The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (2024)

Reviews Beauty

Written by Mara Leighton and Remi Rosmarin; edited by Maiya Pascouche

Updated

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (1)

  • Best overall
  • Best drugstore
  • Best for fine hair
  • Best for color-treated
  • Best for dry hair
  • Best luxury
  • Best for curly hair
  • Best for oily hair
  • Best custom
  • Best for damaged hair
  • Best for thick hair
  • Best nourishing
  • Best for dandruff
  • Best smoothing
  • Best for volume
  • Best for frizz
  • Best hydrating
  • Best clarifying
  • Best natural
  • Most gentle
  • What to look for
  • FAQs

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Sulfates get a bad rap in the beauty industry — mostly for a good reason.

While typically a safe and effective cleanser, sulfates can simply be too good at their job — washing away more oil than is necessary, leaving hair feeling dry and brittle or the skin and scalp feeling itchy and irritated.

"Since sulfates are harsh cleansing agents, they are prone to drying hair out," Shab Reslan, a certified trichologist and NYC hairstylist, 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 color fadage, frizz, dull-looking hair."

For those who have just undergone a keratin or color treatment, sulfates can break down the chemicals and shorten the lifespan of the treatment.

The good news is that plenty of the best shampoos these days ditch sulfates completely and instead opt for more mild surfactants that give your hair a great clean without stripping your strands of those much-needed oils.

If we had to pick a favorite, we'd go for the Iles Formula Haute Performance Shampoo. While pricey, this salon-favorite shampoo has a unique formula of lesser-known ingredients (like silk protein) that work together to fortify locks and imbue each strand with serious shine.

If you're looking for a nourishing sulfate-free shampoo to add to your repertoire, we've got you covered with 20 industry favorites below. With so many great choices, we'll let you dive in and find the 'poo that's right for you.

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Our top 5 picks for the best sulfate-free shampoos

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (2)

Iles Formula Haute Performance Shampoo

Silk proteins make your locks voluminous, bouncy, and, like you’d expect, silky-smooth.

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (3)

L'Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Moisture Shampoo

You can’t beat this color-protecting, moisturizing option for the price.

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (4)

Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo

This formula targets dryness, and breakage, and boosts volume without weighing down fine hair.

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (5)

Kerastase Bain Chroma Respect Shampoo

Invest in this shampoo that helps you make the most of your color.

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (6)

MONDAY Moisture Shampoo

An affordable hydration boost with coconut oil, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid.

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Best overall

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (7)

Iles Formula Haute Performance Shampoo

Silk proteins make your locks voluminous, bouncy, and, like you’d expect, silky-smooth.

What we like

  • Improves silkiness and shine
  • Proven to stop hair breakage

What we don’t like

  • Pricey
  • 3-part system for full effect

A hairstylist once told me that paying for an expensive haircut or highlights is a waste if you don't follow up with high-quality haircare products at home. You don't need to spend a fortune, but investing in a really good shampoo ensures you get the most out of your salon treatment by helping your cut or color last longer. The Iles Formula Haute Performance Shampoo has been a standout of all the salon-recommended shampoos I've tried.

This shampoo works on all hair types, including hair treated with keratin, color, and extensions. Whether your hair has experienced serious damage or you're in the market for an everyday product to leave hair feeling smooth, this shampoo has your back. From the first wash, it'll leave your locks shiny, bouncy, and silky-smooth. Even better, with time the formula will strengthen and fortify your strands for overall healthier hair. While pricey, this shampoo pays for itself in great hair days.

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Best drugstore

Great Price

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (8)

L'Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Moisture Shampoo

You can’t beat this color-protecting, moisturizing option for the price.

What we like

  • Affordable
  • Great for softness and shine
  • Moisturizing

What we don’t like

  • Not ideal for oily hair

Made specifically for color-treated hair, L'Oreal Paris' Moisture Shampoo uses rosemary to pump up and shine dull hair without stripping the surface. According to the company, it's a close (and, if so, notably cheaper) peer of Bumble and Bumble and Kerastase.

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Best for fine hair

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (9)

Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo

This formula targets dryness, and breakage, and boosts volume without weighing down fine hair.

