I tried the best sulphate-free shampoo​ to gently cleanse and soothe scalp irritation

Aimed at repairing weak and damaged hair, Minimalist Maleic Bond Repair Complex 3.5% is enriched with maleic acid, amino acids and transglutaminase that repairs and prevents damage to hair bonds. It's effective against hair damage that can be caused by heat styling, colouring, straightening and UV exposure. Minimalist claims a 13.1% increase in the tensile strength of hair fibre after one wash. This is a balanced, sulphate-free shampoo that gently cleanses without drying out hair.

I'm 40 years old and I have mid-length colour treated hair. I tested Minimalist for several weeks and found it to be an outstanding shampoo for nourishing my hair which is prone to being dry and frizzy. The shampoo is opaque and has a creamy texture. It's thicker than a standard shampoo and there's no discernible fragrance. The liquid forms a thick, creamy dense foam to lather into hair. You don't need much, albeit if you have longer hair you may find yourself getting through the 250ml bottle faster. It almost feels like there's conditioner in it. It left my hair feeling silky and nourished. I could easily get a brush through my hair and the shampoo's detangling formulation means less hair breakage overall. Also, my hair can look dull, and I think this shampoo improved its shine. I recommend Minimalist as a sulphate-free haircare product that helps repair and prevent damage for all hair types.

Kerasilk Repairing Shampoo offers a gentle yet effective cleansing experience, designed to moisturise, fortify and repair hair while reducing brittleness, breakage and further damage. Infused with biomimetic silk—a vegan hydrolysed protein mimicking the composition and benefits of animal-derived silk—it strengthens hair.

This is one of my favourite shampoos ever. It contains red raspberry seed oil, rich in vitamins E and A, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids for nourishment and protection. Along with shea oil, blue lotus extract, and advanced Hyaloveil for hydration. Additional ingredients such as Ectoin shield hair from environmental stress, T-Flavanone promotes density and reduces hair loss, and Piroctone Olamine effectively addresses dandruff and dry scalp issues. It even neutralises hard water to prevent mineral build up on hair, which is bonus given where I live.

After one month of use, I saw an improvement in my hair. I continued using it for several months this year and my hair is longer than it has been for at least 20 years. It feels significantly stronger and fuller, to the point that I've had positive comments from friends and family who haven't seen me for a while. The only reason why this shampoo is not in the top spot is because it is definitely for fine hair. Individuals with fuller hair may find that it leaves their hair feeling heavy. If you have dry and damaged hair, give the shampoo and Kerasilk Repairing Conditioner at try.

This vegan shampoo is free from silicones, sulphates, dyes, microplastics, mineral oils, and parabens. As a climate-neutral product with sustainable packaging, it aligns with conscious beauty standards, delivering moisture, strength, and protection for hair that looks and feels healthy.

Cantu Shea Butter Cleansing Shampoo offers deep cleansing and nourishment to help reduce breakage. This sulphate free shampoo is specially formulated for curly hair and is widely available both in stores and online. Its 400ml bottle provides excellent value for money, as a little goes a long way. Enriched with shea butter, the shampoo promotes healthy hair growth while taming kinks and unruly curls. It's designed to effectively remove heavy build-up while remaining gentle on hair and scalp.

Although sulphate-free shampoos can often come at a higher price, the Cantu Cleansing Cream Shampoo stands out for its affordability, especially given its generous 400ml size. It's a high-quality product that effectively cleanses the hair while enhancing curl definition and shine.

I have naturally wavy hair and this shampoo brought out its curl and lustre. The pearlescent shampoo, with its fresh orange fragrance, formed a rich and creamy lather. After rinsing, my scalp and hair felt thoroughly cleansed, making it an enjoyable choice for a refreshing morning shower. I've used the entire bottle and found it to be excellent value for money.

Following the shampoo, I used Cantu Strengthening Biotin-Infused Hair & Scalp Oil. A few drops applied with the pipette absorb quickly, leaving my hair smooth and tangle-free. It has a tea tree scent and nourishing effect, leaving my hair soft, manageable and lightly fragranced after drying.

Cantu Cleansing Cream Shampoo is free from SLS/SLES sulphates, silicones, alcohol, paraffin, parabens, phthalates, and propylene glycol. This product is specially designed for curly hair, so it's worth exploring the rest of Cantu's range if you have a different hair type.

I recently tested Hed Honey Nourishing Natural Shampoo, a vegan, sulphate-free shampoo that calms sensitive scalps and promotes healthy hair growth. It contains 100% naturally derived ingredients and is suitable for all hair types. I found it took a bit of effort to dispense the shampoo from the bottle, but the strong herbal fragrance and creamy lather made it worth the squeeze. Packed with natural ingredients like chamomile, rosemary oil and aloe vera juice, it left my scalp tingling fresh and thoroughly cleansed without stripping my hair of its natural oils. The shampoo contains nourishing coconut extract, argan oil and other essential oils to fortify hair. Customer reviews praise this shampoo for combating hair thinning and itchy scalps and especially soothing for psoriasis-prone scalps. I found it didn't upset my skin at all.

