Sulfate Checker: How to Tell If a Shampoo Has Sulfates
Every sulfate name to look for
| INCI name | Also seen as | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium Lauryl Sulfate | SLS | Strongest, most stripping |
| Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate | ALS | Strong |
| Sodium Laureth Sulfate | SLES | Milder than SLS |
| Ammonium Laureth Sulfate | ALES | Milder |
| Sodium Coco-Sulfate | — | Coconut-derived but still a true sulfate |
| TEA Lauryl Sulfate / Sodium Myreth Sulfate | — | Less common variants |
Not sulfates (despite the similar look): Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, and Behentrimonium Methosulfate — that last one is a gentle conditioning agent, and one of the most common false alarms.
Are sulfates actually bad?
Not for everyone. Sulfates are effective, cheap cleansers — fine for many oily, straight, resilient hair types. They become a problem when hair is dry, curly, damaged, or color-treated: strong sulfates strip natural oils, worsen frizz, and fade color noticeably faster. Sensitive scalps can also find them irritating.
Why “sulfate-free” on the front isn't enough
Marketing claims aren't strictly policed, formulas change, and some “sulfate-free” shampoos use surfactants that are nearly as harsh. The only reliable check is the ingredient list itself — which is exactly what HairWise reads.
Use HairWise as your sulfate checker
- Scan any shampoo's ingredient list with your camera.
- The sulfate indicator instantly flags every sulfate variant — including the sneaky ones — and tells you the false alarms too.
- Your compatibility score weighs the sulfate against your hair: harsh-for-you, or actually fine.