In the past, sulphate was a staple of a good shampoo, but today the best sulphate-free shampoos are at least as good. It’s the sulphate in the shampoo that gives it its foaming properties, which for some contribute to a feeling of cleanliness and well-being.
Today, many want a sulfate-free variant. Here in this sulfate-free shampoo guide you will find the best and most popular variants on the market right now!
How to choose the right sulfate-free shampoo?
With the best sulfate-free shampoo, you can wash your hair shiny clean without worrying about allergens. Suitable for both children and adults, sulphate-free shampoos come in a variety of styles, so you’re sure to find one that matches your hair type.
Sulphates are known to dry out hair and when you switch to a sulphate-free shampoo, you’ll notice how your hair will be healthier and easier to deal with. Simply because the sulfate-free shampoo cares for your hair without drying it out at the same time.
Sulphate-free shampoos are hugely popular, which is why you can find many different shampoos on the market, all of which are sulphate-free. I have gathered the best of them here, so you can easily make your choice between quality products that will meet your expectations.
3 things we looked at when selecting the best sulphate-free shampoos
- Choose a sulfate-free shampoo that suits your hair type – It’s super important that your shampoo suits your hair type so that you’re providing your hair with exactly what it needs. Whether that’s moisture or repairing properties or both.
- Consider what ingredients may be in your shampoo – With a sulfate-free shampoo, you’ve already decided to actively opt out of this kind of chemistry. But what about parabens and fragrances?
- Choose a sulfate-free conditioner to use with the sulfate-free shampoo – For best results, I’d advise choosing a sulfate-free conditioner as a final treatment after washing your hair.
Sulfate-free shampoo is for those who want to take care of their hair and scalp
Interest in sulphate-free products is greater than ever, which fortunately means that the range of sulphate-free products such as sulphate-free shampoo is steadily increasing.
Sulphate is a known ingredient in the vast majority of shampoos, but not just shampoos – products like your body wash, cleansing milk, skintonic and toothpaste can also contain sulphate.
In fact, sulphate is highly cleansing and depleting, which is precisely why it’s not actually super suitable in high concentrations in hair and skincare products.
Using products that contain sulphate can cause your hair and scalp to dry out and become unbalanced.
However, hair and scalp imbalance is just one of many worrying side effects you can experience if you use products containing sulphate.
What is sulphate?
Sulphate is a detergent used in hair and skin care, make-up but also in many household products such as dishwashing detergent, all-purpose cleaners and washing powder.
What sulphate can do is effectively remove grease and dirt, in this case from the hair and scalp.
It’s also largely because of the sulphate of your shampoo, bodywash or toothpaste foaming up when they come into contact with water.
The two most commonly used sulfates in hair and skin care products are:
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
However, in order to “deceive the enemy”, SLES and SLS do not always appear under these names, but may also be listed in the product declaration as Sodium dodecyl sulphate, Sulphuric acid, Sodium salt sulfuric and Sodium salt.
However, there are also many other sulphates than these two (with the many names), examples of these are:
- Alkylbenzene sulfonate
- Ammonium laureth sulfate
- Sodium coco sulfate
- Sodium myreth sulfate
- Sodium xylenesulfonate
Fortunately for us consumers, products that are sulphate-free are often very good at making this clear on the label or in the product declaration. You can therefore safely assume that the product you are holding in your hand contains sulphate unless otherwise stated.
Is sulphate harmful?
With so much attention being paid to sulphates in hair, skin and makeup products, does that mean all sulphate is dangerous? No! It’s important to stress that sulphate-containing products are not associated with being carcinogenic or otherwise capable of provoking life-threatening disease.
BUT there are still many good reasons to avoid high concentrations of sulphate in products that come into direct contact with your skin and hair. I’ll go over the most important reasons to use sulfate-free shampoos now.
Why you should use sulfate-free shampoo
It makes a lot of sense to use as natural products as possible, both when it comes to body and hair care, but also when it comes to your detergent and more. The cleaner products we use, the less risk there is of your body going out of balance.
- Results can be allergenic
Excessive contact with large amounts of sulfate has been shown to be allergenic, in the same way that perfumes and other chemicals can provoke an allergic reaction.
It is therefore a good idea to use sulphate-free shampoo for your own hair and especially for your children’s hair. The less chemicals you expose yourself and your children to – the less likely you are to develop allergies.
- Sulfate dries out the scalp which can result in irritation or itching
Sulphate has powerful deodorising properties, which is the main reason why sulphate is found in the majority of cleansing products from shampoo to cleansing cream to washing up liquid.
But because sulfate is deodorant, it will also dry out your scalp, which can cause an irritated and itchy scalp.
You might think then that sulphate would be great for oily hair, but in fact sulphate will just increase the production of sebum in your hair, making your hair even oilier.
- Sulphate creates an imbalance in the scalp
The natural pH value of the scalp is between 4.5 and 5.5 and it is important that you use hair products such as shampoo, conditioner, hair treatment, hair styling products that all have a pH value that is within the range.
