Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (2024)

The first time I heard about sulfates in shampoos, it was from watching the show Queer Eye. “...sodium lauryl sulfate is actually the same thing that cleans the engine in a car,” Jonathan Van Ness said to one of the unsuspecting makeover subjects as he inspected his shampoo. Ever since then, that quote has lived rent-free in my mind—and I’ve been buying sulfate-free shampoo.

“Sulfate-free shampoo is formulated with cleansers that do not contain sulfates, which are essentially detergents that help to create suds and lather to cleanse the hair and scalp,” says Alicia Bailey, hair texture specialist. Sulfates can strip the natural oils from your hair, which can leave your scalp dry and potentially irritated. Sulfate-free shampoo, on the other hand, is gentler on your scalp and hair. If you're someone who struggles with overly dry strands, a sulfate-free formula could be the answer to all of your hair woes.

Keep reading to find the best sulfate-free shampoos out there, according to editors and rave reviewers.

1

Best for Clarifying

Bread Clear-Wash: Detox Clarifying Shampoo

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (1)

Pros
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (2)Doesn’t weigh down the hair
Cons
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (3)May not be best for fine hair

Bread’s Clear-Wash is the relief your hair has been yearning for. With a gorgeous pink hue and an even better formula, your hair is thoroughly cleansed with moisture intact by the final wash. Your scalp is treated with stimulating rosemary, sage, and eucalyptus extracts to help encourage blood flow.

Key ingredients: Sage, rosemary, and eucalyptus lead extracts

Size: 10.4 fl oz

Sephora rating: 4.6/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “There are no creams, oils, or butters strong enough to go up against this Bread shampoo. The best way for me to treat my hair is when it’s tucked in a protective style where my scalp is showing. Then, I go in with the cleanser to ensure all areas of my scalp are cleansed. The formula has cooling eucalyptus and rosemary for an extra boost of TLC.”Nerisha Penrose, ELLE.com beauty commerce editor

2

Best for Repair

Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (4)

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (5)

Pros
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (6)Strengthens weak hair
Cons
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (7)Learning curve

A favorite among beauty obsessives everywhere, Olaplex’s shampoo repairs, strengthens, and restores hair bonds without stripping it of its natural oils and nutrients. Your hair is noticeably healthier after each wash.

Key ingredients: Coconut oil, glycerin

Size: 8.5 oz

Amazon rating: 4.7/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “I rarely go back to a shampoo after trying it, but Olaplex is one that I’ve gone back to again and again. I love the way it smells, and it makes my hair super soft and less prone to frizz.”Katie Berohn, ELLE beauty editor

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3

Best for Fine Hair

Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (8)

Pros
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (9)Adds volume to thin hair
Cons
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (10)Some users dislike the strong scent

Looking at your limp, lifeless hair can make you feel hopeless. Ouai’s Fine Hair Shampoo is the pick-me-up your hair has been missing. The formula is built with strengthening ingredients like biotin and keratin, while chia seed oil soothes and nourishes the strands.

Key ingredients: Biotin, chia seed oil

Size: 10 fl oz

Ouai rating: 4.6

A Ouai reviewer said: “I have very fine hair and this shampoo has been a game changer! My hair is so full and feels thick! Great stuff.”

4

Best for Build-Up

Amika Normcore Sulfate-Free Shampoo

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (11)

Pros
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (12)Adds bounciness
Cons
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (13)Some users note it can weigh down the hair

We love the end results from hot tools, volumizing hairsprays, and nourishing oils, but by the time wash day rolls around, our strands are completely weighted down. Amika’s Normcore Shampoo works to remove all the product build-up and restore balance to the scalp to improve the hair’s overall health.

Key ingredients: Coconut acid, sea buckthorn

Size: 9.2 fl oz

Sephora rating: 3.4/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer said: “I honestly love this shampoo. I have thick, long, curly hair so I wasn’t sure how I would like it especially since my hair is so picky with products. I had previously tried out their hair mask and loved the smell, so I figured I would try the shampoo also. And, honestly, I was not disappointed. It smells amazing and makes my hair so soft. Such a great price too.”

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5

Best for Dandruff

Nécessaire The Shampoo

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (14)

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (15)

Pros
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (16)Easily removes flakes and dandruff
Cons
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (17)May not be best for color-treated hair

Safe enough for daily use, Nécessaire’s shampoo treats your hair with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the scalp. Other ingredients like aloe vera juice and celery seed extract soothe and relax your strands.

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin B3

Size: 8.4 fl oz

Necessaire rating: 4.4/5 stars

A Necessaire reviewer said: “A consistent product. Always leaves my hair looking and feeling amazing. Combined with the conditioner this is my go to shampoo.”

6

Best for All Textures

Mizani True Textures Moisture Replenish Shampoo

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (18)

Pros
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (19)Nourishing
Cons
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (20)Some users note it can feel drying

Reverse dry, lackluster hair with this gem from Mizani. After a few washes, your hair will feel lighter and bouncier with a healthy sheen.

