The 9 Gentle, Protein-Free Shampoos For Low Porosity Hair – 2022

1. Best Lather: Aunt Jackie’s Curls & Coils Oh So Clean! Moisturizing & Softening Shampoo

Enriched with natural conditioners and plant-based ingredients, Aunt Jackie’s Curls & Coils Shampoo gently cleanses your hair removing all impurities. The formula softens and smoothens out even the most unmanageable tresses. The shampoo detangles wet hair easily so that there’s no hair breakage when you comb your hair. Shea butter in the formula contains fatty acids and vitamins A and E that nourish and tame frizz. It also protects hair from damage caused due to hot styling tools and coloring. Coconut oil deeply moisturizes the hair, slows down premature greying, and promotes the growth of thicker hair. Extra virgin olive oil is a natural conditioner that defines your curls, and deeply nourishes and softens hair to enhance shine. Check out this video to learn more. Key Ingredients: Shea butter, Coconut oil, Extra virgin olive oil Pros

Rich lather Organic ingredients Gentle formula Detangles knots Anti-frizz Sulfate-free Paraben-free Mineral oil-free Petroleum-free

Cons

Contains alcohol

2. Best For Sensitive Scalp: Free & Clear Shampoo

   The Free & Clear shampoo is specially designed to wash off build-ups from conditioners, sprays, serums, and other hair care products. The shampoo balances oil production, flaking, and scaling. After a shower, your hair feels clean, soft, and manageable. It enhances the volume of your hair and boosts shine. The formula does not have any irritants. Key Ingredients: Glycerin, Panthenol, Coco-glucoside Pros

Ideal for sensitive scalp Hypoallergenic Travel-friendly No dyes No fragrances No lanolin No proteins No parabens No formaldehyde

Cons

Makes hair dry

3. Best Gentle Cleansing: Tgin Moisture Rich SulfateFree Shampoo

Tgin Moisture Rich sulfate- and protein-free shampoo has intense conditioning properties that revive dull hair. Amla oil extracted from gooseberry stimulates blood circulation, retains moisture, promotes hair growth, prevents thinning, hair loss, and premature greying. Coconut oil gently cleanses the hair and stimulates hair follicles to encourage healthy hair growth. Provitamin B5 is a natural humectant that retains moisture in your locks, enhances elasticity, and strengthens hair shafts. The result is healthy hair that is left feeling soft, smooth, and moisturized. Key Ingredients: Amla oil, Coconut oil, Provitamin B5 Pros

Botanical ingredients Gentle cleansing No harsh ingredients Sulfate-free Paraben-free Lanolin-free Petroleum-free Mineral oil-free No artificial colors Fragrance-free

Cons

Might leave a residue May make scalp itchy in some users

4. Best For Color-Treated Hair: As I Am Curl Clarity Shampoo

The As I Am Curl Clarity Shampoo contains scalp-friendly ingredients that gently remove product build-up and environmental impurities from the hair and scalp. The coconut extracts in the shampoo soften hair, treat dandruff and flaky scalp, repair damage, and smoothen split ends. Amla nourishes the hair with essential nutrients, prevents early greying, and controls hair loss and thinning. Tangerine is rich in vitamin C that forms a protective shield around your hair strands and boosts collagen production. The formula is anti fungal and antiseptic – it treats scalp infections and dandruff, and soothes irritation. Watch this video for more information about the product. Key Ingredients: Coconut, Amla, Tangerine Pros

Sulfate-free Compact, eco-preserving design Safe for color-treated hair

Cons

Unpleasant scent Not mild enough for regular use

5. Best Unscented: Alaffia Everyday Shea Shampoo

The Alaffia Everyday Shea Shampoo that is enriched with shea leaf, unrefined shea butter, and virgin coconut oil. The shampoo washes away built-up residue, scales, flakes, and impurities without stripping off natural oils from hair and scalp. Shea butter leaf and fruit extracts deeply moisturize the hair to soften it and lock in natural oils. Virgin coconut oil penetrates deep into the scalp to moisturize your hair. The antioxidants and omega fatty acids protect hair against damage, frizz, split ends, hair fall, breakage, thinning, and heat from styling tools. Key Ingredients: Shea leaf extract, Raw shea butter, Virgin coconut oil Pros

Organic and unrefined ingredients Silky smooth texture Rich lather Unscented Cruelty-free No harsh chemicals No parabens No phthalates No silicones No mineral oil No artificial color or synthetic fragrances.

Cons

Leaves a residue Waxy and thick consistency

6. Best Moisturizing: Jessicurl Gentle Lather Shampoo

If your hair becomes dry and frizzy after a shower, then Jessicurl Gentle Lather Shampoo is exactly what you need. The shampoo contains mild cleansing agents that thoroughly wash off dirt and impurities from the scalp and the hair shafts. Enriched with raw shea butter and virgin coconut oil, the shampoo moisturizes natural hair to make it smooth and manageable. It is made with pure and organic ingredients that give you beautiful and voluminous hair without weighing it down. Key Ingredients: Raw shea butter, Virgin coconut oil Pros

Creamy lather Fragrance-free Hypoallergenic Sensitive skin-friendly Sulfate-free Vegan SLS-free No synthetic fragrance No mineral oil Dye-free Phthalate-free Paraben-free Silicone-free

Cons

Watery consistency Has a greasy feel

7. Best pH Balanced: Kinky-Curly Come CleanOrganic Curl Care

The Kinky-Curly Come Clean Organic Curl Care dissolves grease and build-up without disrupting your hair’s moisture balance. Phytic acid is a natural chelating agent that eliminates hard water minerals like calcium and magnesium that damage your hair. Soy and corn in the shampoo soften hard water, cleanse the scalp, and prevent future hard water build-up. Mandarin orange extract has antiseptic and anti fungal properties that makes your hair healthy, voluminous, and bouncy. This video helps you know more about the product. Key Ingredients: Phytic soy, Mandarin orange extract Pros

pH balanced Sulfate-free Color-safe Suitable for dry, damaged hair Gentle for daily use

Cons

Some ingredients are comedogenic.

