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The Best Sulfate Free Shampoos & Conditioners

Sulfates are not really our hair enemy. Sulfates such as SLES and SLS are chemicals that cosmetic companies have used for a long time for personal care products – such as shampoo, body wash,

  • SLES (INCI: Sodium Laureth Sulfate) sold under the trade name – Texapon N 70 manufactured by Basf.
  • SLS (INCI: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) often sold under the trade name TEXAPON OC-N manufactured by Basf

If you have sensitive skin using shampoos and conditioners with these ingredients may not be a good thing.

But the truth is not many people develop allergic to it if any observed with rashes, swelling, and even redness!

While sulfates are fine for healthy hair if you have fine, dry hair – prone to breakage due to losing natural oil.

Another concern is possibly the 1,4 dioxane is not totally eliminated during the production process. And companies didn’t indicate which products are 1,4 dioxane free because it is not regulated by FDA.

According to NCBI – There is no valid information that long term exposure to 1,4 dioxane in personal care products related to any health problems.

Cosmetic companies have developed formulas to make shampoos and conditioners sulfate-free.

These products will get the job done effectively without harming our hair or scalp in any way.

And it sill leaves the “feeling”, shampoos have the “sud” that you desire to scrub your hair and conditioners have the necessary slip needed to effectively condition and detangle your tresses.

My recommendation: Find shampoo and conditioners that contain nonionic surfactants from the alkyl polyglycosides (such as Plantacare 1200 UP – INCI Lauryl Glucoside) the most common are lauryl glucoside and decyl glucoside.

The head group is a sugar instead of a sulfate. They are 1,4 dioxin free and are gentle enough not to irritate your skin.

Your quest for sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners is over here is a list of sulfate-free shampoo and conditioners that you can incorporate into your hair regimen.

ImageTitleHair Type/TexturePrice
Product Image TopPureology Hydrate Moisturizing ShampooBest OverallSee Price
Product Image TopRedken Color Extend Magnetics ShampooColor-Treated HairSee Price
Product ImageTop Top Top TopShea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention ShampooDamagedSee Price
Product ImageTop Top Top TopOGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Moisturizing ShampooThin/FineSee Price
Product Image TopCOLOR WOW Color Security ShampooIdeal for All Hair TypesSee Price
Product Image TopHerbal Essences Sulfate Free ShampooEditor's PickSee Price
Product ImageTop Top Top TopBriogeo Curl charisma rice amino + avocado hydrating shampooFrizzySee Price
Product Image TopOGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Moisturizing ConditionerBest ChoiceSee Price
Product Image TopAveeno Rose Water & Chamomile Blend ConditionerBest for Dry Sensitive ScalpSee Price
Product Image TopCarol’s Daughter Goddess Strength ConditionerBest for Weak, Breakage Prone HairSee Price
Product ImageTop Top Top TopPantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal ConditionerDrySee Price
Product Image TopMoroccan Argan Oil ConditionerBest for Damaged, Dry, Curly or Frizzy HairSee Price
Product ImageTop Top Top TopRedken Colour Extended ConditionerColor TreatedSee Price

 

Sulfate-free Shampoos

All of these shampoos were manufactured with the need for your hair in mind. They are also rich in other chemicals and minerals that will cleanse and nourish the scalp of your hair.

Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Shampoo

Are you having a lot of problems managing and maintaining your thick colored hair? Then, you may want to try out the Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Shampoo.

With regular color treatments, your hair can quickly get dry and frizzy. The shampoo features a thirst-quenching formula made up of jojoba, green tea, and sage. These work together to deliver intense moisture to the hair, leaving it soft and healthy and putting an end to your dry hair dilemma!

With its signature aromatherapy blend comprising lavender, bergamot, and patchouli, you’ll enjoy great smelling hair all day long.  

Oh, and this shampoo is not just good for your hair. It’s also great for the environment and the animals—thanks to its vegan and cruelty-free formulation.

 

Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo

What makes the RedKen Magnetics Shampoo different from other sulfate-free shampoo is its RCT Protein Complex, exclusive only to RedKen. This complex treats the entire hair—from its roots to its core, ensuring that your hair will get all the nourishment it needs.

But wait, there’s more. This shampoo is more than just for thoroughly cleansing your hair.

Powered by science, the shampoo is acidic, perfect for balancing the pH levels of hair and maintaining your hair color in between your salon visits. Not only that, it uses a multi-targeted delivery system to enhance and prolong your hair color and shine.

 

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo

The Shea Moisture Shampoo is free of sulfates which is the ultimate go-to.

It contains other ingredients such as sea kelp and Argan oil. Not only will your scalp be thoroughly cleansed once applied and massaged it, but it will be nourished.

The sea kelp is high in vitamin B which will promote hair growth, strengthen it, and reduce hair thinning.

Lastly, Argan oil will keep your frizzy hair at bay which usually happens after cleansing your hair.

 

OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo

Another sulfate-free shampoo, that your scalp will thank you for later.

The key ingredient separate and apart from water is coconut milk.

Coconut milk is rich in fatty acids that will nourish your hair strands while the excess product is being removed from your hair strands and scalp. Thus, creating a balance for your hair.

 

COLOR WOW Color Security Shampoo

Are you struggling with determining your hair type and finding the right shampoo for preserving your hair color? The Color WOW Shampoo may just be the solution you’re looking for.

That’s because this shampoo is formulated to suit all hair types—thinning hair, curly hair, damaged hair, oily hair, or dry hair—you name it! As if that’s not enough, it’s also safe for extensions and keratin-treated hair.

In addition to preventing color fade, this shampoo is also known for having 100% cleaning power, leaving your hair fresh, smelling great, and above all—residue-free!

