5 Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos For Gray Hair (2024), As Per A Hairstylist
Grab these gentle shampoos for graying hair that requires extra love and care!
Yvey Valcin is a celebrated master stylist based in Seattle, WA, and was one of the highest rated stylists at the flagship Gene Juarez salon in Seattle. He is known for his superior cutting technique and has styled for top editorial and fashion events, such as New York and Paris Fashion Week.
Read full bio of Yvey Valcin
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.
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
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.
Read full bio of Aditi Naskar
Experience: 11 yearsRamona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal.
Read full bio of Ramona Sinha
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As you grow older, your hair only deserves more and more TLC. That means keeping away from harmful chemicals like sulfates and parabens, which is why we are here with the best sulfate-free shampoos for gray hair. Eliminating exposure to irritants like SLS, SLES, and ammonium lauryl sulfate, the must-have beauty product, gives your locks some much-needed room to breathe. Also, sulfate-free shampoos are excellent for hair color preservation, locking in moisture, and keeping the scalp protected. Below, we’ve rounded up the top 5 shampoos suitable for all hair types and specially formulated for graying hair.
In This Article
5 Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos For Gray Hair
1. Best Vegan: Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo
The Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo contains centaury, a plant-based pigment with blue tints that enhance the natural radiance of gray, white, and silver hair. The gentle formula illuminates silver highlights. This clinically-tested shampoo contains mango butter that hydrates and repairs the hair. The natural cornflower extract prevents the hair from yellowing.
This dermatologist-tested shampoo reduces dullness and brassiness while neutralizing yellow tones. It enhances hair radiance and refreshes cool-toned or pastel hair. The product contains botanical blue pigments that are a natural alternative to stain-prone purple shampoos. This shampoo is vegan and free of coloring agents, parabens, and silicones.
Key ingredients: Centaury flower extract, Corn starch, and Mango butter
Pros
- Pleasant fragrance
- Hydrating and nourishing formula
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Vegan
- Colorant-free
- Gentle formula
- Suitable for daily use
Cons
- Might dry out the hair
Pro Tip
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The overwhelming 2,945 positive reviews on Amazon show how popular this product is with happy users.
2. Best Long-Lasting: L’ANZA Healing Colorcare Silver Brightening Shampoo
The L’ANZA Healing Colorcare Silver Brightening Shampoo brings out the extreme sparkle in silver, gray, white, blonde, and highlighted hair. It tones out unwanted warmth in the yellow to yellow-gold color range. This sulfate-free shampoo is infused with keratin, which adds smoothness and shine to the hair.The organic viola and lavender are toning agents that eliminate unwanted yellowish tint and brassiness.
The Flower Shield Complex prevents the color fading of highlighted hair and protects it from UV rays and harsh environment. The anti-fade protectors provide full-spectrum color protection for all shades of hair color. This shampoo contains echinacea, cornflower, yellow rose, and calendula. The gentle formula contains also natural gugogark that forms a rich, creamy lather. This product is long-lasting and free of parabens. Watch this YouTuber’s honest review to get a better idea about the product and its features from the tester’s experience.
Key ingredients: Natural Viola and Lavender
Pros
- Color-safe
- Provides uv protection
- Paraben-free
- Long-lasting
- Gentle formula
Cons
- Expensive
3. Best Color-Safe: Phyto Argent No Yellow Shampoo
The Phyto Argent No Yellow Shampoo helps neutralize brassiness in gray, white, and bleached hair. It contains a unique trio of color-enhancing plant extracts like a walnut leaf, rhatany root, and broom flowers.
Walnut leaf diminishes yellow tones, rhatany root neutralizes brassiness, and broom flowers improve blood circulation. Cornflower extract helps in gently cleansing and softening your hair and restoring its shine. This shampoo banishes dullness and yellow tints and helps illuminate natural highlights. This restorative product is unisex, color-safe, and cruelty-free. It does not contain parabens, silicones, gluten, phthalates, petrochemicals, mineral oil, or talc. The product formula is free from animal testing and has received positive reviews on Amazon for imparting a brilliant shine while retaining the hair color.
