I Tested All the Popular Sulfate-Free Shampoos—and These 24 Were *Chef's Kiss* (2024)

The charcoal and salicylic acid are the dynamic duo responsible for giving me my best hair days after I use this clarifying shampoo. Salicylic acid helps chemically break down oils and grime on my scalp, while charcoal physically exfoliates away flakes and buildup (ahem, all the dry shampoo I layer on). I just massage this in my roots and rinse once a week, always following with a deep conditioner.

THE REVIEWS: "I thought it would’ve made my hair dry and brittle but it was actually the opposite," writes one tester. "I actually enjoyed using this."

I never thought a sulfate-free shampoo could make my oily roots feel clean, lifted, and not weighed-down—until I tried this super-light formula from Ouai. It uses other strong (albeit non-stripping) surfactants to dissolve oils on my scalp—plus it's got a dose of biotin and chia-seed oil to lightly hydrate my hair without making it lose its volume.

THE REVIEWS: According to a reviewer, "I have both very fine and oily hair… a difficult combination when it comes to trying to attain volume, thickness, and texture. This shampoo really helps to provide a foundation for that."

If it feels like every curly hair shampoo stretches out your curls and waves, try this weightless option from Curls. Instead of heavy oils and butters that just sit on top of your low-porosity hair (which, btw, means you hair doesn't absorb water or products as easily), it uses lightweight aloe vera to hydrate, along with soy protein to strengthen.

THE REVIEWS: "I did not expect this product to detangle my hair and clean it at the same time," one tester writes. "Wow. It smells great, has a really nice lather, and restores my curls with every wash."

Want fluffy, bouncy, soft AF hair? Lemme intro you to this moisturizing shampoo from JVN. It's legit chock-full of squalane, aloe-leaf juice, and panthenol—all of which majorly hydrate your hair and scalp, leaving it feeling smoother and healthier.

THE REVIEWS: According to one tester, "I recently started using this shampoo and it has been so good for my hair. It's been protecting and restoring shine to my hair without weighing it down. My hair is so incredibly soft and smooth and my scalp feels hydrated and nourished."

The MVP of this sulfate-free shampoo? Hyaluronic acid, which pulls water into your scalp and hair to give it major hydration. This pick is also filled with other moisturizers, like squalane, seabuckthorn oil, sesame-seed oil, coconut oil, and polyglutamic acid (a similar but even more hydrating version of HA). Basically, if your scalp has been feeling tight and flaky, suds up with this bb once or twice a week and follow with a deep conditioner for a scalp and strands that feel nice and moisturized.

THE REVIEWS: One review reads, "The very first time I used this shampoo I swear it worked some magic to seal over the majority of my noticeable broken ends, made my hair stronger, and looked and felt healthier. Plus, it smells so good and you only need a tiny bit to lather your scalp. It is triple the price of my drugstore shampoo, but it is definitely worth it to me to have great-feeling hair."

I'll be the first to admit that I'm generally pretty skeptical when it comes to clean beauty. But I'm fully obsessed with this clean shampoo from Roz (created by celebrity hairstylist extraordinaire Mara Roszak). It makes my hair feel very soft, but definitely cleanses my greasy roots too, thanks to a blend of medium-strength surfactants and moisturizing ceramides. I can only imagine a better hair day when Roszak herself is doing my hair, tbh.

MY REVIEW: In a shocking turn of events, my oily hair looves this shampoo. It makes it feel so soft and smooth without weighing it down or making it feel greasy in like 12 hours.

Most dandruff shampoos make my hair feel like absolute straw because they're filled with drying sulfates. Not this one, tho. It helps kill dandruff with MVP anti-fungal pyrithione zinc, while safflower seed and coconut oil help seal in moisture on my stands. Plus, it actually smells so good—like a refreshing citrus cocktail, not tar or sulfur (gross).

THE REVIEWS: "I have been using Jupiter Shampoo for a couple of weeks now, and I am absolutely thrilled with the results!" one review reads. "If you struggle with dandruff or an itchy scalp, this product is a game-changer. First and foremost, the reduction in flakes and itchiness is remarkable. Within just a few uses, I noticed a significant improvement. It's amazing how quickly Jupiter Shampoo gets to work and tackles these annoying issues."

FYI: The key to defined curls is actually breaking down the buildup that can often pull them out, which typically requires sulfates. But washing once or twice a week with this sulfate-free shampoo from Design Essentials will help wash away some oil and grime, while lightly coating your strands in avocado and sweet almond oil to help lock in hydration. P.S. This shampoo is fully Curly-Girl Method-approved (meaning it has no sulfates, silicones, waxes, or alcohols).

THE REVIEWS: "The shampoo is sulfate free, which is very important to me, since my hair tends to be on the dry side," writes one reviewer. "The first time I used it, I was actually stunned at how soft my hair felt after only shampooing. It makes great suds, so I cut back on how much I use and it still works great. My hair feels soft and moisturized even before using the conditioner."

If there's one thing you should be doing for your 4c coils, it's sudsing up with this low-lather shampoo that's loaded with moisturizing oils. Made specifically with 4c hair in mind, this ultra-gentle shampoo will very lightly cleanse your roots while moisturizing your scalp and hair with argan oil, aloe, and panthenol. No wonder nearly every tester gave it five stars.

THE REVIEWS: "It gets better and better every week," reads one tester's review. "My hair is super hydrated finally! My curls are defined and popping. No more dry hair 4C hair for me."

Most volumizing shampoos are filled with mega-harsh cleansers that just strip your hair in order to give it some lift. But this one from L'Oreal Paris actually uses a handful of mild cleansers, plus salicylic acid to chemically exfoliate my scalp to break down oils and product. I massage it through my roots twice a week, then smooth on a lightweight leave-in conditioner and volumizing spray for hella volume.

