No ingredient in this formula is flagged in our pregnancy database. That is not medical advice — ask your doctor about anything you are unsure of.
Declared fragrance allergens: BENZYL ALCOHOL.
The Ordinary
Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair
hair shampoo
The Ordinary
Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair
hair shampoo
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11
Ingredients
4
Benefits
0
Actives
A mild, low foaming, color-safe shampoo cleanser that effectively lifts dirt from hair to toe
Key Insights
Haircare
4
Contains humectants
Contains sulfates
Lightweight
Silicone-free
Risks
3
Alcohol
Allergen
Sulfate
Full Ingredients
11 total
What this product is
Written from the ingredient list. Where it describes how a formula behaves, that is inferred from what the ingredients are and where they sit in the list, not measured.
Overview
Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair is a shampoo from The Ordinary, aimed at fine hair, straight hair and wavy hair. On the evidence of its ingredient list, the formula works on oil control, build-up avoidance and moisture. The ingredients doing most of that work are Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Phytic Acid and Ethylhexylglycerin. The list runs to 11 ingredients, 3 of which carry a role we recognise for hair.
How it cleanses
It cleanses with Sodium Laureth Sulfate, a sulfate detergent — effective on oil and product, and the thing people move away from when colour fades fast or the lengths feel stripped.
How it feels on hair
The formula reads as lightweight: humectants lead and there is little in the way of heavy oil or silicone, so it should not weigh fine hair down. There are no silicones in the list. The formula leans to moisture rather than protein.
On the scalp
A sensitive or easily irritated scalp may want something milder — the detergent here is the strong kind.
Build-up and porosity
Nothing in the list is the kind of ingredient that accumulates on hair. It suits low porosity in particular.
Where it goes
It is the first step of a wash: it goes on wet hair before anything else. -Work the cleanser into wet hair. -Rinse thoroughly. -Lather and apply generously when using on the body.
What it is not for
Nothing in this formula is aimed at protein & strength, scalp soothing, volume / lightweight and frizz control — not a fault, just the shape of what is in the bottle, and the reason one product rarely covers a whole routine. No ingredient here is one we recognise as supporting hair growth. Reducing breakage and growing hair are different things, and this formula's evidence is for the first.
In short
Working for it
- No silicones
- Nothing that builds up between washes
- Light enough for fine hair
Worth knowing
- Cleansed with sulfates
- Contains fragrance
- Not the gentlest option for a reactive scalp
What it is
Shampoo
Cleansing
Who it suits
Read from the formula's weight, its build-up and its protein — not from a claim on the packaging.
Suits
Fine hair
Straight hair
Wavy hair
Take care with
Coarse hair
What it works on
Oil control
Build-up avoidance
Moisture
Color protection
Not what this one is for
Protein & strength
Scalp soothing
Volume / lightweight
Frizz control
Curl definition
Damage repair
Shine
Nothing in this formula is one we recognise as supporting hair growth. Reducing breakage and growing hair are different claims.
Cleansing agents
Contains sulfate detergents.
SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE
Silicones
Silicone-free.
Build-up and weight
Estimated from which ingredients are present and how high they sit in the list, not measured.
Reads as a lightweight formula.
Nothing here accumulates on hair.
Porosity
Inferred from the formula's weight, humectants and protein.
Low porosity
Suits
Cuticles are tight; moisture penetrates poorly.
Medium porosity
Suits
Cuticles are moderately open; moisture is absorbed well.
High porosity
Neutral
Cuticles are open; moisture absorbs fast but is also lost rapidly.
Curly-Girl method
Does not fit the method.
Sulfate detergent
On the scalp
Oily scalp
Take care with
Sensitive scalp
Where it goes on wash day
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Treatment
- Leave-in
- Oil
Composition claims
"Free from" is only claimed when every ingredient on the label resolved to one we know.
No drying alcohol
Paraben-free
Silicone-free
Microplastic-free
Dye-free
Fragrance
Sulfates
Safety
What the formula is made of
One ingredient usually does several jobs, so these counts add up to more than the list length.
3 of 11 ingredients carry a role we recognise for hair.
Anionic Surfactant · 1
Chelator · 1
Humectant · 1
Questions
What ingredients are in Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair?
AQUA, SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, POLYSORBATE 20, XANTHAN GUM, TOCOPHEROL, PHYTIC ACID, TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE, BENZYL ALCOHOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, PHENOXYETHANOL, CHLORPHENESIN.
Is Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair sulfate free?
No. It cleanses with Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which is a sulfate detergent.
Is Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair silicone free?
Yes. There are no silicones in the ingredient list.
Is Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair Curly-Girl friendly?
No — the formula contains a sulfate detergent, which the method excludes.
What hair type is Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair for?
By the weight and build-up of the formula it reads as suited to fine hair, straight hair, wavy hair. It may be less comfortable on coarse hair.
Does Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair contain protein?
No. There is no hydrolyzed protein or amino acid in the ingredient list.
Does Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair cause build-up?
Nothing in the list is the kind of ingredient that accumulates on hair.
Is Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair good for a sensitive scalp?
Probably not the gentlest choice — the cleansing here is done by a strong detergent.
Is Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair safe for colour-treated hair?
It is cleansed with a sulfate detergent, which is what strips colour fastest.
Where does Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair go in a haircare routine?
First, on wet hair, before anything else in the wash.
Is Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair fragrance free?
No. The list carries BENZYL ALCOHOL.
Who makes Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Body and Hair?
The Ordinary, a brand based in Canada.