The shampoo nourishes the scalp as a balanced microbiome, using ingredients like saw palmetto, jojoba oil, and cedarwood oil to reduce irritation reducing itchiness and irritation after just a few uses. I appreciated how it smoothed and refreshed my hair while maintaining its softness. Its luxurious formula, free from sulphates, parabens and artificial fragrances, exemplifies exceptional quality. It contains 2% active ingredients to promote healthy hair growth. The result? Clean, refreshed, and gorgeously fragrant hair, all while staying kind to the environment and your scalp.

As someone who struggles with sensitive skin and occasional scalp flare-ups, I'm always on the lookout for natural solutions that actually work. That’s why I decided to try Odylique’s Gentle Herb Shampoo, and I’m glad I did.

This shampoo is unlike anything I’ve used before. First, it’s a runny liquid, so you’ll want to be careful when dispensing it. It’s also worth noting that it doesn’t lather as much as conventional shampoos, but that’s typical of products that are free from sulphates and artificial foaming agents. The bottle recommends letting it sit on your scalp for a few minutes after massaging it in, and I found this step really makes a difference. The results were worth the extra time—my scalp felt thoroughly cleansed yet soothed, and my hair was soft, shiny and manageable after drying.

What really impressed me is the ingredient list which is written in plain English! The shampoo is 70% organic and 100% natural, with aloe vera juice as the main ingredient. It’s enriched with soothing chamomile, rosemary and nettle. Another pleasant surprise was that I didn’t need an additional conditioner—this shampoo left my hair soft and nourished on its own.

If you’re eco-conscious, Odylique ticks all the boxes. The shampoo is vegan, cruelty-free and certified organic by the Soil Association. Odylique products do not contain sulphates, silicones, artificial fragrances, or preservatives, which is a huge plus for those avoiding irritants.

Overall, I’d highly recommend the Odylique Gentle Herb Shampoo to anyone with a sensitive or irritated scalp—or anyone who just wants a gentle, effective and natural alternative to conventional shampoos.

Odylique's new Prebiotic Gentle Herb contains a few extra natural ingredients, including chicory to balance the scalp's microbiome. If you're prone to eczema or psoriasis this formulation can help soothe irritation, with essential plant oil extracts. Once again, it is a runny liquid, this time yellow in colour, and it's best to do as it advises on the bottle and let it sink into the hair for a few minutes before rinsing. Work across your scalp in sections, massaging it in until it is evenly distributed.

Whether it is menopause, allergies or medical treatment that's causing skin sensitivity – with a range of organic personal care and beauty products and excellent customer support – it's worth trying Odylique.

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E is a gentle, sulphate- and silicone-free shampoo that strengthens brittle, fragile and breakage-prone hair for optimal length retention. Enriched with natural biotin, it helps optimise the hair growth cycle and strengthens strands. A 400ml bottle offers great value for money and the shampoo itself forms a rich, creamy lather that gently lifts away dirt, oil and build-up, without harsh detergents. From the first wash, I noticed how gentle the shampoo was—it created a thick lather that felt creamy and luxurious without stripping my hair. My hair felt soapy-clean but not dried out. The cocoa butter and vitamin E left my strands feeling nourished and soft, with a healthy shine. Following it up with Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Length Retention Conditioner made my hair even softer and tangle-free while giving it a protective layer against styling damage. After just a few uses, my hair feels healthier, stronger and more manageable, plus I’m seeing less hair on my brush overall. However, it may be a little too enriching for thicker or oilier hair types.

Your hair will love Palmer's, plus with a commitment to natural ingredients and responsible sourcing—it’s a product to feel good about using! As someone who is guilty of overusing hair straighteners, the combination of cocoa butter and biotin helped to fortify my hair. After several weeks of using Palmer's my hair is longer than ever.

Wild’s vegan shampoo bar is enriched with natural ingredients like sweet almond oil and jojoba oil, offering deep nourishment for your hair. These natural oils help condition and care for your hair, making it suitable for all hair types. With a concentrated formula, this shampoo bar lasts 2-3 times longer than traditional liquid shampoo, providing exceptional value and convenience. However, due to the almond oil content, it is not recommended for individuals with nut allergies.