For example, if your hair styling products contain a high level of sulphate, you are destroying the natural balance of the scalp. This can damage the growth of your hair, but it can also leave you with very oily or very dry hair.
- Sulfate wears hair down
Studies have shown that sulphate wears hair down. This happens because the sulphate dries out the hair, making it more porous and prone to damage. Sulphate in shampoo and other hair styling products can also make your hair dull and frizzy.
- Sulphate ruins the colour of coloured hair
If you have coloured your hair, you should always use a sulphate-free shampoo. This is because sulphate has been shown to break down the colour in your hair, which is super annoying and means your hair loses its colour intensity and shine faster.
A coloured hair has already been exposed to chemistry which dries out the hair and if you use products with sulphate that also dry out the hair, you risk ending up with a haystack that puts your conditioner and leave-in conditioner to overwork.
- Sulphate destroys curls in the hair
Curly hair tends to get dry and frizzy, so it’s important to use hair care products that lock in moisture. It counteracts dryness and also acts as an anti-frizz on your hair.
If you have permanent curls or natural curls, you should therefore only use sulphate-free shampoo so that you don’t risk drying out your hair. The sulphate-free shampoo helps to lock in moisture. It gives more definition to your curls, it makes them shiny and it prevents your hair from starting to frizz.
Sulphate is not the only thing you should avoid in your hair care products
Clean products without unnecessary chemicals are all the rage. Many have become aware of the huge amounts of chemicals we expose ourselves and our children to daily, can be allergenic and cause imbalances in skin and hair.
So there’s every reason to put some thought into the products you buy. In the following I will talk about silicones, parabens and perfumes in products, which together with sulphates are the 4 ingredients that are legal, but that you should consider more carefully if you want in your hair and on your skin.
Silicone-free shampoo
Silicone is often used in hair care products because it wraps around every strand of hair like a membrane. This is one of the reasons why it is also frequently used in hair styling products with anti-frizz effects. Silicone makes every hair perfectly smooth, but nothing is free and neither is the use of silicone in hair products.
Silicone is not dangerous or harmful to your hair, BUT because it attaches itself to your hair like a film, it also prevents the other good active ingredients in your shampoo and other hair care products from penetrating properly into your hair, thus not conditioning and strengthening your hair.
Silicones in hair styling products should therefore be chosen with care. It makes sense in anti-frizz products, but it doesn’t make sense in your shampoo unless you don’t use other hair care products like conditioner, hair oil, hair serum etc.
Paraben-free shampoo
Parabens are a preservative found in many products designed for personal care. Preservatives prevent bacterial and fungal growth in the product and ensure that the product has a long shelf life.
But some preservatives, such as parabens, are suspected of disrupting hormones. They are suspected of reducing sperm quality in men and, not least, of being carcinogenic.
However, it is still legal to use most parabens in hair and skin care products and cosmetics. It is therefore up to the consumer to decide whether it is worth the risk or whether a paraben-free shampoo is the way forward.
Fragrance-free shampoo
Many people associate washing their hair with fragrant shampoos and hair, BUT if you have sensitive skin or a delicate scalp, fragrance is one of the things you should consider avoiding in your products. In fact, perfume has been shown to cause allergies.
8 tips for healthy and shiny hair
Healthy, shiny hair requires care and it doesn’t matter how you treat your hair if you want to avoid drying, loss of shine or easy breakage.
Different hair types differ, so it’s important to choose products that don’t contain harmful chemicals like sulphates and parabens, and to be aware of which products are worth choosing as part of your hair care routine, even if they contain silicone.
Here are my 8 tips for healthy, shiny hair that can grow long without breaking.
Choose the right shampoo and conditioner – and skip a wash
It’s super important that you choose a shampoo and conditioner that’s been developed specifically for your hair type, and so that it addresses any issues you might be experiencing with your hair.
It could be your hair is dry and damaged, it could be you want to boost your natural curls etc. But it’s also important that your shampoo and conditioner don’t disrupt your hair and scalp’s natural balance.
By choosing the purest products possible, like a sulfate-free shampoo, you will strengthen your hair as much as possible.
Give your hair a boost with a hair conditioner at least once a week
You can work miracles on your hair if you use a hair conditioner at least once a week. Where your conditioner works on the outer layers of your hair, a conditioner goes in and works deep with your hair.
A hair conditioner is therefore a huge conditioning boost for your hair that can add moisture while strengthening it.
Choose the best hairbrush and use the right brushing technique
Your choice of hairbrush has a big impact on the health of your hair. The wrong hairbrush will break and tear hair, and cause unnecessary wear and tear.
When choosing a hairbrush, choose a detangler brush or a wet brush when combing out wet hair and then use a round brush or flat brush when styling hair.
When combing out your hair, start by brushing from the bottom and slowly work your way up the lengths. This is by far the most gentle way to comb your hair.
Hair oil and hair serum are health elixirs for hair
When it comes to keeping hair healthy and strong, products like a hair oil and a hair serum really can revive dry and worn hair or keep your hair healthy.
