Sulfates Aren’t Bad, but Deep Conditioning too Much Might Be

Photo by ErnAn Solozábal on Unsplash

Haircare has been one of the most interesting subjects for me growing up. Being surrounded by a community of people who did hair for a living, it makes sense why I was intrigued by the practice. I learned a lot about the dos and don’ts of my hair. I was the one who had to keep up with maintenance after all.

Continuing my journey of discovering what’s fact or fiction when it comes to natural hair, I was lucky enough to be able to ask Eliza Pineda some questions about haircare. Eliza is a hair and beauty journalist who works with Mayraki Professional, a haircare company dedicated to developing products that solve hair and scalp issues without breaking the bank.

Can you repair damaged hair without cutting it off?

It’s rare for hair to be damaged beyond repair. The typical damage you get from regular heat styling, coloring, and chemical treatments can be easily repaired by giving your hair a little extra love. Regular hair repairing treatments, protein treatments, hot oils, and hair masks will go a long way. There’s no need to cut off damaged hair.

Do you need to seal in moisture to keep your hair from being dry? Do oils do that?

Hydration and moisture go hand in hand and, contrary to popular belief, are actually two different things. Moisture is needed on the outer layer of hair to seal in hydration inside the hair and keep it healthy. Hair oils like argan oil, coconut oil, or jojoba oil are the best for this job.

Do you need to deep condition at every wash?

The minimum amount of time between deep conditions should be a week or so, and that’s only for severely dry and damaged hair. Just use a lightweight, silicone-free conditioner to moisturize the strands for regular hair washing. If hair isn’t super dry or damaged, deep conditioning should be enough once or twice a month. Too much deep conditioning can lead to something called a moisture overload. This is an unhealthy state for hair to be in, and if this happens, a protein treatment is needed to restore balance.

Are sulfates actually bad for your hair?

Using sulfates once in a while isn’t really bad for hair. Sulfates can be great for deep cleansing heavy buildup. However, using sulfates regularly for an extended period can strip the hair of natural oils and damage it. It’s best if sulfates are used sparingly, only when needed.

Is skipping wash day bad?

Everyone skips a wash day once in a while. Hair will be totally fine. Don’t skip it for too long, especially if you use many styling products. This can lead to heavy buildup, irritation, and dandruff. Make sure to cleanse the scalp and roots well when you wash your hair.

How often should someone really wash their hair?

Daily washing of hair is not recommended because it strips hair of its natural oils and creates an imbalance. If hair is particularly oily, hair can be washed every other day or every two days. If hair is normal to dry, only wash when needed (when the roots feel oily).

What natural hair myths are you tired of seeing on social media?

That natural hair should be styled and cared for in one particular way. There are no set of rules that will suit everyone. Every person’s hair is different. Experiment with other products and techniques if your routine doesn’t work for you. There’s no need to follow strict guidelines.

Do you need to give your hair time for products to work similarly to the 30–60 day rule for skincare?

Absolutely, everyone’s hair is different. Some see results right away, and it takes a little bit more time for some. To see results, give it 30 to 60 days of use.

Thank you to Eliza Pineda for taking the time to answer some questions about haircare. I am learning and discovering a lot of the things I learned growing up to be more factual than I realized. Be sure to check out the post I wrote about debunking natural hair myths backed by science.

About Eliza Pineda:

Eliza Pineda is a hair, beauty, wellness, and lifestyle journalist and an internal expert for several organic, earth-focused personal care brands. Her work has been published in Seventeen, Cosmetic Ideas, Mayraki Professional, and more. She is currently working with Mayraki Professional as a content specialist and internal expert to spread the word about the benefits of natural ingredients and impart traditional and innovative solutions for clean and sustainable skin, body, and hair care.

About Mayraki Professional:

Mayraki Professional is a hair care company founded by a group of hair professionals, herbalists, and chemists. All Mayraki Professional’s products are paraben-, sulfate-, and silicone-free. Mayraki Professional’s mission is to develop products that solve hair and scalp problems and improve hair condition without breaking the bank or damaging the environment.

Originally Published on medium.com

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