The 10 Best Alcohol-free Shampoos
This wiki has been updated 21 times since it was first published in May of 2018. If you've ever scrutinized the ingredients list of common hair care products, you've probably seen words like "glycol," "panthenol," and phenoxyethanol. While these do serve as preservatives and shine enhancers, they can dry out your locks. For a fresh take on the matter, check out these alcohol-free shampoos, which skip the harmful substances and leave you with tresses that are healthy and shiny. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. OGX Renewing
2. Latinoil Chia Repair
3. Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore
Editor's Notes
November 20, 2020:
We removed Botanic Hearth Deep Cleansing and Winsome & Wisdom BlondeMoment Purple due to availability concerns and replaced them with Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore and Vanicream Free & Clear, respectively. Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore is a great organic option that uses natural oils to replenish hair that is difficult to manage or is dried out due to heat styling or processing. However, it might not be the best for fine hair because of the high concentration of oils. Vanicream Free & Clear, on the other hand, is an extremely gentle option for people with extra sensitive skin. It uses mild cleansing agents that will clean your hair, but won’t strip away moisture. It is also free of common irritants such as gluten, fragrance, and parabens.
October 02, 2019:
Have you ever read through the list of ingredients on your bottle of shampoo and realized you can’t pronounce most of them? Alcohol-free shampoos are a safe alternative, since many of their ingredients are gentle and environmentally friendly. Many of them are also vegan, to boot, and quite a few also come in eco-friendly packaging.
Coming on board is Prell Classic, which many of us grew up using. It’s still made up of the same fragrance you might remember well, which many users say is enough to keep them coming back for more. But its alcohol-free formula is another of its pluses, as it provides you with a clean, great-smelling head of hair, and it's not made up of the harsh additives that many others contain. It delivers a thick lather during each shampoo that’s easy to rinse out when you’re done. And, it’s one of the most affordable options available.
Towheads looking for a gentle formula need look no further than Winsome & Wisdom BlondeMoment Purple. This purple shampoo is made in the U.S.A. by a family-owned company, and you can rest assured it’s made with all-natural extracts, without any testing done on animals. It also provides important UV protection to keep your hair from sun damage.
The OGX Renewing also comes on board, with a blend of argan oil of Morocco and silk proteins to hydrate and repair dry, damaged hair. The oil penetrates the shaft to restore shine and softness. Like some of the others on our list, this one forms an impressive lather, and it aims to lock moisture in while ensuring both curly and straight tresses feel thicker.
The few ingredients that make up Vaadi Herbals Heena include coconut and olive oils, henna and green tea extracts, organic honey, and corn silk. It features a pleasant, mild fragrance that’s not fruity or flowery, but rather, clean and fresh.
Leaving the list today, since it’s no longer available, is Keralogie Kids. Also making an exit are LuxeOrganix, which can dry out and/or tangle the hair, as well as Sojourn Colour Preserve, amid reports the bottle leaks rather easily.
Special Honors
Odele Volumizing Shampoo This shampoo offers high quality at a drugstore price. It is fortified with amino acids to strengthen and volumize your hair, and it moisturizes without weighing down your locks. It is vegan, cruelty-free, and dermatologist tested. odelebeauty.com
4. Prell Classic
5. Vanicream Free & Clear
6. Vaadi Herbals Heena
7. Shear Miracle Organics
8. Laritelle Fertile Roots
9. Nywele Moisturizing Repair
10. Acure Curiously Clarifying
Karen Bennett lives in Chicago with her family, and when she’s not writing, she can usually be found practicing yoga or cheering on her kids at soccer games. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and a bachelor’s in English, and her writing has been published in various local newspapers, as well as “The Cheat Sheet,” “Illinois Legal Times,” and “USA Today.” She has also written search engine news page headlines and worked as a product manager for a digital marketing company. Her expertise is in literature, nonfiction, textbooks, home products, kids' games and toys, hardware, teaching accessories, and art materials.