The 19 Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos for Clean, Non-Stripped Hair

Best Overall

Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo

$37 at Amazon $11 at Sephora $37 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Keravis protein, astaxanthin | Scent: Fresh | Size: 9, 33.8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Our favorite sulfate-free shampoo is this gem from Pureology. It has a creamy texture that lathers beautifully, creating a sensorial experience as you work it across your scalp. It does a nice job of removing oil and build-up without stripping the hair, and it leaves all hair types looking and feeling soft. We're also giving it bonus points for containing keravis, a strengthening protein that can prevent hair breakage.

Best Budget

OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo

$6 at Amazon $11 at Ulta $13 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Coconut milk, coconut oil, egg powder | Scent: Fresh, sweet | Size: 13 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

Some of the best SLS-free hair washes are super affordable. Case in point: OGX. This drugstore gem is suitable for all hair types and textures—leaving just about all who use it with glowing, healthy, and beautiful hair after every wash.

After testing the product ourselves, we noticed that the milky, creamy consistency lathers easily on wet hair. And even better, the formula didn't weigh our hair down, nor did it leave a residue post-shower.

Read Full Review: OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo Review

Best Drugstore

L'Oréal Paris EverPure Moisture Shampoo

$10 at Amazon $10 at Ulta $9 at Target

Key Ingredients: Natural surfactants, botanicals | Scent: Rosemary | Size: 11 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

L'Oréal was among the first drugstore brands to launch a sulfate-free haircare line. This shampoo promises to clarify your scalp with natural surfactants and restore moisture, all while offering an impressive lather sans sulfates. We love that it lathers beautifully, gives the scalp a deep clean, and doesn't dry out our ends.

Read Full Review: L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Moisture Shampoo Review

Best Luxury

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo

$44 at Amazon $36 at Sephora $55 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, caviar extract, rice protein, soy amino acid | Scent: Fresh | Size: 16.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

If you can spring for the steeper price, we highly recommend Alterna. This top-shelf shampoo calls on caviar extract to improve elasticity and prevent UV damage, while rice protein and soy amino acids strengthen each strand.

Best Volumizing

NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Volume Shampoo

$19 at Amazon $15 at Ulta View on Cultbeauty.com

Key Ingredients: Rice protein, soy protein, stem cells | Scent: Japanese cherry blossom | Size: 11.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If it's volume that you're after, this chemistry lab-inspired container has your name on it. In addition to adding body and strengthening with plant-based proteins, it contains stem cells to prevent shedding and encourage healthy hair growth.

Best for Split Ends

Rucker Roots Smoothing Sulfate-Free Shampoo

$14 at Amazon $14 at Target $17 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Plant extracts, plant oils | Scent: Herbal | Size: 8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Split ends got you down? This natural cleanser is filled with nourishing plant oils like avocado and olive to smooth brittle hair, prevent breakage, and restore shine.

Best for Curly Hair

Curls Dynasty Moisture Rich Shampoo

$13 at Target $11 at Curlsdynasty.com

Key Ingredients: Aloe, fruit extracts, plant oils | Scent: Minty, sweet | Size: 8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This sulfate-free shampoo was formulated specifically with curly and coily hair in mind. It contains a bunch of natural butters and plant oils to moisturize and add bouncy luster. We also love that it has a nozzle tip so you can get right to your roots with the formula.

Best for Color-Treated Hair

Amika Vault Color-Lock Shampoo

$22 at Amazon

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, amino acids, sea buckthorn | Scent: Sweet, citrus | Size: 10 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

"If your hair is color-treated, a sulfate-free shampoo is recommended in your wash day routine to help preserve your color," James says. We like Amika Vault, which is formulated to enhance vibrancy, prevent fading, and deliver all-around healthier hair.

Best for Damaged Hair

Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

$30 at Amazon $15 at Sephora $30 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, vitamin B5, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate | Scent: Fresh | Size: 8.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Damaged hair? Olaplex won't let you down. After testing, we found that it saved bleached, brittle hair, helped prevent breakage, and made our hair feel stronger and healthier. It also has a nice lather and does leave a residue on fine strands.

Best for All Hair Types

The Mane Choice H2Oh! Hydration Therapy Deep Cleansing Shampoo

$12 at Walmart $3 at Sallybeauty.com

Key Ingredients: Biotin, sea minerals, glycerin | Scent: Fresh, herbal | Size: 8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

"This shampoo is sulfate-free and provides a deep yet gentle cleanse to remove excess oil, dirt, and pollution," James says. The strengthening formula contains a blend of detoxifying properties, she adds. This includes red and brown seaweed and kelp extract "to enhance hair's natural shine and improve manageability."

