Road Test: Sulfate-Free Shampoos
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One tester's take on a showerful of shampoos with no sodium lauryl sulfate
Sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) is a foaming agent found in many hygiene and household products, including most shampoos. While SLS has attracted criticism over the years -- including email campaigns suggesting it causes cancer -- its only conclusively proven drawback apears to be skin irritation for chemically sensitive folks. But years ago I got a tip from a friend that has panned out for me: If you color your hair, try sulfate-free shampoo to slow down its fading. I've used SLS-free shampoos now for several years and have been able to go a couple weeks longer between coloring sessions, which offsets the higher cost of these shampoos, compared to typical drugstore brands. My hair also feels stronger, healthier & better hydrated.
Having long wished for a concise collection of sulfate free shampoo reviews, I created this SLS free shampoo list of the brands I've tried. For what it's worth, my hair is collarbone length, and in terms of thickness, oiliness & waviness I'd say it's about "medium."
(image: thedailygreen.com)
Having long wished for a concise collection of sulfate free shampoo reviews, I created this SLS free shampoo list of the brands I've tried. For what it's worth, my hair is collarbone length, and in terms of thickness, oiliness & waviness I'd say it's about "medium."
(image: thedailygreen.com)
Burt's Bees Pomegranate & Soy Shampoo
I'm a Burt's Bees fan (their ultra-rich almond milk hand cream, especially, is a lifesaver in the winter) and wanted to love this shampoo. The price was decent for an SLS-free product. Availability: not bad -- you'll find this in most drugstores with a respectable Burt's Bees selection. But sadly, it left my hair pretty parched. It also has a fairly strong smell that, while not as pungent as the matching conditioner, was a little off-putting.
~~~Rating: * * * out of 5~~~
~~~Rating: * * * out of 5~~~
Burt's Bees Pomegranate & Soy Shampoo, 12-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 2)
Amazon Price: $9.63 (as of 06/04/2012)
Back to Basics Color Protect Shampoo
Priced comparably to the Burt's Bees, this Back to Basics has become a regular fixture in my bathroom. The name kinda says it all. While packaging and scent are somewhat nondescript, this shampoo does exactly what it promises: Cleans hair nicely without stripping moisture and color.
~~~Rating: * * * * out of 5~~~
~~~Rating: * * * * out of 5~~~
Back to Basics Blue Lavender Color Protect Shampoo for Color Treated Hair 33.8 fl oz (1 L)
Amazon Price: $11.44 (as of 06/04/2012)
L'Oreal EverPure Shampoo
Another reasonably priced option, the new L'Oreal EverPure line gets high marks for accessibility. This is the sulfate-free shampoo you're most likely to find at the local drugstore or grocery. As far as I can tell, L'Oreal is the first mega-brand to launch an SLS-free line, and I give them a lot of credit for that. (Note to the other big brands: Please follow suit! Let's get some healthy competition going here!) EverPure also did a nice job cleaning my hair, working up a surprisingly rich lather for a no-sulfates product.
Having said all that, I had a hard time getting past the fragrance, which reminds me (inexplicably) of men's aftershave. Smells matter, and this one didn't work. But judging from all the positive amazon reviews, I'm heavily outnumbered on this. Pop the top at your drugstore and see how your nose reacts.
~~~Rating: * * * out of 5~~~
Having said all that, I had a hard time getting past the fragrance, which reminds me (inexplicably) of men's aftershave. Smells matter, and this one didn't work. But judging from all the positive amazon reviews, I'm heavily outnumbered on this. Pop the top at your drugstore and see how your nose reacts.
~~~Rating: * * * out of 5~~~
L'Oreal Paris EverPure Smooth Shampoo, 8.5-Fluid Ounce
Amazon Price: $3.44 (as of 06/04/2012)
Renpure Organics Shampoo
The good news: It's affordable, Walgreen's carries this Renpure Organics line, and the company offered a rare full-price rebate when I bought this. My rebate check just came in the mail, in fact -- which is very nice.
The bad news: Ack, I hated this stuff. It dried me out so badly that I dumped a palmful of the matching conditioner on my hair afterward and still couldn't comb through my wet hair like normal. I was excited to see a new sulfate-free brand at the local drugstore, but unfortunately the thrill was short-lived.
