The 10 Best Tear-free Shampoos
This wiki has been updated 24 times since it was first published in February of 2018. Our hair and eyes sit so close together, and yet products made for the former often irritate the latter. It seems like a cruel joke. Grownups, at least, know to keep any shampoos from making it past their brows, but babies and young kids don't yet. That's why we found these quality tear-free options for them, many of which will work great for you, too. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Noodle & Boo Extra Gentle
2. Mustela Gentle
3. Elizabeth Parker Naturals Gentle Formula
Editor's Notes
October 31, 2019:
Preventing tears during bath time is just one of the many battles you fight when bathing your little ones (it is a big one, though). As any parent knows, there are also many other challenges when it comes to keeping a cutie's head fresh and clean, so we looked for tear-free shampoos that address a number of scalp and hair ailments.
If you see your kids itching away all day, then you may want to try Noodle & Boo Extra Gentle, with its anti-irritant milk protein, or Elizabeth Parker Naturals Gentle Formula, which has soothing aloe vera. The latter has even been found to help fight dermatitis in some users. And though the name of California Baby Sensitive would lead you to believe that it, too, could fight irritation, we unfortunately had to remove this item as the company recently changed the formula to include sodium benzoate, which can prove problematic for young skin.
Should knots and matting be your biggest concern, try Johnson's Baby No More Tangles. It can make your kiddos' hair so manageable that you don't even need to distract them with bath toys while you comb them out — though you probably should since you can still use all the help you can get.
Special Honors
Ouidad KRLY Kids No Time For Tears If your kids have adorable kinks in their hair, this product can tame them without stripping them of their personality, or natural moisture. It has proteins and amino acids that fortify locks, as well as hydrogenated castor oil, which can fight scalp infections, stimulate hair growth, and battle dandruff. ouidad.com
4. CeraVe Baby Wash
5. Puracy Citrus Grove
6. Johnson's Baby Calming Lavender
7. Aveeno Baby Light Scented
8. Johnson's Baby No More Tangles
9. Paul Mitchell Don't Cry
10. The Honest Company Truly Dreamy
A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.