Key ingredients: Marula oil, olive oil

Size: 33.8 fl oz

Amazon rating: 4.7/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “This shampoo has really made a big change in my hair. It was so dry and now it is shinning and soft. Yes i would recommend buying this product.”

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7

Best for Moisture

Aveda Nutriplenish™ Deep Moisture Shampoo

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (21)

Pros
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (22)Deeply moisturizing
Cons
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (23)Pricey

As the name suggests, this Aveda shampoo is a savior for chemically-treated hair or any hair in desperate need of a tune-up. Mango butter and coconut oil work together to replenish strands and make curls appear healthier and bouncier.

Key ingredients: Coconut oil, mango butter

Size: 33.8 fl oz

Nordstrom rating: 4.2/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer said: “This made my hair feel healthy again after a lot of chemical treatment.”

8

Best for Hydration

SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Shampoo

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (24)

Pros
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (25)Moisturizing ingredients
Cons
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (26)Can weigh down thin hair

If you’ve been struggling to detangle or style your hair due to excess damage, allow SheaMoisture’s Intensive Hydration Shampoo to bring your hair back to life. The “hydration” comes courtesy of manuka honey and mafura oil, which makes the hair softer and shinier instead of dry and stiff like many other cleansers.

Key ingredients: Manuka honey, baobab, fig extract

Size: 24 fl oz

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “My hair looks sooooo much thicker after using this just once. I have noticed I have less split ends each time I use it. I have a sensitive scalp, and I really like this product. I even put the conditioner straight on my scalp, it does not leave a greasy residue at all.”

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Pros
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (28)Great for thin, fine hair looking for volume
Cons
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (29)Pricey

This shampoo makes you feel like you’re fresh out of the hair salon. Each wash results in soft, bouncy hair, and relieves itchy scalp.

Key ingredients: Argan oil, glycerin

Size: 8.5 fl oz

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “I have been using this shampoo for over a year and my hair is very healthy feeling. I have gray coming in and I am letting it grow out. So it was feeling dry and had split ends. My hair looks shiny and soft!”

10

Best Drugstore Buy

L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Moisture Shampoo

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (30)

Pros
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (31)Doesn’t disrupt color-treated hair
Cons
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (32)Can be drying

This drugstore sulfate-free option remains one of the best. The opalescent formula has a herbaceous scent and leaves color-treated strands both vibrant and volumized, not dull.

Key ingredient: Rosemary oil

Size: 8.5 fl oz

Target rating: 4.4/5 stars

A Target reviewer said: “Have used this EverPure shampoo for color-treated hair for at least 18 years. A small amount of the shampoo really works wonders, and it makes my color last a lot longer than regular shampoo does ! Usually purchase a single tube of the shampoo, but this time the sale was so great I bought 4 tubes at once!!”

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11

Best Gentle Shampoo

Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Aloe + Oat Milk Ultra Soothing Fragrance-Free Hypoallergenic Shampoo

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (33)

Pros
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (34)Gentle enough for frequent use
Cons
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (35)Not suited for super thick hair

A coconut-based cleanser means you’ll still get a frothy and satisfying lather, but without any unfortunate stripping.

Key ingredients: Aloe vera, green tea extract

Size: 8.0 fl oz

Ulta rating: 4.3/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “I actually put this shampoo in the shower at my parents’ house, and my family is hooked on it. It’s so gentle on your hair and your scalp, and if you’re more sensitive, it’s nice that it’s fragrance-free. It also leaves your hair feeling cleansed but not stripped.”—Katie Berohn

12

Best for Oily Hair

Crown Affair The Ritual Shampoo

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (36)

Pros
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (37)Deeply cleanses in a gentle way
Cons
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (38)Some reviewers find it drying

This formula manages to be gentle while still being highly effective. Instead of relying on sulfates, this shampoo uses coconut-based surfactants to cleanse hair and remove dirt, grease, and other buildup.

Key ingredients: Coconut surfactants, tsubaki seed oil

Size: 8.1 fl oz

Sephora rating: 4/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer said: “I have very oily hair and most shampoos I have tried either did not clean my hair at all or made my hair feel like straw. But this shampoo cleanses well without stripping my hair. It makes my hair so soft and shiny.”

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13

Best for Smoothing

Rōz Foundation Shampoo

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (39)

Pros
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (40)Repairs and nourishes hair
Cons
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (41)Some dislike the packaging

If you’re looking for shampoo that deeply repairs hair, this Rōz shampoo fits the bill. It’s made with a blend of nourishing and strengthening ingredients like grape extract, frankincense, walnut oil, and ginger root.

Key ingredients: Grape extract, frankincense, walnut oil, ginger root

Size: 10.1 fl oz

Nordstrom rating: 4.1/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “Roz hair products are incredibly good, and the shampoo is no exception. When I use this shampoo, my hair looks incredibly shiny and smooth, and the best part is that it feels light and clean.”—Katie Berohn

14

Best for Strengthening

Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (42)

Pros
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (43)Strengthens and repairs hair
Cons
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (44)Pricey

This shampoo cleanses while it actively nourishes your hair. It’s made with amino acids to strengthen, argan oil to add shine and control frizz, and a bio-restorative complex made with collagen, caffeine, biotin, and niacinamide to strengthen.

