Shampoos that contain these toxic chemicals can cause severe hair damage, including follicle impairment, hair loss, scalp irritation, tangled hair. They can also cause eye-irritation, swelling of hands, face and arms. Another feature of SLES is that, once it intrudes your body, it generally mimics activities of the hormone estrogen, the repercussions of which could include menopausal irregularities, declining male fertility and even breast cancer.

But what is perhaps more frightening, is the fact that if your skin is exposed to large amounts of Sodium Laureth Sulfate you may be at risk of skin cancer. Though not branded a carcinogen, it has been proved that the manufacturing of the chemical by the process of ethoxylation is what makes it a suspect cancer-inducer. A by-product of ethoxylation, called dioxane (which is a proven carcinogen) contaminates SLES. But SLES is branded a pesticide, much to the wrath of some nutrition purists who term the brand an understatement to its lethality.

There are alternatives galore, but the relatively cheap pricing and attractive advertisements, make these products very alluring. Ignorance about other options blinds you from avoiding these toxic substances. But there are a lot of products, which are as promising and as effective, but perhaps a little more expensive, that do not contain chemicals such as Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Ultimately however, it is for you to choose whether you want to court such risks, or shell out a few more bucks to ensure that you stay as far from those risks as possible.