The Very Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos

Stephanie Louis, the owner of Brooklyn’s Stylebox Salon, emphatically recommends Verb Ghost as a universal sulfate-freeshampoothat “works for EVERYBODY.” (Emphasis hers.) She adds that “it’s probably the best shampoo we’ve ever worked with” because, “no matter the hair texture or type, it detangles with ease,moisturizesimmediately, and doesn’t leave hair feeling heavy with product.” Louis also told us this versatile shampoo won’t bleed out color if you’re using it oncolor-treated hair. She’s not the only one who loves it — Verb Ghost is among the best-rated shampoos at Sephora, according to some 900hyperenthusiastic reviewers, one of whom wrote that “it feels almost magical when it lathers.” This is a not-insignificant detail because, as we noted above, sulfates are often what makes shampoos foam up, so it can be harder to find a sulfate-free one with lathering properties, let alone “almost magical” ones. (Another Sephora reviewer raved that Verb Ghost “basically gave me shampoo-commercial hair.”) Louis’s emphatic endorsement of Verb as a sulfate-free shampoo safe for any hair type, coupled with the Sephora reviewers’ praise for it (and its reasonable price tag), helped it earn its place at the top of this list. “It’s really amazing, top-shelf stuff,” Louis promises.

For less than half the price of Verb Ghost, you can get this (same-size) bottle of sulfate-free shampoo from Monday, a popular New Zealand–based hair-care line that recently became available in the States. Hair stylistJenna Perry, the founder ofJenna Perry Hair Studio(which caters to clients including Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski, and Chloë Sevigny), particularly likes the brand’s Smoothing Shampoo for its frizz-battling formula that she says “smells great.” It’s one of several sulfate-free shampoos offered by the brand: Others include amoisturizing shampoofor dry hair and avolumizing shampoofor fine hair (which one of the writers of this story, Dominique Pariso,bought back in February and now swears by). So, as Perry puts it, there is a formula that “doesn’t break the bank” for most anybody.

Louis says this sulfate-free shampoo carried by mostdrugstoresis the one to grab if you’re doing a quick CVS or Duane Reade run. She notes that “even though it says it is for ‘extremely dry, brittle hair,’ it really is for any hair type.” Plus, she says the Shea Moisture shampoo can double as aconditionerin a pinch: “It’s really good at leaving the hair super-moisturized even without conditioner.” If you’re looking for something that delivers even more hydration, you could try Shea Moisture’s sulfate-free Protein Strong Treatment, which Strategistcontributor Shammara Lawrence saysher dry curls “drink up.” (Lawrence also told us she notices that she sheds less hair after using it.)

While Hagel told us you really need to wash your hair only once or twice a week, some people may find it hard to give up their daily habit. If that sounds like you, this Davines shampoo formulated forall hair typesis the only one on the list specifically formulated to be gentle enough to use seven days a week. “Davines shampoos are a favorite of mine,” says Jordan, who notes that they are also organic. “They use disodium laureth sulfosuccinate as their surfactant, which is considered to be very safe for humans because the molecules are larger than other surfactants and can’t penetrate the skin.”

Since you’ll be going through a daily shampoo a bit quicker, you might want a more affordable option. Strategist writerKrista Bennett DeMaio, who is a big proponent of thedaily wash, recommends this one. “Odele’s volumizing shampoo uses gentle, sulfate-free surfactants and lightweight conditioning ingredients, making it easy to use often without drying hair or weighing it down. It leaves hair feeling clean, light, and subtly lifted rather than overly slick or coated,” saysBennett DeMaio. “It’s worth noting that this shampoo is also a favorite of my tween and teen — and for the affordable price, I’m willing to share.”

A clarifying, or detox, shampoo is designed to be used weekly to break down any product or hard-water buildup. K18’s Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo is the clarifying shampoo of choice of three separate Strategist beauty writers (includingBennett DeMaio, myself, and Tembe Denton-Hurst). It’s color-safe and relies on a mix of salicylic acid and activated charcoal to get rid of excess dirt and oil. It also, as the name would suggest, contains peptides, which helps to reduce protein loss caused by chemical treatments and heat styling. “From the first wash with theK18 Peptide Prep, I was impressed with how moisturized my hair still felt,” Denton-Hurst writes. “My curls popped back and my scalp felt squeaky clean. When my hair dried, I noticed it was a bit bouncier than normal, like my curls were finally buildup free.” Since her initial wash, she’s been using the product for eight months and has repurchased it four times. “My hair has never been happier, and I feel good knowing that my hair doesn’t just look good but is healthy too.”

In the Strategist’s guide totaking care of natural hair, hairstylist Nigella Miller, the owner of Nigella Hair Studio, says that those looking for a deeper clean from a sulfate-free shampoo should check out SashaPure Healing Shampoo. “It really removes buildup,” she promises of the product, which is also color-safe.

