void where prohibited by law.
**Full sized products are: Nº.0 Intensive Bond Building Treatment (155 ml), Nº.3 Hair Perfector® (100 ml), Nº.3 Hair Perfector® (250 ml), Nº.4 Bond Maintenance® Shampoo (250 ml), Nº.4C Bond Maintenance® Clarifying Shampoo (250 ml), Nº.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo (178g) (250ml), Nº.4P Blonde Enhancer™ Toning Shampoo (250 ml), Nº.5 Bond Maintenance® Conditioner (250 ml), Nº.5 Leave-In™ Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner (100 ml), Nº.5P Blonde Enhancer™ Toning Conditioner (250 ml), Nº.6 Bond Smoother® (100 ml), OLAPLEX N°.7 Bonding Oil™ (30 ml), N°.7 Bonding Oil™ (60 ml), Nº.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask (100 ml), Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum (90 ml), Nº.10 Bond Shaper™ Curl Defining Gel (200 ml), Lashbond® Building Serum, Browbond® Building Serum, Volumizing Blow Dry Mist (50 ml).
***Travel sized products are: Nº.4 Bond Maintenance® Shampoo (100 ml), Nº.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo (32g) (50mL), Nº.5 Bond Maintenance® Conditioner (100 ml)
*****Litres are: Nº.4 Bond Maintenance® Shampoo (1000 ml), Nº.4C Bond Maintenance® Clarifying Shampoo (1000 ml), Nº.4P Blonde Enhancer™ Toning Shampoo (1000 ml), Nº.5 Bond Maintenance® Conditioner (1000 ml), Nº.5P Blonde Enhancer™ Toning Conditioner (1000 ml)
***** Kits are: Strong Days Ahead Kit, In Good Repair Kit, Get Your Shine On, Hair Repair Treatment Kit, Discovery Kit, Smooth Style Icons Hair Duo, Hello Healthy Hair Starter Kit, The Carry-On Kit, The Good Hair Year Kit, Daily Cleanse & Condition Kit, The Complete Hair Repair System, Showered in Hydration Kit, Anti-Frizz Trio, Bye-Bye Brass Cleansing Kit, Goodbye Dryness Kit, Bond Maintenance® System Kit, Less Frizz More Shine Kit, The Bond Treatment System Kit, Smooth Your Style Kit, The Curl Quenching Kit, Softest Blonde Maintenance Kit, Complete Olaplex Styling Kit, Unbreakable Blondes Mini Kit, Strong Blondes & Greys Kit, Clean Scalp Kit, Lash & Brow Kit, Nº.3 Hair Perfector® Ornament, Best of the Bond Builders, Brilliant Shine & Hydration Duo, Strong Start Hair Kit, Ultimate Essentials Trial Kit.

Offer Details

*Buy a Nº.5P Blonde Enhancer™️ Toning Conditioner (250ml) and get a complimentary Nº.4P Blonde Enhancer™️ Toning Shampoo (250ml) using code FREE4P. Buy a Nº.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo (178g) and get a complimentary Nº.4C Bond Maintenance® Clarifying Shampoo (250ml) using code FREE4C. Buy a Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum (90ml) and get a complimentary Volumizing Blow Dry Mist (50ml) using code FREEVBDM. Buy a Lashbond® Building Serum and get a complimentary Browbond® Building Serum using code FREEBB. Offer valid until 12/22/2024 at 11:59 PM PST. Offers valid on ca.olaplex.com only for orders shipping within Canada. Coupons are limited to one per order. Code not valid for previously placed orders or pending purchases and cannot be combined with any other offers. Only authorized orders will be processed and shipped. Olaplex reserves the right to cancel any order due to unauthorized, altered, or ineligible use of codes and to modify or cancel promotions due to system error or unforeseen problems. Void where prohibited by law.

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August 19, 2024
OLAPLEX

What Are Sulfates, and Are They Bad for Your Hair?

Key Takeaways

  • Sulfates are a common ingredient found in personal care products.
  • The most common types of sulfates are Sodium Lauryl Sulfates (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfates (SLES).
  • While sulfates can help cleanse your hair, they can also cause it to become dry, frizzy, or brittle.

Jump to

What Are Sulfates, and Are They Bad for Your Hair?

If you’ve ever taken a close look at certain shampoo and conditioner bottles, you may have noticed that they highlight being sulfate-free, SLS-free, or SLES-free—but what does that mean? Learn more about this common haircare ingredient and if you should avoid it.


