Sulfate is a surface-active ingredient in shampoo that tends to lather more than a normal product. The trouble is, it removes natural oils from the scalp and hair. What is the solution? Favor sulfate-free shampoos! To find the best sulfate-free shampoo, here’s a buying guide we’ve put together for you.
Here are the best sulfate-free shampoos you can buy right now
Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner Set – MagiForet Organic
This is a haircare duo pack with Argan Oil as the main ingredient which is perfect for dry and damaged hair. It is a shampoo with a natural formula for the healthy and rapid growth of your strands.
This Magiforet shampoo-conditioner duo is suitable for dry, curly, and colored hair. Ideal for men and women, it has great nutritional and revitalizing qualities in a natural-based formula. Correcting dry and damaged hair, it strengthens the hair making it soft, smooth, shiny for a tangle-free and manageable.
With a very pleasant odor, this product is free of grease. At this level, Magiforet adopts a natural-based formula combining argan oil with avocado, jojoba, camellia seed, and botanical keratin oil. Every natural ingredient used is the result of detailed research and careful design.
Osmo Super Silver No Yellow 1000 ml
Osmo Shampoo no yellow is formulated with extreme ultra-violet pigments to protect against unwanted copper tones. Treated without sulfate, this shampoo is intended for super-light, gray, or bleached hair.
Osmo No Yellow Shampoo with Silver Tube is a sulfate-free shampoo specially formulated for use on super-light, gray, or bleached hair. Made up of ultra-resistant purple pigments, it helps eliminate unwanted yellow tones.
Its 100% sulfate-free character makes it softer and more tender on the hair and therefore ideal for use on extensions. It transforms the color with a restored shine. This type of shampoo is suitable for use on both natural and synthetic hair types. For its use, it should be applied to wet hair, massaged well, and allowed to dry for about 1 to 5 minutes before rinsing it.
NYK1 Shampoo & Conditioner – Shampoo and conditioner for dry and colored hair
This is a duo pack with shampoo and conditioner for all hair types. Without sulfate, silicone, or paraben, NYK1 provides shine and softness to the hair thanks to castor oil and coconut oil.
NYK1 Conditioner Shampoo and Conditioner Pack is sulfate, sodium chloride, and paraben-free. It protects you against the risks of irritation and itching of the scalp while excluding the stripping effects of ordinary shampoos. Treated with keratin, it is composed of coconut oil and castor oil to protect your hair and hydrate it to the heart of its fibers.
The NYK1 pack is mainly intended for dry hair. It is also perfect for treating Brazilian straightening, colored hair as well as hair extensions. It includes 2 bottles of 500 mL, including shampoo and a conditioner with natural formulas based on castor and coconut oil to accompany you for months of use.
Urban Keratin Kit Duo – An excellent sulfate-free shampoo
Urban Keratin kit duo is a shampoo pack conditioner without sulfate, parabens, or silicone. Its formula rich in keratin and provitamin B5 is ideal for the care of hair from root to tip.
At first glance, this hair care pack seduces with the design of its 400 ml bottles. Sulfate-free, paraben-free, and silicone-free, Urban Keratin Kit Duo has been designed to gently care for the hair. Also acting at the level of hydration, the sulfate-free shampoo adopts a formula enriched with keratin and provitamin B5 to intervene on all the hair, from roots to ends.
The shampoo is defined by a light fragrance with a soft texture to offer a feeling of comfort and well-being. This product mainly provides a smoothing treatment for more flexibility to your hair with a clean and perfect appearance. After applying the shampoo, it is advisable to complete its action with the conditioner for complete and flawless hair care.
How to choose your sulfate-free shampoo?
Before buying a sulfate-free shampoo, take into consideration these few criteria, the effectiveness of your shampoo will depend on it:
1. The texture of your hair
Certain types of hair are more prone to dryness. For example, frizzy hair and very curly hair tend to be drier and more fragile, they need more oil/serum or cream to nourish and hydrate them.
If you have this type of hair, opting for a sulfate-free shampoo will be beneficial, as it will harm your hair less, making it easier to hydrate. They will also be easier to discipline, as the sulfate actually lifts the hair cuticles; frizz can occur when the hair cuticle is lifted, as it leaves room for moisture to plump the strands.
On the other hand, if your hair is fine, straight, and oily, shampoo with sulfates can work to give you volume.
2. Is your hair dyed?
There are several reasons why you should choose a sulfate-free shampoo if your hair is dyed: Dyeing dehydrates the hair, making it drier, especially if you had to strip your hair before dyeing it again.
