Best, Cheapest Shampoos Without Sodium Lauryl / Laureth Sulfate

Many women now know the dangers of using shampoos containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). According to Shelley R. Kramer, founder of Healthy-communications.com, "It is probably the most dangerous ingredient used in skin and hair-care products. In the cleaning industry SLS is used in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers, car-wash soaps, etc."

The idea that our scalp is cleaned with the same ingredient as our car's engines is a pretty disheartening thought. That is not the only thing wrong with SLS. She goes on to state that has "long term retention in tissues, [...]may cause hair loss by attacking the follicle, [...]cleans by corrosion, [...] and reacts with many types of ingredients used in skin products and forms nitrosomines (nitrates). Nitrates are potential cancer-causing carcinogens."

Surprisingly, right now, every shampoo in the shampoo aisle of your neighborhood Walmart, Target, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens Pharmacy and grocery store contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. I've checked, believe me. For awhile I thought SLS free shampoos could only be found online and at ridiculous prices. Why should anyone have to pay double digits for quality, gentle shampoo? I had tried a couple online. Some where fine, others were still drying. Finally, I found a brand at Sally's Beauty Supply, a national beauty store retailer, that offered an SLS free shampoo for under 10 dollars! Was it too good to be true? I bought a bottle and sure enough, it was gentle to my scalp and left my hair soft. I also benefited from it because it is made for fine, color-treated hair. Coloresse Volume Shampoo is a great daily shampoo. It is creamy and non-drying.

For those who also like incorporating a weekly clarifying shampoo into their beauty regimen to remove product build-up, CVS Pharmacy also has one SLS free shampoo. It is made by Cristophe Beverly Hills. Make sure to get only the product labeled 'Purely Natural Clarifying Shampoo' because all the other Cristophe brands still contain SLS. This once a week clarifying shampoo is free of sulfates, parabens, fragrances and dyes. Unlike the Coloresse shampoo, it should only be used once a week for product build up. Unlike the Coloresse which is creamy, it is clear and made to remove product build-up once a week instead of daily cleansing. In general, clear shampoos are for clarifying while creamy shampoos are for daily use. These two products are both below 10 dollars and can be found at local retailers, so you don't have to go online and pay for product shipping.

Shelley R. Kramer, "Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate." Healthy-Communications