Sulphate-Free Shampoo NZ: What It Means, Who Needs It, Which to Buy

Updated November 2026. Prices are our live online prices.

"Sulfate free shampoo" is one of the most searched hair phrases in NZ, and a lot of the advice online makes sulphates sound dangerous. They aren't. They're very good cleansers, which is the point and the problem. For some hair they clean a bit too well. Here's who actually needs a sulphate-free shampoo, and which ones we stock.

What does sulphate-free mean?

Sulphates (sulfates, on most labels) are the cleansing agents that make shampoo foam. The two you'll see are sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, often shortened to SLS and SLES. Sulphate-free shampoos use milder cleansers instead. They usually lather less, and they take out less of your hair's natural oil and less colour with each wash.

One thing to know before you buy: "sulfate free" and "phosphate free" aren't the same, and "natural" or "organic" on a label doesn't mean sulphate-free either. Read the ingredient list. If sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate is near the top, it isn't sulphate-free.

Who needs a sulphate-free shampoo?

• After a keratin or smoothing treatment. This one's not optional. Sulphates shorten how long the result lasts. See our smoothing treatment guide.
• Coloured hair, especially reds, coppers and fashion shades that fade fast.
• Curly and wavy hair, which is drier by nature and frizzes when stripped.
• Dry, frizzy or lightened hair.

Does sulphate-free shampoo work as well?

It cleans well, just more gently. Expect less foam, which people often read as "not working". It is. Two tips make the switch easier. Wet your hair properly first, for a good 30 seconds, so the shampoo spreads. Then shampoo twice if you use a lot of product or your hair feels coated: the first wash loosens it, the second actually cleans. Give it two or three weeks. Hair sometimes feels a little heavier at first while it adjusts, then settles.

Sulphate and paraben free shampoo

People often search for both together. Parabens are preservatives, not cleansers, so a shampoo can be sulphate-free and still contain them, or the other way round. If paraben-free matters to you, check that part of the label separately. We'd rather send you to the ingredient list than claim it on a brand's behalf.

Who doesn't need a sulphate-free shampoo?

Oily scalps, heavy product users and anyone who swims a lot often do better with a sulphate shampoo, or a mix of the two. If your hair feels coated or flat, you probably need a proper clean. Our clarifying shampoo guide explains how often.

Two ways to go sulphate-free

For most of our concern articles we put Sebastian against the Kérastase equivalent. We can't here, because every shampoo in the current Sebastian range lists sulfates. So the lower-price options come from evo, Redken and Wella, and the premium ones from Kérastase. These are the shampoos we stock that the brands sell as sulphate-free:

evo The Therapist (from $36.55) or Kérastase Bain Riche Chroma Respect ($57.12): both are gentle for dry hair, choose by budget. The Kérastase Chroma Absolu shampoos are built around colour, so they're the better spend after a colour appointment. evo's Ritual Salvation ($36.55) suits damaged hair and Normal Persons ($36.55) suits normal to oily hair. Redken's Acidic Color Gloss Shampoo ($54.89) is another sulphate-free option for colour.

Sulphate-free shampoo for curly and wavy hair

Curls and waves lose definition when they're washed with a strong cleanser too often. Kérastase Curl Manifesto Bain Hydratation Douceur is a low-foam, sulphate-free shampoo made for waves, curls and coils, and Wella Nutricurls is the lower-price pick. Our curly and wavy shampoo guide and 2b–3a wavy hair routine go through the whole routine.

Sulphate-free shampoo for coloured hair

Each wash takes a little colour with it, and a sulphate shampoo takes a bit more. Use a sulphate-free one, wash with cool water and wash less often. The two Chroma Absolu shampoos split by density: Bain Chroma Respect for fine to medium hair, Bain Riche for medium to thick. More in our coloured hair shampoo guide.

Are Sebastian shampoos sulphate-free?

No. We checked the ingredient lists for every Sebastian shampoo we sell, and all of them contain sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, or both.

That doesn't make them bad shampoos. They're great for most hair that hasn't had a smoothing treatment. If you want to stay sulphate-free and still use Sebastian, wash with one of the shampoos above and keep the Sebastian leave-ins, like Potion 9 Leave-In Cream ($60.35). Our Potion 9 guide explains how.

Natural and organic shampoo in NZ

"Natural shampoo nz" and "organic shampoo nz" are common searches, and they often get lumped in with sulphate-free. They're separate claims. A shampoo can be made with plant extracts and still use a sulphate cleanser, and a sulphate-free salon shampoo can be fully synthetic. Decide what you actually care about: gentler cleansing for your hair, or the ingredient story. Then read the label for that.

Sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner

Conditioners don't usually contain sulphates in the first place, because they don't need to foam. So the pairing that matters is the shampoo. Use the matching conditioner from the same range if you like how it feels; our conditioner guide matches one to your hair type. Shop all shampoos, or the Chroma Absolu and Curl Manifesto ranges.

Questions we get asked

What is a sulphate-free shampoo?

A shampoo that cleans without sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate (SLS and SLES), using milder cleansers instead. It usually lathers less and strips less oil and colour.

Is sulphate-free shampoo better for your hair?

For coloured, curly, dry, frizzy or keratin-treated hair, usually yes. For oily scalps or heavy product users, a sulphate shampoo often cleans better. It depends on your hair.

Which sulphate-free shampoos does UKIYO stock?

Kérastase Chroma Absolu Bain Chroma Respect and Bain Riche Chroma Respect, Kérastase Curl Manifesto Bain Hydratation Douceur, evo The Therapist, Ritual Salvation and Normal Persons, Redken Color Extend Magnetics, Frizz Dismiss and Acidic Color Gloss, and Wella Nutricurls Shampoo for Waves.

Is Sebastian Potion 9 shampoo sulphate-free?

No. Potion 9 Nourishing Shampoo contains sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, and so does every other Sebastian shampoo we stock. If you need sulphate-free, use another shampoo and keep the Potion 9 leave-ins.

Do I need sulphate-free shampoo after a keratin treatment?

Yes. Sulphates shorten how long a keratin or smoothing treatment lasts. Use a sulphate-free shampoo for as long as you want the result to hold.

Is sulphate-free shampoo good for curly hair?

Yes, most curly and wavy hair does better on it because it keeps more moisture in. Kérastase Curl Manifesto and Wella Nutricurls are the two we use for curls.

How do I know if a shampoo is sulphate-free?

Read the ingredients. If sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate appears, especially near the top, it isn't sulphate-free. Words like natural or organic on the front don't tell you either way.

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Everything we sell is genuine salon stock, bought through the brands' New Zealand distributors and shipped from our salon on Helwick Street in Wānaka. Free NZ shipping over $75.