A hair oil boosts hair with moisture, but at the same time it also ensures that the moisture is locked into the hair – a hair serum also goes in and works deeply with the hair, providing the moisture and care that the hair needs. If your hair lacks shine and strength, a hair serum is really effective.
Beware of hot hair styling tools and use heat protection for your hair
One of the things that damages our hair the most is our blow dryers, straighteners and curling irons. This is because our hair is not designed to be exposed to extremely high temperatures.
Our hair is almost entirely made up of keratin and when you heat your hair to over 180 degrees, the keratin starts to melt and your hair becomes porous and breaks easily.
So always use a heat protectant spray when styling your hair with a blow dryer, straightener, curling iron etc.
Avoid home colouring (and bleaching)
Every time you expose your hair to chemicals, you damage it – even when you dye or bleach your hair. There’s no doubt that it’s best to go to the hairdresser if you’re having your hair dyed or lightened – and if you do use home dyes, follow the instructions exactly and care for your hair thoroughly afterwards.
Check that your elastics and hair clips are not wearing your hair down unnecessarily
Many people don’t realise how much elastics and hair clips can wear on your hair if you don’t choose the right ones. In particular, elastics with metal closures are extremely damaging to your hair, both because they wear on your hair but also because the hair often gets caught in the metal closure and therefore gets torn out.
Therefore, choose elastics and hair clips that are gentle on your hair; scrunchies and other well-padded elastics are preferable.
Get those worn ends trimmed regularly
Worn ends really do make hair look worn and dishevelled, so it’s a good idea to get your ends trimmed at the hairdresser’s every 3 months or so – even if you want to grow your hair long.
When you get your ends trimmed regularly, you won’t end up with long, thin locks that don’t look like much anyway.
Summary & conclusion
After reviewing more than 10 sulfate-free shampoos, Louise Nielsen has chosen Hairlust Hair Growth & Repair shampoo as the best sufate-free shampoo of 2022.
However, 7 other popular sulfate-free shampoos were also reviewed, including Kevin Murphy Hydrate-Me Wash, Moroccanoil Moisture Repair, Redken Curvaceous High Foam Cleanser & Maria Nila Head & Hair Heal Shampoo… click here to see the rest!
6 frequently asked questions about sulfate-free shampoo
How do I find a sulfate-free shampoo?
Start with a list of which sulfates are better than others and check out the hair products you’re considering. You can also find a list of the best sulphate-free shampoo at Nbeautyguide.dk – recommended by your hairdresser.
Which sulphates should I avoid?
You should avoid shampoos with the following sulphates if you want a product that is gentle on your hair and scalp:
- Sodium Laureth / Myreth / Lauryl Sulfate
- Sodium Laureth / Lauryl Sulfate
- Ammonium Laureth / Lauryl Sulfate
- ATEA Lauryl Sulfate
- TEA-dodecylbenzenesulfonate
- Sodium Alkylbenzene Sulfonate
- Ammonium / Sodium Xylene Sulfonate
Which are good sulphates or at least milder ones?
The best SLS/SLES sulfate-free shampoos have natural, yet effective ingredients derived from coconut oil, for example. The list below gives an overview of which good sulphates, or at least milder ones, you can easily use:
- Coco glucoside
- Lauryl glucoside
- Decyl glucoside
- Caprylic glucoside
- Sodium Coco-Sulfate
- Sodium cocoylglutamate
- Disodium cocoylglutamate
- Sodium cocoamphoacetate
- Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate
- Sodium methyl cocoyltaurate
- Sodium methyl oleoyl taurate
- Sodium cocoyl isethionate
- Ammonium cocoyl isethionate
- Sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate
- Sodium lauroyl lactylate
- Cocamidopropyl betaine
What is sulphate?
Sulphate is a cleansing agent that is added to shampoos and other products to create an effective product that removes oil and dirt from the hair and scalp. They are therefore often included in cleansing products of one type or another. Sulphate has the ability to attract water, grease and oil.
Greasy and oily dirt on the scalp, skin and hair is loosened when the product is lathered with water. Incidentally, sulphates are also responsible for the foaming effect known from shampoos. Sulphate-free shampoo therefore doesn’t foam nearly as much.
Are sulphates dangerous and should I avoid them?
Sulphates are not dangerous. Some sulphates can be a little too thorough in their job of removing dirt, sebum and product build-up from the scalp, skin and hair. These types in particular can be bothersome to some and cause scalp problems. They simply remove too much of the natural oils we have in the scalp, leaving it dry and extra vulnerable.
The oils in the scalp help to ensure a healthy and active scalp. It is also the natural oils in the scalp that keep the hair moist and shiny. If you experience scalp problems, consider a shampoo without sulphates.
Should I avoid sulphates in shampoo?
No, but you should avoid certain types of sulphates. At the same time, you should also be aware that the ingredient that replaces the sulphates in your shampoo may not always be better.