That’s something I learned the hard way after dealing with protein overload a few years ago. Since then, I’ve been very selective about the amount of protein in my relaxed hair regimen, especially when it comes to shampoos.
If you're looking for protein-free hair products, specifically shampoos, this list may help.
A few years ago, I shared a list of some protein-free shampoos that I found when I was searching for ones to use on my hair. Since I put together that list, some of those shampoos no longer exist, and some have become harder to find, so I decided to put together another list.
Before jumping into the shampoos, let’s make sure we’re aligned on what it means when a shampoo is protein-free.
What’s a protein-free shampoo
A shampoo is protein-free if the ingredient list doesn’t include ingredients with words like hydrolyzed, keratin, amino acid, or protein.Some protein ingredients I’ve seen in shampoos include Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Silk Amino Acids, Soy Protein, and Keratin.
Having protein in your shampoo isn’t necessarily a bad thing since protein can be beneficial for hair strands. It can become a problem when hair is protein sensitive or when multiple protein products are used consistently over time.
Related read: How To Tell If A Hair Product Has Protein
Too much protein can cause something called protein overload, which can really mess up your hair. This is something I experienced a few years ago, and it put me on this quest to find protein-free shampoos.
I won’t go into detail about protein overload here since I have other posts and videos where I share what it did to my hair and how I fixed it.
Because of that experience, I removed a lot of products with protein from my hair regimen. One category I paid close attention to, being protein-free, was shampoos.
Personally, I don’t think protein in shampoo is necessary. I prefer to give my hair protein through deep conditioners, rinse-out conditioners, or treatments instead.
The protein-free shampoos
Here are 10 protein-free shampoos I found. Some I have used and some I haven’t.Pantene Miracle Moisture Boost Rose Water Sulfate Free Shampoo
I haven’t used a Pantene hair product in a while, but I’ve been seeing the brand talked about more online in both relaxed and natural hair spaces.So I looked to see what Pantene shampoos had no protein and would be one I’d consider using on my hair. The one I found without protein is the Pantene Miracle Moisture Boost Rose Water Sulfate Free Shampoo
It claims to provide moisture that helps calm frizz and leave hair soft and smooth.
It’s sulfate-free and contains the Pro-Vitamin B5 Pantene is known for.
I also like that it contains rose water, which is an ingredient my hair tends to like.
This Pantene Rose Water shampoo can be found at Walmart, Target, and CVS.
Creme of Nature Sulfate-Free Argan Oil Moisture & Shine Shampoo
The Creme of Nature Sulfate-Free Argan Oil Moisture & Shine Shampoo is another one I haven’t used yet, but it is on my list to try.I included it because it’s protein-free and recommended by others with relaxed hair. It’s one of the shampoos from my original list that made it onto this one.
The Creme of Nature Argan Oil Moisture & Shine Shampoo claims to:
- Gently cleanse without stripping moisture
- Optimize moisture balance
- Help with detangling
- Add shine
This shampoo is available at Amazon and Walmart.
Herbal Essences Smooth Rose Hips Hair Smoothing Shampoo
I haven't used the Herbal Essences Smooth Rose Hips Hair Smoothing Shampoo, but I have used the conditioner from this line.The conditioner worked well for a drugstore product, so I would expect the shampoo to perform just as well or better. Personally, I think drugstore shampoos perform better than the conditioners.
This Herbal Essences shampoo claims to help restore natural shine and condition the hair.
It’s also:
- Cruelty-free
- Silicone-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Color safe
- pH balanced
Key ingredients include Vitamin E, rose hips, and jojoba extract.
You can find the Herbal Essences Smooth Rose Hips Hair Smoothing Shampoo at Target, CVS, Amazon, and Walmart.
TGIN Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo
The TGIN Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo is one of the main shampoos I’ve used on my relaxed hair over the last few years. In fact, it’s one of the protein-free shampoos I added to my hair regimen after dealing with protein overload.What drew me to this TGIN shampoo, besides it being protein-free, is that it claims to:
- Gently cleanse and detangle without stripping natural oils
- Help reduce breakage
- Help increase moisture retention
Key ingredients include Amla Oil, Coconut Oil, and Pro-Vitamin B5.
I like this shampoo because it’s sulfate-free and gentle. I can shampoo my hair two or three times during wash day, and my hair doesn’t feel stripped. It actually feels more moisturized.
It also lathers really well and is easy to work through my hair.
I do have a confession about this shampoo, though.
I haven’t used it lately because I have several other shampoos I need to try and use up. I’m not sure when or even if this shampoo will be put back into my hair regimen.
