17 Best Hairstylist-Approved Sulfate-Free Shampoos For Curly Hair Of 2024
Thoroughly nourish your locks with effectively formulated hair care treatments.
Jill Turnbull is an internationally acclaimed freelance hairstylist, colorist, and makeup artist with over 47 years of experience. She founded her own beauty brand and her work has been featured in editorial magazines worldwide.Jill is also a highly sought-after educator, renowned for her direct, meticulous, and modern approach to hair, makeup, and styling for fashion shoots and advertising campaigns.
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Experience: 4 yearsShiboli 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.
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Experience: 5 yearsAditi 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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Experience: 8 yearsArshiya 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.
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Sulfates clean your hair well, but they are extremely harsh. If you have been looking for the best sulfate-free shampoo for curly hair, you are on the right track and at the right place. Sulfates may appear awesome as they make your head foamy and bubbly and leave you feeling satisfied with a good cleansing session. But they do more harm than good by drying out your hair and irritating your scalp. That leaves you with dry, frizzy, and lacklustre curly hair which is not what you are aiming for and so, you are right to look for sulfate-free shampoos. We have got you covered with 17 of the best sulfate-free shampoos specially designed for curly hair, so read on!
In This Article
What Are Sulfates?
Sulfates are harsh chemicals found in most shampoos. They are used as cleaning agents that help in producing lather or foam. They are undoubtedly the finest cleaning agents. However, they not only remove impurities and grease from your hair but also strip the natural oils from your scalp. Sulfates throw the moisture levels of your hair off balance and cause scalp irritation, damaged hair follicles, sebum buildup, and brittle hair strands.
Why Go Sulfate-free?
Sulfates are extremely harsh and can damage any hair type or texture, especially curly hair. They can make your hair dull and brittle and result in frizz, split ends and limp curls. Hence, it is best to opt for sulfate-free shampoos to maintain your hair health.
Scroll down for the best sulfate-free shampoos for curly hair.
17 Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos For Curly Hair To Save Your Hair
1. Best Frizz Control:VERNON FRANÇOIS Curl Shampoo
The VERNON FRANÇOIS Curl Shampoo is a gentle shampoo that boosts moisture and helps manage frizzy and dry hair types, especially for dry curly, coily, and wavy hair types. This sulfate-free shampoo for curly hair is enriched with shea butter, olive oil, grape seed oil, and tea tree oil.
The natural botanicals in this vegan formula aid in restorative care, gentle cleansing, and conditioning your hair. Nourishing ingredients like shea butter helps increase softness, olive oil gives a silky feel, seaweed extract smooths hair texture, and tea tree oil helps unclog follicles. The pure water base helps you to get manageable and naturally bouncy curls.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, Olive leaf oil, Grape seed oil, and Jojoba oil
Pros
- Lightweight
- Smells good
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Vegan
Cons
- None
Remember2. Best Value For Money:tgin Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo
The tgin Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo contains a uniquely potent hydrating blend of amla oil and coconut oil to retain moisture and nourish and strengthen your hair strands, especially of curly hair type.This gentle deep cleanser does not strip off the natural moisture and oil from the scalp and maintains your curls’ natural bounce. It also contains pro-vitamin B5, which provides hydration and eliminates hair breakage to leave your hair strong and thoroughly nourished for healthy curls. Here’s a video featuring a detailed review of the product.
Key Ingredients: Amla oil, Coconut oil, and Pro-vitamin B5
Pros
- Mild fragrance
- Paraben-free
- Dye-free
- Petrolatum-free
- Lanolin-free
- Cruelty-free
- Value for money
Cons
- Leaves behind a white residue
3. Best Cruelty-Free:ROYAL LOCKS Clean Curls Shampoo
Achieve enhanced and bouncy curls with the ROYAL LOCKS Clean Curls Shampoo. This sulfate-free shampoo for curly hair is blended with a unique formula that helps strengthen, hydrate, and replenish the hair fibers to make the natural curls shinier and softer. Get visible results right from the first wash with this curly hair product that gently cleans your scalp while restoring its natural pH balance. It is infused with natural argan oil and macadamia oil that penetrate your scalp to tame the frizzy curls and give them definition and natural bounce. This tester’s experience video will help you understand the product better.
Key Ingredients: Natural argan oil and Macadamia oil
Pros
- Suitable for color-treated hair
- pH-balanced scalp
- Pleasant fragrance
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Not suitable for sensitive scalp
"This shampoo is great for my 2b hair. It nourishes my curls without causing frizz or weighing them down. It cleans thoroughly with minimal product usage and leaves my hair feeling soft and strengthened."
