Beauty

My Sulfate- and Silicone-Free Starter Kit // Healthy Hair

It has been two weeks since I started my healthy hair journey! If you want to read about why I decided to go sulfate- and silicone-free, check out this post. It actually wasn’t as scary as I had anticipated. My hair still looks presentable, and I think a lot of that has to do with the products I am using.

I really wanted to simplify my haircare routine, so I only purchased products I absolutely needed. I thankfully already owned a handful of sulfate-free and silicone-free products, too! I am planning on stocking up when I go back to the U.S. in March because many of the brands I want to try are only sold there. Below is a list of essentials that I have used during the past two weeks and would recommend to anyone looking to transition over to sulfate- and silicone-free haircare.

1. Clarifying Shampoo + Repairing Hair Mask

Before beginning a sulfate- and silicone-free hair routine, it is important to deeply cleanse your hair. Let me explain! Sulfate shampoos strip all oil from your hair, making it dry and brittle. However, sulfate shampoo is also excellent at removing silicone buildup! If you jump straight into using a sulfate-free shampoo, all the silicone buildup will still be present, and it will take a very long time to remove. Using a clarifying shampoo containing sulfate will create a blank canvas. It will give your hair the fresh start it needs! I didn’t even own a sulfate shampoo, so I purchased a generic one at the grocery store. It got the job done! I was also advised to use a deep-conditioning mask after using such an intense shampoo. My friend Diane recommended for me to use the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! mask that she sent me. It is truly amazing! I left the mask on for about an hour to really let it soak into my hair. I will definitely be purchasing the full size of this when I return to the states!

2. Sulfate- and Silicone-Free Shampoo and Conditioner

When it is time for your next hair wash, you can go ahead and use your sulfate- and silicone-free shampoo and conditioner! I purchased this Lavera one from an all-natural pharmacy here in Copenhagen. It says ‘silicone-free’ right on the bottle. YAY! However, it does contain Sodium Coco Sulfate. After doing some research, I found that Sodium Coco Sulfate is derived from coconut oil. I was okay with using this shampoo because I am mainly trying to avoid Sodium Lauryl Sulfate which is much more harsh and irritating. I also read that some women go through a ‘detox period’ while switching to more natural haircare. This is when the hair will shed all of the plastic, silicone, and chemical buildup. You can read more on that here. Anyways, I thought using a little extra sulfate to speed up the process wouldn’t be such a bad idea. This shampoo is working great for me, and I haven’t experienced any detox symptoms or greasiness yet. Nicolas actually already had this conditioner from Neutral, a popular allergy-certified brand here in Denmark. It doesn’t contain any silicone or sulfate and works great! However, without the silicone, I do have to leave this conditioner in longer to make my hair feel smooth and nourished.

3. Styling Products + Heat Protectant

This was the hardest part for me. It was so difficult to find leave-in products and a heat protectant that didn’t contain silicone! I thankfully already had a travel-sized bottle of Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment, although it is half empty! I also have a travel-sized Rosarco Blow Dry Perfection Cream from Briogeo, which I am planning on saving for special occasions when I want to blow dry and straighten my hair! After HOURS of searching for a heat protection spray, I finally found this one at the pharmacy, and I really like it! I also use it as a detangling spray.

4. Dry Shampoo

I don’t wash my hair everyday because going a few days between washes is healthier for your hair (and I am also lazy.) I have always used aerosol dry shampoo in a can, but most of them contain harsh chemicals which can damage the hair. I purchased this Zenz Copenhagen Hair Powder which is made using organic ingredients. Application is a little bit different because you have to shake the powder into the roots and massage it into the hair. It adds a lot of volume and is pretty good at absorbing oil! I already had this R+Co Dry Shampoo Paste which I love and just couldn’t let go of. It does contain some chemicals, but silicone is not listed. It is made with volcanic ash that cleanses and balances the scalp along with coconut oil to define hair and emphasize thickness. I know it sounds like such a strange product, but I really enjoy using it! All you have to do is scoop out a little bit and rub it between your fingers to warm the product up. Then you massage the paste into your hair like you would a normal dry shampoo. If you have dry hair like me, I definitely recommend this to you (and it looks so cool sitting on your bathroom shelf.)

