Are you in the market for a shampoo that’s free of animal (by)products as well as sulfates? We’ve got you! We searched for the best vegan and sulfate-free shampoos out there. Since you’re on Beauty.Beyond.Cruelty, these winners are all cruelty-free too.
First, what are sulfates, why do they have such a bad reputation – and why to opt for a sulfate-free shampoo.
What Are Sulfates?
Sulfates are the chemical cleansing agents that are used in traditional skin- and haircare products including shampoo. Sulfates create a foamy lather to help break down oil and build-up from our hair, giving it a thorough cleanse.
Why Are Sulfates Bad And Why To Opt for A Sulfate-Free Shampoo?
Al though sulfates (sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate) are good for cleansing, they actually can do more harm than good. First off, they strip your hair from moisture, leaving it feeling dry. Also colored hair isn’t safe with sulfates, as the harsh surfactants make color fade much quicker. Sulfates can also lead to irritation of the scalp.
This is why it’s best to ditch sulfates when your hair is dry, color-treated or when you have a sensitive or dry scalp.
Vegan + Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Sadly, still the majority of shampoos contains animal ingredients, of which the most commonly used ingredients are honey, beeswax, biotin, keratin and silk powder. Whether you’re a committed vegan or you just want your shampoo to be animal-free, the formulas below are all 100% vegan.
Ahead, the 11 best vegan + sulfate-free shampoos that put hair’s health first.
The 11 Best Vegan + Sulfate-Free Shampoos
- Best Overall: Verb – Ghost Shampoo
- Best Everyday Shampoo: Amika – Normcore Signature Shampoo
- For Damaged Hair: Olaplex – No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
- Multitasker: Living Proof – Perfect Hair Day Shampoo
- For Colored Hair: DpHUE – Color Fresh Shampoo
- Best Drugstore: Kristin Ess – The One Signature Shampoo
- Natural: Rahua – Classic Shampoo
- Best Shampoo for Fine, Thin and Flat Hair: Virtue – Full Shampoo
- Purple Shampoo: Eva NYC – Tone It Down Blonde Shampoo
- Best for Dry, Colored Hair: Pureology – Hydrate Shampoo
- Curly Hair: Briogeo – Don’t Despair, Repair Super Moisture Shampoo
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1/11
Best Overall:
Verb – Ghost Shampoo
Shop at AMAZON | $
For sulfate-free shampoo fans who still crave a traditional-shampoo lather, reach for Verb’s Ghost Shampoo. The jojoba and moringa oil packed shampoo adds moisture while cleansing gently with a formula that’s lightweight enough for fine hair. The rave reviews go on and on about how clean, soft and healthy this shampoo leaves hair.
Added bonuses for its reasonable price tag and the grapefruit-oatmeal fragrance.
Hair Type: all dry and damaged hair | Scent: grapefruit oatmeal | Free of: sulfates sls and sles, paraben, mineral oil, alcohol, animal (by)products | Silicone-Free: no | Cruelty-Free: yes, Verb is a PETA-certified cruelty-free brand | Vegan: yes, this is a vegan product, however not all of Verb’s products are vegan | Packaging: recyclable plastic
2/11
Best Everyday Shampoo:
Amika – Normcore Signature Shampoo
Shop at AMAZON | $$
This everyday shampoo suds up easily and leaves hair clean, light and shiny. Reviewers can’t enough of the amazing scent. On top of being free of sulfates, it’s also paraben, and silicone-free. It works on all hair types, including color- and chemical treated.
Works well with Amika Normcore Signature Conditioner.
Hair Type: all | Scent: vanilla, amber, citrus | Free of: sulfates sls and sles, paraben, phthalates, mineral oil, silicones, gluten, animal (by)products | Silicone-Free: yes | Cruelty-Free: yes, Amika is a PETA certified cruelty-free brand | Vegan: yes, this is a vegan product, however Amika is not a vegan brand, as some of their products do contain animal (by)products | Packaging: recyclable plastic
3/11
Best for Damaged Blondes:
Olaplex – No 4. Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Shop at AMAZON | $$
Have your bleached lengths seen better days? This hairdresser’s go-to shampoo is your best bet.
