Regarding Cleaning Agents and Dryness

Taken from Paula Begoun's Book, "Don't Go Shopping For Hair Care Products Without Me"

"When an ingredient is included in a product primarily for its cleansing ability I use the general term detergent cleansing agent. Ingredients in these category include sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium cocoamphoacetate, TEA-lauryl sulfate, cocamide DEA, ammonium laureth sulfate, and ammonium lauryl sulfate, to name a few (though these are the most common).

Because sodium lauryl sulfate, TEA-laurly sulfate, sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate (and the lesser used sodium dodecyl sulfonate and alkyl benzene sulfonate) are very strong, drying, and irritating detergent cleansing agents, I warn against using a product that contains these ingredients when they are listed in the first part of the ingredient list.

For those who dye their hair, using a product with sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate, sodium dodecyl sulfonate, or alkyl benzene sulfonate can potentially strip hair color."

Hopes this helps in the shampoo selection process. 

Rebekah