Sulphates are a divisive ingredient in the world of haircare. They create a foamy lather and remove dirt and excess oil to leave your hair and scalp feeling fresh. But they can also cause irritation and dryness, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Sulphate-free haircare products have become more widely available in recent years. They claim to take a gentler approach to sloughing away grime, cleaning thoroughly without stripping away moisture and colour.
So, to see which are worth a place on your bathroom shelf, the Good Housekeeping Institute tested a range of sulphate-free shampoos.
Our experts and panel of 510 testers rated these top, but scroll on for their full reviews.
1
Best sulphate-free shampoo
Kérastase Discipline Bain Fluidealiste
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2
3
4
Best for damaged hair
JOICO Colorful Anti-Fade Shampoo
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5
Best for adding softness
Matrix Keep Me Vivid Colour Enhancing Shampoo for Coloured Hair
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6
7
8
Best for improving colour vibrancy
Fekkai Technician Color Shampoo
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9
10
Is sulphate-free shampoo better for hair?
A good sulphate-free shampoo will give you clean, conditioned hair without weighing it down or leaving it looking too wispy.
Katie Allen, founder of boutique London hair salon MAYFIVE, recommends using it on coloured hair to keep your shade looking vibrant for longer, and naturally drier hair, including curly styles.
“Shampoos that are heavy in sulphates can result in colour fade and frizzy hair,” she explains. “Sulphate-free shampoos aren’t as abrasive and will cleanse hair without ruffling cuticles unnecessarily.”
If you suffer from a scalp condition, such as dandruff, Katie suggests using a product containing sulphates until it clears. You can then move on to something gentler.
Katie’s top tip: For the most effective results, wet your hair thoroughly and squeeze a small amount of shampoo into your palms. Rub your hands together to create a lather, before applying it directly to the roots and massaging it through. If it isn’t lathering sufficiently, add a bit more water.
Will a sulphate-free shampoo still clean hair?
Don’t worry, sulphate-free shampoos will still rid your hair of all unwanted residue. You're bound to notice less foaming lather, but this doesn't affect performance. Instead, alternative cleansing agents are used to provide a deep clean.
How we test sulphate-free shampoos
We recruited 510 at-home testers to lather up and rinse their way through 39 sulphate-free shampoo brands.
They assessed how easy each product was to apply and distribute across hair, how well it lathered (if applicable) and washed out, and how it left their hair looking and feeling after drying.
In the GHI lab, our experts used a Dia-Stron machine to measure how easily a comb moved through hair switches after washing them with each shampoo. They also applied artificial sebum to the switches and used a Sebumeter – designed to measure oil and sebum levels – to judge how effectively each shampoo cleaned.
1
Best sulphate-free shampoo
Kérastase Discipline Bain Fluidealiste
Score: 94/100
Promising to leave your locks feeling lighter, smooth and soft, this Kérastase shampoo is a great all-rounder, scoring full marks in our lab tests. Our testers found its lather thick, creamy and “luxurious” and loved that their hair felt smoother and looked shinier after washing.
It rinsed out easily and most agreed their hair felt cleaner. Many also noted how soft and manageable it left their hair, with some testers saying it stayed smooth for a few days after use.
Key specifcations
| Conditioner | Kérastase Discipline Fondant Fluidealiste |
|---|---|
| Size | Shampoo, 250ml |
| Paraben free | Yes |
2
Best for coloured hair
Pureology Hydrate Shampoo
Score: 91/100
This shampoo claims to keep your colour around for longer, and many of our panel found it boosted vibrancy. They raved about its “salon-quality lather” and almost everyone thought their hair felt more hydrated after use. Many said it helped reduce flyways and improve smoothness, too.
Key specifcations
| Conditioner | Pureology Hydrate Conditioner |
|---|---|
| Size | Shampoo, 266ml |
| Paraben free | Yes |
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Score: 89/100
Redken’s frizz-fighting formula aims to improve smoothness and shine, and our lab tests proved it does just that. Impressively, almost all our testers found the shampoo helped control frizz, without leaving any unpleasant residue.
