Best Budget Sulfate Free Shampoos and Conditioners

It can be challenging to find hair products that are affordable while also ideal for hair growth and nourishment. Today we are going to talk about a commonly found chemical that lurk in your everyday products: sulfates. 

What are sulfates and why should they be avoided?

Usually listed under the ingredients as SLES (sodium laureth sulfate) or SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate),  sulfates are essentially cleansing agents and they do a thorough job of stripping oil and dirt from hair. In fact, they strip the hair of its natural moisture. Sulfates are used for their cleansing action and also for the bubbling, lathering texture in your wash. These sulfates contain salt which can interruptsrupt keratin treatments and create friction in the hair that causes frizz.

Hair needs to maintain some natural moisture in order to stay healthy and strong. Using sulfate hair products regularly cause the hair to dry at its core, leaving hair feeling brittle, damaged and broken. Sulfates not only strip moisture from hair, but also the scalp. This may lead to dandruff, burning and scalp irritation.

Let’s have a look at some affordable, everyday drugstore products that are both sulfate free:

1. Garnier Ultra Blends range

Available at major drugstores like Dischem and Clicks, the mainstream cosmetic brand Garnier released an excellent alternative to sulfate-based shampoos. There are different options to suit your hair, all of which are free from parabens and sulfates. 

2. HASK range

Hask is made in the United States and can be found at some retailers in South Africa, such as Clicks. It is slightly on the expensive side, but the ingredients are almost entirely of natural origin. These hair products contain zero sulfates and parabens. They also use natural fragrances, making this an ideal addition to the conscious consumers everyday haircare regime. 

Hask make use of oils in their ranges that are extremely beneficial to hair: macadamia oil, argan oil, keratin protein, coconut oil, hemp seed oil and manoi oil. 

3. Marc Anthony range

Most Marc Anthony products are sulfate free and have received excellent reviews. We like it because it makes the hair soft, strengthens it and leaves the hair healthy. This brand can also be found at Woolworths, Clicks, Dischem and other major retailers. We think this is definitely worth a look!

4. OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk shampoo and conditioner

The brand OGX was founded in Clearwater, Florida. A broad number of their products are paraben and sulfate free.