~~~Rating: * out of 5~~~
The bad news: Ack, I hated this stuff. It dried me out so badly that I dumped a palmful of the matching conditioner on my hair afterward and still couldn't comb through my wet hair like normal. I was excited to see a new sulfate-free brand at the local drugstore, but unfortunately the thrill was short-lived.
~~~Rating: * out of 5~~~
Renpure Organics My Pretty Hair is Parched! Moisturizing Shampoo, 13.5-Ounce
Amazon Price: $4.08 (as of 06/04/2012)
Alba Botanica Plumeria Replenishing Hair Wash
Ooh la la, the fragrance on this Alba Botanica shampoo is heavenly. The tropical floral tones are a real pick-me-up -- like a virtual stopover in Maui. This cleaned my hair well without overdrying, and it feels good to support an eco-friendly company. (Alba's office and warehouse are 100% solar powered.) Worth the trouble of buying online, this earned a regular place in my sulfate-free rotation.
~~~Rating: * * * * out of 5~~~
~~~Rating: * * * * out of 5~~~
Alba Botanica Plumeria Hawaiian Shampoo Hair Wash, 12-Ounce Bottle (Pack of 2) (Packaging may vary)
Amazon Price: $11.08 (as of 06/04/2012)
Pureology Antifade Shampoo
The brand that put sulfate-free shampoo on the map, Pureology makes fine products. I like them. But what is UP with that drugstore price? Before others came on the market, I'd splurge on a bottle of Pureology and use a teeny bit per wash. But now that there are better-priced alternatives, I can't see repurchasing. One star deducted for the inflated price...
~~~Rating: * * out of 5~~
~~~Rating: * * out of 5~~
Pureology Anti-Fade Complex Pure Volume Shampoo, 8.5 Ounce
Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 06/04/2012)
Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo
Moroccanoil styling products have been rolling toward world domination for some time now, and I have to admit I'm partial to them. They defrizz nicely, smell good, and just a dab gets the job done. Too bad the shampoo doesn't live up to its sister products. It has the same pleasant scent but, for a "moisture repair" product, is fairly drying. And the price ain't pretty. I only picked this up because our neighborhood pharmacy is being sold to a big chain :( and was selling all its stock at deep discounts.
~~~Rating: * * * out of 5~~~
~~~Rating: * * * out of 5~~~
Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo, 8.5-Ounce Bottle
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 06/04/2012)
Tigi Bedhead Superstar Shampoo
I think my other sulfate free shampoo reviews have made it clear that scent matters to me, and at first this shampoo's scent put me off a bit. It smelled synthetically sweet, like a berry-flavored dimestore lollipop. But that mellowed as the day progressed, and my hair actually smelled nice. The Tigi shampoo delivered some nice body and shine, too. The first day I used it, I noticed a little extra static in my hair, but that resolved on repeat uses. Nice stuff, especially if you get it at the Amazon price.
~~~Rating: * * * * out of 5~~~
~~~Rating: * * * * out of 5~~~
TIGI Bed Head Superstar Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 06/04/2012)
Aubrey Organics White Camellia Ultra-Smoothing Shampoo
As I type, my hair is drying post- Aubrey Organics White Camellia Shampoo. I like Aubrey -- its facial toner has been an awesome puberty suvival tool for my kids -- so it pains me to say this, but this shampoo is odd. It's practical scentless, which should please those with ultrasensitive noses. But it provides virtually no lather: not just the diminished amount that you get with most sulfate-free shampoos, but basically none. And my hair drank it up before I could even spread it around, so I had to add a bunch more. The result was a dried-out head that required extra conditioner afterward. Not exactly cost effective. It's ironic that this product bills itself for "dry, coarse, unruly" hair, because that's how it seems to have left mine. I had to comb some very unnatural Moroccanoil oil treatment through to smooth things down.
~~~Rating: * * out of 5~~~
~~~Rating: * * out of 5~~~
Aubrey Organics - White Camelia Shampoo, 11 fl oz liquid
Amazon Price: $6.90 (as of 06/04/2012)
It's a 10 Miracle Moisture Shampoo
One of the "moistest" varieties on my SLS free shampoo list, this product almost made conditioner unnecessary on my hair, without seeming the slightest bit heavy. It's got a nice, subtly sweet scent, too. A keeper! My only regret is that I paid full drugstore price (well over $20) for this high-end product without consulting Amazon, which, it turns out, has It's a 10 priced significantly lower as of fall 2011. Live and learn.
