Every now and again, a popular beauty slogan emerges, reminding us that we should all be more conscious of the products we use in our regular beauty regimens. Sulfates, for example, may be to blame for weak, brittle strands and that frizzy halo around your head that refuses to go away no matter how much hair oil you use.
“Sulfates are surfactants, so they attract both water and oil,” says dermatologist Dr. Hope Mitchell of Mitchell Dermatology in Perrysburg, Ohio. “After rinsing, sulfates strip the hair and scalp of their natural oils, moisturizers, and pigment, leaving behind dryness, flaking, and irritation.” And if you regularly pay for expensive color or keratin treatments, there’s bad news: sulfates strip the outermost layer of hair, decreasing the life of your treatments. While sulfates are found in up to 90% of hair-care products, Dr. Mitchell says there are effective sulfate-free shampoos available if you know where to look. We put on our research hats and interviewed two hairstylists and a dermatologist before testing dozens of sulfate-free shampoos to determine the best, most mild option. Here’s what passed our stringent standards.
Olaplex, probably the most recognizable “O” name—aside from Oprah, of course—unsurprisingly tops our list. When it comes to bond-building hair products, this brand produces some of the best. Its unique ingredient, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, is effective on all hair types and textures, according to Adriano Cattide, creative director of The Drawing Room in New York. It can repair broken links as effortlessly as snapping Legos together. Anyone who experienced the platinum-blonde fad or a damaging dye job would profit from Olaplex’s strength. Your hair will look salon-fresh after being rehydrated and greasy strands made to feel weightless. We particularly like how Olaplex limits the use of additional packaging to help lessen its carbon footprint, allowing you to share your good hair days with the planet.
One disadvantage is that those with thin hair may have some shedding after using the shampoo every day, so we recommend washing it once a week to begin.
This sulfate-free shampoo appeals to both millennials and Generation Z in one product: the cheery pink bottle (can we call it millennial pink?) is produced from recycled plastic, satisfying the climate-conscious young. However, Monday’s aesthetic is not the only reason why this has become a global phenomenon. Monday Smooth Shampoo provides salon-quality smoothness and shine at half the price of luxury products. Those who have suffered heat damage, have fine hair, or simply want a little more oomph rave about how it volumizes flat strands.
The recipe is color-safe, making it a more affordable alternative to more expensive color-treatment shampoos. The chef kisses this fan favorite with a refreshing and mild gardenia scent. One minor criticism is that the design should be more user-friendly so that it doesn’t take multiple pumps to get enough product out of the bottle.
This sulfate-free shampoo from Sisley Paris will leave you with fluffy, light, and silky hair. The device, which comes from a family-owned French company, will transform even a 10-minute morning shower into a spa experience. Its mixture combines macadamia, moringa, and other essential oils to revitalize and smooth hair. Depending on your hair type, you may be able to go longer between washes after using it, making it worth spending a little more because you’ll use it less frequently. Just be mindful of wasting product because the shampoo slips out of the bottle quickly.
