Over the past few years, Black people have been revolutionising the hair industry and several companies were born out of that. One of the defining differences is the sulphate-free haircare.
Sulphate-free means that ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium laureth sulphate which are produced from petroleum and plant oils, will not be present. Even though they are great cleansers, these sulphates can strip the hair of its natural oils, making it feel rough, dry, and brittle. It can cause dryness and irritation on the scalp and contribute to acne around the hairline or on your back.
To prevent that, here are 5 sulphate-free brands for you to try:
- Cantu – A household name, Cantu has maintained its quality through the years by expanding and improving to satisfy every hair need. It’s range goes from straight to coily without forgetting coloured, hypoallergenic, children and men’s hair. On the social side, Cantu has now launched THE ELEVATE PROGRAM that aims to provide access and education to Black, female-led businesses, the hardest hit by the pandemic.
2. OGX – Under Johnson & Johnson since 2016, OGX can be easily spotted by its unique shape of shampoo and conditioner bottle. It offers a wide variety of products with natural ingredients at its core. OGX’s USP is to embrace your hair as it is with the saying: we just want to know what you love about it, so we can make you love it even more. It has a detailed sustainability and health commitment that you can read on their website.
3. Afrocenchix – British, Black and female owned, Afrocenchix has taken the hair industry by storm. With fantastic reviews from several news outlets, it brings products as natural as they can be. On their website you can find different sets that suit your hair needs and a lot of information about how to take care of your hair.
4. OrganiGrowHairCo. – American, Black and female owned, Organi is one of the best kept secrets of the hair and skincare world. It has the most complete catalogue with hair, skin and lifestyle products. Based around natural ingredients, it promises growth and re-growth in alopecia or hair thinning cases. The several testimonies on their websites and Instagram show this company is the real deal.
5. Shea Moisture – Another household name, Shea Moisture has been around for over a century. It prides itself on following in the footsteps of company founder Sofi Tucker by using potent natural ingredient such as Jamaican black castor, Manuka oil, Raw Shea Butter or 100% coconut oil. You can find Sofi’s story in every Shea Moisture product and they smell just amazing! Like Cantu, Shea Moisture also has a social project called The $1Million Fund destined to help entrepreneurs of color and small businesses.