VERNON FRANÇOIS Curl Shampoo Best Frizz Control | tgin Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo Best Value For Money | ROYAL LOCKS Clean Curls Shampoo Best Cruelty-Free | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair Type | Wavy, Curly, Thick, Coily, Textured | Curly Hair,Dry Hair | Fine, Medium Texture, Textured-Hair, Wavy, Curly, Dry, Color Treated & Permed |
| Package Dimensions | 8.03 x 4.49 x 1.97 inches | - | 9.3 x 3.9 x 2.2 inches |
| Weight | 8.5 Ounces | 13.02 Ounces | 12 Ounces |
| Dimensions | - | 2.5 x 2.5 x 6 inches | - |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 133 | 176 | 91 |
| Price | $13.99 | $14.97 | $17.0 |
4. Best For Color-Treated Hair:MARC DANIELS PROFESSIONAL Curl Enhancing Shampoo
The MARC DANIELS Professional Shampoo transforms your dull and lifeless hair into naturally bouncy curls. This sulfate-free curly hair shampoo reduces frizz and porosity and makes the hair manageable.
It contains chamomile extract that soothes and nourishes the hair follicles. This hydrating shampoo is gentle on the scalp and hair and protects them from UV rays and free radicals. It deeply cleans and calms unruly strands without stripping their natural oils or disturbing the curls’ natural shape. This vegan shampoo is suitable for all hair types, including color-treated, relaxed, chemically treated, and keratin-treated hair.
Key Ingredient: Chamomile extract, Rosemary leaf extract, and Sage leaf extract
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Suitable for chemically treated, keratin treated, and colored hair
Cons
- Overpowering fragrance
"I was so tired of hair frizz that I was desperately looking for a shampoo to tame my curls. And this shampoo did exactly what I had wished for. It doesn’t weigh my curls down. I like the moisturizing effect it has on my hair. This has become my regular shampoo now."
Quick Tip5. Best Silicone-Free:MAPLE HOLISTICS POMEGRANATE Shampoo
The MAPLE HOLISTICS POMEGRANATE Shampoo has a divine fruity fragrance, thanks to its key ingredient – pomegranate. It rejuvenates, nourishes, and hydrates your hair to give you soft, bouncy, and healthy curls. The pomegranate extract hydrates your curls and scalp to strengthen them with plush vitamins. This sulfate-free shampoo for curly hair reduces dryness, smooths split ends, and provides frizz control. It also improves manageability and helps in maintaining healthy hair.
This curl-friendly nourishing formula also contains jojoba, sunflower seed, lavender, and sea buckthorn oils. While jojoba oil plumps the hair strands with moisture, sunflower seed oil strengthens and moisturizes the hair to prevent frizz and hair loss. Lavender oil stimulates the hair follicles and reduces dandruff, and sea buckthorn oil promotes healthy hair growth. This cruelty-free shampoo does not contain parabens, silicones, and other unnecessary additives. According to reviewers, continued use of the product offers impressive results in 2-3 months.
Key Ingredients: Pomegranate, Lavender oil, Jojoba oil, and Camellia seed oil
Pros
- Value for money
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Cruelty-free
- Suitable for color-treated hair
Cons
- Overpowering fragrance
"This shampoo nourishes and rejuvenates my hair like no other product. It has this fruity smell that I really like. The shampoo hydrates my curls and my scalp. It also smoothens my split ends. My frizzy hair is more manageable now."
6. Best Curl-Defining:L’OREAL PARIS Ever Curl Sulfate/Free Hydracharge Shampoo
The L’OREAL PARIS Ever Curl Hydracharge Shampoo cleanses your hair and scalp without stripping their natural oils. The gentle, sulfate-free formula hydrates your hair without weighing it down, leaving your hair soft and manageable and making the curls bouncy. This sulfate-free shampoo is enriched with coconut oil that controls frizz and provides deep moisturization for a 48-hour curl definition. The lightweight and anti-frizz formula is suitable for color-treated or chemically processed hair. Check out the detailed review of this hydrating shampoo in this video.
Key Ingredients: Coconut oil
Pros
- Salt-free
- Paraben-free
- Lightweight
- Gentle
- Suitable for color-treated and chemically processed hair
Cons
- Unpleasant smell
- Tangles hair
"This shampoo has been my curly hair's best friend since I found it. It cleanses my hair well without stripping away its natural oils. It also makes my curls bouncy and shiny."
