9 Best Protein-Free Shampoos For Low Porosity Hair, As Per A Hairstylist

We’ve all been told to concentrate on protein sources to make our hair grow faster all these years, and the mention of protein-free shampoo might startle you. But we will tell you exactly why you need it. Healthy hair growth depends on the perfect balance of moisture and protein, which can get disrupted by heavy-duty protein ingredients. If your hair has low porosity, a shampoo free of proteins can give you the best results. Here is a list of 9 shampoos free from proteins to keep your hair glossy, healthy, and strong.

9 Best Protein-Free Shampoos For Natural Low Porosity Hair – 2024

1. Best Lather: Aunt Jackie’s Curls & Coils Oh So Clean! Moisturizing & Softening Shampoo

4.5

Image: Aunt Jackie's

Now 37% Off

BUY ON AMAZON | $6.97

Aunt Jackie’s Curls & Coils Shampoo is enriched with natural conditioners and plant-based nourishing ingredients that gently cleanse your hai, removing all impurities. The formula softens and smoothens out even the most unmanageable tresses. The shampoo detangles wet hair easily so that there’s no hair breakage when you comb your hair. Shea butter in the formula contains fatty acids and vitamins A and E that nourish and tame frizz. It also protects hair from damage caused due to hot styling tools and coloring. Coconut oil has proven efficacy in deeply moisturizing the hair, slowing down premature greying, and promoting the growth of thicker hair. Extra virgin olive oil in this hair product for damaged hair defines your curls, and deeply nourishes and softens hair to enhance shine. Check out this video to learn more about a reviewer’s experience of testing the product.

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, Coconut oil, Extra virgin olive oil

Pro Tip

Lather up the shampoo and massage your scalp in circular motion from front to back and back to front three times for improved blood circulation and cleansing.

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

This product has garnered over 260 positive reviews on Amazon, and the number continues to grow.

2. Best For Sensitive Scalp: Free & Clear Shampoo

4.6

BUY ON AMAZON | $33.36

The Free & Clear shampoo is specially designed to wash off build-ups from conditioners, sprays, serums, and other hair care products. This dermatologist-tested shampoo balances oil production, flaking, and scaling. After a shower, your hair feels clean, soft, and manageable. It enhances the volume of your hair and boosts shine. The formula does not have any irritants.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, Panthenol, Coco-glucoside

Pro Tip

Wash your hair with warm water to open up the cuticles and then cold water at the end to seal in the moisture.

3. Best Gentle Cleansing: Tgin Moisture Rich SulfateFree Shampoo

4.6

Image: Thank God It's Natural

Now 6% Off

BUY ON AMAZON | $14.97

Tgin Moisture Rich sulfate- and protein-free shampoo has intense conditioning properties that revive dull hair. Amla oil extracted from gooseberry stimulates blood circulation, retains moisture, promotes hair growth, prevents thinning, hair loss, and premature greying. Coconut oil gently cleanses the hair and stimulates hair follicles to encourage healthy hair growth. Provitamin B5 is a natural humectant that retains moisture in your locks, enhances elasticity, and strengthens hair shafts. The result of using this gentle hair cleanser is healthy, moisturized hair that is left feeling soft and smooth.

Key Ingredients: Amla oil, Coconut oil, Provitamin B5

4. Best For Color-Treated Hair: As I Am Curl Clarity Shampoo

4.5

Image: As I Am

BUY ON AMAZON | $11.97

The As I Am Curl Clarity Shampoo contains scalp-friendly ingredients that gently remove product build-up and environmental impurities from the hair and scalp. The coconut extracts in this hair cleanser without protein soften hair, treat dandruff and flaky scalp, repair damage, and smoothen split ends. Amla nourishes the hair with essential nutrients, prevents early graying, enhances natural curls, and controls hair loss and thinning. Tangerine is rich in vitamin C that forms a protective shield around your hair strands and boosts collagen production. The formula is anti fungal and antiseptic – it treats scalp infections and dandruff, and soothes irritation. Watch this video to check out a reviewer’s experience of using this product, before buying it for yourself.

Key Ingredients: Coconut, Amla, Tangerine

Quick Tip

Use a lightweight, clarifying shampoo every 10 days to remove product buildup and impurities.

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

The product has more than 1,383 reviews and is a top choice all around the world.

