7 Best Alcohol-Free Shampoos Of 2024, As Per A Hairstylist
Seize the day with luscious hair offered by these harmless and gentle formulations.
Jill TurnbullHairstylist 
Jill Turnbull is an internationally acclaimed freelance hairstylist, colorist, and makeup artist with over 47 years of experience. She founded her own beauty brand and her work has been featured in editorial magazines worldwide.Jill is... more
shiboli chakrabortiMA (English Literature), Certified Skin Care Coach Experience: 4 yearsShiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor,... more
aditi naskarMA (English Literature), Diploma In Health & Wellness Experience: 5 yearsAditi Naskar has a postgraduate degree in English literature from Presidency University, Kolkata, a bachelor’s degree in education from WBUTTEPA, Kolkata, and a diploma in health and wellness. She is ... more
arshiya syedaBA (Literature & Psychology), PG Diploma Experience: 7 yearsArshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articl... more
Image: StyleCraze Design Team
Once you know what synthetic alcohol does to your hair, you will indeed look for the best alcohol-free shampoo. Alcohol is one of the most common ingredients found in beauty products. And while natural sources of alcohol can help your hair shine, synthetic ones will only strip off natural oils from your hair and cause further damage. The good news is there are plenty of shampoos that are made alcohol-free to keep your hair healthy and strong even through regular shampooing. Go through our list of 7 shampoos that will only make your hair grow healthier and enhance the natural beauty of your locks.
In This Article
7 Best Alcohol-Free Shampoos
1. Best Anti-Frizz:Hask Argan Oil From Morocco Repairing Shampoo & Conditioner
This kit by Hask includes a conditioner as well as a shampoo that restores over-processed damaged hair. It is fortified with the goodness of argan oil that intensely moisturizes your hair by penetrating deep into the hair shafts. The argan oil shampoo gently cleanses your scalp while repairing breakage, taming frizz, and inducing a silky shine. The formula of this moisturizing shampoo is rich in omega fatty acids and natural antioxidants that improves hair manageability and repairs split ends. The vitamin E in this formula protects your hair from free radical damage. This shampoo is an ethical choice as it is not tested on animals. If you want a detailed review, take a look at this video detailing a tester’s experience of using this product.
Key Ingredients: Argan oil, Soybean protein, and Panthenol,
Pros
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- Gluten-free
- Phthalate-free
- Cruelty-free
- Silicone-free
- Shine-enhancing formula
- No artificial colors
- Lathers well
Cons
- Unpleasant scent
Quick Tip
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product has made it to our top favorite list with more than 815 rave reviews on Amazon.
2. Best Color-Safe:Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo
The Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo by Shea Moisture is ideal for natural, styled, and color-treated hair. This super clarifying shampoo helps remove build-up and nourishes your hair without stripping off your hair’s natural moisture. The aloe vera juice and panthenol in the formula are rich in antioxidants that leave you with healthy hair. They soothe your scalp and protect your hair from free radical damage. The natural oils and shea butter in the shampoo help strengthen chemically treated and heat-damaged hair. It also contains black castor oil that is rich in vitamin E and provides your hair with essential vitamins and minerals. The peppermint extract in this hair care product is invigorating and gives a refreshing feeling with every wash.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, Peppermint, and Jamaican castor oil
Pros
- Sulphate-free
- Increases hair moisture levels
- Color-safe
- No mineral oils
- Petrolatum-free
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Phthalate-free
- Cruelty-free
- Value for money
Cons
- Might leave an oily residue
3. Best Lightweight Formula:OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Shampoo
Indulge in the goodness of creamy coconut milk with the OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Shampoo. The luscious blend of nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, coconut milk, and egg white protein strengthens and hydrates your hair to make it look lustrous. This formula of this hydrating shampoo is suitable for all hair textures and types. It has a delicious tropical scent of shea butter, white peach, and coconut that lingers on your hair for a long time. You can also check this video to explore the reviewer’s experience of using this product.
Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, Coconut milk, and Egg white protein
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Lightweight
- Softens hair
- Creamy texture
- Induces sheerness
- Value for money
- Pleasant scent
Cons
- Might cause irritation
Quick TipWhy We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has received 11,262 positive Amazon reviews from its users, stating its numerous benefits.