Key ingredients: Cornflower extracts, Walnut leaf, Rhatany root, and Broom flowers
Pros
- Color-safe
- Unisex
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Gluten-free
- Phthalate-free
- Petrochemical-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Talc-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Watery consistency
Pro Tip Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo Best Vegan | L’ANZA Healing Colorcare Silver Brightening Shampoo Best Long-Lasting | Phyto Argent No Yellow Shampoo Best Color-Safe | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair Type | Anti Yellowing | Color Treated | Color Treated |
| Dimensions | 3.19 x 1.54 x 6.1 inches | 1.56 x 1.56 x 1.5 inches | - |
| Weight | 7.05 Ounces | 0.01 Ounces | 8.45 Ounces |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 2,945 | 622 | 847 |
| Price | $40.0 | $30.9 | $19.0 |
4. Best Unisex:Just Nutritive Gray Hair Shampoo
The Just Nutritive Gray Hair Shampoo removes traces of oil and dirt from the scalp and hair. It helps revitalize and soften the hair and adds shine. This shampoo is infused with guava and clover flower extracts that help in gray hair rejuvenation. Avocado, pomegranate, and black currant seed volumize the hair.
This shampoo also contains rosemary, geranium, and lavender essential oils that stimulate the hair and soothe the scalp. These ingredients are rich in protein, vitamins, and antioxidants that help improve your overall hair health. This shampoo brightens gray, silver, white, blonde, and artificially highlighted hair. It eliminates yellowing residue from your hair and makes it more manageable. This product is unisex and free of sulfates, parabens, artificial colors, and fragrances. Several Amazon reviewers claimed that the formula made their hair appear visibly smoother and fuller.
Key ingredients: Guava, Clover flower extracts, Avocado, Pomegranate, Black currant seed, Rosemary, Geranium, Lavender essential oils, and Aloe vera
Pros
- Safe for daily use
- Unisex
- Gentle and shine-enhancing formula
- Paraben-free
- No artificial colors
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Expensive
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
With 1,575 positive reviews on Amazon, this product has become a bestseller.
5. Best Non-Drying:Luseta Color Brightening Purple Shampoo
Luseta Color Brightening Purple Shampoo is a color-enhancing shampoo for blonde and grey hair. This protein-rich shampoo with purple pigments neutralizes brassy tones and removes the yellow tint from blonde and grey hair, revealing their natural glossiness.
The gentle formula is enriched with nourishing ingredients such as coconut oil, hydrolyzed keratin, biotin, and Vitamin E that hydrates dull, dry hair and scalp, repairs split ends, and prevents damage to your hair. The quinoa seed extract with its essential amino acids and biotin strengthens the hair fiber from inside for a healthy hair growth. It is free from sulfates and parabens, making it safe for color-treated and keratin-treated hair. Additionally, it has a pH-balanced formula between 5.5-6.5 and is not tested on animals.
Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, Hydrolyzed keratin, Biotin, Quinoa seed extract
Pros
- Color-safe
- Moisturizing and strengthening formula
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Gluten-free
- Cruelty-free
- Unisex
- Non-drying
Cons
- Strong scent
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It has gained over 1,040 positive reviews on Amazon, making it an all-time best-seller.
Sulfate-free shampoos are the most suitable shampoos for gray hair maintenance and scalp care. They protect the hair follicles from damage and have natural oils to treat scalp dryness or itchiness, giving them all the extra love and care they deserve. However, choosing the right one seems tricky when you have several options. So, here is a buying guide that lists some important factors to consider before buying the best sulfate-free shampoo for gray hair.