This TGIN shampoo does seem to be harder to find than it used to be, but as of the writing of this post, you can find it at Sally Beauty, Ulta, Amazon, and on TGIN’s website.
Related read: TGIN Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo Review
Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Shampoo
The Maui Moisture brand is one I’ve been seeing more often. One reason may be that they offer several protein-free shampoos. Of those protein-free shampoos, the Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Shampoo is the one I would most likely try.That’s because it’s sulfate-free and claims to:
- Help reduce frizz
- Provide intense moisture
- Help smooth hair
- Strengthen hair
The strengthening claim may sound strange without protein, but when I checked the ingredient list, there was no protein listed.
This shampoo from Maui Moisture can be found at Amazon, Target, CVS, and Walmart.
Hawaiian Silky 14-in-1 Miracle Worker Shampoo
I’ve never used a Hawaiian Silky product, but I’ve seen the brand talked about in relaxed hair circles over the last few years.One product I see mentioned quite a bit is the Hawaiian Silky 14-in-1 Miracle Worker Shampoo. It claims to:
- Gently cleanse
- Deeply moisturize
- Help with detangling
- Add softness and shine
I find it interesting that those are the claims noted in the description of the product, but there are so many listed on the front of the bottle, such as refreshes the hair and scalp, smooths and seals, soothes the scalp, and provides slip.
You can find the Hawaiian Silky 14-in-1 Miracle Worker Shampoo at Sally Beauty.
L’Oreal EverPure Sulfate Free Moisture Shampoo
L’Oreal is a brand I’ve been seeing more conversations about when it comes to hair care. They seem to be stepping up their game. Because of that, I’ve been taking a closer look at their hair products and have even started trying out a few - a leave-in conditioner and a heat protectant. (More to come on those in another blog post or two.)
The EverPure collection is the collection I see talked about most, so that’s the one I looked through to see if it had any protein-free shampoos. One that I found is the L’Oreal EverPure Sulfate Free Moisture Shampoo.
Although it’s marketed for color-treated hair, I’ve found that products for color-treated hair often work well for relaxed hair because they tend to be gentle and moisturizing.
This shampoo claims to:
- Replenish dry hair with more moisture
- Leave hair soft with shine
- Not dull or damage hair
Because of the claims, one thing I like about this shampoo is that you can find it pretty much everywhere you shop - Ulta, Amazon, Target, CVS, Walmart, just to name a few.
L’Oreal EverPure Sulfate Free Nourish Shampoo
Another protein-free shampoo option from the L’Oreal EverPure line is the L’Oreal EverPure Sulfate Free Nourish Shampoo.If I were to try one of these L’Oreal shampoos on this list, I’m not sure which I would use first, as the claims for this one are pretty strong. It says that hair looks healthier after the first use, it replenishes dry, brittle hair, and provides deep moisture without weighing hair down.
As with the L’Oreal Moisture Shampoo, you don’t have to search around for where to find this one, nor are you limited to one or two retailers. You can find this shampoo at Ulta, Amazon, Target, Walmart, and other retailers.
Redken All Soft Mega Curls Shampoo
When it comes to higher-end brands, Redken is one I see talked about often. It’s a brand that’s gotten pretty popular.Most Redken shampoos look to have protein. The protein-free shampoo option I found is the Redken All Soft Mega Curls Shampoo (not to be confused with the regular All Soft shampoo, which does contain protein).
This shampoo is sulfate-free and claims to hydrate, smooth, and leave hair soft and shiny.
Because Redken is a higher-end brand, it’s not found in drugstore brand retailers. I’ve seen it in places like Ulta, JCPenney, and Amazon.
Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Moisturizing & Detangling Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Design Essentials is a salon brand I’ve known about for years. It’s actually what my stylist uses when I get relaxer touch-ups. I’ve also been using the shampoo in the Agave and Lavender line on my wash days pretty frequently.The thing about Design Essentials is that several of the shampoos have protein ingredients. The Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Moisturizing & Detangling Sulfate-Free Shampoo, though, is one of their protein-free options.
This shampoo has been used on my hair several times at the salon, and my hair always looked and felt good afterward.
I haven’t had the same results using it at home, so it isn’t one I see myself regularly using, but I still think it belongs on this list.
This Design Essentials shampoo claims to:
- Cleanse while restoring moisture
- Hydrate and soften
- Make detangling easier
One thing I have been seeing online is people saying it doesn’t perform like it used to. Some believe they may have received fake or diluted products from certain retailers.
From my experience having it used at the salon, I haven’t noticed any difference in performance.
You can find the Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Moisturizing & Detangling Sulfate-Free Shampoo at Ulta, Target, JCPenney, and Sally Beauty.
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