In the beauty industry, sulphates are not well-received, and largely for good cause.
Sulphates are generally safe and effective cleaners, but sometimes they work too well, removing more oil than is required and leaving the skin and scalp itchy and irritated or the hair feeling dry and brittle.
“Sulphates are harsh cleansing agents, which can dry out hair,” NYC hairstylist and certified trichologist Shab Reslan told Business Insider. “They tend to over-cleanse the hair and roughen up the cuticle [and] when your cuticle is not intact as it should be, you become more susceptible to colour fadage, frizz, dull-looking hair.”
Sulphates can degrade the chemicals in recently received keratin or colour treatments, reducing their longevity.
The good news is that many of the greatest sulfate-free shampoo available today completely avoid using sulphates in favour of milder surfactants that thoroughly clean your hair without depriving it of essential oils.
The Iles Formula Haute Performance Shampoo would be our choice if we had to choose one favourite. Although it is expensive, this salon-favorite shampoo features a special blend of lesser-known chemicals (including silk protein) that combine to strengthen hair and give every strand a noticeable shine.
We’ve compiled a list of 20 industry-recommended nourishing sulfate-free shampoo below to help you expand your collection. We’ll let you dig in and choose the ideal ‘poo from our wide selection.
Iles Formula Haute Performance Shampoo
I once heard from a hairstylist that investing in highlights or an expensive haircut is pointless if you don’t use high-quality haircare products at home afterward. Investing in a high-quality shampoo can help you prolong the life of your cut or colour, so you can get the most out of your salon treatment without breaking the bank. Out of all the shampoos advised by salons that I’ve tested, the Iles Formula Haute Performance Shampoo has shown to be exceptional.
All hair types, including those with colour, extensions, and keratin treatments, can benefit from this shampoo. This sulfate-free shampoo is a great option if you have severely damaged hair or are looking for a daily product that will leave your hair feeling silky. It will leave your hair feeling silky smooth, bouncy, and shining right after the first wash. Even better, the formula will thicken and strengthen your strands over time, resulting in overall healthier hair. Even with its high cost, this shampoo makes up for good hair days.
L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Moisture Shampoo
For color-treated hair, L’Oreal Paris’ Moisture sulfate-free shampoo is an excellent choice because it adds shine and reenergises lifeless hair without sacrificing colour. This shampoo’s rosemary infusion adds moisture and shine without compromising the integrity of your hair’s surface. Because of its mild yet potent recipe, your hair will stay lustrous and healthy. The business claims that this shampoo is a strong rival to more expensive brands like Kerastase and Bumble & Bumble, but at a far lower price range. Because of this, it’s a great option for people who want to keep their colour and shine without going over budget. Its carefully thought-out mixture produces a sumptuous feel and look, demonstrating that salon-quality hair care is accessible to all budgets.
Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo
There’s a delicate line between clean and dry, oily and shiny, moisturised and weighted down when you have fine hair. Even in cases where you have a lot of it, fine hair is susceptible to damage from the products you use because you have less diameter per strand to work with. It’s crucial to use a shampoo designed especially for your fine hair because of this. Your crown gets strengthened, cleaned, and volumised without being weighed down by the OUAI Fine Hair sulfate-free shampoo. It also has a beautiful, fresh scent and looks stylish when placed in your shower.
Kerastase Bain Chroma Respect Shampoo
It’s crucial to use treatments that stop fading and extend the colour of your hair colour after getting it coloured, for the sake of both your pocketbook and the health of your hair. You can rely on Kérastase to take care of your color-treated hair at home because it’s a brand that’s valued by haircare professionals worldwide and used in salons. The blend softly cleanses, increases radiance, and hydrates hair without removing colour. The richer composition of the Bain Riche Chroma Respect Shampoo is ideal for people with thick color-treated hair. Try the richer-formulated Bain Riche Chroma Respect sulfate-free shampoo if you have thick color-treated hair.
MONDAY Moisture Shampoo
MONDAY Moisture Shampoo is the best option for revitalising dry, lifeless hair at its affordable pricing. A much-needed daily (or however often you wash your hair) hydration boost is provided by the dermatologist-tested, pH-balanced, paraben- and sulfate-free solution. In addition to vitamin E, which repairs and shields hair from further damage, shea butter and coconut oil moisturise, nourish, and soften hair. A combination of conditioning and antifungal agents also helps to minimise frizz, smooth strands, and treat dandruff.
