To lather or not to lather: The science behind sulfates

There is often confusion surrounding sulfates – we get it – there is a strong consumer perception on this topic – but not all sulfates are created equal – we’re here to break down the facts for you.

What exactly are sulfates & how are they used?

In the shampoo world, all shampoos contain a surfactant, it’s the ingredient that actually washes your hair by lowering the surface tension to mix oil and water. Anionic surfactants allow a product, like shampoo, to foam up, lift and dissolve dirt, oil and other debris. The most common anionic surfactant is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), which is known to be an irritant. Because Klorane shampoos are formulated according to the highest standards of safety, our formulas do not contain SLS. Instead, we formulate our shampoos with a different anionic surfactant, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES).

So, what’s the difference?

SLS and SLES are often confused, but SLS and SLES are two completely different ingredients. Klorane selects SLES for its gentler yet thorough cleansing action.

The Research and Development Department of our parent company, Pierre Fabre Laboratories, has studied the effects of SLES in comparison to other surfactants like Polysorbate-20, a common sulfate substitute, and demonstrated that SLES is less aggressive on the skin and on the scalp and removes less of the naturally protective hydrolipidic film on the hair shaft. All 15 SLS-free Klorane shampoos are clinically tested under stringent dermatological control in order to ensure the utmost safety and tolerance of our products, based on ethical and stringent clinical practice principles.