~~~Rating: * * * * out of 5~~~
~~~Rating: * * * * out of 5~~~
It's A 10 Miracle Moisture Shampoo, 10-Ounce Bottle
Amazon Price: $12.50 (as of 06/04/2012)
Living Proof Full Shampoo
I liked this stuff, I really did. But the cost -- even at the Amazon price, which is a few dollars less than what I paid at the drugstore, if you can believe it -- of Living Proof Full Shampoo is insane enough to cost it one star on my rating. The package promised "super cleansing," and I do love how squeaky-clean my hair feels after shampooing with this. The subtle scent is nice, too. But I didn't notice a huge difference in volume.
~~~Rating: * * * out of 5~~~
~~~Rating: * * * out of 5~~~
Living Proof Living Proof Full Shampoo 8 oz
Amazon Price: $24.00 (as of 06/04/2012)
Biolage Delicate Care Shampoo
This one delivered a lather almost suspiciously rich for a sulfate-free shampoo and a pleasant, slightly floral scent. My hair felt clean but soft afterward and combed easily. The biggest thing I noticed was how "well behaved" my hair was during & after my 2-minute "styling" routine. This shampoo seemed to calm and smooth it, but not in a way that made it lifeless. Even the layers, which are in serious need of a trim, seemed to perk up a bit. Despite the high pricetag, I think the Biolage is a keeper.
~~~Rating: * * * * out of 5~~
~~~Rating: * * * * out of 5~~
Matrix Biolage Colorcaretherapie Delicate Care Shampoo, 10 Ounce
Amazon Price: $10.39 (as of 06/04/2012)
Kiss My Face Whenever Shampoo
I love lime, so was thrilled when this Kiss My Face sulfate-free shampoo turned out to be quite limey smelling. Mmmm! As many citrus shampoos do, it also seemed to "clarify" my hair nicely, leaving it squeaky clean but not dried out. If you use styling products and are eager for a "clean slate" after you shower, this shampoo is a great choice. As no-sulfate shampoos go it's also very affordable, and the space-saving semicircle container is a plus for those of us with small bathrooms.
~~ Rating: * * * * out of 5 ~~~
~~ Rating: * * * * out of 5 ~~~
Kiss My Face - Whenever Shampoo, 11 fl oz liquid
Amazon Price: $4.84 (as of 06/04/2012)
Nature's Gate Persimmon and Rose Shampoo
I saved the best for last :) This Nature's Gate variety is my favorite sulfate-free shampoo. I've probably gone through a dozen bottles and now buy it in bulk. The smell is soft but invigorating, and it cleans just right, leaving my hair smooth and shiny. It lathers nicely for a non-SLS product, and you don't need to use much product per wash. When I really want a "good hair day," I always grab this shampoo. Love it!
~~~Rating: * * * * * out of 5~~~
~~~Rating: * * * * * out of 5~~~
Nature's Gate Organics Fruit Blend Shampoo, Persimmon and Rose Geranium, 12-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 3)
Amazon Price: $23.97 (as of 06/04/2012)
Sham-Poll
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Your thoughts?
Have you tried a sulfate-free shampoo? Which one? Good, bad, indifferent? Please share!
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sheezie77
Jun 4, 2012 @ 3:20 am | delete
- Great lens! Well done
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Cheryl
Jun 3, 2012 @ 8:13 pm | delete
- I've tried the Loreal, and actually like the smell. Sick of all the fruity smelling shampoos...It does a good job, and you can get the volumizing shampoo.
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Coe
May 25, 2012 @ 1:13 pm | delete
- Thanks so much for the fantastic reviews on sulfate-free shampoo. I have tried a few of these (Aubrey -- the WORST) and now I see a host of others to try.
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Kassie
May 25, 2012 @ 11:09 am | delete
- I'm really surprised the RenPure Organics got a bad review. It's what I use and I love it. I can comb through my hair just fine, with just a tiny bit of shampoo. I have very thick hair so that's a plus when I can comb through it. I really like RenPure.
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KarateKatGraphics
May 25, 2012 @ 12:38 pm | delete
- thx Kassie! good to know it works for someone, as the price is good & we need more SLS free moderately priced options. I think your hair "chemistry" & mine must just be different. I appreciate your sharing your mini-review here!
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