What we like

  • Color- and keratin-safe
  • Targets dryness and dullness
  • Volumizing and nourishing

What we don’t like

  • Pricey
  • The scent can be overpowering

When you have fine hair, it's a fine line between shiny and greasy, clean and dry, moisturized and weighed down. With less diameter per strand to work with, fine hair (even when you have a lot of it) is quite delicate and easily affected by the products you choose. That's why it's important to use a shampoo specifically formulated for your fine hair. The OUAI Fine Hair Shampoo cleanses, nourishes, strengthens, and adds volume to your crown without weighing it down. Plus, it smells lovely and clean and looks quite chic stationed in your shower.

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Best for color-treated

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (10)

Kerastase Bain Chroma Respect Shampoo

Invest in this shampoo that helps you make the most of your color.

What we like

  • Protects color and prevents fading
  • Nourishes and hydrates

What we don’t like

  • Pricey

When you get your hair colored, it's important to use products that prevent fading and maintain your color for as long as possible—both for your hair health and your wallet. As a brand used in salons and loved by haircare professionals everywhere, you can trust Kérastase to care for your color-treated hair at home. The formula hydrates, boosts shine, and cleanses gently without stripping hair of color. For those with thick color-treated hair, the Bain Riche Chroma Respect Shampoo offers a richer formula. For those with thick color-treated hair, try the Bain Riche Chroma Respect Shampoo which offers a richer formula.

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Best for dry hair

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (11)

MONDAY Moisture Shampoo

An affordable hydration boost with coconut oil, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid.

What we like

  • Affordable
  • Moisturizing and nourishing

What we don’t like

  • Scent might be strong for some

For the price, you can't beat MONDAY Moisture Shampoo for reviving dry, dull strands. The pH-balance, dermatologist-tested, paraben- and sulfate-free formula provides a much-needed daily (or however often you wash your hair) hydration boost. Shea butter and coconut oil moisturize, nourish, and soften, vitamin E repairs locks and protects hair from future damage, and several other conditioning agents and antifungal agents work together to reduce frizz, smooth strands, and treat dandruff.

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Best luxury

Indulge in this strand-smoothing shampoo's luxurious, sulfate-free lather.

Check price at Sephora Check price at Dermstore

What we like

  • Increases shine
  • Moisturizes and softens
  • Manages frizz

What we don’t like

  • Pricey

If you want to upgrade your everyday haircare routine, the Oribe Shampoo for Brilliance & Shine is a well-worthy splurge. This shampoo gently cleanses your strands while maintaining your hair's natural oils for lustrous locks that last all day. Not only does it cleanse the hair and boost shine, but it also uses Oribe's Signature Complex to protect hair from environmental elements, photoaging, and the deterioration of keratin. Beautiful packaging and fresh, signature Oribe scent enhance the product's luxury.

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Best for curly hair

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (13)

Curls Dynasty Cocoa Mint Moisture Rich Shampoo

Bring on the botanical extracts and oils with the Cocoa Mint Shampoo. Aimed at those with curly, coily, and kinky hair, this formula is like a smoothie for your hair.

What we like

  • Hydrating & nourishing
  • Cruelty-free
  • Black-owned business

What we don’t like

  • Some reviewers say it left their hair feeling waxy

Curls Dynasty's sulfate-, paraben-, and silicone-free Cocoa Mint Moisture Rich Shampoo has a nozzle cap for a controlled application to the scalp and a cocktail of hydrating ingredients such as organic coconut oil, organic olive oil, and shea butter. It caters to curly, kinky, and coily hair types.

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Best for oily hair

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (14)

Odele Clarifying Shampoo

This clarifying shampoo offers a deep clean to wash away buildup and help reduce oil production.

What we like

  • Dermatologist-tested
  • Removes buildup

What we don’t like

  • Only a weekly treatment

A clarifying shampoo deeply cleanses your scalp and strands, removing excess oil and leaving hair looking and feeling lighter, making it a great weekly treatment for those looking to manage oil production. To effectively remove oil buildup, many products rely on sulfates, but not the Odele Clarifying Shampoo. It's sulfate- and paraben-free, and free from all of the 1,300+ cosmetic ingredients banned by the EU. This dermatologist-tested, salon-grade shampoo uses chelation technology to remove impurities and restore hair's natural shine.