 

No-Poo Decadence Zero Lather Ultra Moisturizing Milk Cleanser

No-Poo Decadence Zero Lather Ultra Moisturizing Milk Cleanser

This shampoo is rich in milk, specifically chufa milk (also called Tiger Nut Milk).

Chufa Milk is rich in amino acids, minerals, and vitamins that will cleanse your hair and fortify it. It will cleanse your hair and strengthen it at the same time.

The milk fortifies your hair to protect it against damage from too much product, the UV rays, the toxic air, and even heat.

 

Herbal Essences Sulfate Free Shampoo

If there’s one thing to love about the Herbal Essences Shampoo, it is its natural and botanical ingredients. Featuring an 87% natural formulation, this shampoo comprises naturally derived ingredients and is completely free of sulfates, dyes, parabens, and mineral oil.

Bearing the Kew endorsed hair health seal, all the botanicals used in creating this product are of high quality and verified by the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.

Infused with multi-layered notes of jasmine, honey, and creamy vanilla, it will undoubtedly take you into a whole new fragrance experience.

 

Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo

If you have been keeping up with the trends in the beauty world, then you would be aware of the rice water phenomenon.

Rice water is rich in amino acids that will strengthen your curls. However, it can be drying and as such is usually followed up with a moisturizing conditioner. However, Briogeo created a product to bridge the two opposites.

A hydrated Rice amino + avocado shampoo was created to cleanse your scalp and hair, hydrate and define your natural curls and boost the volume that you so desire.

 

Sulfate-free Conditioners

Conditioning your hair is a vital step in your hair regimen because it provides the moisture and strength that your hair needs until your next wash day.

Hence, we have to find quality hair conditioners, i.e. without sulfate, that will nourish our hair.

OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Moisturizing Conditioner

With the OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Moisturizing Conditioner, dry hair is already a thing of the past.

Through its blend of coconut oil, coconut milk, and egg white protein, this conditioner can strengthen, soften, and hydrate your hair strands. These ingredients also help to boost your hair elasticity to reduce breakage and dryness.

Its coconut oil content also adds shine and luster to hair, while the added sweet honey moisturizes the hair from within.

Once applied, the conditioner leaves a fresh scent that combines the smell of coconut, shea butter, and white peach. Its tropical smell is one scent you can’t resist!

 

Aveeno Rose Water & Chamomile Blend Conditioner

It isn’t easy to find a gentle hair product that won’t irritate your sensitive scalp. The Aveeno Rose Water and Chamomile Blend Conditioner are here to put an end to your seemingly endless search.

With oat as its main ingredient, this conditioner is sure to deliver excellent cleansing properties to your hair strands. Add in chamomile and rosewater, and you will enjoy the excellent soothing properties that your sensitive scalp deserves. Both ingredients also help promote a healthy scalp environment for better hair growth.

With this blend of ingredients, the formulation can be used daily for fine or delicate hair.

 

Carol’s Daughter Goddess Strength Conditioner

Colored and treated hair is prone to breakage and split ends. What you need is a strengthening conditioner that will fortify your weak hair strands. If this is your case, Carol’s Daughter Conditioner might be one of the best candidates for you.

It features the Goddess Strength System delivers intense moisture to hair strands from the root to tips. With this system, the company claims that it can make your hair strands 15 times stronger, and you can experience 94% less breakage in just one use.

The conditioner contains a blend of castor oil and black seed oil that are great in detangling the hair and keeping it smooth and unruly to prevent unwanted breakage.

 

Deva Curl One Condition Original Daily Cream Conditioner

Deva Curl One Condition Original Daily Cream Conditioner

Deva Curl is a top-quality brand that is always manufacturing hair products that will nourish your hair strands.

Based on the name you can tell that the conditioner is very thick which it is. This thickness is created without the use of sulfate hence the slip provided is real.

It contains a lot of slip that will aid to properly detangle our hair whether we use our fingers, combs, brushes, or even detanglers.

Hence, it is a must buy. Also, it can double up as a leave-in conditioner to be used daily.

 

Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Hydrating Conditioner

Another sulfate-free shampoo that gives you the slip you desire without the harmful ingredients. This conditioner is very thick and the slip is real.

Once applied to your hair will condition it with the moisture and strength needed to rejuvenate your hair strands.

After rinsing your hair will be very satisfied because of the quality of the product. Lastly, it is very affordable so your bank balance will thank you.

 

Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner

Made with Argan oil, the Moroccan Argan Oil conditioner will deliver a moisturizing fix to your dry and treated hair. Dedicated to pursuing the highest standards of excellence, the maker uses 100% pure Argan oil from Morocco, which has become the gold standard for skin and hair hydration.

Aside from Argan oil, the shampoo also has Fibroin, which helps replenish nutrients and repair hair damage, leaving it stronger and healthier.

Moreover, it contains a holistic blend of natural ingredients, volumizing conditioners, and vital vitamins, which work together to bring your colored and damaged hair back to life.

 

Redken Colour Extended Conditioner

We decided to add in a conditioner for color-treated hair because everyone has color in their hair nowadays.

Sulfates are not good to be used with colored hair because it will remove the color and enhance the dryness of the hair.

Once our hair is dry it is susceptible to breakage, split ends, single strand knots and so much more.

This conditioner will provide the slip you need to condition your colored hair without resulting in it is dry to touch.

 

Not all of us will suffer from the use of sulfate, however, it is better to be safe than sorry.

These products have been tried, tested, and proven to work for others of different hair types.

Photo of author

Janella Domingo

Janella is a registered pharmacist with over 7 years of experience in the healthcare industry. As part of the Hot Styling Tool Guide Team, her responsibility is to check out and analyze the different ingredients of haircare products to ensure that all the product reviews in our site are accurate, fact-based, and unbiased.