7 Best Alcohol-Free Shampoos Of 2023
Seize the day with luscious hair offered by these harmless and gentle formulations.
Jill TurnbullHairstylist
Expertise: Hairdressing
Experience: 47 years
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 Chakraborti Certified Skin Care Coach
Expertise: Skin Care & Hair Care
Experience: 3 years
Shiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with three years of experience. As an editor, she ... 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.
In This Article
7 Best Alcohol-Free Shampoos
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 damaged and dry hair. It is fortified with the goodness of argan oil that intensely moisturizes your hair by penetrating deep into the hair shafts. The shampoo gently cleanses your scalp while repairing breakage, taming frizz, and inducing a silky shine. The formula 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. If you want a detailed review of the product, make sure to take a look at this video.
Key Ingredients: Argan oil, Soybean protein, and Panthenol,
Pros- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- Gluten-free
- Phthalate-free
- Cruelty-free
- Silicone-free
- No artificial colors
- Lathers well
Cons
- Unpleasant scent
Quick TipBest Color-Safe:Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo
Image: Sheamoisture The Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo by Shea Moisture is ideal for natural and styled 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. 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 is invigorating and gives a refreshing feeling with every wash.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, Peppermint, and Jamaican castor oil
Pros- Sulphate-free
- Color-safe
- No mineral oils
- Petrolatum-free
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Phthalate-free
- Cruelty-free
- Value for money
Cons
- Might leave an oily residue
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 coconut oil, coconut milk, and egg white protein strengthens and hydrates your hair to make it look lustrous. This formula 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 YouTuber’s detailed review to know more about the results after 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 TipBest In Budget:Carolâs Daughter Black Vanilla Luscious Moisture Shampoo
If your hair feels coarse and dull, 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. It soothes dry hair and deeply hydrates it. Aloe vera leaf juice makes your hair soft and manageable, while rose extracts and sweet clover makes 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
Best pH-Balance:Vanicream Free & Clear Shampoo
The Free & Clear Vanicream shampoo is especially formulated for sensitive skin and scalp. It controls 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. 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 TipBest Vegan Formula:Derma Change Thick & Full Hair Growth Shampoo And Conditioner
Repairing your damaged hair is the very first step to inducing new hair growth, and the DermaChange shampoo and conditioner set does just that! The formula effectively reverses hair damages 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 repairs hair fibres and treat split ends. The shampoo and conditioner are pH balanced and gentle on your hair. For a thorough review of the product, have a look at this YouTuber’s video.
Key Ingredients: Aloe vera juice, Coconut oil, and Tapioca starch
Pros
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- Dye-free
- Cruelty-free
- Fragrance-free
- Vegan
- pH-balanced
Cons
- Greasy texture
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 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 neutralises the effects of heavy styling products to make dull hair look voluminous and bouncy. 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
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 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.
Choose a shampoo that suits your hair type the best. Most products are made specifically for certain hair types – this helps the shampoo to deliver more effective results.
- If your hair is color-treated, choose a shampoo that is color-safe. 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.
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.
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
Save the high-quality PDF version on your device now.
Download Infographic
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. However, you must avoid buying alcohol-free shampoos that leave oily residues or trigger allergic reactions.
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.
- Best Alcohol-Free Dandruff Shampoos
- Best Alcohol-Free Hair Products
- Best Alcohol-Free Hair Conditioners To Banish The Dryness!
- Best Alcohol-Free Hair Gels For Flawless Styling
