The 10 Best Sulfate-free Shampoos
Special Honors
Shu Uemura Color Lustre This shampoo from Shu Uemura lathers quickly and rinses easily. Ideal for color treated locks, it balances the scalp's natural oils and protects hair fiber. It contains musk rose oil, which is rich in nourishing fatty acids, and goji berry extract, an antioxidant-loaded ingredient that keeps color from fading. shuuemuraartofhair.com
Ouai Clean Gentle and detoxifying, Ouai Clean is infused with the company's unique Smart Technology complex that works to refresh stressed tresses. It features a blend of amino acids, keratin, and tamarind seed extract, and its fragrance has notes of Italian lemon, Turkish rose, jasmine, iris, lily, and white musk. theouai.com
Oribe Shampoo for Moisture & Control Made for curly, kinky, and ultra-thick hair that's relentlessly dry, this offering from Oribe calms frizzy tresses and leaves them smooth and polished. It boasts a signature complex of watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower extracts to defend hair from oxidative stress and photoaging while protecting it from the drying, damaging, and color-depleting effects of the elements. oribe.com
Editor's Notes
February 13, 2021:
We made a few changes during this update not so much because there was any real issues with some of our previous recommendations, but rather we found one that we feel will appeal to a wider range of people, and one that fills a demand that wasn't covered well enough yet. For example, we removed Living Proof Full Shampoo because it is overly pricey, and in truth, while good, it simply isn't so amazing that it warrants the cost. We also eliminated L'Oreal Paris EverPure because its scent is very strong, and that can be a turn off for some. The new additions taking the place of the removed formulas are Verb Ghost and Design Essentials Super Moisturizing. The former is great because it works well on pretty much every type of hair, so everyone in a household can share it, and it is very gentle too, so you shouldn't have any issue if you use it on a daily basis. The latter works best for those with very tight curls and we felt we didn't yet have enough options represented here for those with this kind of mane.
September 27, 2019:
Everyone's hair and scalp are different, which is why you'll find such a wide range of formulas and ingredient types on this list, although you'll notice that we prioritized natural and sustainable ones. Consumers also have myriad goals when it comes to their tresses, so we included everything from thickening shampoos (Maple Holistics Biotin, Pura D'or Advanced) and color-protecting ones (Redken Magnetics, Mixed Chicks) to solutions that can help restore hair that's been damaged from styling tools like curling wands and flat irons (OGX Renewing). Some shampoos affect people differently, so you might have to try a few before you find something you love.
Every selection on this list is free of sulfates, with many also free of parabens, silicone, salt, petroleum, and synthetic colors and fragrances. Additionally, we sought out products that come from cruelty-free companies that are environmentally responsible.
We removed our previous #10 Aveeno Pure Renewal in favor of Living Proof Full, and due to recent complaints of a changed, watered-down formula with the Baebody Volumizing, we took the opportunity to replace it with Pura D'or Advanced.