5. Extras

These are some extra hair products I have that are sulfate- and silicone-free. Diane sent me these sample-sized Deva-Curl Cleanser and Conditioner which I am looking forward to taking with me on my upcoming ski trip to Sweden! I also have the Monat Rejuvabeads Split End Mender which I have used once now. This product is pretty expensive, so I am planning on using it once every three to four washes. It definitely made the ends of my hair more moisturized!

Do you have a favorite hair product you can’t live without? Let me know in the comments below! Have a great rest of the week! 🙂

Madison

UPDATE: May 9, 2019

I have found a shampoo and conditioner that I love! Read more about it in this post here.

Previous Post Next Post

You Might Also Like

14 Comments

  • Reply mamasmercantile January 18, 2018 at 7:58 am

    I have never used dry shampoo before, this could be such a useful addition to my holiday bag.

    • Reply Madison Marie January 18, 2018 at 10:37 am

      It is a life changer! I can go 3-4 days between hair washes when I use dry shampoo. 🙂

  • Reply Susana January 21, 2018 at 2:25 am

    Hi, Madison.

    I can totally relate to this too! I switched to low-poo products for 2 years already. I can really see the difference in my hair. I have lesser split ends. In the longer run, your hair doesn’t get oily even if you don’t wash it for a couple of days. Have you heard about no poo? I tried it too but I guess it wasn’t for me.

    • Reply Madison Marie January 21, 2018 at 1:42 pm

      Hi, Susana! So glad you could relate to this post and that this haircare method has made a difference in your hair! I have heard about not shampooing and just using a cleansing conditioner, but I don’t think it is for me either. 🙂

  • Reply Ellie January 21, 2018 at 6:52 pm

    Ooooh these all sound amazing!

    http://www.petiteelliee.com

    Ellie xx

  • Reply Linda Conley January 21, 2018 at 9:04 pm

    I recently changed over from Dove to John Frieda for Brunettes and I am loving it. I also found Pantene BB Crème for hair and I am loving it…was afraid to try anything new as I have been a Dove girl for so long. smiles

    • Reply Madison Marie January 21, 2018 at 10:03 pm

      Ohh a BB Cream for hair sounds so interesting! I have only used one for the face. 🙂 I’ll have to check that out!

  • Reply April Nunez January 22, 2018 at 7:24 am

    Wow! Such a nice review, thanks for sharing!

    April of: https://thepromdichic.wordpress.com/
    IG: @Aprilnunezzz

    • Reply lindamconley January 24, 2018 at 8:25 pm

      Madison, the BB Crème for the hair is amazing!!!!! Just amazing!!! smiles

    • Reply Madison Marie January 26, 2018 at 12:52 pm

      Thank you, April! 🙂

  • Reply Madeline January 22, 2018 at 6:51 pm

    That dry shampoo paste is interesting. I should try a new kind since I always feel like the dry shampoo I use makes my hair look greasier somehow.

    • Reply Madison Marie January 26, 2018 at 12:51 pm

      The dry shampoo paste is pretty great, but if you’re short on time, it is not as practical. I have always liked Suave Dry Shampoo 🙂

  • Reply Nicole January 23, 2018 at 11:28 am

    This is so interesting! In September I did my first ever Keratin treatment and I loved it at the beginning because I also had to switch to sulfate and silicone-free products. But before this, I was able to go about four/five days without washing my hair, but after, I could only go about two days before it got greasy. It might be that buildup you mentioned! I’m going to do more research now 🙂

    Nicole | http://www.badwithdirections.com

    • Reply Madison Marie January 23, 2018 at 4:18 pm

      Hi, Nicole! So glad you liked the post. Yes, buildup was my main issue, along with simply not looking into the ingredients in my hair products! I have had several keratin treatments and loved it, but I know what you mean with having to wash more frequently! I am still trying to find a routine that works perfectly for me.:) Good luck!

    Leave a Reply