Oribe Shampoo for Brilliance & Shine
An investment worth making in your regular hair care regimen is the Oribe Shampoo for Brilliance & Shine. For shiny, long-lasting hair, this sulfate-free shampoo delicately washes your strands while preserving the natural oils in your hair. It employs Oribe’s Signature Complex to shield hair from environmental factors, photoaging, and keratin degradation in addition to cleaning and enhancing shine. The elegant appearance and delightful Oribe aroma add to the product’s opulence.
Curls Dynasty Cocoa Mint Moisture Rich Shampoo
Cocoa Mint Moisture Rich Shampoo by Curls Dynasty is a fantastic option for people with coily, kinky, and curly hair. Because it doesn’t include silicones, parabens, or sulphates, this shampoo offers a mild yet thorough clean that won’t deplete your hair of its natural oils. Targeting roots and guaranteeing even coverage are made possible with the nozzle cap, which enables precision application straight onto the scalp. Shea butter, organic coconut oil, and organic olive oil are nutritious ingredients in its recipe that work together to moisturise and condition your curls. This concoction of components aids in boosting hydration, minimising frizz, and encouraging strong, healthy curls. It is an excellent option for people looking for a premium, specialised hair product because it is ideal for preserving the vibrancy and bounce of your natural hair.
Odele Clarifying Shampoo
A clarifying shampoo is an excellent weekly treatment for people trying to control oil production since it thoroughly cleans your scalp and hair strands, gets rid of extra oil, and leaves hair feeling and appearing lighter. Many products use sulphates to successfully eliminate oil accumulation; however, the Odele Clarifying sulfate-free shampoo does not. It doesn’t include any of the 1,300+ cosmetic compounds that the EU has outlawed, including sulphates and parabens. Chelation technology is used in this dermatologist-tested, salon-quality shampoo to eliminate pollutants and bring back the natural gloss of hair.
Prose Custom Shampoo
For personalised, made-to-order sulfate-free shampoo and conditioners, we always turn to Prose. An online consultation is where your special formula begins. The company claims that there are approximately 50 billion alternative results for your formula. components include potent natural components including fermented rice water, plum seed oil, and spirulina extract, as well as artificial substitutes that are the best available. In addition, none of them include parabens, GMOs, sulphates, or any other possibly harmful substances. We enjoy Function of Beauty as much as Prose, but Prose is our team favourite.
Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Olaplex quickly gained notoriety in the beauty industry with its three-step Hair Repair System, which promises to mend damaged strands at the molecular level using a unique active ingredient. Its paraben-, sulphate-, and phthalate-free shampoo repairs and shields hair from daily stressors. Like a lot other sulfate-free shampoos, it’s also safe for colour.
Nevertheless, the expensive cost might not be justified if you’re looking for post-keratin therapy options: Olaplex advises that you will need to wait two to three weeks for Olaplex to become effective because those treatments seal or laminate the hair.
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo
Another cult favourite brand that uses a gentle, proprietary method to revive damaged hair is Living Proof. Without compromising volume, the company’s own “Healthy Hair Molecule” smoothes, polishes, and shields strands for stronger, healthier hair. According to Living Proof, its mixture also deters more oil and debris, keeping hair clean for an extended period of time. That means you’ll need less washes and your colour will stay longer, which makes it a fantastic option for anyone with thick hair who want to stretch out the amount of time between washings.
OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Shampoo
Savour a revitalising delight for your hair by combining whipped egg white proteins, coconut oil, and creamy coconut milk. Together, these opulent ingredients improve lustre, increase moisture content, and restore strength. The whipped egg white proteins build and strengthen your strands, while the coconut milk and oil provide your hair with intense hydration and nourishment. This luxurious concoction leaves your hair feeling lustrous, silky, and vibrant while also enhancing its general health. This blend is ideal for a pampering session because it revitalises your hair and provides crucial nutrients, ensuring that your locks receive the attention they need. Restore the vibrancy of your hair and reap the advantages of this potent mixture.
Jupiter Balancing Shampoo
The Jupiter Balancing Shampoo is our top pick among the best sulfate-free dandruff shampoos if you suffer with dandruff. Zinc pyrithione 1%, a medicinal active ingredient with scientific backing that fights flakes, is what sets this sulfate-free shampoo apart from the competition. Jupiter is developed with many of chemicals to moisturise locks and boost shine, whereas other dandruff shampoos really just focus on the health of the scalp. Its versatility in treating colour- and chemical-treated hair is what we adore. Depending on how bad their dandruff is, some people use this treatment every day, while others only use it sometimes.
Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Shampoo
Products from Bumble and Bumble, like this sulfate-free shampoo, are the ideal combination of light, barely-there oils and intense hydration. This shampoo, which is designed especially for coarse and brittle hair, smoothes and silkens your hair to make it seem silkier and more manageable. Six nourishing oils, including grape and sweet almond, are used in the formula to help soften and shine your hair beautifully. Focussing on hydration without making hair feel heavy, it guarantees a subtle yet powerful treatment. Furthermore, the product’s cruelty-free status conforms to ethical beauty standards, making it a responsible option for your hair care regimen. Savour the combination of opulent oils and the advantages of a thoughtfully formulated product that meets the specific requirements of your hair.
R+CO Dallas Thickening Shampoo
As they say, “Everything is bigger in Texas,” which accounts for the moniker of R+Co’s Dallas Thickening sulfate-free shampoo. Superhero components including coconut oil, saw palmetto berry extract, and biotin combine to strengthen your hair strands, give them more fullness, increase lustre, and enhance general hair health. This shampoo gives you the large, bouncy mane of your dreams by strengthening and nourishing your hair with each lather.
Verb Ghost Shampoo
If you haven’t heard, moringa seed oil is the newest big thing in the world of natural beauty, and Verb Ghost Shampoo contains it. It originates from the incredibly adaptable Moringa oleifera tree, which is renowned for all but working miracles: it can withstand drought, its seeds can aid in the purification of water, and its leaves are thought to contain more calcium than milk. With its abundance of moisturising monosaturated fatty acids from the tree’s seed oil, Ghost Shampoo is designed to naturally reduce frizz and enhance shine. Included for reduced colour fading and natural UV protection is sunflower seed extract.
SheaMoisture Deep Moisturizing Shampoo
Raw Shea Shampoo from SheaMoisture has long been a popular option for people looking for a sulfate-free way to treat dry or damaged hair. This shampoo, which is enhanced with organic shea butter, argan oil, and vitamin E, works to balance and smooth your hair while supplying vital moisture and nutrients. With its roots in Sierra Leone dating back to 1912, the company has a long history of being a leader in Black-owned haircare. SheaMoisture is still committed to creating sustainable goods and utilising ingredients that are traded responsibly today. This dedication is a reflection of their long history as well as their current goal of providing ethical, high-quality haircare. Accept the advantages of this dependable shampoo and know that it has been made with care and a reputation for excellence.
Ouai Detox Shampoo
Over time, environmental variables and haircare products can do significant damage to your mane. Although they provide eye-catching looks, gels, dry shampoos, and hairsprays can clog hair follicles and increase oil production. Your hair and scalp may feel brittle and dry due to hard water and chlorine. The good news is that you only need to include a fantastic clarifying shampoo in your routine—you don’t have to completely avoid these products.
The Ouai Detox Shampoo will revitalise your locks whether they’re feeling as dry as straw or you’ve grown a bit too dependent on dry shampoo. Hydrolysed keratin repairs damage and smoothes the cuticle; chelating agents bond to the minerals and metals in hard water and styling products to remove buildup; and apple cider vinegar aids in scalp exfoliation. Besides all that, it smells fantastic? Completed.
adwoa Baomint Moisturizing Shampoo
Adwoa’s vegan shampoo uses gentle cleansing agents to reduce dryness and irritation on the scalp, and it also contains components like essential oils and aloe leaf juice to moisturise the skin. No silicones, phthalates, parabens, or sulphates are present.
Just make sure to give the bottle a good shake before using the shampoo as its oils have a tendency to separate naturally.
Native Moisturizing Shampoo
Since simplicity is at the core of Native’s philosophy, it seems sense that this shampoo is made of only effective, basic components. Cleansers made from plant oils gently cleanse your hair while hydrating it for a shiny, healthy appearance. The recipe is cruelty-free, vegan, and devoid of parabens, dyes, and sulphates. Fun smell combinations like Ocean & Timber, Warm Cider & Cinnamon, and Sweet Peach & Nectar, together with the simple packaging, are what we adore.