The shampoo bar is ideal for travel when liquid shampoo is not practical. Made with over 92% naturally derived ingredients, including sweet almond oil and jojoba oil, Wild Coconut & Vanilla Shampoo Bar is activated by water. Rub the bar in your hands under running water to produce a rich, foamy lather. Then, gently rub the bar over wet hair and scalp, ensuring full coverage, and rinse thoroughly. For best results, use the shampoo bar once or twice a week.

This solid shampoo offers the same effective cleaning as liquid shampoo whilst being free from harsh chemicals, sulphates and single-use plastics. The 75g bar provides between 60 and 70 washes, making it a sustainable and long-lasting product. Its concentrated formula lasts 2-3 times longer than liquid shampoo. Additionally, Wild products are vegan and cruelty-free. This shampoo had a lovely, natural fragrance that enhanced the washing experience. Just take care to give it a dedicated dish or storage case to keep it dry between washes, otherwise it will disintegrate.

Photos showcase the results after using the shampoo bar—hair washed and air-dried but not styled. The shampoo bar left my hair looking cleansed, nourished and glossy, even without additional styling. The little bar lasts a long time and is a brilliant natural shampoo to take to the gym or if you're travelling, as well as using at home.

I’ve always struggled with my fine hair—it’s prone to frizz, breaks easily, and just won’t grow past my shoulders without looking messy. When I found Hairburst Shampoo & Conditioner, I hoped it would be the answer to my prayers for longer, stronger and healthier hair. It contains active ingredients to cleanses hair while strengthening it. Amino acids and panthenol contain vitamin B5 to hydrate and protect hair, adding softness and shine. Hydrolysed wheat proteins strengthen strands, prevent breakage and add moisture—perfect for my fine hair.

After using it for several weeks, my hair is visibly thicker and longer. I love that this nourishing avocado and coconut formulation is SLS-free and paraben-free, so I can cleanse my hair without worrying about stripping it of natural oils. Hairburst Shampoo is gentle yet effective and is made with 95% natural ingredients. It is quite runny and pearlescent, with a sweet fragrance. It lathers into a stiff foam (like meringue!) and thoroughly cleanses without drying.

The accompanying conditioner is rich and luxurious. It locks in moisture, leaves my hair soft and smooth, and makes detangling a breeze. After using it, I can easily comb through my wet hair. When dry, my hair has more volume than usual.

With regular use, I’ve noticed less breakage, smoother ends, and shinier, healthier-looking hair. My natural curls feel more defined and my hair feels stronger overall. There's also less breakage when I style my hair; occasionally, I use hair straighteners.

Hairburst has been a game-changer for my hair growth goals. If you’re dealing with dry, damaged or frizzy hair—or just want to grow longer, stronger locks—this duo is worth a try. Refills are available in eco-friendly pouches, which cost less than bottles and reduce waste.

Note, while this product doesn't contain sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), the shampoo does contain ammonium lauryl sulphate (ALS).

Nourish and hydrate dry, thirsty hair with Paul Mitchell Clean Beauty Hydrate Shampoo. Made from 77% natural origin ingredients, it is infused with organic olive and oat peptides to soothe the scalp, replenish moisture and leave hair feeling silky and refreshed. Its sulphate-free formula provides a luxurious lather, gently cleansing impurities while protecting your hair's natural shine. Perfect for colour-treated hair, this vegan, cruelty-free shampoo is also gluten-free and packaged in 100% recyclable, bio-based materials—making it as kind to the planet as it is to your hair.

When I first tried Paul Mitchell Clean Beauty Hydrate Shampoo, I was instantly impressed by it. This shampoo feels luxurious, like a salon experience. From the sleek bio-based plastic bottle to the fresh, wholesome fragrance, every detail is thoughtfully crafted.

With its pale honey hue, the shampoo creates a rich and creamy lather—just a small amount goes a long way. Packed with nourishing olive and oat peptides and high-quality ingredients like hyaluronic acid, my scalp is soothed and my hair revitalised. Rinsing it out is a dream—my hair feels thoroughly cleansed, tangle-free and incredibly soft, with a more manageable texture.

This hydrating formula works wonders on thirsty hair, making it smooth, healthy-looking, and full of life. I paired it with the Paul Mitchell Clean Beauty Repair Conditioner, and the results were even better—my hair became noticeably more manageable and healthy.

While it's a premium price, its performance and sustainability make it a worthwhile investment for healthy hair. Backed by the trusted Paul Mitchell® name, a leader in professional hair care for over 40 years, this shampoo reflects a legacy of innovation and quality, plus a commitment to a sustainable future.

Paul Mitchell educator and haircare expert, Victoria Panting says: "Sulphate-free shampoos, such as Paul Mitchell Clean Beauty Everyday Shampoo, cleanse thoroughly without harsh effects, relying on ingredients like aloe vera and coconut-derived cleansers to gently remove impurities. These shampoos are ideal for maintaining moisture and vibrancy in chemically treated or curly hair, as they reduce frizz and retain natural oils.

