In recent years, an increasing number of brands have been releasing sulfate-free shampoos, and with good reasons. Sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are ingredients commonly added to shampoos to make them suds and lather, creating a pleasant shower experience but also stripping your hair and scalp of natural oils and drying them out [1].
If you've been experiencing an itchy scalp or dry hair [2], you might want to consider switching over to a sulfate-free shampoo to see if that's the answer to your wash-time woes. There are hundreds on the market to choose from, so we've selected the very best sulfate-free shampoos from brands like L'Oréal, Living Proof [3], and Briogeo.
Keep scrolling to see the best sulfate-free shampoos for your hair type and color.
Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
The Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo [4] ($28) is a favorite among beauty professionals and shoppers on social media. It's meant to be used on weaker, breakage-prone hair types, and it works to hydrate and rebuild bonds in color-treated and/or damaged hair.
OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo
The OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo [5] ($6) is a drugstore favorite that'll give you a nice, satisfying lather while leaving your hair feeling clean, healthy, and moisturized.
Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Water-to-Foam Sulfate Free Shampoo
The Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Water-to-Foam Sulfate Free Shampoo [6] ($11) features a lightweight formula that transforms from water to a thick foam in just seconds. The bottle's pointed tip makes it so much easier to target your scalp when cleansing.
Pantene Illuminating Color Care Sulfate Free Shampoo
The Pantene Illuminating Color Care Sulfate Free Shampoo [7] ($9) uses a color-safe formula that features biotin to add strength to hair while gently cleansing and restoring moisture to color-treated hair.
TGIN Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo For Natural Hair
The TGIN Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo For Natural Hair [8] ($15) uses a formula free of sulfates to gently cleanse hair and remove excess product buildup without overdrying hair and compromising your curls.
Kérastase Discipline Sulfate Free Smoothing Shampoo
Best for curly and wavy hair, the Kérastase Discipline Sulfate Free Smoothing Shampoo [9] ($35) was created to soften and smooth hair while also addressing damage, breakage, and split ends.
Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo
The Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo [10] ($49) features a restorative formula made with a cocktail of biotin, niacinamide, caffeine, and collagen to gently remove buildup and flakes from the scalp while moisturizing and repairing hair.
Ouai Detox Shampoo
Clarify your hair with the Ouai Detox Shampoo [11] ($30), as it features ingredients like apple cider vinegar to wash away dirt and product buildup without drying out hair.
Love Beauty and Planet Shea & Sandalwood Purposeful Hydration Shampoo
The woodsy scent of the Love Beauty and Planet Shea & Sandalwood Purposeful Hydration Shampoo [12] ($7) is ultra-hydrating, and each bottle is made from 100 percent recycled materials.
L'Oréal EverPure Volume Shampoo
Get the full-bodied hair of your shampoo-commercial dreams with the L'Oréal EverPure Volume Shampoo [13] ($8). It s designed for color-treated hair and won't weigh down your style.
Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo
Fortify your hair with some serious hydration by using the Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo [14] ($36). It removes buildup without stripping your scalp.
Hempz Sweet Pineapple & Honey Melon Herbal Volumizing Shampoo
Not only does the Hempz Sweet Pineapple & Honey Melon Herbal Volumizing Shampoo [15] ($15) smell heavenly, but the hemp oil within the formula also deeply hydrates hair.
Living Proof Restore Shampoo
Living Proof's answer to dry, damaged hair is the Living Proof Restore Shampoo [16] ($29), which helps to restore hair and become resistant to future breakage.
Redken Frizz Dismiss Sulfate-Free Shampoo
The Redken Frizz Dismiss Sulfate-Free Shampoo [17] ($30) will diminish any unwanted flyaways you're experiencing and won't dry out your hair.
Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo
The refreshing Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo [18] ($19) is 97 percent naturally derived and gently cleanses your hair without removing moisture.
Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Sulfate-Free Shampoo
The moisturizing Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Sulfate-Free Shampoo [19] ($12, originally $20) is made from coconut-derived cleansers to restore damaged hair.
Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo
The glamorous ingredient in the Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo [20] ($34) is none other than pure caviar extract, which is rich in proteins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins A, C, and D.
Not Your Mother's Naturals Tahitian Gardenia Flower & Mango Butter Curl Defining Shampoo
Give your spirals the care they deserve with the Not Your Mother's Naturals Tahitian Gardenia Flower & Mango Butter Curl Defining Shampoo [21] ($9). It also smells like Summer.
Verb Ghost Shampoo
The Verb Ghost Shampoo [22] ($18) is lightweight, so it cleans your hair without weighing it down.
Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo
Weak and damaged hair will greatly benefit from switching over to the Moisture Repair Shampoo [23] ($24). It's packed with keratin and argan oil to strengthen your hair.
Maui Moisture Lightweight Hydration + Hibiscus Water Shampoo
The Maui Moisture Lightweight Hydration + Hibiscus Water Shampoo [24] ($9) might look and smell like a smoothie, but the gentle sulfate-free formula is sure to make your hair happy, too.
Bumble and Bumble Color Minded Shampoo
Ensure your color stays vibrant with the Bumble and Bumble Color Minded Shampoo [25] ($31). It's ultra-mild to prevent fading so you can visit the salon less often.