8. Best Build-Up Clearing: Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo

The Ouidad shampoo cleanses and clarifies hair and scalp by retaining its natural moisture and nutrients. The formula contains a blend of orange, grapefruit, and lemon, which act as powerful chelating agents. Lemon extracts soak up dirt and break them down, and prevent fungal growth on the scalp. Grapefruit is rich in vitamins A and C that promote healthy and thick hair growth, boost shine, and wash away build-up from styling products. Orange flower extracts protect the hair from harmful coloring agents and UV ray damage and fights free radical damage. The shampoo has a lingering citrusy, fruity fragrance with woody undertones. Key Ingredients: Lemon, Grapefruit, Orange flower extracts Pros

Safe for color-treated hair Gentle on curls

Cons

Overpowering scent

9. Best Anti-Dandruff: Alikay Naturals Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo

The Alikay Naturals Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo is made with raw black soap that intensely cleanses the hair removing environmental pollutants, grease, and dirt. It also eliminates dandruff-causing build-up and soothes itchy scalp. Cocoa seed powder stimulates hair follicles to promote hair growthand soothe inflammation, while plantain skins smoothen and volumize hair, prevent premature greying, and make hair shiny. The antioxidant properties of plantains protect the hair by neutralizing free radicals and damage caused by environmental stressors. Tea tree oil dissolves residue and dead skin cell build-up and also kills germs and dandruff-causing microbes. Key Ingredients: Cocoa seed Powder, Plantain skins, Tea Tree Oil Pros

Natural and organic ingredients Mineral-rich Mild on the scalp Sulfate-free Suitable for kinky, curly, wavy, straight hair

Cons

Does not detangle hair

It is a common perception that protein-rich treatments can be fantastic for your hair. This is because almost 90 per cent of your hair is made from keratin, which is also a type of protein. However, too much protein can damage your hair stands, especially if you have protein-sensitive hair. To help you select a protein-free shampoo for low porosity hair, we have compiled a list of factors to keep in mind while making your next purchase. Scroll down to find out more!·

Factors To Consider When Selecting The Best Protein-Free Shampoo

Always remember that each protein-free shampoo is manufactured differently. So, even though you are buying a protein-free shampoo, you also have to consider the following factors.

Hair Type

Your natural hair type plays a major role in deciding which protein-free shampoo to use. If you have relaxed hair, you need a shampoo which can prevent flyaways and frizz. Alternatively, if you have curly hair, focus on preventing breakage and dryness. For fine hair, avoid thick oils in the formulation to prevent limp strands and scalp oiliness.

Ingredients To Avoid

If you are sensitive to fragrances, steer clear of shampoos that have perfumes or fragrances. Avoid products that contain ingredients like parabens, sulfates, PEGs, phthalates, and formaldehyde. Also, if you are allergic to coconut or gluten, make sure to select products without these in the formulation. For low-porosity hair, avoid common hair proteins like keratin, quinoa protein, rice protein, amino acids, oat flour, hydrolyzed protein, silk protein, wheat protein, and soy protein.

Ingredients To Look For

For dry hair, choose ingredients like olive oil, avocado oil, argan oil, and almond oil. For oily hair and scalp, look for tea tree oil or lemon extracts to control excess oiliness and sebum, and also prevent itchiness and irritation. But, do remember that the goal should be to maintain the correct balance of moisture and protein. Depending on your natural hair type, you may need to use protein-free shampoos more or fewer times than the average time frame mentioned above. Rebekkah O’Neill, Master Stylist, says, “If your hair has low porosity, you want to opt for more natural products. Products that don’t contain sulfates are better, as they dry out the hair, and we want to avoid that. Products that also contain alcohol want to be avoided for the same reason. There are plenty of great products in this article that will get you on your way to beautiful healthy hair in no time!”

Why Trust StyleCraze?

The author, Shiboli Chakraborti, has a deep interest in hair care and styling products. She recommends the use of protein-free shampoos for low-porosity hair. To help our readers find the best products in this category, she went through multiple online reviews from product users and looked closely at the ingredients and formulations of the products to shortlist the safest and most effective ones. The shampoos listed here are free of protein and perfect for achieving healthy and nourished tresses for those with low-porosity hair. How do I get rid of protein buildup in my hair? You can break and eliminate the protein buildup from your hair by washing it in warm water with a clarifying shampoo. How do I know if I have protein overload in my hair? If your hair feels stiff, dry, and lifeless that has lost its natural shine, it has an overload of protein. A common symptom of protein buildup is brittle tresses. How often can I use this protein-free shampoo? Wash your hair two or three times a week with a protein-free shampoo. This is enough to maintain the protein and moisture balance in your tresses. Should I use protein-free shampoo? Yes. A protein-free shampoo is great for boosting moisture in your tresses. Also, they define and enhance the texture of your hair. Do all protein-free shampoos contain silicones? No. Certain protein-free shampoos like the Jessicurl Gentle Lather Shampoo and Alaffia Everday Shea Shampoo are devoid of silicones.

Protein Shampoos To Quicken Hair Growth! Clarifying Shampoos For Low Porosity Hair Clarifying Shampoos To Cleanse Buildup