I’ve tried a lot of shampoos for my frizzy hair over the years — some were hits, some total misses. But when it comes to the best sulfate free shampoo for frizzy color treated hair, there’s one that really stands out for me.
It’s my personal favorite, and honestly, it’s been a game-changer for my frizzy hair: Pureology Sheer Hydrate Shampoo. This one just gets it right.
My hair is naturally wavy and tends to get frizzy — especially at the ends. I do a fair bit of heat styling and straightening, and I love experimenting with hair dye, so all of that has definitely made my hair feel a little rough over time.
That’s why using a hydrating, sulfate-free shampoo is non-negotiable for me. Sulfates can seriously strip your color and leave your hair feeling even drier. I’ve also tried a few “clean” shampoos in the past, but honestly, some of them just made things worse — more tangles, more frizz.
Even though it’s sulfate-free, Pureology Hydrate Shampoo actually lathers really well, something you don’t always get with sulfate-free shampoos. Usually, sulfate-free options don’t lather as much because the lather tends to strip oils from the hair, leaving it even frizzier.
That’s why sulfate-free shampoos are often recommended, but the real struggle is finding one that still gives you enough lather to clean your hair and scalp properly. That’s where Pureology comes, it has the perfect balance. It lathers beautifully and cleans well, and is specifically formulated for color-treated frizzy hair.
My experience
The texture of Pureology Hydrate Shampoo is creamy, which is probably why it’s so rich and hydrating on my hair. When I first applied it, I honestly didn’t expect it to lather enough to really clean my hair in just one wash because that’s what you usually get with sulfate-free shampoos.
But with this one, I didn’t need a second wash. It was enough to get my hair feeling clean and refreshed. I use it every third day, though, as I try to avoid washing my hair too often to keep it from drying out.
Honestly, the lather is good enough and it doesn’t strip my hair at all. It leaves my hair feeling smooth and hydrated. And the smell is absolutely amazing. When I apply it to my scalp, it gives this refreshing minty tingle, which kind of feels soothing.
I’ll be honest, I was a bit skeptical at first about switching to a sulfate-free shampoo. I used to think the more a shampoo lathered, the better it was at cleaning. But over time, I noticed my hair was just getting frizzier, and that’s when I started looking into gentler options.
That’s how I ended up giving sulfate-free shampoos a shot. While Pureology is definitely a favorite (it really takes the top spot for me), I do have a few other go-to options as well. That said, I do still use a shampoo with sulfates once in a while, maybe two or three times a month — especially when I feel like I need a deep cleanse after using a lot of styling hair gels.
Pureology claims it has Dual-Action Technology, which means it’s supposed to target both color-fade and extreme dryness at the same time. It’s also formulated with their patented Antifade Complex to help protect color vibrancy and extend the life of your dyed hair.
But to be totally honest, I didn’t notice a huge difference in how long my color lasted.
It still fades at the usual rate for me but nothing dramatic. So while it’s gentle and doesn’t strip the color, I wouldn’t say it’s a miracle worker when it comes to color protection.
That said, I do think a lot of the color-fade has more to do with your overall haircare routine. How often you wash your hair and the water temperature and whether you heat style regularly.
Can you skip conditioner with it
As for whether you still need a conditioner with this shampoo, I personally do use one. Some of that smoothness I mentioned earlier, I’ll admit, could be thanks to my conditioner as well. But just to test it out, I’ve used the shampoo on its own to see if it could substitute my conditioner.
Honestly, I still think I need a conditioner with it. It’s great on its own, but for that extra hydration and smoothness, conditioner is a must for me.
But that’s probably because my hair is super dry from all the heat styling and dyeing. Does it actually reduce frizz over time? Yes, it does! The smoothness is definitely noticeable, but by day three, the smoothness starts to wear off a bit. That’s when I know it’s time for a wash again.
Final takeaway
I would definitely recommend this shampoo to anyone with a moderate amount of dry hair, frizz, and color-treated hair. It’s sulfate-free, but it still lathers really well, which is a huge plus. The only downside, though, is the price, it’s on the higher side.
If you’re trying it for the first time, I’d suggest going for the mini size to test it out before committing to a full bottle. That said, there are some dupes out there. A popular one I’ve seen people rave about is the L’Oreal EverPure Moisture Shampoo.
It’s often mentioned as the closest dupe and seems to work really well for a lot of folks. I haven’t personally tried it yet, but I’m definitely planning to give it a shot once I finish this bottle.
Just a heads-up, Pureology also has two versions in this line: Hydrate and Hydrate Sheer. If your hair is on the finer side or gets weighed down easily after applying shampoo or a conditioner, definitely go for the Sheer hydrate version.
The main difference? Hydrate Sheer is silicone-free, which makes it feel noticeably lighter on the hair when you apply. It also has a less viscous (which means more runnier) formula compared to the original Hydrate version, so it’s less likely to leave your strands feeling heavy or coated.