Hask Argan Oil From Morocco Repairing Shampoo & Conditioner Best Anti-Frizz | Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo Best Color-Safe | OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Shampoo Best Lightweight Formula | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair Type | All | Wavy, Curly, Kinky, Damaged | All |
| Dimensions | 7.48 x 1.97 x 7.48 inches | 2.68 x 2.68 x 6.2 inches | 2.5 x 3.5 x 9.25 inches |
| Weight | 1.5 Pounds | 13 Ounces | 1.59 Pounds |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 815 | 15,776 | 11,262 |
| Price | $16.95 | $8.39 | $9.83 |
4. Best In Budget:Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Luscious Moisture Shampoo
If you have coarse, dull, and lifeless hair, then the Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Luscious Moisture Shampoo is the best choice for you! This shampoo transforms your unmanageable hair into a super healthy and soft mane from the very first wash, perfect for those bad hair days! It soothes dry hair and deeply hydrates it. Aloe vera leaf juice has proven efficacy in making your hair soft and manageable, while rose extracts and sweet clover make your hair three times shinier.
Key Ingredients: Aloe vera juice, Rosa extract, Calendula flower, and Sweet clover
Pros
- No artificial colors
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- No petroleum
- No mineral oils
- Great scent
- Value for money
- Induces sheerness
Cons
- Might cause allergic reactions
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
More than 502 customers have given the product positive reviews on Amazon.
5. Best pH-Balance:Vanicream Free & Clear Shampoo
The dermatologist-tested Free & Clear Vanicream shampoo is specially formulated to provide relief from itchy scalp. It is great for those who have oily hair as it helps control flaking and scaling by removing excess sebum and rejuvenating your scalp. The formula also removes build-up from hair sprays, serums, conditioners, and other hair products. It is suitable for all types of hair and with regular use, your hair will become soft and manageable.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, Panthenol
Pros
- Gluten-free
- Sulfate-free
- No dyes
- Betaine-free
- Fragrance-free
- No formaldehyde
- Lanolin-free
- Preservative-free
- Protein-free
- Phosphate-free
- pH-balanced
- Dermatologist-tested
Cons
- None
Quick TipWhy We Think It's Worth Buying
A whopping 1,611 reviews on Amazon make it obvious that users genuinely love this product.
6. Best Vegan Formula:Derma Change Thick & Full Hair Growth Shampoo And Conditioner
Repairing your damaged hair and soothing scalp irritation are some of the very first steps to inducing new hair growth, and the DermaChange shampoo and conditioner set does just that! The formula effectively reverses hair damage and rejuvenates damaged hair. It replenishes the lost nutrition and promotes stronger and healthier hair growth. The formula is enriched with cassava root extract that nourishes your hair from root to the tips by clarifying your scalp and protecting your strands. Argan oil, coconut oil and aloe vera in this formula deeply hydrate your hair to prevent dry scalp and dandruff. The amino acids and proteins repair hair fibers and treat split ends. The shampoo and conditioner are pH balanced and gentle on your hair. For a thorough review of this cruelty-free shampoo, have a look at this YouTuber’s video detailing a tester’s experience.
Key Ingredients: Aloe vera juice, Coconut oil, and Tapioca starch
Pros
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- Dye-free
- Cruelty-free
- Fragrance-free
- Gentle cleansing formula
- Vegan
- pH-balanced
- Offers strong hair
Cons
- Greasy texture
7. Best Volumizing:Mokita Naturals Regenerate Volumizing Shampoo
The all-natural Mokita Naturals Regenerate Volumizing Shampoo is formulated with seven botanical extracts, biotin, and provitamins B5 and & that deeply cleanse and nourish your hair from the root to the tip. It is the ultimate shampoo for inducing volume, preventing hair breakage, and reducing hair fall. The formula is a gentle option and helps neutralize the effects of heavy styling products to make dull hair look voluminous and bouncy. This natural shampoo is also not tested on animals. The brand also offers a 90-day money-back guarantee in case you’re not satisfied with the product.
