Why Choose Salt-free Shampoos and Conditioners?

Sodium Chloride, more commonly known as salt, has been present in commercial shampoos and conditioners for almost a century.

Though there are many articles written on the internet that explain in great detail and length the negative effects of salt on the hair strand, the root, the follicle and the scalp, here is a summary of why you should always avoid using shampoos and conditioners containing this chemical.

1) Salt dries the hair and scalp.

Because of its chemical make-up, salt leads to moisture being stripped from the scalp and hair roots, drying both the skin and individual strands of hair. Research has shown that prolonged use of salt-based shampoos and conditioners can even lead to a decrease in the ability of the sebaceous glands to produce natural oils that are important for lubrication of the hair and scalp.

This can lead to an overall deterioration in hair and scalp health, and in extreme cases, clinical alopecia.

2) Salt can lead to long-term hair loss.

Long-term hair loss is usually caused by an overabundance in the bloodstream of the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which causes the thinning of hair and the eventual death of hair follicles. While in the last decade, advances in DHT-blocking treatments have come leaps and bounds, hair loss in modern society is still on the rise.

Studies have shown that prolonged exposure to salt can contribute to long-term hair loss in both men and women over the age of 23. Although hair loss has been a concern for men for decades, women are now starting to pay attention to the worrying trend of rising female hair loss.

3) Salt is added to hair care products as a thickener.

The reason most brands include salt in their shampoo and conditioner formulations is to trick the user into believing that their product is producing a more substantial effect than it actually is. When mixed with water and various sulfates, the salt component in hair products reacts to produce a thick foamy lather, making it seem like the product is doing its job as advertised.

This is typical psychological manipulation. As humans, we like to see an immediate visible response in our actions that alert us to the fact that what we are doing is working -- even if the visual cue is simply a ruse. This particular trick is present not only across the hair care industry, but also in toothpaste, in which salt is added to increase the amount of foam produced when brushing teeth, convincing the user that their teeth is becoming cleaner and establishing brand confidence.

What can you do to avoid salt?

At Nellen London, we choose to take a different path and view our customers with intelligence and respect. All our shampoos and conditioners are 100% salt-free, and therefore do not produce an unnecessary thick foam upon application. We are concerned with creating hair care products that clean naturally, and produce visibly luxurious hair without the trickery employed by other brands.

Our hair care products are designed for three hair types: Coloured, Dry and Frizzy. By doing this, we hope to accommodate people of all races, genders and skin types.

Click HERE to browse our range of products.