"For those with dry or damaged hair, Paul Mitchell Lavender Mint Moisturizing Cowash offers a nourishing, sulphate free formula that keeps hair hydrated and soft. It’s a great alternative for refreshing hair in between wash days without hard cleansers."

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo is a great choice if you're looking to restore the natural curl pattern of your hair by following the curly girl method, which involves using sulphate-free shampoo and washing hair less often, as well as avoiding heat styling, colouring and using most types of hair brushes.

Our tester, SEO strategist Ella Croft, says: "This shampoo was one of the first products I tried when I first started using sulphate-free shampoos many years ago, and I still continue to use it. From the first use it made such a difference to my hair. It is cleansing but also gentle; it doesn't give my hair that awful squeaky, stripped-away feeling. It leaves my waves feeling moisturised, defined and frizz-free! I love to use this as my regular shampoo, but once every two weeks or so, I would like to use a more clarifying shampoo that does a bit more of a deep clean."

Fudge Professional Clean Blonde Damage Rewind Shampoo is a tone-perfecting sulphate free purple shampoo that neutralises brassy yellow tones to maintain icy, flattering ash highlights. Infused with violet micro-pigments, it effectively counteracts unwanted brassy tones, while its unique Opti-Plex™ technology penetrates deep into the hair's core to repair damage and strengthen strands by up to 95%. Ideal for combating the effects of chemical treatments, styling and environmental stressors, this shampoo locks in colour for up to 30 washes, leaving hair smooth, vibrant and revitalised.

Highly praised by customers for its professional-grade toning power, this shampoo is a must-have for anyone seeking fresh, salon-worthy results at home. While its performance is outstanding, reviews comment that you must rinse it out promptly to avoid staining.

If you're looking for a gentle yet strong product to maintain brilliant blonde or grey tones, this Fudge shampoo delivers strength, shine and amazing colour wash-after-wash.

SBC Skincare Hydra-Collagen Super Boost Shampoo is an excellent sulphate free shampoo for mature or thinning hair. Though SBC Skincare may not be a household name, but those that are in the know wax lyrical about the effectiveness of the Hydra-Collagen Super Boost Shampoo. Enriched with marine collagen and keratin, this luxurious shampoo is specifically designed to combat the signs of ageing in hair. It targets dryness, thinning and dullness, gently cleansing without stripping natural hair oils. Sulphate-free and formulated to remove build-up, it leaves hair refreshed, nourished and full of life. With conditioning oils to smooth flyaways and lock in moisture, it delivers a natural root boost for limp, flat hair while strengthening strands to reduce breakage.

Customer reviews highlight its ability to revive thinning and grey hair, making locks feel soft, shiny and manageable. It’s particularly praised for being gentle on dry, flaky scalps and sensitive skin while maintaining vibrant colour on treated hair. Light as a feather, this shampoo restores vitality and bounce, with 90% of users reporting more body and life in their hair. For a gentle yet effective anti-ageing solution, Hydra-Collagen Super Boost Shampoo is a must-try for those seeking nourished, youthful hair.

If you're interested in trying this shampoo it's available from selected retailers online; happily that includes Amazon, but it's not a recognisable brand on the high street. Sounds like a best kept secret!

The Evolve Organic Beauty The Superfood Shine Shampoo is a standout in the world of natural haircare, delivering everything you need for shiny, soft and healthy-looking hair. Formulated with natural cleansers derived from sugar and coconut, it gently cleanses your scalp and hair without stripping away essential oils. Baobab proteins play a key role in this formula, helping to reduce frizz and tangles while boosting shine and softness. They also work to strengthen and protect hair. Organic pomegranate extract hydrates and protects, while soothing organic aloe vera adds an extra layer of moisture, leaving hair beautifully soft and smooth.

One of the standout features of this shampoo is its irresistible fragrance, which customers rave about in reviews. The shampoo has a lovely lather that creates a luxurious feel during washing and adds noticeable volume and shine. Certified COSMOS organic, vegan and cruelty-free, it’s a perfect choice for those looking for an eco-conscious haircare option. While the shampoo’s thick consistency can make it a bit tricky to squeeze from the bottle, its amazing results—along with its ability to nourish and hydrate without irritating sensitive scalps—make it a must-try for anyone wanting to achieve smooth, shiny and healthy hair.

I tested the Superfood Shine Conditioner almost a year ago and still remember how incredibly good it smelt. To this day, the best fragrance I've come across in a haircare product. So, I can understand why the customer reviews for the shampoo repeatedly mention how amazing it smells. At the time, I did think the conditioner was a thick consistency that took effort to squeeze out, so I also get the customer comments on the shampoo being tricky to dispense.