Key Ingredients: Cucumber fruit extract, Green tea, Panthenol, Aloe vera juice, Chamomilla recutita, and Rosemary leaf extract
Pros
- Vegan
- Sulfate-free
- Phosphate-free
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Color-safe
Cons
- Unpleasant scent
Things To Consider Before Buying A Non-Alcohol Shampoo
Ingredients To Avoid
There are a lot of ingredients that can cause allergic reactions, irritate, or even damage your scalp and hair. While choosing an alcohol-free shampoo, make sure to stay away from other harmful chemicals or ingredients like parabens, sodium laureth sulfate, and ammonium lauryl sulfate. If you have a very sensitive scalp, it is also best to stay away from some natural ingredients like witch hazel that can cause an allergic reaction. Instead, choose a dermatologist-tested shampoo that is clinically tested to be gentle on the scalp.
Consider Your Hair Type
Choose a shampoo that suits your hair type the best. Most products are made specifically for certain hair types – this helps the shampoo deliver more effective results.
- If your hair is color-treated, choose a shampoo that is color-safe to preserve hair color. Harsh chemicals or ingredients can make your color fade or trigger hair loss.
- If you have an oily scalp, avoid shampoos that are loaded with essential oils. They may make your hair heavy and greasy.
- If you have thin or fine hair, do not buy shampoos that weigh your hair down. In such cases go for lightweight and volumizing shampoos.
- If you have dry hair, choose a shampoo with conditioning ingredients and essential oils. These can help revive your dry and frizzy hair.
- If you have curly hair, choose a shampoo with moisturizing ingredients that can help to calm the frizz without weighing down your hair.
Choose a pH-Balanced Formula
Choosing a shampoo with very high or very low pH can cause damage to your hair cuticles. A pH-balanced shampoo is gentle on the scalp, and it will moisturize and nourish your hair without causing any damage to it.
Look For Moisturizing Ingredients
In order to get maximum benefits from your shampoo, look for shampoos with moisturizing ingredients like milk proteins, silk proteins, aloe vera, coconut milk, argan oil, keratin, jojoba oil, tea tree oil, and shea butter. These ingredients deeply hydrate your hair and protect it from further damage.
Infographic: Ill Effects of Using Alcohol-Based Shampoos
Alcohol-free shampoos are the new talk of the town, and there are multiple reasons for that. Alcohol is used in shampoos to improve their shelf-life. But, there are various adverse effects of using alcohol-based hair products, and the infographic below lists a few. Give it a read so that you can decide whether or not you will benefit from making a switch to alcohol-free shampoos.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
Alcohol-free shampoos are a necessity for everyone as they help repair split ends and tame unruly frizz. Furthermore, shampoos that contain vitamin E protect your hair from further damage, nourishing it deeply. In addition, most alcohol-free shampoos are devoid of sulfate, parabens, gluten, and silicone. They also save you from the torture of unpleasant odors that many shampoos with alcohol usually have and leave you with beautiful hair. The Hask Argan Oil From Morocco Repairing Shampoo & Conditioner is known for deeply nourishing the tresses, while the Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo strengthens hair follicles and improves hair texture. The Mokita Naturals Regenerate Volumizing Shampoo can also be selected as it helps promote volume and combat hair fall. However, you must avoid buying alcohol-free shampoos that leave oily residues or trigger allergic reactions. Always perform a patch test before using a shampoo daily to detect if it suits your scalp and hair.
Why Trust Stylecraze
Shiboli Chakraborti is a certified skincare coach with a keen interest in the skin and hair care segments. She spends hours researching and analyzing hundreds of products online based on durability, quality, affordability, and other vital factors. In this article, she focuses on the best alcohol-free shampoos that can help your hair retain its natural shine while protecting you against damage. These options have also been endorsed by users across various e-commerce sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the harmful alcohols in shampoos?
The most common harmful alcohols which can be found in shampoos are ethanol or ethyl alcohol, denatured alcohol, methanol, SD alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and benzyl alcohol.
Should you avoid alcohol in shampoo?
Yes, you must avoid alcohol in your shampoo formulation. Alcohol strips the natural oil and sebum of your hair and scalp and causes dryness and frizz.
Why do they put alcohol in shampoo?
Alcohol helps to mix the oil and water content in the formulation and stabilize the product for longer shelf life.
Should you avoid alcohol in hair products?
Yes, you should avoid alcohol in all hair products to prevent dryness, dullness, and frizz of the strands and scalp.
Does Pantene shampoo have alcohol in it?
Yes, Pantene shampoo has a form of alcohol in its formulation.
Do most shampoos contain alcohol?
Yes, most shampoos contain alcohol in their formulation.