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Best custom

Staff Pick

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (15)

Prose Custom Shampoo

No matter how this shampoo is personalized for you, it’s always sulfate-, paraben-, and alcohol-free. You can save $10 on the 8.5-ounce bottle which is a great way to try it for less before you commit to subscribing.

What we like

  • Custom-made for your hair type
  • Subscribe and save option available

What we don’t like

  • Only available in the US

Prose is our go-to for custom, made-to-order shampoos and conditioners. Your unique formula starts with an online consultation. According to the company, your formula will be one of over 50 billion possible outcomes. Ingredients range from heavyweight natural ingredients like plum seed oil, fermented rice water, and spirulina extract to man-made alternatives that are simply the most effective options on the market. They're also all free of sulfates, GMOs, parabens, and a host of other potentially toxic ingredients. While Prose is a team favorite, we also like Function of Beauty.

Read our Prose vs. Function of Beauty review here.

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Best for damaged hair

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (16)

Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

The highly nourishing and reparative No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo restores hair from everyday stresses, including split ends and seemingly uncontrollable frizz.

What we like

  • Prevents damage and split ends
  • Very hydrating and nourishing
  • Cruelty-free, vegan, paraben- sulfate- and phthalate-free

What we don’t like

  • Pricey
  • Not for keratin-treated hair
  • Not ideal for oily hair/scalps

Olaplex hit fast fame in the beauty community with its three-step Hair Repair System that claims to use a patented active ingredient to repair broken strands right at the molecular level. Its shampoo — free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates — works to repair and protect hair from everyday stresses. It's also color-safe, like many sulfate-free shampoos.

However, if you're here for post-keratin treatment options, it may not be worth the high price: Olaplex notes that since said treatments seal or laminate the hair, you'll need to wait two to three weeks before Olaplex can be effective.

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Best for thick hair

Staff Pick

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (17)

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo

This silicone- and sulfate-free shampoo helps hair stay cleaner for longer, so you can expand the time between wash days.

Check price at Amazon Check price at Sephora

What we like

  • Great for dryness
  • Hydrating & detangling
  • Silicone-free

What we don’t like

  • Might be too heavy for fine hair types

Living Proof is another cult-favorite brand with a gentle, patented process for reviving damaged hair. The company's proprietary "Healthy Hair Molecule" works to smooth, polish, and protect strands for stronger, healthier hair without sacrificing volume. Living Proof says its formula also repels dirt and excess oil, meaning hair stays clean for longer. That adds up to fewer washes and a longer-lasting color for you, making it a great pick for those with thick hair looking to prolong the time between washes.

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Best nourishing

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (18)

OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Shampoo

Loaded with nourishing, strengthening ingredients this shampoo works to keep your hair looking and feeling hydrated and healthy.

What we like

  • Affordable
  • Large size
  • Great for softness and shine

What we don’t like

  • Some could find the scent overpoweringSome could find the scent overpowering

Treat yourself to a hydrating cocktail of creamy coconut milk, coconut oil, and whipped egg-white proteins to bring back strength, shine, and moisture.

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Best for dandruff

Staff Pick

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (19)

Jupiter Balancing Shampoo

This sulfate-free dandruff shampoo is safe for color-treated hair, helps to control oil production, and eliminates flakes.

What we like

  • Controls irritation for longer
  • Offers a pleasant scent of lavender, vanilla, and rosemary

What we don’t like

  • Regular use is needed to combat extra oily scalps

If you struggle with dandruff, the Jupiter Balancing Shampoo is our favorite sulfate-free option of the best dandruff shampoos. What makes this shampoo such a standout is the inclusion of Zinc pyrithione 1%, a scientifically proven, medicated active ingredient used to fight flakes. Most dandruff shampoos are really just focused on scalp health, but Jupiter is formulated with plenty of ingredients to moisturize locks and improve shine. We love that it works for all hair types, too, including color- and chemically treated. Some use this product daily, while others only use it a few times a week – depends on the severity of your dandruff.

