If I'm being honest with myself, before I wrote this article I had no idea what sulfates were. I just knew that it was better if they weren't in the products I used! To put it simply, sulfates are a type of surfactant. A surfactant is what helps make the shampoo sudsy. Sulfates specifically help clean the hair strand from the inside, out. That's not always a good thing though! Especially when it comes to color treated hair.

  When hair has been permanently colored or lightened, the color molecules are changed and reside within the innermost layer of the hair. When sulfates are used they break open the outermost layer of the hair, letting all the amazing color molecules out, causing hair color to fade faster. Sulfates can also cause irritation, inflammation, and dryness when used on someone with a sensitive scalp.

  Sulfates are not only found in hair products though. You can find them in many other common household items like detergent, cleansers, foaming soaps, and even toothpaste. 

  By going sulfate free, your dry hair will thank you. Sulfates strip any natural oils from the hair, which isn't good for someone who has naturally dry or curly hair. Paul Mitchell offers many different lines that are also sulfate free. After doing some research, I've found six different lines within Paul Mitchell that are all sulfate free. 

Sulfate Free Paul Mitchell products:

Awapuhi Wild Ginger

  This is by far one of our best sellers and personal favorites. Not only is it sulfate free, but it is also safe for color treated hair. This product requires a unique blend of KeraTriplex and Awapuhi extract to leave the hair feeling clean and moisturized. Keratriplex is known for its protein and is virtually identical to the Keratin found in human hair. While the KeraTriplex rebuilds the strength in your hair, the Awapuhi extract moisturizes, smooths and adds shine to each individual hair strand. By pairing these two together, it leaves your hair feeling fresh and balanced. There truly is no other hair care out there that even comes close to comparing to this blend.

Mirror Smooth

Looking for a way to tame your frizz and add some gloss to those tresses? Get there easily with Awapuhi Wild Ginger's Mirror Smooth. Not only is this product sulfate free, but it's blended with the highest quality of Absynnian Oil and KeraReflect. Absynnian Oil is filled with unsaturated fatty acids and is highly conditioning for skin and hair. This oil creates a natural shine and luster to each hair strand.

Forever Blonde

Marula Oil

  Marula Oil is at the top of it's game when it comes to luxury hair care. This is the product that I have in my shower at home, this is the product that I use when I know I need a good hair day the next day, this product is my go to. Like Forever Blonde, this line is infused with a natural oil. This specific oil is pressed from the Marula Nut which grows off of a tree in Africa called the Marula Tree. Marula is well known for it's hydration and healing benefits. When this oil is massaged into the scalp, it can prevent any additional hair loss but also reverse the pattern of balding. This product is infused with antioxidants and Oleic acids to prevent breakage and enhance shine and manageability.

Ultimate Color Repair

  If you thought this shampoo wasn't going to be infused with something natural, then think again! This formula is perfected with Quinoa to rebuild the strength of each strand after the harshness of a color treatment. While the Sugar Cane and Lemon Peel add shine and luster to your locks. It's not just about looks for this line though. This formula is packed with healthy antioxidants and vitamins to help prevent any future damage.  Ultimate Color Repair is the perfect way to ensure the health and shine of your color treated tresses.

Curls

As we learned above, it's incredibly important not to have sulfates in your products when you have curly hair. When you're blessed with curls, your hair tends to be pretty dry. Sulfates strip hair of their natural oils, but when you have curls, natural oils are your best friend! Natural oils keep your hair frizz-free, soft and shiny.  Pair those curls with the right product and show them off! Define each strand and soften your look with this amazing line. Each curl is different than the next, so let that be known!

I hope this blog has helped our readers to gain more clarity about our products and what they have to offer. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment down below or call (563)-323-3448 to set up an appointment with one of our many talented artists to see which sulfate free product is best for you!