Naturals have a love-hate relationship with shampoo. We love that they cleanse our tresses but often they are just too harsh for our hair. Sulfates are the detergents in shampoo that cleanse away the dirt, pollutants and product build-up but they also strip away the natural oils we need to keep our hair moisturized. Well, we gotta clean our hair, right? That’s why sulfate free shampoo has become the saving grace for many naturals and continue to keep naturals happy!
Want A Shampoo Bar For Washing Natural Hair? We’ve Got 8 Of The Best!
Now, many naturals (including myself) have ditched shampoo all together and opted for cowashing cleansers or just washing with botanical conditioners. I love cowashing but know shampoos are still necessary sometimes but when I use one, I make sure it is sulfate free. Here are 10 of the top sulfate free shampoo that naturals use, love and swear by to get the job done.
Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo
I love this shampoo and so does my daughter. It works amazingly well, will lather just like a sulfate-shampoo and not strip your hair. The only problem with this shampoo is that not everyone has a Trader Joe around so you can get it on Amazon.com. It Contains No Laurel/Laureth Sulfates, suitable for All Hair Types, Cruelty Free – Never Tested on Animals and
contains Certified Organic Botanical Ingredients
Kinky-Curly Come Clean Shampoo
Another favorite of mine, Kinky-Curly Come Clean Shampoo works so well that you will think it really does have sulfates. I do not mean that in a bad way. I just mean, this sulfate free shampoo works great and the perfect choice if you have product build-up but leery on using a shampoo with sulfates. Kinky-Curly’s Come Clean Shampoo is specially designed to remove hard-water materials, leaving your hair and scalp feeling clean and moisturized.
Formulated with phytic acid, this shampoo is free of alcohol, sodium-lauryl-sulfate and parabens to make it gentle enough to use every day. Infused with mandarin orange extract and sea kelp, your hair will be smelling fresh and looking good.
OUIDAD Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo
Ouidad is a line worth trying and their Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo will tame those flyaways and calm the frizz. It is gentle, it is sulfate-free and it will beat humidity off your tresses. With Ouidad’s sulfate-free Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo, frizz-free curls start in the shower. Ouidad’s advanced blend of emollients (Shea butter, murumuru butter) and ceramides helps repair the cuticle and smooth its surface.
Benefits Of Clarifying Shampoo For Natural Hair
Ouidad’s high-performance anti-frizz nano technology with protein derived from silk seals the cuticle to form a barrier that locks in moisture and locks out humidity. A dedicated UV filter helps protect against damage from environmental aggressors.
SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo
SheaMoisture’s Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo is super moisturizing with the sea kelp, argan oil and shea butter. It has no sulfates, no parabens or gluten. This entire line is moisturizing and a favorite of mine. Simply Made with natural and certified organic ingredients for dry, transitioning hair. This amazing shampoo cleanses and hydrates while roviding hair with mineral-rich nutrition.
As I Am Curl Clarity Shampoo
The As I Am Hair line is extremely popular with Naturals and their As I Am Curl Clarity Shampoo with clarify with sulfates and removes old, dulling residue without drying out your hair. This shampoo gently removes product build up and environmental impurities from the hair and scalp while leaving behind moisture. It is structured to prevent hair from becoming dried out or rough looking and unmanageable and also safe for color treated hair.
I haven’t personally tried this one but it continues to get amazing reviews and several naturals have told me they use it regularly.
Mop Top Gentle Shampoo
Mop Top Gentle Shampoo is sulfate-free, water-soluble shampoo that will not dry out your hair but clean effectively yet gently. Gain moisture and softness wit ultra-clean hair.
Eden BodyWorks Peppermint Tea Tree Shampoo
EDEN BodyWorks is a fairly new line and they have impressed many Naturals with their spectacular line. The Peppermint Tea Tree Shampoo is formulated to help alleviate dry, flaking scalp and remove all gunk your hair does not need and it removes all traces of dirt and oil build up. Formulated with pure peppermint botanicals to help alleviate dry, itchy scalp. Peppermint Tea Tree Shampoo should be followed up with conditioner to restore moisture.

SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Shampoo
I have been using this the Jamaican Black Castor Oil Shampoo recently and have to say it is truly one of my favorites! It cleans and lathers without drying my hair out in the least! It takes so little to clean and will add tons of moisture and make you forget it is a shampoo! SheaMoisture’s Jamaican Black Caster Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo protects while restoring moisture and lustrous shine to dull, damaged or chemically processed hair.
Moisturizing Shampoo: 10 Of The Best For Natural Hair
Perfect for those who regularly color, straighten, perm or heat style their hair, as well as kinky, curly or wavy natural styles. Nutrient-rich Jamaican Black Castor Oil, certified organic Shea Butter and invigorating Peppermint combine in an ultra-moisturizing formula to protect against the damaging effects of high heat styling, while increasing hair’s resistance to breakage.
BRIOGEO Don’t Despair, Repair!™ Super Moisture Shampoo
BRIOGEO Don’t Despair, Repair!™ Super Moisture Shampoo is an ultra-hydrating, foamy shampoo that brings a surge of intensive moisture while removing dirt, oil, and buildup from the hair. This innovative formula merges the intense cleansing action of a shampoo with the moisture of a deep conditioning mask without weighing the hair down or stripping color.
BRIOGEO Don’t Despair, Repair!™ Super Moisture Shampoo is fortified with the same conditioning and repairing ingredients, like algae extract, panthenol, biotin, and rose oil, that are featured in Briogeo’s bestselling Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask. A unique combination of hydrating oils and reparative natural extracts repair and hydrate while removing dirt, oil, and buildup from the hair. This shampoo is perfect for someone with dry and damaged hair who wants the hydration of a co-wash, but intense cleansing with repair benefits.
Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Moisturizing & Detangling Sulfate Free Shampoo
I love this shampoo and for good reason. Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Moisturizing & Detangling Sulfate-Free Shampoo is a gentle moisturizing shampoo that helps hydrate, soften and detangle while cleansing your hair. Avocado oil moisturizes and repairs damage, while almond oil strengthens hair and adds silkiness and shine. Together, these ingredients deeply nourish and hydrate your hair and seal the cuticle layer for easy detangling and smooth, radiant luminosity.
This list is worth checking out when on the hunt for the perfect sulfate free shampoo. These are truly amazing brands and products and while there are tons on the market that work great; these are the top of the top! You know I would never steer you wrong so share what’s your favorite if you’ve tried one or more by leaving a comment below.
Take care Naturals,
Sabrina