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Best smoothing

Bumble and bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Shampoo

Tame frizz and soothe strands with this blend of six lightweight, nourishing oils.

Check price at Sephora

What we like

  • Increases shine and decreases frizz
  • Great for dryness
  • Detangles

What we don’t like

  • Some reviewers say it’s not great for color-treated hair

Bumble and Bumble products like this one aim for the fine line between deep hydration and lightweight, barely-there oils. This sulfate-free shampoo, like many on this list, was whipped up specifically for coarse and brittle hair to make it smoother and silkier post-use. Six oils — including sweet almond and grape — soften and add shine. It's also cruelty-free.

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Best for volume

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (21)

R+CO Dallas Thickening Shampoo

R+CO’s Dallas Thickening Shampoo helps breathe new life — and volume — into dull, thin strands by providing nourishment from root to tip.

What we like

  • Thickens hair
  • Intensely hydrates

What we don’t like

  • Might be too heavy for very fine hair
  • Some reviewers find scent overpowering

They say everything's bigger in Texas, which explains how R+Co's Dallas Thickening Shampoo got its name. Hero ingredients like biotin, saw palmetto berry extract, and coconut oil work together to strengthen your strands, add fullness, boost shine, and improve overall hair health. With every lather, this shampoo nourishes and strengthens your locks, leaving you with the big, bouncy mane of your dreams.

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Best for frizz

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (22)

Verb Ghost Shampoo

This moringa oil-infused formula smooths and tames frizz without weighing hair down.

What we like

  • Great for frizz
  • Adds shine
  • Color safe

What we don’t like

  • Some reviewers find it drying

Verb Ghost Shampoo is infused with moringa seed oil, which, if you haven't heard of it, is a new MVP in the natural beauty community. It hails from the highly versatile Moringa oleifera tree which is known for everything short of performing miracles; it's drought-resistant, its seeds can help purify water, and its leaves are believed to contain more calcium than milk. The tree's seed oil is full of hydrating monosaturated fatty acids, and Ghost Shampoo is meant to naturally smooth frizz and promote shine. Sunflower seed extract is included for natural UV protection and less color fading.

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Best hydrating

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (23)

SheaMoisture Deep Moisturizing Shampoo

Replenish moisture and nourishment to dry, damaged hair with this rich formula of shea butter, sea kelp, and argan oil.

A longstanding sulfate-free favorite, SheaMoisture's Raw Shea Shampoo uses organic shea butter, argan oil, and vitamin E to smooth and balance hair that's dry or damaged. The company traces itself back to 1912 in Sierra Leone, and it's been a historical leader in Black-owned haircare. Today, it's committed to ethically traded ingredients and sustainably produced products.

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Best clarifying

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (24)

Ouai Detox Shampoo

Say goodbye to gunk with this clarifying shampoo that gets to the root of your hair woes.

What we like

  • Improves texture and shine
  • Deep cleans without drying
  • Luxurious scent and packaging

What we don’t like

  • Pricey
  • Only a weekly treatment

Haircare products and environmental factors can take quite a beating on your mane over time. Gels, dry shampoos, and hairsprays make for show-stopping styles, but they can also clog hair follicles and trigger more oil production. Hard water and chlorine can leave your strands and scalp feeling dry and flaky. The good news is you don't have to avoid these things altogether; you just need a great clarifying shampoo in your rotation.

Whether your hair is feeling dry as straw or you've become a little too reliant on dry shampoo, The Ouai Detox Shampoo will bring your locks back to life. Apple cider vinegar helps exfoliate the scalp, chelating agents bind to the minerals and metals in hard water and styling products to remove buildup, and hydrolyzed keratin repairs damage and smooths the cuticle. All that, and it smells amazing? Sold.

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Best natural

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (25)

adwoa Baomint Moisturizing Shampoo

For a gentle clean that’s also easier on the environment.

Check price at Amazon Check price at Sephora

What we like

  • Combats dandruff and promotes regrowth
  • Vegan and cruelty-free
  • Black-owned business

What we don’t like

  • Small size

adwoa's vegan shampoo cleanses with mild cleansing agents to minimize dryness and scalp irritation and moisturizes with ingredients such as aloe leaf juice and essential oils. There are no sulfates, parabens, phthalates, or silicones.

