10 Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos in the Philippines 2026 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Dermatologist
Your hair is often considered your crowning glory, a permanent accessory that deserves the utmost care. Enter sulfate-free shampoos, the gentle touch your hair deserves. Everyone's hair has unique needs, especially if it's been colored or permed. If your scalp is picky or you simply crave a milder cleansing experience, sulfate-free shampoos might be your hair's new best friend.
Get ready to have great hair days ahead with our buying guide, enriched with insights from Dr. Meg Sison, a board-certified dermatologist, to make an informed choice. We also listed the best sulfate-free shampoos you can get now on Lazada and Shopee, too!
Dr. Sison is a board-certified dermatologist who practices in the Philippines and sees both medical and cosmetic dermatological cases on skin, hair, and nails.
Rica is a writer and editor for mybest PH who first joined the team in October 2020. She mostly writes lifestyle titles, especially ones that tap into fashion, beauty, food, arts, and hobbies. Though she's someone who dabbles in whatever sparks her interest, Rica spends most of her free time fangirling, watching races, and playing with her dogs.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
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Every mybest article is crafted with hours of in-depth research and interviews with experts. Each month, we are continually expanding our database of products based on our research. By emphasizing user insight and reliable information, we deliver trustworthy content to readers.
What Are the Benefits of Sulfate-Free Shampoos?
Sulfate-free shampoos are gentler on the scalp and are less likely to cause irritations. They help retain moisture in the hair, reducing dryness and frizz. With that said, they're more suitable for colored and chemically-treated hair.
How to Choose a Sulfate-Free Shampoo - Buying Guide
With so many options available, it can be difficult to choose a sulfate-free shampoo for your needs. We made sure that our guide is simple and easy to read so that you know which formula and brand is best for your hair!
Gently Cleanse and Prevent Dryness in Color- or Chemically-Treated Hair With Milder Surfactants Like Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
Sulfate-free shampoos should contain amphoteric or non-ionic ingredients as these help maintain a balanced pH, preventing excessive stripping of natural oils which is crucial if you have color-treated or chemically-treated hair.
If you have damage-prone treated hair or dry hair, you wouldn't want a shampoo that can further dry your hair. With that said, your best pick is one with milder surfactants (amphoteric and non-ionic surfactants) like sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, laureth-5 carboxylic acid, or disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate. These surfactants can provide effective cleansing while minimizing the risk of further hair damage or dryness.
If you have damage-prone treated hair or dry hair, you wouldn't want a shampoo that can further dry your hair. With that said, your best pick is one with milder surfactants (amphoteric and non-ionic surfactants), such as:
- Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate
- Laureth-5 carboxylic acid
- Disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate
- Cocamidopropyl betaine
- Lauryl betaine
- Disodium cocoamphodiacetate
These surfactants can provide effective cleansing while minimizing the risk of further hair damage or dryness.
Make Sure That the Shampoo Is Free of Anionic Surfactants Such As SLS, SLES, and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
To make sure that a shampoo is indeed sulfate-free, make sure that there are no anionic surfactants included. These surfactants create lather and do an effective job at cleansing, but they could be too potent, leading to dryness and damage.
Anionic surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), and ammonium lauryl sulfate are lauded for their strong cleansing properties that can remove even stubborn dirt, oil, and product residues from the hair. However, because of this same reason, they have the potential to strip the hair of natural oils, which can lead to dryness and damage. This loss of natural oils can also lead to scalp irritation and possible hair damage.
Other common anionic surfactants in shampoos to look out for include the following:
- Sodium cocoyl isethionate
- Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate
- Sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate
- Sodium myreth sulfate
- Sodium lauroyl taurate
- Sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate
- Disodium saureth sulfosuccinate
Look for Other Beneficial Ingredients For Your Specific Hair Concerns
Besides gentle cleansers, you can also look for other ingredients that can provide other benefits to your treated, dry, or lackluster hair.
Naturally Condition Dry Hair With Coconut Oil
If you have dry hair due to chemical treatments or dyeing, look for sulfate-free shampoos with coconut oil. This natural ingredient can provide hydration and deep conditioning. It can penetrate the hair shaft and provide deep conditioning to dry and damaged hair.
Coconut oil in shampoos can penetrate inside the hair shaft because of its high affinity for hair proteins, low molecular weight, and straight linear chain.
Reduce Frizz and Friction With Hydrolyzed Keratin
Excessive use of sulfate-containing shampoos can strip your hair of its natural proteins, particularly keratin. This can lead to weakened hair strands, breakage, split ends, and frizzy-looking hair.