7. Best Long-Lasting Effect:KERANIQUE Scalp Nourishing Shampoo
Give your curls a natural definition with the KERANIQUE Scalp Nourishing Shampoo. It is formulated with Keratin Amino Complex that fortifies your hair, boosts moisture and shine, and promotes damage repair by gently cleansing it.
The unique and mild formula strengthens your hair and improves curl definition and curl retention. It works on all textured curl types – from loosest curls to the coily hair. The Curl Preserve formula protects the hair fibers and eliminates the possibility of hair loss due to breakage. This shampoo reduces the effect of humidity, making your hair manageable. It revitalizes curls, controls frizz, and repairs split ends to make your hair healthy. Severeal positive reviews attest to the products ability to define curls and soften the hair.
Key Ingredients: Keratin Amino Complex, Curcumin(Turmeric), Ginseng, and Bisabolol
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Dye-free
- A little goes a long way
Cons
- Expensive
"This nourishing shampoo has proven to be great for my hair and scalp. It also adds a natural shine to my hair. I have also noticed that my curls seem more defined now. Moreover, a little goes a long way with this one."
Pro Tip
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
With over 65 Amazon acclaimed reviews, this product is sure to find a place in everyone’s shopping bag.
8. Best Paraben-Free:GARNIER FRUCTIS Curl Nourish Fortifying Shampoo
Strengthen your hair with plant-based proteins from the GARNIER FRUCTIS Curl Nourish Fortifying Shampoo. This sulfate-free shampoo for curly hair is infused with coconut oil and glycerin that provide ultimate nourishment, along with 24-hour frizz resistant curls.
It is loaded with citrus proteins, vitamins B3 and B6, and plant and fruit extracts that ensure healthier and stronger tresses. If you heat style your hair often, this product will help protect your hair up to 446°C. This shampoo also contains jojoba and macadamia oils that gently cleanse your curls without stripping its natural moisture to deliver smooth, well-defined, and bouncy curls. With regular use, people experience a pleasant smell, controlled frizz, moisturized hair, and softer strands.
Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, Glycerin, Jojoba oil, and Macadamia oil
Pros
- 24-hour frizz-resistant curls
- Weightless formula
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Value for money
Cons
- Might cause itchy scalp
9. Best For Adding Bounce:CURLY Girl Shampoo
The CURLY Girl Shampoo offers Curl Defining Protection and is infused with citrus essence that gently removes impurities and boosts your hair health for a natural bounce. This shampoo protects the color from fading away and hydrates your hair for visibly vibrant and frizz-free curls.
Key Ingredients: Citrus essence, Glycerin, Cucumber fruit extract, Limonene, and Linalool
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Formaldehyde-free
- DEA-free
- MEA-free
- Suitable for color-treated hair
- Value for money
Cons
- Strong citrus fragrance
10. Best Unisex:Bellisso Argan Oil Shampoo
The BELLISSO Argan Oil Shampoo is infused with a blend of Moroccan argan oil, vitamin E, and essential oils. These ingredients nourish your hair, eliminate frizz and split ends, and impart shine. The sebamed agent works as an antiseptic and helps in treating oily scalps that have bacteria or scales.
The Homocysteine Therapeutic Aromatherapy helps in restoring, restructuring, and repairing the hair, while the Super Micro Magnesium Grains strengthen the hair and boost its elasticity. The Ceramide Silk Peptide moisturizes and adds vibrancy to color-treated hair, while the Nuclear Hydrolyzed Protein Technology penetrates damaged hair to repair and nourish it. According to reviewers, this shampoo is unisex and works on all hair types, including colored, damaged, and frizzy hair.
Key Ingredients: Argan oil, Glycerin, Jojoba oil, and Kernel oil
Pros
- Unisex
- Gluten-free
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Color-safe
Cons
- Does not lather well
"This shampoo has helped me with my frizzy hair. It nourishes my hair well and offers a natural shine. I have also noticed that my split ends have reduced since I started using this shampoo. The best part is that it works on my color-treated hair also."
11. Best Heat Protection:PUREnature Argan Oil Deep Hydra Nourishing Shampoo
The PUREnature Deep Hydra Nourishing Shampoo gives your curls a luxurious feel by deeply nourishing, hydrating and strengthening them. This sulfate-free shampoo is infused with botanical extracts that refresh and deeply cleanse your hair from root to tip. The moisturizing agents hydrate and restore the moisture levels even in color-treated and keratin-treated hair.
