Avoiding Sulfates

Sulfate is a broad term for several different cleaning agents found in personal care products. Haircare brands typically use sulfates because they separate oil and dirt from hair, breakdown product residue, and create a foamy lather. Sodium laureth ether sulfate (SLES) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) are the two most commonly used sulfates, and you will find them in a ton of shampoos and conditioners. 

So why do I avoid them?

Sufflates strip your hair of natural oils, basically robbing your hair of moisture and leaving you with dry and brittle curls. Hair Food’s Coconut milk & Chai Spice Nourishing Shampoo is sulfate-free, so I never get the feeling that my curls are thirsty after a wash. 

TIP: You also won’t get that typical shampoo lather you would get from a shampoo that contains sulfate. To get real foam action, add more water, not more soap, and if you’ve laid the styling product on heavy, then you may need to wash twice. 

Weekly Deep Conditioning

A weekly mask is crucial to maintaining the health of curly hair. Deep conditioning masks help to deliver concentrated moisture, softness, and shine. Hair Food’s moisturizing sulfate-free coconut-infused hair mask is great for replenishing and hydrating thirsty hair. The extra hydration helps combat frizz and leaves you with more defined curls.

TIP: Place most of your hair mask from mid-length of hair to your dead ends. That is the area that needs the most love. Depending on your hair and hairstyle, you may want to avoid applying any hair mask to your roots as it may weigh your hair down.

Styling Product and Technique

When it comes to styling, you want to be sure you’re using the right product to achieve the desired look. The Curl Defining Smoothie gives me the perfect wash-and-go look, and it’s free of sulfates, parabens, dyes, and mineral oils. I get the product in my hair while my hair is still super wet and use a small amount of product (about a quarter size for each section of my hair) to finger comb or “rake” the product through my curls, making sure each strand is coated. Then I scrunch my curls from the bottom up to help bring back the bounce to my raked curls.

TIP: Once in my hair, I wait, letting my hair dry until it gets stiff. This is also known as creating a curl cast or gel cast. After drying for 45 minutes or more, I’ll break the product up by scrunching and fluffing up my hair. I’m careful not to pull the strands apart as that will create frizz.

All in all, my experience with Hair Food over the last few months has been positive. I love how the entire line works together to deliver the best curl results—starting from the sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. I also love that their products are cleaner hair care products, but at a very affordable price.

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