How To Choose The Best Sulfate-free Shampoos For Gray Hair
- Chemical Free
Chemically formulated shampoos are unhealthy for all hair types. Therefore, choose a shampoo that isn’t just sulfate-free but is also free from other harmful chemicals such as paraben, silicone, phosphate, phthalate, and petrochemicals. In addition, the sulfate-free shampoo must be free from any artificial colors to protect the natural shine of your hair strands.
- Natural Ingredients
The best sulfate-free shampoo for gray hair should contain a rich blend of natural ingredients. Look for nourishing ingredients like aloe vera, mango butter, black currant seed, keratin, and lavender that strengthen the hair fibers and promote healthy strand growth. They also add volume to the hair and improve its texture. In addition, a shampoo infused with coconut oil and protein soothes the scalp and removes dullness and yellow tints from the hair strands.
- Gentle and Color Safe
The shampoo must be gentle on the hair to protect the natural luster of gray or silver hair. Choose one that takes care of dullness and split ends and aids in frizz control while improving blood circulation on the scalp. While, if you have a sensitive scalp , it’s best recommended to go with dermatologist-tested formula to prevent any potential skin reaction.
- Natural Fragrance
Many sulfate-free shampoos contain rich rosemary extracts, clover flowers, and lavender. These have gentle, soothing fragrances. This ensures a good feeling around the scalp and olfactory senses upon application. However, one should avoid shampoos with overpowering smells as they may affect the mood negatively.
- Additional Benefits
Go for shampoos that have a pH formula between 5.5 and 6.5. It will prevent your hair from getting damaged due to shampoo usage. Some shampoos also fortify hair fibers from UV radiation. Finally, look for cost-effective hair shampoo with professional grade formulas that have proven efficacy in toning down the brassiness.
Infographic: Why Should You Use Sulfate-Free Shampoos For Gray Hair?
Sulfate-free shampoos are total lifesavers for your gray hair. They come with a bunch of unique benefits that can help your hair look nourished and smooth when used regularly. Check out the infographic below to learn more.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
Whether your hair is graying due to age or you are dyeing it gray, the shade needs special care. If you want to flaunt your gray hair, the right shampoo can add life to it by making it appear voluminous. The Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo enhances the natural radiance of gray hair, while the L’ANZA Healing Colorcare Silver Brightening Shampoo offers moisturizing and strengthening benefits. If you need a protein-enriched color-enhancing formulation, the Luseta Color Brightening Purple Shampoo is a great choice. Unlike regular shampoos, your hair needs these sulfate-free shampoos that cleanse the scalp and strands without fading out the color. So, focus on shampoos that are free from harmful chemicals and are gentle. The products listed in our article are color-safe and make your hair vibrant and shiny.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sulfate-free shampoo good for gray hair?
Yes. Sulfate-free shampoos lock the natural moisture in your tresses and prevent excessive loss and breakage of gray hair.
Does gray hair need a special shampoo?
Yes. Use a blue or purple shampoo to tone down the brassiness of your gray hair. These shampoos also prevent your hair from turning dry and brittle.
Is it okay to use sulfate-free shampoo every day on gray hair?
Washing your hair with sulfate-free shampoo daily can have adverse effects. It can leave your tresses excessively dry and lifeless. But certain mild shampoos like Klorane Anti-Yellowing shampoo are suitable for daily use. Therefore, it is recommended to check the label of the shampoo before using it daily.
Why should I use only sulfate-free shampoos?
Sulfate-free shampoos are milder than regular shampoos, so they are suitable for sensitive scalp. These shampoos retain natural moisture and improve the texture of your hair.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author Shiboli Chakraborti is well-versed in hair care. She understands that as your hair ages, it needs to be pampered, which means avoiding sulfates in hair care products. She compiled this list of the top products after conducting extensive research and reviewing numerous online reviews. The sulfate-free formulas will preserve your hair’s color, keep your scalp moisturized, and keep it from getting dry and brittle.
Read full bio of Yvey Valcin
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
Read full bio of Aditi Naskar
Read full bio of Ramona Sinha
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