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

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.