This shampoo contains a UV and thermal protectant, along with vitamins and antioxidants, that protects your hair from everyday heat styling tools. The vitamin E from argan oil penetrates your cuticles, making your hair strong and silky with well-defined curls that are frizz-free and manageable.
Key Ingredients: Argan oil, Hydrolyzed collagen, and Citric acid
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Heat protection
- Gluten-free
- Phthalate-free
- Value for money
Cons
- Overpowering smell
- Might make the hair brittle
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
A whopping 861 reviews on Amazon make it obvious that users genuinely love this product.
12. Best Lather:mixtina Sulfate Free Shampoo
The mixtina Sulfate Free Shampoo is specially formulated for mixed, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural hair. It lathers up wonderfully to deep cleanse your scalp and curls without leaving any buildup. This shampoo does not strip the moisture and natural oils of your hair and is non-drying. It is infused with coconut oil that has moisturizing and repairing properties to hydrate dry and damaged hair. This vegan and cruelty-free product is best suited for damaged, weak, and over-processed hair.
Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, Orchid, and Essential oils
Pros
- Lathers well
- Does not leave residue
- Protects hair color
- Smells good
- Cruelty-free
- Paraben-free
- Vegan
Cons
- Not suitable for thick or coarse hair
13. Best Gentle:Kinky Curly Come Clean Natural Moisturizing Shampoo
The Kinky Curly Come Clean Shampoo is formulated with Mandarin orange extract and sea kelp that gently cleanse your hair and scalp of buildup and maintain proper moisture balance. It also contains phytic acid that removes the buildup of hard water minerals like calcium and magnesium and corn that prevents hard water buildup on your hair. This gentle shampoo imparts shine and a lingering fragrance to your hair.
Key Ingredients: Mandarin orange extract, Sea kelp, and Phytic acid
Pros
- Gentle
- Suitable for daily use
- Ethyl alcohol-free
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Not suitable for sensitive scalp
- May dry out the hair
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It has gained over 197 positive reviews on Amazon, making it an all-time best-seller.
14. Best 100% Natural:HONEYDEW Natural Daily Shampoo
The HONEYDEW Natural Daily Shampoo for thick and curly hair is an ultra-rich, creamy, and highly moisturizing shampoo. This sulfate-free shampoo is made with 100% natural and plant-derived ingredients. It is best suited for African American hair, natural black hair, including other ethnicities and hair types like 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, and 4C.
It is formulated with avocado oil that has conditioning, moisturizing, and cleansing properties. The creamy-textured and concentrated pearlescent base of this shampoo contains natural cleansing ingredients and conditioning agents that nourish and enhance thick and curly hair. This shampoo gently cleans your hair without disturbing scalp pH levels and is suitable for men, women, and children of all age groups.
Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, Jojoba oil, and Glycerin
Pros
- 100% natural
- Safe for color-treated hair
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Might cause tangles and knots
15. Best Fragrance:ORS Curls Unleashed Sulfate-Free Shampoo
The ORS Curls Unleashed Sulfate-Free Shampoo is a lavish formula that gently cleanses, moisturizes, and detangles your curls. It contains a potent blend of rosemary, coconut, and other ingredients that nourish your lifeless curls and impart moisture and natural bounce. This sulfate-free shampoo for curly hair helps in removing buildup and makes your curls manageable and ultra-soft. It does not strip the hair of its natural oils and lathers up well.
Key Ingredients: Rosemary and Coconut
Pros
- Smells good
- Suitable for everyday use
- Detangling
- Value for money
Cons
- Not suitable for oily scalp
"This shampoo detangles my hair well. It cleanses my curls gently and offers them nourishment. My hair seems to be better moisturized since I started using this. Another added perk is that it smells really nice."
16. Bumble and bumble Bb Curl (Care) Shampoo
The Bumble and bumble Bb Curl Shampoo has a gentle sulfate-free formula that hydrates your hair while deeply cleansing it. It is designed to give you well-defined curls every single time. The moisture-rich shampoo is infused with HydraSculpt blend that consists of crosslinking polymers that moisturize and control each curl to ease the styling in all curly hair textures.
It also contains babassu oil, pracaxi oil, cupuacu butter, and humectants that deeply nourish and moisturize your hair and make it frizz-free. The UV inhibitors protect your hair from the damaging sun rays. This shampoo is perfect for everyday use as it provides a refreshing and cleansing experience and helps to detangle your curls, no matter what hair type. Multiple onliner reviewers have vouched for this product and recommend its use.
