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- Shampoos with sulfates can strip the hair of its natural oils leaving it dry, and can break down the chemicals that make moisturizing treatments like keratin effective.
- If you're looking for gentler options, you'll find 14 great sulfate-free shampoos below - all under $30.
While typically a safe and effective cleanser, sulfates can sometimes be simply too good at their job - washing away more oil than needed, and leaving hair feeling dry and brittle or the skin and scalp feeling itchy and irritated. For those who have just undergone a keratin treatment, regular use of sulfates can contribute to the breaking down of the chemicals used - giving you less proverbial bang for your (typically quite expensive) buck.
However, you're probably safe to keep using a sulfate shampoo you love if you're solely concerned about color; experts like cosmetic chemist Randy Schueller have said it's not the culprit behind fading color, though stripping your hair of essential oils doesn't help the damage.
If you're looking for a solid sulfate-free hair care regime, check out some industry favorites below - all under $30.
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