What Are Sulfates?

Sulfates are typically found as salts. When you hear about sulfates in haircare, it’s a broader term for synthetic sulfate-based surfactants.The two most common types of sulfates found in personal care and cleaning products are Sodium Lauryl Sulfates (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfates (SLES). There’s a small difference between these two sulfates: SLES is much milder than SLS.


Imagine you’re washing your hair. You take shampoo and rub it between your hands, and it becomes bubbly and foamy. In some shampoos, Sodium Lauryl Sulfates or Sodium Laureth Sulfates are responsible for those foamy bubbles. Sulfates are also sometimes used in hair products because they can help remove dirt, sebum, and product residue.


Are Sulfates Bad for Your Hair?

There are a few reasons you might want to avoid sulfates in shampoos. While sulfates can help cleanse your hair, they might do their job a little too well and can pull too much natural oil from your hair and skin. This can cause your hair to feel dry, frizzy, or brittle. Another common complaint about sulfates is that they can potentially dry out and irritate your scalp. You might also notice acne on your back or around your hairline if you use haircare products that contain sulfates. Sulfates can also strip and dull color-treated hair and diminish the smoothing effects of keratin treatments.


Sulfates aren’t necessarily bad for allhair types, but if you already have dry, overly processed, or damaged hair, you might want to avoid them. And if you have sensitive skin, you might also keep shampoos or conditioners with sulfates out of your hair routine since they can cause skin redness or irritation.


If you’re worried about sulfates damaging your hair, look for shampoos and conditioners that are SLS and SLES free.


What Is Sulfate-Free Shampoo?

As you may have guessed, sulfate-free shampoos don’t contain SLS and/or SLES. Instead, sulfate-free shampoos rely on alternative cleansing ingredients such as:


  • Alginate
  • Coco-Betaine
  • Cocamidopropyl Betaine
  • Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
  • Cocamidopropylamine Oxide
  • Coco-Glucoside
  • Decyl Glucoside
  • Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
  • Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
  • Lauryl Glucoside
  • Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
  • Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
  • Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
  • Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
  • Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate (SLSA)
  • Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate

SLS/SLES-Free Shampoos and Conditioners

If you want to add SLS/SLES-free shampoos and conditioners to your haircare routine, here are a few to try:


OLAPLEX No.4 Bond Maintenance® Shampoo

OLAPLEX No.4 Bond Maintenance® Shampoo is an SLS/SLES-free shampoo that helps repair and maintain healthy-looking hair. Use No.4 when you want to gently cleanse and hydrate your hair.


OLAPLEX No.5Bond Maintenance® Conditioner

Reach for OLAPLEX No.5 Bond Maintenance® Conditioner if you’re looking for an SLS/SLES-free moisturizing and hydrating conditioner. Try this conditioner if you want to help detangle your hair and improve its manageability.


OLAPLEX No.4C Bond Maintenance® Clarifying Shampoo

Try OLAPLEX No.4C Bond Maintenance® Clarifying Shampoo to remove heavy metals, minerals, chlorine, pollutants, and product buildup without SLS or SLES. This clarifying shampoo is PH Balanced to maintain hydration.


OLAPLEX No.4P Blonde Enhancer™ Toning Shampoo

If you want to cleanse your hair while protecting your blonde, gray, or silver color, try OLAPLEX No.4P Blond Enhancer™ Toning Shampoo. With this SLS/SLES-free purple shampoo, you can neutralize brassiness and boost brightness after just one use.


OLAPLEX No.5P Blonde Enhancer™ Toning Conditioner

Nourish, hydrate, and brighten your blonde, lightened, or gray hair with this SLS/SLES-free purple conditioner. OLAPLEX Nº.5P Blonde Enhancer™ Toning Conditioner is clinically proven to smooth, strengthen, and reduce brassiness after just one use when used as a system with No.4P.


All OLAPLEX® shampoos and conditioners are SLS/SLES free, so you can gently cleanse and hydrate your hair without the dryness or frizziness that may come with some sulfates. Take our Hair Quiz to get a personalized OLAPLEX routine or find the OLAPLEX routine that targets your top hair concern.


Sources

  1. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/sulfates
  2. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/sulfates-and-sulfate-free-beauty-products-facts
  3. https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/hair/hair-care/sulfates-bad-for-hair
  4. https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/sulfates-hair-care-rcna140701

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