A sulfate-free shampoo will allow you to spare your hair a little more after such a heavy operation. It will also allow you to preserve your new color as the sulfate can wash the color off the hair faster which will get you back to the salon sooner than you would like.
3. How often do you wash your hair?
If your hair is oily and you are used to washing it regularly enough to get rid of sebum build-up. In this case, a sulfate-free shampoo will not work for you.
Indeed, you will undoubtedly need the foaming action of sulphate shampoos to clean the excess sebum. If you wash your hair every few days or on a weekly basis, a milder shampoo should work fine for your hair.
4. Read the instructions on the bottles
The benefits of each individual brand and formula are usually listed on the bottle. To find the perfect match with your hair’s needs, read these instructions carefully.
But after all what are sulfates?
These are mainly surfactants (surfactants that attract both water and oil). Generally speaking, sulfates are the first ingredients listed on the label, identified under the acronyms SLES, SLS, and ALS (sodium Laureth sulfate, sodium Lauryl sulfate or ammonium Laureth sulfate respectively.). are very inexpensive ingredients, they work well as a detergent, but they can be very harsh on the delicate scalp, the hair and hair follicles are not able to handle these chemicals especially as they age.
In shampoo, sulfates help break down the oil, dirt, and buildup left behind by hair products. But they can also remove natural oils and proteins that keep your hair and scalp healthy (good hydration, shine, etc.)
For this reason, sulfate shampoos will not be suitable for people with sensitive or brittle hair and scalps. They will also not be suitable for children and infants.
Why switch to sulfate-free shampoo?
Shampoos without sulfates may not be convincing: since they don’t lather as much as those with sulfate, it might seem like they don’t clean as well. Which is not true. You may need to use a little more shampoo volume than usual, but the clean feeling will be the same.
In fact, sulfate-free shampoos use other more natural and less aggressive foaming agents: cleansers made from fruits and vegetables such as coconut, corn and sugar. Ingredients that also create lather without removing the good oils from your hair or causing discoloration (dyed hair).
In the end, you will have more results with a sulfate-free shampoo than with traditional shampoos:
- More shine
- Less hair loss
- Less frizz
- Brighter, longer-lasting color
- Fortified hair
- less scalp irritation
Why buy sulfate-free shampoo?
To adapt the care after a Brazilian straightening
Brazilian straightening forms a protective layer of keratin around your hair. But if you wash your hair with a shampoo that contains sulfate, the keratin obtained by Brazilian straightening will degrade little by little. So, in order to preserve the nourishing film of your hair, it is better to turn to a sulfate-free shampoo.
To take care of your scalp
The red patches and flaking on your scalp mean that it is sensitive and fragile. These symptoms may worsen due to the sulfate, as it has an irritating detergent effect. With a sulfate-free shampoo, your scalp will therefore benefit from a gentle wash and your hair will be better nourished. It will gradually restore the nutrients present in your hair and make them silkier.
To avoid weakening your hair
Sulfates are very harmful. Indeed, they dehydrate your hair and promote the appearance of split ends. Plus, sulfates prevent your hair from growing properly. By opting for a shampoo without sulfates, you will be able to avoid these problems.
To be able to wash your hair frequently
Washing your hair too often is not recommended. Indeed, it promotes the development of dandruff and damages the ends. You can avoid these effects by using a sulfate-free shampoo. This product is, therefore, more suitable for frequent use. In addition, this type of product is not aggressive for the hair and will have a restorative effect on your scalp.
To keep you in shape
Sulfate is not only harmful to your hair and scalp. It can also cause damage to your internal organs because it is absorbed by your body. Thus, sulfate-free shampoo is beneficial for both your beauty and your health. It is strongly recommended to use this type of shampoo, rather than another if you are a big athlete.
FAQ
Which sulfate-free shampoo to choose?
In our opinion, the best sulfate-free shampoo for most people is Liss Extreme (Maintenance Duo) from Lissara Professional. To learn more, read our buying guide.
Does sulfate-free shampoo make hair greasy?
The sulfate-free shampoo will not make your hair more oily. However, this type of shampoo doesn’t produce as much lather as it usually does, so you will have to put in more effort than usual to wash your hair. Make sure your hair is already damp before applying shampoo. Don’t be afraid of a second or third wash either.
Will sulfate-free shampoo help prevent hair loss?
Sulfate shampoos are known to cause dryness and breakage in some types of hair. If you have the same problem with your hair, trying a sulfate-free shampoo can help maintain the length.
Does sulfate-free shampoo cause dandruff?
No, but you might have to work really hard to get rid of your dandruff because these shampoos do not contain harsh stripping agents. For people whose dandruff is caused by dryness or irritation of the scalp, a sulfate-free shampoo can be quite helpful.