5. Best Unscented: Alaffia Everyday Shea Shampoo

4.2

Image: Alaffia

BUY ON AMAZON | $15.48

The Alaffia Everyday Shea Shampoo that is enriched with shea leaf, unrefined shea butter, and virgin coconut oil. This deep cleansing shampoo washes away built-up residues, scales, flakes, and impurities without stripping off natural oils from hair and scalp. Shea butter leaf and fruit extracts deeply moisturize the hair to soften it and lock in natural oils. Virgin coconut oil penetrates deep into the scalp to moisturize your hair. The antioxidants and omega fatty acids protect the hair against damage, frizz, split ends, breakage, thinning, and heat from styling tools, making the product a great choice as a daily shampoo.

Key Ingredients: Shea leaf extract, Raw shea butter, Virgin coconut oil

6. Best Moisturizing: Jessicurl Gentle Lather Shampoo

4.3

Image: Jessicurl

BUY ON AMAZON | $16.95

If your hair becomes dry and frizzy after a shower, then Jessicurl Gentle Lather Shampoo is exactly what you need. The shampoo contains mild cleansing agents that thoroughly wash off dirt and impurities from the dry scalp and the hair shafts. Enriched with raw shea butter and virgin coconut oil, the shampoo moisturizes natural hair to make it smooth and manageable, making it a great addition to your hair care routine. It is made with pure and organic ingredients that give you beautiful and voluminous hair without weighing it down.

Key Ingredients: Raw shea butter, Virgin coconut oil

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

This product is so liked by shoppers that it has gained over 557 great reviews on Amazon.

7. Best pH Balanced: Kinky-Curly Come CleanOrganic Curl Care

4.5

Image: Kinky-curly

Now 5% Off

BUY ON AMAZON | $13.22

The Kinky-Curly Come Clean Organic Curl Care dissolves grease and build-up without disrupting your hair’s moisture balance. Phytic acid is a natural chelating agent that has proven efficacy in eliminating hard water minerals like calcium and magnesium that can damage your hair. Soy and corn in this pH-balanced shampoo soften hard water, cleanse the scalp, and prevent future hard water build-up. Mandarin orange extract has antiseptic and anti fungal properties that makes your hair healthy, voluminous, and bouncy. Check this video detailing a tester’s experience of using this product before buying it.

Key Ingredients: Phytic soy, Mandarin orange extract

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

More than 197 customers have given the product positive reviews on Amazon.

8. Best Build-Up Clearing: Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo

4.4

Image: Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo

BUY ON AMAZON | $18.0

The Ouidad shampoo cleanses and clarifies the hair and scalp while hydrating them and retaining their natural nutrients. The formula contains a blend of orange, grapefruit, and lemon, which act as powerful chelating agents. Lemon extracts soak up dirt and break them down, and prevent fungal growth on the scalp. Grapefruit is rich in vitamins A and C that promote healthy growth of thick hair, boost shine, and wash away build-up from styling products. Orange flower extracts protect the hair from harmful coloring agents and UV ray damage and fights free radical damage. The shampoo has a lingering citrusy, fruity fragrance with woody undertones.

Key Ingredients: Lemon, Grapefruit, Orange flower extracts

9. Best Anti-Dandruff: Alikay Naturals Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo

4

Image: Alikay Naturals

BUY ON AMAZON | $12.65

The Alikay Naturals Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo is made with raw black soap that intensely cleanses the hair removing environmental pollutants, grease, and dirt. This hydrating hair cleanser also eliminates dandruff-causing build-up and soothes itchy scalp. It contains natural ingredients such as cocoa seed powder, which stimulates hair follicles to promote hair growth and soothe inflammation, while plantain skins smoothen and volumize hair, prevent premature greying, and make the hair shiny. The antioxidant properties of plantains protect the hair by neutralizing free radicals and damage caused by environmental stressors. Tea tree oil dissolves residue and dead skin cell build-up and also kills germs and dandruff-causing microbes.

Key Ingredients: Cocoa seed Powder, Plantain skins, Tea Tree Oil

It is a common perception that protein treatments can be fantastic for your hair. This is because almost 90 per cent of your hair is made from keratin, which is also a type of protein. However, too much protein can damage your hair stands, especially if you have protein-sensitive hair. To help you select a protein-free shampoo for low porosity hair, we have compiled a list of factors to keep in mind while making your next purchase. Scroll down to find out more!·

Factors To Consider When Selecting The Best Protein-Free Shampoo

Always remember that each protein-free shampoo is manufactured differently. So, even though you are buying a protein-free shampoo, you also have to consider the following factors.