All were happy with its lather, saying a small amount foamed up well and distributed evenly through their hair.
Key specifcations
| Conditioner | Redken Frizz Dismiss Conditioner |
|---|---|
| Size | Shampoo, 300ml |
| Paraben free | Yes |
Score: 87/100
Enriched with omega fatty acids that not only aim to resurrect damaged ends but also protect them from further damage, this left all testers with longer-lasting colour, with almost everyone seeing an improvement in vibrancy.
Everyone appreciated the gentle formula, which effectively cleansed and created the perfect lather. They all loved the texture too, and found it quick to rinse out. It kept frizz at bay for many and almost all reported softer, smoother and more moisturised hair.
Key specifcations
| Conditioner | JOICO Colourful Anti-Fade Conditioner |
|---|---|
| Size | Shampoo, 100ml |
| Paraben free | Yes |
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5
Best for adding softness
Matrix Keep Me Vivid Colour Enhancing Shampoo for Coloured Hair
Score: 87/100
If you're tired of dyed ends feeling rough and frail, this is the shampoo to buy. It improved softness all round, with every tester saying they'd keep using it after the trial.
Most said it helped their colour last longer, with everyone reporting improved hydration. No one experienced any irritation, with one tester loving how much “fuller and shinier” their hair looked after a few washes.
Key specifcations
| Conditioner | Matrix Total Results Keep Me Vivid Colour Enhancing Conditioner |
|---|---|
| Size | Shampoo, 300ml |
| Paraben free | Yes |
6
Best for a deep clean
Living Proof Restore Shampoo
Score: 86/100
Claiming to leave hair looking visibly healthier, this shampoo aims to deeply nourish damaged locks by reversing dryness. It scored top marks for how well it cleaned, and it left our panel’s scalps "soothed" with its light, non-drying lather.
It also made hair feel silkier, without any flattening, and its push-up dispenser made washing in the shower easier. It performed brilliantly in our lab tests, too.
Key specifcations
| Conditioner | Living Proof Restore Conditioner |
|---|---|
| Size | Shampoo, 236ml |
| Paraben free | Yes |
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7
Best for dry hair
Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Yoghurt Shampoo
Now 20% Off
Score: 85/100
Designed for treating extremely dry and brittle hair, this shampoo combines the smoothing effects of shea butter, manuka honey and yoghurt to restore moisture and manageability.
Many testers commented on how luxurious this product felt to use and liked how soft, shiny and well-nourished it left their hair. Our lab tests backed up these results, finding it effective at smoothing and detangling.
Key specifcations
| Conditioner | Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate & Recover Conditioner |
|---|---|
| Size | Shampoo, 384ml |
| Paraben free | Yes |
Score: 85/100
If your colour is in desperate need of a pick-me-up, look no further than this shampoo. The formula is designed to shield hair from environmental aggressors and colour-dimming free radicals.
Did it work? Well, our testers said their post-wash colour appeared more vibrant, with almost everyone enjoying softer, smoother and more hydrated hair. It calmed frizz and boosted shine for everyone.
Key specifcations
| Conditioner | Fekkai Technician Color Conditioner |
|---|---|
| Size | Shampoo, 250ml |
| Paraben free | Yes |
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9
Best for a gentle clean
Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo
Now 22% Off
Score: 84/100
Not only did this shampoo prove highly effective at removing artificial sebum from hair in our lab test, but all our panellists loved the gentle cleanse it provided, too.
Everyone agreed that it helped banish frizz and almost all found it irritation-free. It proved kind to coloured hair, boosting vibrancy while slowing down the fading process for most.
Key specifcations
| Conditioner | Redken Colour Extend Magnetics Conditioner |
|---|---|
| Size | Shampoo, 300ml |
| Paraben free | Yes |
Score: 82/100
This shampoo aims to smooth hair and fight humidity, resulting in tresses looking glossy and frizz-free.