It’s patented bond-building technology repairs hair on a molecular level, which leads to stronger and smoother hair with each use.
Al though every dyed blonde knows about Olaplex, it’s not only for the bleached. The highly nourishing formula strengthens and moisturizes all hair types in need of repair.
Pair with Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner for even better results.
Hair Type: all damaged and dry hair | Scent: mild citrus | Free of: sulfates sls and sles, paraben, phthalates, gluten, mineral oil, gluten, animal (by)products | Silicone-Free: no | Cruelty-Free: yes | Vegan: yes, Olaplex is a 100% vegan brand, which means none of their products contain animal ingredients | Packaging: plastic
4/11
Best Multi-Tasking Shampoo:
Living Proof – Perfect Hair Day Shampoo
Shop at AMAZON | $$
Like the name suggests, with this shampoo perfect hair days are ahead. Where most shampoos focus on 1 specific concern, the phd formula does 5 things: it smooths, polishes, conditions, strengthens and volumizes. Since it cleanses so well it will extend time between washes. Plus, you only need a dime-size of this citrusy scented sudser, so a little goes a long way.
Hair Type: all | Scent: light citrusy | Free of: paraben, sulfates sls and sles, phthalates, silicones, gluten, animal (by)products | Silicone-Free: yes | Cruelty-Free: yes, Living Proof is a PETA-certified cruelty-free brand. Do note they are owned by Unilever, a company that’s not cruelty-free | Vegan: yes, this is a vegan product | Packaging: recyclable plastic
5/11
Best for Color-Treated Hair:
DpHUE – Color Fresh Shampoo
Shop at AMAZON | $$
This color-safe cleansing shampoo stretches out time between washes, which is ultimately the best way to prolong your color. Despite being a sulfate-free formula, it easily creates a frothy lather. Scent-wise, this shampoo smells like you just got your hair done at the salon.
Pair with the matching conditioner for even better results.
Hair Type: all colored hair | Scent: fresh, salon | Free of: sulfates sls and sles, paraben, phthalates, silicones, gluten, animal (by)products | Cruelty-Free: yes, DpHUE is a cruelty-free brand | Vegan: yes DpHUE is a vegan brand | Packaging: plastic
RELATED: The Best Cruelty-Free Shampoos for Color-Treated Hair
6/11
Best Drugstore Vegan + Sulfate-Free Shampoo:
Kristin Ess – The One Signature Shampoo
Shop at AMAZON | $
From the drugstore aisle, this lightly clarifying shampoo leaves your hair squeaky clean. It has a creamy lather and a floral perfumy scent that lingers in your hair throughout the day. Do note this shampoo can be a bit drying, so make sure to follow up with the conditioner.
Hair Type: normal to oily hair | Scent: floral, perfumy | Free of: sulfates sls and sles, paraben, phthalates, animal (by)products | Cruelty-Free: yes, Kristin Ess is a PETA-certified cruelty-free brand | Vegan: yes, this is a vegan product, however Kristin Ess is not a vegan brand, as they also sell products with animal ingredients | Packaging: plastic
7/11
Best Natural Vegan + Sulfate-Free Shampoo:
Rahua – Classic Shampoo
Shop at AMAZON | $$$
This lightweight everyday shampoo washes away oil and dirt, while leaving hair soft and shiny.
It does not foam like soap, but it gets the job done.
Rahua’s shampoo is naturally scented with a woodsy aroma of palo santo oil, which we feel is a great and relaxing way to start your day.