Key ingredients: Amino acids, argan oil, bio-restorative complex

Size: 8.5 fl oz

Amazon rating: 4.1/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said:“I’ve been using the Repair and Restore Shampoo for a few weeks, and I’m thrilled. My hair, damaged from heat and coloring, feels softer and looks shinier. This shampoo lathers well and cleans without stripping moisture. The subtle scent is pleasant and fresh. Free from harsh chemicals, it’s gentle enough for daily use. Overall, it’s a fantastic product for repairing damage and maintaining healthy hair.”

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15

Best for Thick Hair

Davines Love Smoothing Shampoo

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (45)

Pros
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (46)Smooths frizz and flyaways
Cons
  • Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (47)Some find the scent too strong

If you struggle with frizzy hair or flyaways, this shampoo is formulated to help smooth your hair. This is thanks to olive extract rich in fatty acids and vitamin E, which helps soften and moisturize strands.

Key ingredients: Olive extract, vitamin E

Size: 8.45 fl oz

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “This will always be one of my favorite shampoos. Not only does it leave my hair extremely soft and tames all my flyways, it also smells absolutely divine and leaves my thick hair manageable.”—Katie Berohn

Meet the Experts

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (48)

Alicia Bailey, hair texture specialist and global education manager at Design Essentials

Starr Mason, hairstylist and Hair Cuttery Family of Brands’ field leader and educator

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What is a sulfate-free shampoo?

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (49)

Sulfate-free shampoos simply use a different kind of cleansing mechanism than shampoos that contain sulfates. “Sulfate-free shampoos are formulated without the use of sulfate-based cleansers.” says Mason. “Instead, sulfate-free cleansers are designed to still lather and clean away dirt, oil, and unwanted buildup.”

Is sulfate-free shampoo good for your hair?

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (50)

Sulfate-free shampoos are great for hair because they remove the bad without robbing your strands of the natural oils they need. “Sulfate-free is the winner when it comes to what’s the best for your hair,” Mason explains. “It delivers a more fresh and gentle cleansing than the sulfate-containing formulations. [In shampoos] the main types of sulfates are sodium lauryl sulfate (or SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), which can strip natural oils from the scalp and hair and make hair dry and brittle. If your scalp is sensitive, sulfates can cause irritation like redness, dryness, and itching.”

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Why are sulfate-free shampoos better for your hair?

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (51)

While sulfate-free cleansers are best for keeping your hair’s natural oils and nutrients intact, sulfates are not completely bad.

“I would not necessarily say that they are ‘better,’ because there are instances when shampoos that are not sulfate-free are needed. Clarifying shampoos, medicated shampoos, and neutralizing shampoos are not sulfate-free but are necessary,” Bailey says. “Sulfate-free shampoos provide moisture, shine, and conditioning to all hair types. They provide gentle cleansing and do not strip the hair of its natural oils, and they are great to help maintain color-treated hair and provide longevity as they will not strip the color from the hair.”

If a sulfate-based cleanser is used, Bailey says she follows up with a sulfate-free option to return moisture to the hair. “If I must use a shampoo that is not sulfate-free in those instances, I always follow with a sulfate-free shampoo to impart moisture into the hair before following with my favorite conditioner,” she adds.

Why Trust ELLE Beauty?

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (52)

As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE.com beauty commerce editor Nerisha Penrose and beauty editor Katie Berohn spoke with haircare professionals about the best sulfate-free shampoos for effective cleansing. The author also perused hundreds of customer feedback to find the best ones.

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (53)

Nerisha Penrose

Beauty Commerce Editor

Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Prior to joining the team, she was an Editorial Fellow at ELLE.com. In her current role, she helps lead coverage on makeup, skin care, hair, and fragrances. With over six years of experience in the world of beauty editorial, Nerisha enjoys delving deep into the complexities of fragrance notes, hunting for the best fixes for acne-prone skin, and advocating for daily sunscreen use. She regularly researches and tests the latest products, consults beauty professionals (including our Beauty Advisory Board) to determine the best expert-approved formulas to recommend, and conducts interviews with luminaries across the industry. Nerisha received her bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies from Temple University before joining the editorial teams at Nylon and Billboard. In 2020, she co-launched our popular franchise The State of Black Beauty, an ongoing exploration of—and destination for—beauty at the intersection of Black culture.

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (54)

Katie Berohn

Beauty Editor

Katie Berohn is ELLE’s beauty editor. Previously, she held the same title at Who What Wear, where she was promoted from associate beauty editor. She’s written for publications like The Cut, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and Mashable. Her interests include fragrance, vintage shopping, hot yoga, food, travel, music, books, and attempting to make every NYT Cooking recipe. She’s on the endless hunt to find the perfect shade of red lipstick.

Sulfate-Free Shampoos Are Gentler on Your Hair—and These 15 Are Highly Recommended (2024)
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