Article: Surfactants dissolve in water and reduce the surface tension on your hair, which helps the product remove dirt from the area. That sounds good, but some surfactants, like sulfates, can also be damaging to your hair, as they strip it of its natural oils. When using the Curly Girl method, avoid products with these ingredients. Look for products that are labeled "sulfate-free" to help you choose the best option for your hair. In addition, read the ingredient list to look for sulfates. Even if a product is labeled "sulfate-free," it may still contain sulfate ingredients. That's because the manufacturer is typically referring to more damaging sulfates, such as sodium lauryl sulfate. Go over the ingredient list carefully to find sulfate ingredients before deciding if a product is Curly Girl approved. Common sulfates include alkylbenzene sulfonate, sodium cocoyl sarcosinate, ammonium or sodium xylenesulfonate, and dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate. Look for words or endings like "sulfate," "sulfoacetate," "sulfonate," and "sulfouccinate." These products tend to build up on your hair over time because they coat your hair to give it shine. They keep moisture from getting into your hair, and to get them out, you need harsh products that contain sulfates. Therefore, it's best to avoid them. Read the ingredient list to find ones with endings like "-xane," "-cone," "-col," and "-conol" so that you can avoid products that contain them. Common ingredients that fall into this category include dimethiconol, cetyl dimethicone, dimethicone, cetearyl methicone, and stearyl dimethicone. Use the same rues when buying styling products. Sometimes, proteins can make your hair dry and brittle. You're more susceptible to this issue if your hair is coarse, so if you're having this problem, check the ingredient list for proteins. Look for things like soy proteins, wheat proteins, amino acids, collagen, and keratin.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Skip products with sulfates in them. Avoid products with silicone ingredients that aren't water soluble. Don't use products with proteins if you're still having hair problems.