My search for an SLS-free shampoo that doesn’t suck just got way more strategic

Over the years, I have tried so many “natural” shampoos in an attempt to avoid Sodium Laureth Sulfate, or SLS for short, that result in major build up, doubling the space my hair occupies around my head like Monica’s Barbados hair, except because of dulling build up instead of humidity. I’ve also inadvertently used products relying on surfactants or other chemicals that are actually considered worse than SLS in an attempt to avoid it (see Cocamidopropyl Betaine, an ingredient I’ve seen pop up in a lot of SLS-free drugstore shampoos lately).

People have been saying that SLS is bad for you for years. Three years ago, Forbes posted a response from an organic chemist that shed some light on why. Long story short, the chemist said there are two issues with SLS to be aware of: some people can have an allergic reaction to the chemical, and SLS can potentially be contaminated in its manufacturing process with 1,4 dioxane, a known carcinogen that’s pretty bad. Apparently it is possible to remove the contamination with another process, but I’ve never seen a beauty product at any price point touting that they’ve taken this step or even tested their SLS for contaminants. For anyone wanting to avoid SLS and its potential downsides, the chemist in the Forbes article recommended looking for products that “contain surfactants from the alkyl polyglycosides.”