June | 2016 | THE BLONDTOURAGE

sulfate-free-shampoo-journey-experience-list-bareskinessentials

Okay…!

We all have heard about sulfate-free shampoo and have steered clear of it, (or not), regardless of knowing why we are doing so, (or not doing so). I do a lot of things without knowing why! Currently, my mother has me taking some algae vitamin supplements and I couldn’t tell you shit about them.

Here I will attempt a simple breakdown about sulfates using the least run-on sentences I know how to write.

Note: I have always been somewhat lazy when it comes to drilling my clients toward sulfate-free products because I have an entire list of things for them to follow, and I tend to get caught up in water quality and hot tool use. (That is a great example of a classic “Caitlin” run-on sentence… (I have a habit of using parentheses a tad too much.))

Unknown (This is a sulfate.) 9a6cbf8f5dc6808175debafb30f95dac (This is hair on sulfates.)

Alright. So sulfates are a type of surfactant which are used to separate oil and water molecules, therefore removing the oils from scalp and hair and then also adding lather. This has been used in shampoos as well as many beauty products, including mouthwash, body soap and makeup.

The Culprit: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

This inexpensive and effective detergent is also used in industrial strength cleaners and even engine degreaser. Sulfates are synthetic ingredients which are derived from petroleum or other sources. The other sources are the largest part of the molecule, which comes from Lauryl alcohol that actually comes from coconut oil or other plants… Sounds great, but it mixed with sulfuric acid. Of course sulfer occurs naturally on the earth, but mostly it is produced from- you guessed it- petroleum again.

Types of Sulfates

There are 100’s of different sulfates! Ugh! However, the ones most commonly used in beauty products are sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) *not the hotel on La Cienega, my Angeleno blondes*, and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). More than 90% of shampoos (and body washes) contain SLS or SLES! The crazy part is that SLS is a harsher detergent than SLES, so “better” for sensitive skin, but SLES has a by-product called 1.4-dioxane which is a CARCINOGEN. Add to this that SLS has been shown in some findings to mimic estrogen. WTF. I know there are so many studies, and everyone has an agenda, but even the sustainability factor (using Lauryl alcohol from petroleum derived sources) can be a cause to start using sulfate-free products.

Sulfates and Haircolor

Not to be completely shallow, but….sulfate-free to keep HAIRCOLOR lasting longer is kind of important here at The Blondtourage. Any detergent CAN and WILL strip your hair of color. Especially toner. ESPECIALLY BLONDES. Having the pigment removed in the first place already compromises the hair itself and the hair’s cuticle. Obviously its worth it; we all know we were supposed to be born and spend our entire lives the shade of blonde we ask our colorist for. Let us give those locks a little break from the detergents and petroleum BS that is so easy to use. Let the easiness be applied to other areas of our lives. (Just sayin’.)

Soooo…. I guess I learned my lesson about being lazy when insisting on sulfate-free shampoo. I guess it’s as important as a shower filter and not using flat iron. Meh. Luckily, sulfate-free is such a huge advertising ploy, (that happens to be legit), you should be able to figure out which products are sulfate-free or not… It’s kind of like the vegan or crossfitter of shampoos…. You won’t have to ask. They will likely advertise it…ha ha ha!

Love From a Non-Petroleum Derived Girl,

Caitlin ❤

Drugs; the kind from your Doctor.

“Oh my god I can’t believe I ate that entire bag…You should of told me it was for us to share!”-girl on right “In about 30 minutes I’m going to ditch your high AF ass”-girl on left

Hey all!

To clarify, the drugs I’m speaking of are not the kind you do at Coachella…..! I’m covering actual prescription drugs you take for an ailment or disease! (However its funny to reference the music festival anyways, lol !)

Drugs work. They do. But they do so by changing the chemical make-up of certain parts of our bodies… Your hair is on your body.

During a hair consultation, your colorist SHOULD be asking you a LOT of questions… At least I hope they are! I myself ask like 4000 questions to a new client, but in case your colorist isn’t as nosy as I am, I wanted to share with you all something you would need to bring up yourself if not asked.

Medication.*

Most people take dugs because they work!

I’m sure most of us would be warned previously to taking a prescription medication, (by either your Doc, P.A., Nurse, or Pharmacist), but sometimes in the frenzy of a new medical condition and all of it’s information we can lose track of details. Or maybe your pharmacist doesn’t get highlights so she/he wouldn’t think to tell you this. You should actually tweet the pharmacy #goblondeorgohome as a subtle suggestion.

SO: If you are prescribed and taking as directed any medications, please inform your hair colorist! We of course, are not in the medical field, but are usually aware of a lot of drugs that have affected clients color in the past.

This list may not be complete, but here are some big ones that I have seen make a difference.

–ALL Hormone medications (including, but not limited to hormone replacement therapy and some types of birth control if you have just started taking them or have just stopped), should be brought to your colorist’s attention.

–Thyroid medications

–Chemotherapy medications

–Stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin (these affect more the dryness and brittleness of your hair, which is HUGE when you are lifting hair to BLONDE).

–Accutane (also known as Amnesteem, Claravis, Sotret) reduces oil/sebum in your hair follicles so it can make your scalp sensitive and your hair drier than usual. Most concerns for this acne drug is the potential for hair loss, so take care of the hair you got!

Especially for clients who are on or have just finished a round of chemo, talking about it can feel like the last thing you want to do when meeting a new person in your life. The possibility of being able to have normal conversation without the questions about your condition probably sounds glorious, but sorry kiddos, we gotta know. Preface the information with a quick request that you don’t really feel like getting into it today, and your professional should get the hint. We good at reading people and shit ;). Its half our job! (This goes for all other conditions that all y’all blondes are sick of talking about too! Give a quick run down and then subject change!)

Here’s to all clients having the guts to be upfront and honest about stuff they gotta take!

In Love and Health,

Caitlin

*Please note I do not know enough information to include Chinese herbal medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, or other types of naturopathic medicine. I personally believe these are as important as western medicine, and use them in conjunction for almost all of my ailments and preventative measures! If you don’t know about them, take some time to look into it. They have been around for thousands of years.