Key Ingredients: HydraSculpt blend, Babassu oil, Pracaxi oil, and Cupuacu butter
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Phthalate-free
- Cruelty-free
- Formaldehyde-free
- Mineral oil-free
Cons
- May weigh the hair down
"This shampoo cleans my hair well while offering deep hydration. After each wash, I get well-defined curls. My hair is now almost frizz-free after regularly using this shampoo. It leaves my hair with a refreshing feeling that I really like."
17. MIXED CHICKS Sulfate-Free Shampoo
The MIXED CHICKS Sulfate-Free Shampoo deeply cleanses and rejuvenates your scalp and hair without stripping the natural oils. It is infused with a delightful blend of ultra-moisturizing oils of olives, avocados, sweet almonds, and aloe vera. These oils nourish and cleanse your scalp without disturbing the natural moisture balance or drying out your hair. This shampoo has a shine-enhancing formula and makes your hair more manageable without weighing it down or causing buildup. It is ideal for various types of curls, textured, color-treated, and chemically treated hair and even works wonders on natural hair.
Key Ingredients: Olive oil, Avocado oil, Sweet almond oil, and Aloe vera
Pros
- Ideal for everyday use
- Mild formula
- Suitable for colored and chemically treated hair
- Value for money
- Pleasant fragrance
Cons
- May cause itching in the scalp
If you are wondering how to choose the best option from the above list, don’t worry, we have got your back! Read ahead to learn more.
How To Choose The Best Sulfate-free Shampoo
- Ingredients
It is always recommended to stick to a sulfate-free shampoo with all-natural or plant-derived scalp-friendly and nourishing ingredients as they do not have any adverse side effects. Make sure that the shampoo does not have any other harsh chemicals like parabens, phthalates, alcohol, etc., which may result in further damage to treated or natural hair. These products make your hair brittle and strip away the essential moisture and oils.
- Quality
Pick a sulfate-free shampoo that is hypoallergenic, clinically tested, and has great customer reviews.
Infographic: Tips For Washing Curly Hair With A Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Curly hair requires TLC to maintain its unique gorgeous appearance. While a good sulfate-free shampoo helps cleanse your hair and scalp effectively, you need a good hair care routine to back it up. Check out the infographic below to learn more about the important tips to follow while washing your curly mane.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
Though sulfates produce enough lather and cleanse your hair thoroughly, but for curly hair, you need to get your hands on the best sulfate-free shampoos that are anti-static to keep your hair texture intact. One of the foremost reasons for this is that curly hair is prone to dryness. To prevent your hair from becoming dry, frizzy, and brittle, you need to opt for the best sulfate-free shampoos. For effective frizz control, the VERNON FRANÇOIS Curl Shampoo is the perfect choice, being paraben and silicone-free. For color-treated hair, opt for the ROYAL LOCKS Clean Curls Shampoo that is cruelty-free and has a pleasant fragrance. Choose the L’OREAL PARIS Ever Curl Sulfate/Free Hydracharge Shampoo for a lightweight and gentle option. The shampoos reviewed in the curated list are made from all-natural, nourishing ingredients and do not contain any chemical aggravants, and they deliver well-defined, smooth, and bouncy curls.
Why Trust Stylecraze?
Shiboli Chakraborti is a certified skin care coach and hair care aficionado who prefers using sulfate-free shampoos for her curly hair. She uses these mild formulas because they are not harsh on the curls. She has conducted thorough and in-depth research of user feedback to find the best ones for her readers. According to her, the best part about sulfate-free shampoos for curly hair is that it does not leave your curls frizzy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people with curly hair have to use sulfate-free shampoo?
Sulfate-free shampoos help in moisture retention which is extremely crucial for the dry nature of curly hair.
Can you use sulfate-free shampoo every day on curly hair?
No, use them once or twice a week for the best results.
Does sulfate-free shampoo cause buildup?
No, if you wash out your shampoo thoroughly, sulfate-free shampoos won’t cause any buildup.
What ingredients in shampoos should a curly girl avoid?
• Alcohol
• Sulfates
• Wax
• Mineral Oil
• Silicones
Who should not use sulfate-free shampoo?
Sulfate-free shampoos are safe for every skin or hair type.
Does sulfate-free shampoo treat itchy scalp?
Yes, sulfate-free shampoos don’t cause irritation or dryness and prevent itchiness in the scalp.
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