THE REVIEWS: "My hair is really silk straight with no texture, so even though it's thick, it goes really flat without a good volumizing shampoo," writes one reviewer. "I've tried so many, and this is my favorite, by far, in terms of performance."

This shampoo is sulfate-free, but it’s also free of parabens and phthalates (a plus for anyone inching into the green-and-clean beauty movement). It’s especially great for anyone who has dry, damaged hair from heat styling or color treatment, since it hydrates, boosts shine, and helps prevent breakage.

THE REVIEW: "My stylist got me on this brand and now every time I see her she tells me how great my hair feels since I’ve started using this brand of shampoo and conditioner. I had very dry, frizzy hair, live in the desert, and have hard water. Now my hair is soft, shiny, and well moisturized," one customer writes.

This drugstore sulfate-free co-wash is ideal for super-dry curls and/or anyone with type 4 hair. The low-lather formula gently breaks down dirt and buildup while simultaneously conditioning the hair with moisturizing panthenol and argan oil.

THE REVIEW: "I'm a bi-racial woman with dry, fine, curly hair. When I initially found this product I was simply looking for a good conditioner to co-wash my hair with in between shampoos. This co-wash leaves my hair hydrated and shiny with bouncy curls," writes one tester.

There’s a reason every stylist swears by this sulfate-free shampoo. In addition to gently cleansing your strands, it helps reverse breakage, minimize frizz, and repair split ends by mending broken protein bonds along the hair shaft.

THE REVIEW: "I bought this to help me make my healthy, and it worked! My hair is stronger, and the BEST thing is that my hair doesn’t knot NEARLY as much as it used to. I have thin, blonde hair that tangles every five minutes—now with Olaplex, I could go two days without brushing it and not notice...it’s that good," one review reads.

I’ve been using this sulfate-free shampoo on my fine, straight hair for weeks now, and I’m truly obsessed. The plant-based formula is made with clean ingredients, like shine-boosting aloe vera and deep-cleaning hibiscus extract, and makes my hair look and smell amazing. The best part though? The gentle formula is safe to use every day, which is ideal if you‘re a frequent washer like me.

THE REVIEW: "Wow I am in LOVE. The scent is beautiful, and feminine, and smells like sweet citrus. As someone who struggles with an itchy scalp and build-up, it works SO well. Get it!!!!" reads one tester's review.

This ultra-nourishing sulfate-free shampoo is infused with antioxidant-rich superfoods like bananas, coconuts, and acai to help moisturize, nourish, and repair your hair as you wash. Oh, and the fruity fragrance smells like a tropical vacay, which, hey, I’ll take.

THE REVIEW: "I am obsessed—I love the way it feels when applying it onto your head, and I love how foamy it is, and I love the smell because it is just gorgeous. I totally recommend this one to try out!" one reviewer writes.

Special smoothing molecules in this sulfate-free shampoo make your hair ridiculously soft and give it mirror-like shine (the dream, if you ask me). And don’t worry—the lightweight formula won’t weigh down fine hair, meaning it can be used on all hair types and textures.

THE REVIEW: "This is a great shampoo! When paired with the matching conditioner, my hair really does have less frizz. I have dry hair that is prone to frizz, especially near the scalp, and this duo helps reduce the frizz by a lot!" reads one review.

Hydrate and nourish your curls while you cleanse with this ultra-hydrating shampoo from Pattern Beauty. The creamy formula is sulfate-free (duh) and infused with coconut oil, honey, and aloe vera.

THE REVIEW: "I'm brand new to Pattern and it's completely life-changing for me! I always say that my hair has everything you don't want in hair—it's curly, wavy, thick, and difficult to style...this morning was the first time I used [this product] and my hair has never ever felt better!!! For the first time in my life that I can recall, my hair and my scalp look and feel hydrated and nourished!!" one tester writes.

This sulfate-free shampoo for curly hair doesn’t just clean your coils—it deeply moisturizes them too. It’s packed with moisturizing plant oils, like baobab seed, kernel, and coconut, to coat your hair with strengthening and softening nutrients that’ll keep your curls healthy.

THE REVIEW: "Wow. This product, along with the conditioner, is a game-changer!! I’m South Asian and have thick, frizz-prone, 2b type hair. I have been long exhausted by the search for the perfect shampoo/conditioner that cleans but doesn’t dry out my hair and protects it from frizz," reads one review.

Want to give your fine hair more volume and body? Get it in the shower with this sulfate-free shampoo. It contains vitamin B3 and lemongrass extracts that help amp up fine, limp hair.

THE REVIEW: "This is my favorite shampoo. I recently tried some others, but I'm back to this one. I have a lot of straight fine hair, and this shampoo gives me the most volume of any other shampoo I've tried, without using any additional products and without drying my hair out. The smell is nice but doesn't linger afterward, which I like so it doesn't clash with my perfume. I highly recommend it!" one review reads.

Shampoo scalp scrubs are having a moment right now, but they’re not all created equal (some can damage the shit out of your hair). If you want to use one, make sure it’s sulfate-free (like this one from Goop), and made with gentle exfoliating ingredients (i.e., salt or sugar particles) that won’t cause breakage or irritate your scalp.

THE REVIEW: "It lasted a really long time—I wash my hair about once a week—it lathers so nicely, smells great, helps with dandruff/itchy scalp, and I feel like my hair looked its best after use. I have long fine hair that lacks body and gets dry ends but still frizzes at the top. I noticed this shampoo really helped with frizz and body.