A Guide For Fabulous Curlz

Lets face it, curly hair is demanding and in order to make it happy you have simply got to give it what it wants.  Here I have compiled a list of important ingredient specific information every curly head should know.  If you know of more to add to the list please do tell!! 

Ingredients commonly found in hair care products and some things you should know about them: 

1. Sulfates - Avoid them

• Harsh, Detergent Based (Anionic surfactants)
  
  Alkylbenzene sulfonates
  Ammonium laureth sulfate
  Ammonium lauryl sulfate
  Ammonium Xylenesulfonate
  Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
  Sodium cocoyl sarcosinate
  Sodium laureth sulfate
  Sodium lauryl sulfate
  Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate
  Sodium myreth sulfate
  Sodium Xylenesulfonate
  TEA-dodecylbenzenesulfonate
  Ethyl PEG-15 cocamine sulfate
  Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate
  
  

• Milder Surfactants (Amphoteric surfactants)
  
  Cocamidopropyl betaine
  Coco betaine
  Cocoamphoacetate
  Cocoamphodipropionate
  Disodium cocoamphodiacetate
  Disodium cocoamphodipropionate
  Lauroamphoacetate
  Sodium cocoyl isethionate
  
  

2. Silicones - Used to add shine to the hair

• Not Water Soluble - Avoid these, they lock out moisture and need a sulfate shampoo to remove
  
  Amodimethicone
  Cetearyl methicone 
  Cetyl Dimethicone 
  Cyclomethicone 
  Cyclopentasiloxane 
  Dimethicone 
  Stearyl Dimethicone 
  Trimethylsilylamodimethicone
  
  

• Sparingly Soluble 
  
  Behenoxy Dimethicone
  Stearoxy Dimethicone
  
  

• Water Soluble 
  
  Amodimethicone (and) Trideceth-12 (and) Cetrimonium Chloride mixture is soluble in water
  Dimethicone Copolyol 
  Lauryl methicone copolyol