10 Sulphate-Free Shampoos To Keep Hair Feeling Fresh And Clean

A good sulphate-free shampoo leaves your hair feeling cleansed and dirt free. But the best sulphate-free shampoos are those that also work to lock-in moisture and leave your locks feeling revitalised and replenished.

What are sulphate-free shampoos?

The difference between a sulphate shampoo and a sulphate-free shampoo lies in the foam. All shampoos contain some sort of cleansing agent to remove dirt, oils and build-up of old product. The foam created by sulphate shampoos is certainly richer and longer lasting, but this doesn’t mean they are better at cleansing the hair.

“The amount of foam a shampoo produces has no correlation to how good at cleansing it is,” says Anabel Kingsley, trichologist and brand president at Philip Kingsley. While it’s true that the sulphates of today are nowhere near as harsh as their predecessors, they can still strip the hair of its natural oils and cause colour to fade, leaving hair dry, dull and difficult to manage. Those who have dyed their hair or use keratin treatments may, therefore, benefit from using a sulphate-free product, like our Pure Colour Shampoo. However, if sulphates are formulated into products correctly, they are fine for use.”

But, cautions Masa Ohta, lead therapist at natural haircare brand Leonor Greyl, a sulphate-free shampoo is only as good as the other ingredients it contains. “When choosing the right shampoo for your hair, you want to consider the other ingredients a product might contain, like plant extracts, vegetable oils, essential oils, conditioners, preservatives, parabens… It is the combination or exclusion of these ingredients that decides whether a final product is “good” or not.”

Does sulphate-free shampoo help hair growth?

If it’s luscious long locks you’re after, you should really think about switching to sulphate-free shampoos, and that’s because sulphates can impede hair growth, irritating and inflaming the scalp and breaking down existing hair shafts. “Sulphate-free shampoos help the scalp with moisture retention, reduce scalp irritation and reduce frizz,” adds trichologist, Hannah Gaboardi. “They also help with keeping your hair hydrated which in turns leads to healthy hair.” Indeed, in order to promote healthy hair growth, you’ll want to create an optimum environment, which means using a shampoo that is rich in nutrients and doesn’t strip your hair of its natural oils.

How often can I use sulphate-free shampoo?

When it comes to how you use your sulphate-free shampoo, it’s perfectly fine to use it every day. But given the thorough cleanse it gives your hair, you could always go a few days without and your hair won’t look too greasy. “The amount of time of washing your hair does depend on your hair type,” says Gaboardi. “But we recommend shampoo every two to three days to keep your scalp clean and follicles from being blocked from dirt and bacteria.”

Below, Vogue rounds up the best sulphate-free shampoos for every hair type.