The 10 Best Sulfate-free Shampoos

Dry to very dry hair, especially medium to thick, is the target of Pureology Hydrate, a salon moisturizing formula. Pureology says it's vegan, made without parabens or mineral oil and safe for color-treated hair. A flower mark on the cap shows how much to use, which helps a pricey bottle last. The clear lavender, bergamot and patchouli scent can bother a sensitive scalp, and its moisture claim comes from the maker's own testing.

Color Wow Color Security is a clear gel shampoo built to rinse away completely. The maker leaves out silicones, oils and the conditioning agents many formulas deposit on purpose, on the theory that leftover film dulls dyed hair and flattens fine hair. It suits color-treated hair that goes flat or greasy quickly. Because it adds nothing back, dry or coarse hair will need a good conditioner after it, and opinions on its lather and value are mixed.

Made for fine hair that goes limp under heavier formulas, Verb Ghost is a lightweight daily wash with moringa oil, green tea extract and plant proteins. Verb says it's vegan and safe on color-treated hair, and it uses mild cleansers in place of sulfates. It's made in the U.S. It leaves fine hair soft and full, though it can feel greasy on some heads. The frizz figure Verb advertises comes from four Ghost formulas used together, not this bottle alone.

Dry, curly and coily hair, from loose waves to tight coils, is what Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla is made to moisturize. Lisa Price started the brand in her Brooklyn kitchen. It blends aloe, vanilla and rose, with no mineral oil, parabens or artificial colors, the maker says. The sweet, strong scent wins most people over. Lather and moisture are hit or miss, and the pump can stop working, so you can end up pouring from the bottle.

Sensitive or itchy scalps are the reason to choose the CeraVe Gentle Hydrating, which skips fragrance, dyes, parabens and the preservative methylisothiazolinone. It carries the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance, and the maker calls it safe for color-treated hair, all curl patterns and ages 3 and up. The main cleanser is a sulfonate, not a sulfate but still a strong detergent, which matters if you avoid sulfates for allergy reasons. It can leave hair greasy.

Buying a whole routine at drugstore prices is simple with the L'Oreal Paris EverPure Moisture set, which pairs the shampoo with its matching conditioner for dry or color-treated hair. L'Oreal says both are vegan, add rosemary and are made without parabens, the preservative DMDM hydantoin, added phthalates or gluten, and it claims four weeks of color protection from its own testing. The musk and herbal perfume is noticeable, and the tubes are small, so long hair goes through them fast.

Natural, textured hair from loose waves to tight coils gets a rich shea butter wash at a low cost per ounce in Cantu Cleansing Cream. Cantu says it contains no sulfates, mineral oil, parabens, silicones, phthalates, paraffin, propylene glycol or alcohol, so it's a rare pick that's both sulfate-free and alcohol-free. It washes out heavy buildup while leaving curls soft. The rich cream can be too heavy for fine or straight hair.

Dry, damaged or heat-styled hair gets argan oil from OGX Renewing Argan, a low-cost bottle sold nearly everywhere. OGX says the current formula is made without sulfated cleansers, parabens, phthalates, microplastics or dye, and it claims, from its own testing, that the newer version better protects hair's proteins and lipids. A matching conditioner and oils come from the same line. The citrus, floral and woody scent is strong, and the oil that softens dry ends can leave fine hair flat.

Color-treated hair that's lost its shine is the job for Redken Acidic Color Gloss, a salon formula with a slightly acidic pH that helps the hair's outer layer lie flat and reflect light. Redken's shine figure compares hair after the shampoo plus a separate gloss treatment with unwashed hair, so read it as marketing, not proof. It has a lemon, jasmine and vanilla scent, the price is salon-level, and very dry hair may want a richer formula.

Mixed Chicks makes this mild wash for hair that's been colored, relaxed or permed, and the brand says it cleans straight, wavy and curly hair without stripping the oils curls need. It's built on avocado, sweet almond and aloe, with no parabens or phthalates, the maker says. The warranty covers only bottles bought from an authorized seller, so check who's selling before you order. Little independent information on the formula exists, and the small bottle makes it pricey per ounce.