When it comes to washing our hair, we expect that the more shampoo we use to generate a good foamy scrub, the cleaner our hair and scalp are going to be. But unfortunately, unbeknownst to many, the more the foam, the more your shampoo is filled with unnatural chemicals, which is doing more harm than good.

I have spent years researching and combining natural ingredients to create my products and the one question I am consistently asked is why my shampoo doesn’t foam as much as other others. It is this opportunity that I explain why I call my product ‘Kind’ Shampoo.

We have all become used to attributing shampoo foam to cleanliness, when in fact, the chemicals creating the foam are stripping the skin and hair of its natural oils and removing good bacteria, putting our skin’s PH levels out of check and creating dry and flaky skin.

The main problem ingredient in shampoo is Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), which has been linked to scalp and skin irritation, hair loss and many other concerning issues. It is a chemically toxic surfactant, which means it is a wetting and foaming agent and lowers the surface tension in the water, allowing shampoo to spread and penetrate easily when applied to hair. SLS is often disguised by other names such as diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA) and monoethanolamine (MEA), which are all common in most shampoos.

Another chemical commonly found in shampoos is Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES), which is very similar to SLS, but processed differently. It is considered less irritating on the skin and hair, but can be the cause of other health conditions including respiratory irritation, headaches and in severe cases, cancer.

More disturbing is that SLS has traditionally been used to degrease engines in industrial factories and both SLS and SLES are commonly used in carpet cleaners, car wash liquids and machine wash detergents because they are highly corrosive and can remove oil and grease. And… it is being used in our everyday products like shampoo, toothpaste and bubble bath liquids.

Both SLS and SLES are the hardest ingredients for the cosmetic industry to avoid as these chemicals are a cost-effective way of providing the foaming action required to remove grease and dirt from your skin and hair. You’ll be surprised at how many products you turn over and see contain these ingredients.

SLS and SLES first came to light when research showed that they irritate the skin when used regularly. Follow up research[1] has determined that using these ingredients is not harmful when the formulations are rinsed off immediately after use and the products are used sparingly. Given these chemicals are found in everyday products such as toothpaste and other household cleaners, many have preferred to avoid using them altogether to prevent skin irritations.

Having grown up in a family who put skin issues first, I was always aware of the products I used and the ingredients in them. For most families, this information is not readily available and needs to be brought to the forefront, particularly when one in three children are affected by some form of dry skin condition. Check your labels and be aware of what you are using.

Our “Kind” Shampoo was created in conjunction with professional cosmetic scientists who specialise in natural and organic shampoo. It is formulated to give hair a thorough wash by using a natural foaming system, leaving hair soft, healthy, pure and clean.

All VATEA products are 100% natural, sulphate and paraben free and made with natural, healing plant oils and extracts including coconut, moringa and tamanu oils. 

[1] European Journal of Dermatology, Volume 25, Issue 5, Pages: 424 – 435

Issue Published: September – October 2015

Surfactants have a multi-fold effects on skin barrier function