Best for Sensitive Scalps

Aveeno Oat Milk Blend Shampoo

$8 at Amazon $9 at Target $8 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal | Scent: Sweet | Size: 12 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

If you've got a particularly sensitive scalp, this pick from Aveeno is your best bet. This shampoo leans on colloidal oatmeal to soothe irritation while gently cleansing without any sulfates.

Best for Shine

Gisou Honey Infused Hair Wash Shampoo

$72 at Amazon $13 at Sephora $37 at Revolve

Key Ingredients: Mirsalehi honey, argan oil, vitamin B5 | Scent: Sweet, floral | Size: 11.1 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Gisou's Honey Infused Hair Wash promises to nourish brittle hair, smooth flyaways, add shine, and gently cleanse without stripping your hair. The creamy texture lathers well and leaves the hair with a luster. We also love that it comes in a convenient pump bottle.

Best for Straight Hair

LolaVie Restorative Shampoo

$29 at Ulta View on Lolavie.com View on Credo Beauty

Key ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide biotin | Scent: Floral | Size: 8.5 oz.  | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There are few celebs more well-known for good hair than Jennifer Aniston, so it makes sense that she launched a haircare line. While the shampoo is great for all hair types, we find it works especially well on straight strands, leaving them softer, smoother, and sans tangles. It’s free of sulfates, as well as silicones, parabens, and phthalates, and made from 96% naturally-derived ingredients. The clean, floral scent is just the icing on the cake.

Best for Wavy Hair

Odele Smoothing Shampoo

$12 at Target

Key ingredients: Glycerin, aloe, rice protein | Scent: Clean | Size: 13 oz.  | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This brand offers a unique (and hard-to-come-by) combination of clean, effective formulas, chic packaging, and affordable prices. The smoothing sudser is choice for those with thicker, wavier hair, helping to smooth the texture and combat frizz while still letting your natural waves show. It imparts plenty of shine, too, and touts a fresh fragrance.

Best for Oily Hair

Ouai Detox Shampoo

$14 at Amazon $14 at Sephora $32 at Ulta

Key ingredients: Chelating agents, hydrolyzed keratin, apple cider vinegar | Scent: Rose & citrus | Size: 10 oz.  | Cruelty-Free: Yes

As the name suggests, this formula is ideal for deeply cleaning both the hair and scalp, removing excess oil, as well as mineral build-up from hard water. Still, unlike many other detoxifying or clarifying shampoos for oily hair, this is still gentle enough that it can be used daily, without overstripping your scalp or stands.

Best for Keratin-Treated Hair

Kerastase Discipline Smoothing Shampoo

$42 at Amazon $42 at Sephora View on Kerastase-usa.com

Key ingredients: Morpho-keratine complex | Scent: Floral | Size: 8.5 oz.  | Cruelty-Free: No

Consider this shampoo a little extra add-on to your in-salon keratin treatment. Yes, it’s sulfate-free and safe for keratin-treated hair, but it’s also smoothing and humidity-fighting in and of itself, further helping to amplify the effects of that in-salon service. 

Best Moisturizing

Native Moisturizing Shampoo

$10 at Target $10 at Walmart $10 at Nativecos.com

Key Ingredients: Coconut, vanilla | Scent: Coconut, vanilla | Size: 16.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Sulfate-free shampoos are generally milder and less likely to cause irritation or dryness on the scalp. This Native shampoo is great at gently cleansing, replenishing moisture, and providing a healthy shine. Those with dry scalps will appreciate this gentle, non-stripping formula.

Best Volumizing

Love Beauty And Planet Sulfate-Free Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower Shampoo

$15 at Amazon $9 at Target $9 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Shea butter | Scent: Clean | Size: 32 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Love Beauty And Planet's creamy, sulfate-free shampoo is a must-have if you want to maintain the health and hydration of your curls and coils. It encourages a beautiful bounce and leaves fine hair feeling strong and voluminous.

Best for Dandruff

Head & Shoulders Color Protect Shampoo

$11 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Argan oil, zinc, Manuka honey | Scent: Rose | Size: 11.8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

You can combat dandruff without risking irritation by using Head & Shoulders' dandruff-fighting and sulfate-free shampoo. The formula's advanced technology deeply moisturizes the scalp and hair from root to tip while controlling dryness and itchiness. And—just as the name suggests—this shampoo is great at protecting colored hair.