Hair Type: all | Scent: palo santo | Free of: paraben, sulfates sls and sles, silicones, gluten, animal (by)products | Cruelty-Free: yes, Rahua is a cruelty-free brand | Vegan: yes, Rahua is a 100% vegan brand | Packaging: recyclable plastic. Rahua offers refills to reduce plastic consumption
8/11
Best for Fine, Thin and Flat Hair:
Virtue – Full Shampoo
Shop at AMAZON | $$$$
Pricey? Yes. Worth it? Also, yes. This salon quality formula is great for those with fine, thin and flat hair as it adds volume while it cleanses. It dissolves excess oil and build-up and leaves hair full, soft and bouncy. It also contains the brand’s own vegan keratin as well as biotin to promote hair’s health. Yes, it’s expensive, but you only need the smallest amount for a thorough cleanse. Plus, the zesty and minty smell is the best.
Hair Type: fine hair | Scent: citrus, mint, floral | Free of: sulfates sls and sles, paraben, phthalates, animal (by)products | Cruelty-Free: yes, Virtue is a Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free brand | Vegan: yes, Virtue is a vegan brand | Packaging: plastic
9/11
Best Purple Shampoo:
Eva NYC – Tone It Down Blonde Shampoo
Shop at AMAZON | $
EVA NYC’s purple shampoo neutralizes brassy tones in one wash. Unlike many purple shampoo that can be drying, this formula is packed with hydrating ingredients such as wild cherry bark and argan oil, leaving your hair soft and healthy.
To keep your hue looking as cold as ice, pair it up with the purple conditioner.
Hair Type: all blondes | Scent: citrus | Free of: sulfates sls and sles, animal (by)products | Cruelty-Free: yes, Eva NYC is a Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free brand | Vegan: yes, Eva NYC is a vegan brand | Packaging: recyclable aluminum and recyclable plastic
10/11
Best Vegan + Sulfate-Free Shampoo for Dry Color-Treated Hair:
Pureology – Hydrate Shampoo
Shop at AMAZON | $$$
If your colored strands turned to straw, try Pureology’s bestselling Hydrate shampoo. The moisturizing formula gives a creamy foam that gently cleanses and nourishes hair without stripping away any color.
This shampoo is best for medium to thick hair types.
For fine hair reach for Pureology Hydrate Sheer instead.
For best results pair with Pureology Hydrate Conditioner.
Hair Type: medium to thick, color-treated hair | Scent: patchouli minty | Free of: sulfates sls and sles, animal (by)products | Cruelty-Free: yes, Pureology is a PETA-certified cruelty-free brand. Do note Pureology is owned by L’oréal, a company that is not cruelty-free | Vegan: yes, Pureology is a 100% vegan brand | Packaging: 95% post-consumer recycled plastic
11/11
Best Vegan + Sulfate-Free Shampoo for Curls:
Briogeo – Don’t Despair, Repair Super Moisture Shampoo
Shop at AMAZON | $$$
As any curly girl knows, curls and coils are prone to dryness meaning not every shampoo will do. If you’re looking for a vegan, sulfate-free shampoo for curls, this pick is choice. At work are shea butter, biotin and rose oil (to name a few), which reduce frizz and improve hair’s overall health. The ultra-moisturizing sudser is also silicone-free, so no weighed down hair here.
Hair Type: curly and coily | Scent: light, citrus | Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates, silicones, animal (by)products | Cruelty-Free: yes, Briogeo is a Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free brand | Vegan: yes, this is a vegan product as almost the entire line of the brand | Packaging: recyclable plastic (partly PCR)
What Is The Difference Between Vegan And Cruelty-Free?
Cruelty-free means a product and its ingredients haven’t been tested on animals. It also isn’t sold where animal testing is required by law. Vegan means a product does not contain animal ingredients or (by)products.
A product can be cruelty-free and not vegan as well a product can be vegan and not cruelty-free.
The products in this article are all cruelty-free as well as vegan.
Parent Company
Some brands that are cruelty-free are owned by companies that do test on animals. Beauty.beyond.cruelty considers these brands to be cruelty-free, since the products and ingredients of the brand itself are never tested on animals. We do always mention it when a brand has a parent company that tests on animals.