Denton-Hursthas writtenthat whilesulfate-free shampoo“is relevant for all hair textures, it’s even more important with 4C hair, which is particularly prone to dryness and tangling.” Hairstylist Stasha M. Harris, the owner ofMagic Fingers Studio, likes this shampoo from Design Essentials for 4C hair, telling us “it cleanses all buildup as well as softens the texture,” which, when used with theaccompanying conditioner, makes hair easy to detangle and prevents breakage when combing through it.

For those withfine hairwho need something to give their locks oomph, Dhiran Mistry, a stylist at the David Mallett salon, says Living Proof’s sulfate-free Full Shampoo is “great for creating more volume.” It does so, he explains, by “removing residue and product buildup on hair and scalp, leaving the roots fuller and less weighed down.”

“For a double-process, I love this classic shampoo,” says Emaly Baum, the colorist atSuite Carolinewho took our writerRio Viera-Newton from brunette to blonde. She calls it a simple, everyday shampoo that will notdrydouble-processed hair out. The formula contains fortifying Amazonian nut oils, coconut, and shea butter, resulting in a product that Baum says is “nourishing and won’t strip your color.”

Hagel first told us about Aveda’s Invati line when we asked about the best products to treatthinning hair. She uses the brand’s three-part system (shampoo, conditioner, and scalp spray) to treat her own thinning hair, but explains that you can buy just the shampoo if you’re looking for a sulfate-free option specifically for thinner hair. Hagel says it’s a particularly good idea to go sulfate-free if you’ve got thinning hair because harsh sulfates won’t help the already sensitive state of your strands.

A cheaper sulfate-free shampoo for thinning hair, according to hairstylistMatilde Campos, is Color Wow’s Security Shampoo. Not only is it free of sulfates and silicones, but “it cleanses the scalp and unblocks follicles that can cause thinning hair,” she explains.

If your hair-length goals are inspired byRapunzel, Gregorio Ruggeri ofSalon Ruggerisays the sulfate-free Act+Acre Cold Processed Hair Cleanse “helps nurture the growing process” because the formula includes rosemary, which stimulates circulation in thescalpand promotes healthy hair follicles. The product also contains vetiver, lavender, and amaranth oil, all of which strengthen and moisturize hair strands. Together, he says its ingredients promote the growth of strong hair from root to tip, so you’re less likely to experience breakage.

Campos calls this shampoo “the holy grail” for those with damaged hair. “This product deposits keratin protein directly into the hair, changing it from the inside out to counteract any damage caused from hot tools, chemicals treatments, and color applications,” she explains. “You will feel a difference immediately after shampooing.”

Those dealing with excess oil should look for a sulfate-free rebalancing shampoo to help make their hair look (and feel) less greasy. This one from Davines comes recommended by two experts:Pickthorn SalonownerChelsey Pickthornand hairstylist Matt King, the director of education at Manhattan’sFox and Janesalon, who calls it “a great option for people who are looking to handle anoily scalpwithoutdrying out their hair.”

ThoughBennett DeMaiorarely dyes or heat styles her hair, it still manages to get dry, especially during the winter months. Her go-to moisturizing shampoo is fromRōz. “My hair was noticeably softer and silkier (I couldn’t stop touching it all day) but still had body. It also looked shinier and overall healthier,” she writes, even after just one wash. “It’s formulated with botanicals, ceramides, and coconut surfactants to clean without stripping hair of its natural oils. Bonus: The brand sells refill packs so you can reuse the aluminum bottle.”

“To my curly hair gals,” says Campos, “your curls will feel incredible and easy to detangle” after using this shampoo. She calls a “must-have go-to” for those with thick hair “in need of moisture,” because the sulfate-free shampoo’s “incredible blend of oils will not weigh hair down, but will de-frizz, silken, and soften it.”

Louis says this product is like her favorite Verb Ghost shampoo “but for tightlycurledhair.” When hair is super-curly, you usually have to rely on a conditioner to do the “heavy lifting” of detangling, she explains. But “you won’t have to worry about that if you use this incredibly effective product” she says. Like the Verb Ghost, this shampoo is also color-safe.

Finding a shampoo that’s right for your hair and is also kind to your skin can be a struggle, especially if you’reacne-prone. Dermatologist Dr.Sapna Palepof Spring Street Dermatology says those who break out on their scalp or hairline should generally look for shampoos free of comedogenic ingredients like oils, fragrance, and, yes, sulfates. One such shampoo that both Palep and dermatologist Dr.Hope Mitchellrecommend is this one from Seen, a dermatologist-formulated line that Mitchell says is free of “sulfates, phthalates, silicones, dyes, or pore-clogging oils.” The shampoo (and companion conditioner) are formulated for all hair and skin types and can be purchased fragrance-free — always a better option for sensitive skin — or with a light scent for those whose skin can tolerate it. Another fan of this shampoo isStrategist deals writer Leah Muncy. She says that after using it and the conditioner for three months, the breakouts she typically gets around her hairline and behind her ears vanished and that her hair and skin “are looking the best they have looked in years.”