Our testers loved the formula’s luxe gold colour, while almost all said the shampoo made their hair shinier and most found it helped to smooth frizz. In our lab tests, it also scored well for detangling and smoothing hair.
Key specifcations
| Conditioner | OGX Hydrate & De-Frizz + Kukui Oil Conditioner |
|---|---|
| Size | Shampoo, 385ml |
| Paraben free | Yes |
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11
Best for smoothing hair
Moroccanoil Smoothing Shampoo
Score: 81/100
Formulated for frizzy hair, this shampoo uses argan oil to improve smoothness and manageability. Producing a rich, creamy lather from a small amount, our testers loved how a little went a long way.
It was easy to rinse out and kept frizziness at bay. Almost all our panel agreed this product left hair feeling softer and well-nourished. In the lab, this struggled to detangle as well as some other options, but still put in a respectable performance.
Key specifcations
| Conditioner | Moroccanoil Smoothing Conditioner |
|---|---|
| Size | Shampoo, 250ml |
| Paraben free | Yes |
Score: 81/100
Claiming to protect hair cuticles from moisture loss, this shampoo provided a deep clean for all our panel thanks to its rich lather.
It was effective at diminishing frizz and static – one tester noted that the smoothing effect lasted even on damp days – but some natural curls were lost. Everyone agreed their hair felt clean after washing, and most said they would continue using this product after the trial.
Key specifcations
| Conditioner | Monat Advanced Hydrating Conditioner |
|---|---|
| Size | Shampoo, 237ml |
| Paraben free | Yes |
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13
Best for adding bounce
Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Sulfate Free Shampoo
Score: 81/100
If you love the bounce that comes with blow drying but hate the resulting heat damage, this shampoo offers a great compromise. Our testers loved the scent and thought their hair looked much bouncier post-wash. It also ramped up shine for almost everyone.
Key specifcations
| Conditioner | Bumble and bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Conditioner |
|---|---|
| Size | Shampoo, 250ml |
| Paraben free | Yes |
Why trust the Good Housekeeping Institute?
Here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, we've been rigorously testing products to sort the best from the rest for over 100 years.
Our beauty testing manager, Maria Kumar, has previously worked as a formulation scientist within the pharmaceutical industry and a product developer for EstéeLauder Companies. She uses her industry experience and technical knowledge to help us find the most effective formulations for different goals and sensitivities.
Senior beauty writer, Florence Reeves-White, has written about beauty, wellness and lifestyle products for over six years, previously working for a skincare brand where she took the science and ingredients lists and translated them into easy-to-read copy.
In short, a lot of expertise and experience goes into testing and trialling products for your bathroom shelves, so you can trust them to work for you.
Florence Reeves-White
Senior Beauty Writer
Florence is our Senior Beauty Writer, specialising in expert-tested beauty and grooming reviews — from toothbrushes to the latest skincare launches. She’s committed to sharing recommendations for products that truly work and make people feel confident and healthy. Prior to this she was at Tropic Skincare, where she worked closely with biochemists in the lab, delving into the functions of each fresh, natural ingredient and conveying its efficacy to her audience in easy-to-digest terms.
With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work.
When she isn’t packing for a trip away, working out, eating out or reading up on retinol serums, you’ll probably find her experimenting with her film camera and building her portfolio of portraits. Florence’s photography can be found at florencereeves-white.com, her Instagram is @florencereeveswhite and her twitter is @floreadsnwrites
Tested byMaria Kumar
Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager
Maria is our Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager, and since joining in mid-2022, she has managed the testing for mutiple categories including scalp scrubs, collagen supplements and retinol serums. In addition to her master's degree in chemical engineering and a diploma in cosmetic science, she recently received her MBA from the London College of Fashion, focusing on case studies within the beauty industry. Prior to joining the company, she worked within the global technical team at the Estee Lauder Companies for over six years, collaborating with the chemists and engineers to launch luxury beauty products at scale and to quality. She has also worked as a formulation scientist within the pharmaceutical industry and takes this evidence based approach into all her product testing.