Just remember to shake the bottle well before you use this shampoo; its oils may separate naturally.

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Most gentle

The 20 best sulfate-free shampoos for healthy, shiny hair (26)

Native Moisturizing Shampoo

A less is more approach makes this a go-to for a simple, gentle, everyday shampoo.

What we like

  • Affordable
  • Moisturizing

What we don’t like

  • Might be too gentle for certain hair types

Native's whole ethos is centered on simplicity, so its no wonder this shampoo is pared down to the basics–simple, clean ingredients that work. Plant oil-derived cleansers work to gently cleanse your strands while adding moisture for a soft, healthy shine. The formula is paraben-, dye- and sulfate-free, vegan, and cruelty-free. We love the minimalist packaging and fun scent combinations like Ocean & Timber, Warm Cider & Cinnamon, and Sweet Peach & Nectar.

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What to look for

Ingredients

When finding a great sulfate-free shampoo, you should focus on what isn't in the formula instead of what is. There are many types of sulfates, but the most commonly encountered in haircare products are sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). We also recommend looking for paraben-free options, as parabens can also cause irritation, and there are questions about their safety for your long-term health.

Hair type

Your hair type is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a shampoo. Sulfates are strong cleansing agents, which is why they're so prevalent in shampoo formulas, but they're also known to strip the scalp and hair of necessary natural oils and moisture. While those with thick or oily hair may have some oil to spare, those with dry, curly, damaged, or color-treated hair will likely experience irritation, breakage, and color fading.

Ultimately, choosing whether or not to use a sulfate-free shampoo is up to you. If you're unsure what's right for you, ask a haircare professional you trust for advice and recommendations.

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FAQs

Are sulfate-free shampoos really better for your hair?

The answer varies depending on your hair type. Sulfate-free shampoos are not inherently better for hair, but they are better for some people's hair. For many individuals, particularly those with dry, color-treated, and curly hair, sulfate-free shampoos are great for gentle cleansing while maintaining moisture and natural oils. Other hair types, like thick, coarse, or oily, will likely do just fine with the powerful cleanse from products with sulfates.

Who will benefit from a sulfate-free shampoo?

Many individuals can benefit from using a sulfate-free shampoo. A sulfate-free product is a safe choice if you have sensitive skin or dry, damaged, color-treated, or textured hair. Since products without sulfates are known to be more gentle, you'll experience less scalp irritation, hair dryness, and color fading.

Do sulfate-free shampoos clean your hair as well as sulfate shampoos?

Again, it depends on your hair type and needs. For some hair types, sulfate shampoos might clean hair a little too well, leaving it feeling more like straw than silk. Even if your hair is thick, coarse, and/or oily, you can still get a great clean without sulfates; just don't expect the same thick, foamy lather you get with a sulfate shampoo.

For those who don't wash their hair often, a sulfate option might actually be a good choice. "If you shampoo your hair infrequently, it can be more challenging to sufficiently cleanse your scalp due to increased product and sebum build-up," Reslan explained. "For those who shampoo daily, sulfate-free shampoos will do the trick." If you don't shampoo frequently, Reslan recommends alternating weekly with a sulfate shampoo to remove all the buildup so it doesn't look waxy or greasy as it dries.

Mara Leighton

Senior Digital Culture Reporter

Mara Leighton is a senior digital culture reporter. If you want to get in touch, please send an email to mleighton@businessinsider.com, or send a DM on twitter to @maraleighton.

Remi Rosmarin

Commerce Reporter

Remi is a former reporter for Business Insider's affiliate commerce team, Insider Reviews. After graduating from Colgate University with a degree in Creative Writing and Political Science, Remi joined Business Insider to help readers find the best products worth buying. Since joining the team in 2018, Remi has reviewed hundreds of products and interviewed founders of industry disruptors, such as direct-to-consumer startups Koio and Absolut Art. She specializes in women's lifestyle, but loves to learn about any and all products that add value and excitement to our everyday lives. Say hello at rrosmarin@businessinsider.com. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.

Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.

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