For this product, which we use 2 times a week on average (or even more for some), the essential functions of cleansing, lathering and hair results are obviously key. But more and more of us are noticing hair-related problems such as dandruff, hair loss, greasy hair, dry hair, itching and many others. 

Shampoo is applied to the scalp, which, like our skin, is put to the test by stress, pollution and the active ingredients in our shampoos! So it's vital to know exactly what's in our shampoos.

What does the future hold for sulfate- and silicone-free shampoos? 

In the 1980s, the wave of silicone shampoos with a slippery feel invaded our bathrooms. The first uses brought an unprecedented effect: hair glided under the fingers, giving the impression of a smoother, sheathed appearance. Over time, however, we realized that hair was less responsive to care and tended to become damaged and dry at the ends. 

In recent years, we've also opened our eyes to a new irritant ingredient still present in many shampoos on the market: sulfates.

Today, in addition to the desire for products that are as natural as possible, preservatives are also in the spotlight.

How can I do without sulfates, silicones and preservatives?

Today, thanks to advances in science and the natural world, it's possible to find effective shampoos without sulfates that lather and contain no controversial ingredients: no silicones and even no preservatives!

For the well-being of your scalp and hair, transform your hair routine into a real care routine with our sulfate-free shampoo.

Fortunately, nothing is irreversible with our hair: it grows 1 to 2 cm a month. It takes patience, a good understanding of the composition of formulas and finding the best shampoo for your hair.

How can we decipher the composition of our shampoos?

Where do the foaming agents in our shampoos come from? 

This awareness is fairly recent, and has been made possible in recent years by the arrival on the market of decoding tools, the famous Clean Beauty, Yuka, Incibeauty and EWG applicationsin the USA. 

Decrypting the composition of our shampoos has shown us that the ingredients needed to create lather are little different between a household product and a classic shampoo... The vast majority of surfactants (active foaming agents) are sulfate derivatives or compounds.

Conventional shampoos are composed of over 80% water and around 15% surfactants. Surfactants are cleansing agents that wash the hair by removing greasy particles. The rest are moisturizing or nourishing ingredients, whether natural, synthetic or more specific, such as silicones, emulsifiers, preservatives and fragrances.

Sulfates and Silicones: the era of slippery hair and re-greasy scalps.

What is a sulfate?

A sulfate is a salt of sulfuric acid H 2 SO4. It's a surfactant that removes grease and other dirt from hair. Sulfates are highly detergent and lather abundantly. They are less expensive than new surfactants and are almost always the first ingredient in classic shampoo compositions, after water. They are also found in some organic shampoos, generally combined with other, gentler and less irritating surfactants. 

Their big drawback is that they are very drying for the scalp and unsuitable for color-treated or highlighted hair. The color washes out over time, and the ends become damaged and split ends. Although there are several types of sulfate, one thing is certain: the best shampoo for color-treated or highlighted hair can only be a sulfate-free shampoo! 

What is silicone?

Silicone is a synthetic rubber composed of bonded silicon and oxygen. Its "plasticizing" qualities are very seductive at first, and it's these that give your hair that slippery feel from the very first application, making it easy to style and smooth, and giving you the impression of having made a quality treatment in the first place. Blow-drying is easier too, and this is perhaps one of the reasons why smooth hairstyles have become so popular.

Things quickly start to go wrong: with each application, the hair becomes coated with a superficial layer that can suffocate it, leaving you with the feeling that you need to wash your hair more often. Greasy scalp, more frequent washing, split ends. It's the beginning of a vicious circle...

How to recognize silicones and sulfates in your shampoos?

1. Silicones 

Recognizing silicone in a product can be rather complicated if you're not an expert: it can be found under different names such as Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Stearyl Dimethicone, Polysiloxane or Lauryl methicone copolyol...

To identify them, look for noun families ending in -one, -cone , -conol or -Xane . 

If it's in the first few lines, it means your shampoo contains a high concentration of silicones!

The good news is that with your favorite app, you'll be able to spot these active ingredients very quickly, and above all choose products with a clean composition. So don't hesitate to use them! 

2. Sulfates 

Recognizing which shampoos contain sulfates is easier, since the word sulfate is almost always present in the surfactant's composition. The best-known are Sodium lauryl sulfate, Ammonium laureth sulfate, Sodium laureth sulfate, Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, Sodium myreth sulfate or Ammonium lauryl sulfate. Once again, check to see if they're at the beginning of your products' composition. 

Used alone, their highly detergent effect can sensitize your scalp and encourage blackheads, faster scalp regrowth or even the appearance of dandruff. 

In conclusion, the best product for your hair is a sulfate-free shampoo.

Transition to natural sulfate-free shampoo.

Switching to more natural shampoos without silicones or sulfates can only do your hair good. Rinsing will feel less slippery, but healthier and cleaner, almost crisp. This is a good sign: your hair will gradually shed its silicone sheath, and your scalp will be less stripped and regrease less quickly. 

The transition may take time to recover your original hair type, but your hair will love it. If, at the same time, you provide your hair with clean, natural care and use less heat from blow-dryers or straightening plates, you'll quickly notice a real difference.

Be careful not to use treatments that are advertised as natural, such as keratin treatments or Brazilian straightening. Take a close look at the composition of these treatments, or pass them on to the application decryptor. They are rarely 100% natural.

Which applications can be used to decode formulas?

Since the advent of apps that decode cosmetics compositions, we've had the opportunity to find out what's in our shampoos. If you're not sure which app to choose, we recommend YUKA (which uses the known bibliography on ingredients to rate formulas from 1 to 100, and gives you an initial overview of your formulas) and Clean Beauty which is more scientific and has called on experts to decipher our products. 

Preservatives, the new controversial ingredients 

The Clean Beauty app in particular is more focused on controversial ingredients, notably endocrine disruptors, which are substances capable of interfering with our hormonal system.

Preservatives help prevent the growth of bacteria in shampoo formulas, in emulsion form (all classic shampoos in milk, gel or cream form) are not all totally harmless. 

Only 59 preservatives are authorized in our cosmetics by European regulations. Despite this, we know nothing about the cumulative effects of these preservatives on our bodies and our health.

They are therefore mandatory in emulsions, but thanks to scientific progress we can now find shampoos that lather and leave hair healthy and natural without any controversial ingredients: powder shampoos. 

Yodi: a new generation of silicone-, sulfate- and preservative-free shampoos

To avoid all undesirable substances and retain only the active ingredients, Yodi has invented a revolutionary new soft powder texture for its shampoos. Water-free and therefore preservative-free, the formulas contain gentle, non-irritating surfactants that lather instantly and generously. 

Both Yodi shampoos are enriched with natural active ingredients suitable for all hair types. Our Douceur de Lait d'Amande and Nutritive Argan shampoos also contain a prebiotic to protect the scalp's microbiota. 

Yodi shampoos, in their small, light and practical aluminum bottle, were developed after more than 2 years of research and are patented. 

These new soft, high-foaming powder textures are ready-to-use and will help your hair regain its original texture.

Which Yodi shampoos should I choose for my hair? 

Choose sulfate-free shampoo Douceur de lait d'amande powder if you have normal or fine hair that regrays easily or lacks volume.

Choose Nutritive Argan powder shampoo if you have dry or damaged hair, or color-treated or highlighted hair.