• Hair Type

Your natural hair type plays a major role in deciding which protein-free shampoo to use. If you have relaxed hair, you need a shampoo which can prevent flyaways and frizz. Alternatively, if you have curly hair, focus on preventing breakage and dryness. For fine hair, avoid thick oils in the formulation to prevent limp strands and scalp oiliness.

• Ingredients To Avoid

If you are sensitive to fragrances, steer clear of shampoos that have perfumes or fragrances. Avoid products that contain ingredients like parabens, sulfates, PEGs, phthalates, and formaldehyde. Also, if you are allergic to coconut or gluten, make sure to select dermatologist-recommended products without these in the formulation.

For low-porosity hair, avoid common hair proteins like keratin, quinoa protein, rice protein, amino acids, oat flour, hydrolyzed protein, silk protein, wheat protein, and soy protein.

• Ingredients To Look For

For dry or brittle hair, choose nourishing ingredients like olive oil, avocado oil, argan oil, and almond oil. For oily scalp and hair, look for tea tree oil or lemon extracts to control excess oiliness and sebum, and also prevent itchiness and irritation.

But, do remember that the goal should be to maintain the correct balance of moisture and protein. Depending on your natural hair type, you may need to use protein-free shampoos more or fewer times than the average time frame mentioned above.

Rebekkah O’Neill, Master Stylist, says, “If your hair has low porosity, you want to opt for more natural products. Products that don’t contain sulfates are better, as they dry out the hair, and we want to avoid that. Products that also contain alcohol want to be avoided for the same reason. There are plenty of great products in this article that will get you on your way to beautiful healthy hair in no time!”

Infographic: 5 Hair Care Tips For Natural Low-Porosity Hair

Low porosity hair means your cuticles are tightly sealed, which makes it difficult for the external moisture to get in and the natural oils of the hair to travel down. While you can use shampoos to keep your hair healthy, certain practices can keep it nourished and less brittle in the long run. Check out the infographic below for easy hair care tips for low-porosity hair.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get rid of protein buildup in my hair?

You can break and eliminate the protein buildup from your hair by washing it in warm water with a clarifying shampoo.

How do I know if I have protein overload in my hair?

If your hair feels stiff, dry, and lifeless that has lost its natural shine, it has an overload of protein. A common symptom of protein buildup is brittle tresses.

How often can I use this protein-free shampoo?

Wash your hair two or three times a week with a protein-free shampoo. This is enough to maintain the protein and moisture balance in your tresses.

Should I use protein-free shampoo?

Yes. A protein-free shampoo is great for boosting moisture in your tresses. Also, they define and enhance the texture of your hair.

Do all protein-free shampoos contain silicones?

No. Certain protein-free shampoos like the Jessicurl Gentle Lather Shampoo and Alaffia Everday Shea Shampoo are devoid of silicones.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

The author, Shiboli Chakraborti, has a deep interest in hair care and styling products. She recommends the use of protein-free shampoos for low-porosity hair. To help our readers find the best products in this category, she went through multiple online reviews from product users and looked closely at the ingredients and formulations of the products to shortlist the safest and most effective ones. The shampoos listed here are free of protein and perfect for achieving healthy and nourished tresses for those with low-porosity hair.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Rebekkah O’NeillMaster Stylist, Hair & Beauty Trainer

   

Rebekkah is a Master Stylist with over 7 years of experience. She specializes in the most popular colors and balayage and the most extravagant restyles. From managing a busy salon to working internationally with clients on their big days, she has gained knowledge in every aspect of her profession.

Read full bio of Rebekkah O’Neill

Shiboli ChakrabortiCommerce Editor

 

Shiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.

Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti

Aditi NaskarAssociate Commerce Editor

Aditi Naskar has a postgraduate degree in English literature from Presidency University, Kolkata, a bachelor’s degree in education from WBUTTEPA, Kolkata, and a diploma in health and wellness. She is an associate commerce editor with 5 years of experience and specializes in reviewing fitness and health products.

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Arshiya SyedaCo-Editor-in-Chief

Arshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.

Read full bio of Arshiya Syeda