Using sulfate-free shampoos that contain hydrolyzed keratin can help smoothen and strengthen the hair cuticle, reducing frizz and making hair more manageable. It also helps increase the hair's elasticity and reduce breakage.
Smaller molecules like hydrolyzed keratin penetrate the hair shaft. They have positive charges, so it is possible that the negative charge of the damaged hair attracts the positively charged hydrolyzed keratin, neutralizing the electrical charges and reducing frizz and friction.
Enhance Shine With Dimethicones
To boost hair’s shine, consider shampoos with dimethicones. Dimethicones are a type of silicone often used in hair care products. They form a protective layer, making your hair appear softer and shinier. Moreover, they also help reduce frizz and static.
Dimethicone and other silicones enhance the shine of hair fiber by reflecting the light. Dimethicone also has the effect of protecting the hair shaft from abrasive actions, while siloxysilicates increase hair's body.
10 Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos to Buy Online
| Products | Image | Click to purchase | Popularity | Details | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best For | Uses Gentle Surfactants | Fragrance-Free | Surfactant Ingredients | Other Beneficial Ingredients | Net Weight | |||||
1 | Curls by Zenutrients Avocado and Tea Tree Sulfate-Free Shampoo Zenutrients |  | No.1 | Frizzy Hair, Dry Hair, Damaged Hair | Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA | Tea Tree Oil, Avocado Oil, Olive Oil, Glycerin | 250 mL | |||
2 | Natural Shampoo and Conditioner Bar Ecò Premium |  | No.2 | Dry Hair, Damaged Hair, Frizzy Hair | Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Decyl Glucoside | Aloe Vera, Gugo Extract, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Avocado Oil | 65 g | |||
3 | Rosemary Shampoo Human Nature |  | No.3 | Thin Hair, Hair Fall, Damaged Hair | Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside | Rosemary Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Aloe Vera, Avocado Oil, Vitamin E | 180 mL | |||
4 | Hair Thickening Sulfate-Free Shampoo With Argan Oil HairReve |  | No.4 | Thin Hair, Hair Fall, Dandruff, Damaged Hair | Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate | Argan Oil, Rosemary Extract, Nettle Extract, Horsetail Extract, Zinc | 250 mL | |||
5 | Sulfate-Free Aloe Shampoo Be Organic |  | No.5 | Frizzy Hair, Dull Hair, Dry Hair, Thin Hair | Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside | Aloe Vera Extract, Panthenol, Glycerin | 250 mL | |||
6 | Sulfate-Free Daily Shampoo Snazzy |  | No.6 | Dry Hair, Damaged Hair, Frizzy Hair | Plant-Derived Mild Surfactants | Botanical Conditioning Ingredients | 250 mL | |||
7 | Avocado Sulfate-Free Shampoo Cantu |  | No.7 | Frizzy Hair, Dry Hair, Damaged Hair | Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DIPA | Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Panthenol, Glycerin, Vitamin E | 400 mL | |||
8 | Clarifying Shampoo Human Nature |  | No.8 | Hair Weighed Down by Product Buildup, Oily or Greasy-Feeling Scalp, Dull, Limp, or Flat Hair | Sodium C12-18 Coco Sulfate, Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside | Fruit Acids, Aloe Vera, Betaine, Vitamin E, Glycerin | 180 mL | |||
9 | Thickening Shampoo Bar Ecobar |  | No.9 | Thinning Hair, Hair Fall / Hair Loss, Limp or Flat Hair | Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Decyl Glucoside, Capryloyl/Caproyl Methyl Glucamide, Lauroyl/Myristoyl Methyl Glucamide | Gugo Extract, Applestem Extract, Pea Peptide Extract | 65 g | |||
10 | Shine Shampoo With Raspberry Vinegar Yves Rocher |  | No.10 | Dull Hair, Colored Hair | Sodium Cocoyl Methyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Coconut Alkyl Glucoside | Raspberry Extract, Raspberry Vinegar, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Lactic Acid | 300 mL | |||
Zenutrients Curls by Zenutrients Avocado and Tea Tree Sulfate-Free Shampoo
| Best For | Frizzy Hair, Dry Hair, Damaged Hair |
|---|---|
| Uses Gentle Surfactants | |
| Fragrance-Free | |
| Surfactant Ingredients | Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA |
| Other Beneficial Ingredients | Tea Tree Oil, Avocado Oil, Olive Oil, Glycerin |
| Net Weight | 250 mL |
Ecò PremiumNatural Shampoo and Conditioner Bar
| Best For | Dry Hair, Damaged Hair, Frizzy Hair |
|---|---|
| Uses Gentle Surfactants | |
