8 Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos for Dry, Damaged, or Color-Treated Hair

Both our testers and New York City-based hairstylist Jeremy Villao give Davines’s shampoo their stamp of approval for its hydrating formulation that leaves strands unbelievably soft. Powered by moisture-replenishing roucou oil, this rich shampoo instantly softens and smooths hair as you lather. A ping-pong-ball-sized dollop of this shampoo is all you need to get a sudsy feel sans surfactants.

Testing notes: “I have dry, thick hair and a perpetually dry scalp, but this moisturizing shampoo quelled both after the first wash,” says Glamour contributor Jennifer Hussein. “I love how silky-smooth my hair feels after washing it with this shampoo, and its softening effect lasts for days, even if I follow up my wash with my heated tools.”

Best for Dry Hair: Maria Nila Head & Hair Heal Shampoo

• Pros: Soothes scalp; softens and smooths strands
• Cons: Those with thicker hair may run through the bottle quickly

Whether you have dry hair, a dry scalp, or both, Maria Nila’s ultra-hydrating shampoo delivers a serious surge of moisture. Piroctone olamine (also found in dandruff shampoos) gently tackles flaking while aloe vera hydrates and calms.our strands are left unbelievably soft.

Testing notes: “This is a personal favorite ,” says Hussein. “Its softening effect is unmatched, as is its ability to not just wash away flakes, but prevent them from happening in the future. (Thanks, aloe vera.) It’s one of the few shampoos I’ve used that truly won’t alter my hair’s faux-blonde color. The only issue I have is that, as someone with extremely thick hair, I find myself running through the entire bottle in about a month.”

Best for Fine Hair: Monday Smoothing Shampoo

• Pros: Lightweight; affordable
• Cons: Slightly drying for some

Monday recommends this product as an option for curly and frizzy hair, but our testers found it surprisingly effective on fine strands, too. In addition to its under-$10 price tag, both our testers and board-certified dermatologist Morgan Rabach, MD, love its blend of lightweight, moisture-sealing avocado and coconut oils, plus hydrating vitamin E. This recipe yields a weightless shampoo that gently yet effectively cleanses and plumps fine, fragile hair. As it hydrates, wheat protein provides structural support along the hair shaft, helping prevent breakage and shedding.

Testing notes: “It didn’t weigh my hair down,” says Glamour commerce writer, Alanna Martine Kilkeary. “Overall, I dealt with fewer flyaways and breakage post-wash. I did think it dried my hair out slightly, but that was nothing a little leave-in conditioner couldn’t fix. Overall, a pretty solid formula for my fine, thin hair type.”

Best for Curly Hair: Kerastase Discipline Bain Fluidealiste Shampoo

• Pros: Hydrating without heaviness
• Cons: Expensive

Curly hair needs moisture to stay at their bounciest, shiniest, and softest, and New York City-based hairstylist Oksana Pasian love this pick from Kerastase. “It tames and prevents frizz and feels hydrating while cleansing, but it doesn’t leave hair feeling greasy or weigh curls down,” says Pasian. The key to this curl-defining formula is morpho-keratine, which restores hair fibers and surface perfectors to soften uneven texture.