| Fragrance-Free | |
| Surfactant Ingredients | Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Decyl Glucoside |
| Other Beneficial Ingredients | Aloe Vera, Gugo Extract, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Avocado Oil |
| Net Weight | 65 g |
| Best For | Thin Hair, Hair Fall, Damaged Hair |
|---|---|
| Uses Gentle Surfactants | |
| Fragrance-Free | |
| Surfactant Ingredients | Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside |
| Other Beneficial Ingredients | Rosemary Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Aloe Vera, Avocado Oil, Vitamin E |
| Net Weight | 180 mL |
HairReve Hair Thickening Sulfate-Free Shampoo With Argan Oil
| Best For | Thin Hair, Hair Fall, Dandruff, Damaged Hair |
|---|---|
| Uses Gentle Surfactants | |
| Fragrance-Free | |
| Surfactant Ingredients | Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate |
| Other Beneficial Ingredients | Argan Oil, Rosemary Extract, Nettle Extract, Horsetail Extract, Zinc |
| Net Weight | 250 mL |
| Best For | Frizzy Hair, Dull Hair, Dry Hair, Thin Hair |
|---|---|
| Uses Gentle Surfactants | |
| Fragrance-Free | |
| Surfactant Ingredients | Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside |
| Other Beneficial Ingredients | Aloe Vera Extract, Panthenol, Glycerin |
| Net Weight | 250 mL |
| Best For | Dry Hair, Damaged Hair, Frizzy Hair |
|---|---|
| Uses Gentle Surfactants | |
| Fragrance-Free | |
| Surfactant Ingredients | Plant-Derived Mild Surfactants |
| Other Beneficial Ingredients | Botanical Conditioning Ingredients |
| Net Weight | 250 mL |
| Best For | Frizzy Hair, Dry Hair, Damaged Hair |
|---|---|
| Uses Gentle Surfactants | |
| Fragrance-Free | |
| Surfactant Ingredients | Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DIPA |
| Other Beneficial Ingredients | Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Panthenol, Glycerin, Vitamin E |
| Net Weight | 400 mL |
| Best For | Hair Weighed Down by Product Buildup, Oily or Greasy-Feeling Scalp, Dull, Limp, or Flat Hair |
|---|---|
| Uses Gentle Surfactants | |
| Fragrance-Free | |
| Surfactant Ingredients | Sodium C12-18 Coco Sulfate, Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside |
| Other Beneficial Ingredients | Fruit Acids, Aloe Vera, Betaine, Vitamin E, Glycerin |
| Net Weight | 180 mL |
| Best For | Thinning Hair, Hair Fall / Hair Loss, Limp or Flat Hair |
|---|---|
| Uses Gentle Surfactants | |
| Fragrance-Free | |
| Surfactant Ingredients | Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Decyl Glucoside, Capryloyl/Caproyl Methyl Glucamide, Lauroyl/Myristoyl Methyl Glucamide |
| Other Beneficial Ingredients | Gugo Extract, Applestem Extract, Pea Peptide Extract |
| Net Weight | 65 g |
Yves RocherShine Shampoo With Raspberry Vinegar
| Best For | Dull Hair, Colored Hair |
|---|---|
| Uses Gentle Surfactants | |
| Fragrance-Free | |
| Surfactant Ingredients | Sodium Cocoyl Methyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Coconut Alkyl Glucoside |
| Other Beneficial Ingredients | Raspberry Extract, Raspberry Vinegar, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Lactic Acid |
| Net Weight | 300 mL |
Frequently Asked Questions Answered By Dr. Meg Sison
If you still have burning questions that you need to be answered, below are some of Dr. Sison's answers to the internet's most asked questions!
Can Sulfate-Free Shampoos Be Used on All Hair Types, or Are There Exceptions?
Yes, it can definitely be used on all hair types.
How Often Should One Use Sulfate-Free Shampoos to Maintain the Best Results if They Have Colored, Chemically-treated Hair and Thinning Hair?
For colored or chemically-treated hair, you can use them once a day. You also have to make sure to apply a conditioner afterward. Meanwhile, for thinning hair, they can use these shampoos every other day if their scalp is on the dry side. It's always best to follow with a conditioner after shampooing.
Do Sulfate-Free Shampoos Require the Use of Sulfate-Free Conditioners for Best Results?
Not necessarily. You can use any type of conditioner after shampooing your hair.
Self-Care for Your Hair
We're pretty sure you have got your skincare routine down pat. But don't forget about your hair! Here are some products for you to check out to indulge in a little self-care for your hair.
How We Chose and Ranked Our Product Recommendations
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
