13 Best Mild Shampoos of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Briogeo’s Be Gentle, Be Kind Shampoo features aloe vera, oat milk, and green tea extract to soothe the scalp and add moisture to your hair. It’s also hypoallergenic and free of essential oils and fragrances, which is a pretty great combo, IMO.

• Key ingredients: Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, oat bran extract, green tea extract, panthenol
• Sulfate-free? Yes
• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: “I’ve been struggling through so many shampoos and conditioners because my eczema is really bad. This is the only formula that has NOT only stopped the rashes, but it soothed my scalp. My hair is so soft.”

For those with sensitive scalps looking for a moisturizing shampoo, Dr. Rodney recommends Aveeno’s Oat Milk Blend Shampoo. The gentle formula is made with colloidal oatmeal extract, a moisturizer known for its calming properties.

• Key ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal extract, hydrolyzed milk protein
• Sulfate-free? Yes
• Fragrance-free? No

Glowing Customer Review: “I have extremely oily hair that must be shampooed daily. This oat blend shampoo lathers well and cleans the excess oil from my hair without leaving it dry.”

Made with curly hair types in mind, Pattern’s Hydration Shampoo is filled with yummy moisturizing ingredients, like castor oil, argan oil, coconut oil, and honey, which is known for its soothing and anti-microbial properties.

• Key ingredients: Argan oil, Coconut oil, honey, castor oil
• Sulfate-free? Yes
• Fragrance-free? No
  
  

Glowing Customer Review: “This is the best product for 4C hair! My hair is so soft!! Healthy!!! The shampoo is fantastic and my scalp feels so much better.”

This Ultra-Gentle Shampoo is also formulated with oat milk to balance the scalp and restore shine. The shampoo also has vitamin E, glycerin, and caprylyl glycol, which helps make hair feel soft while also acting as a preservative to keep your shampoo fresh.

• Key ingredients: Oat milk extract, vitamin E
• Sulfate-free? Yes
• Fragrance-free? No

Glowing Customer Review: “Gentle enough for the whole family AND those with sensitive and dandruff-prone scalps… After using it for the first time, I noticed it helped get rid of dandruff and my hair was soft and smooth.”

There’s a reason this sulfate-free shampoo is a holy-grail, desert-island favorite: The formula is full of mild cleansing ingredients and rosemary oil, which some studies have suggested can encourage hair growth.

• Key ingredients: Rosemary oil, vitamin E
• Sulfate free? Yes
• Fragrance free? No

Glowing Customer Review: “I have used this shampoo for about 5 years. It leaves my hair feeling clean. I sweat a lot so I use it every day. My hair does not dry out.”

You won’t find sulfates, parabens, or mineral oil in this mild shampoo from Dae—instead, it’s got aloe leaf juice to soothe your scalp and promote moisture and antioxidants like cactus extract. It’s sulfate-free, but does contain Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, a cleanser which can be stripping for those who need a little extra moisture.

• Key ingredients: Betaine, cactus extract, aloe barbadensis leaf juice
• Sulfate-free? Yes
• Fragrance-free? No

Glowing Customer Review: “This made my hair feel so clean and smooth, and I can go another day or so without having to wash again. Would definitely recommend if you struggle with oily hair as this definitely reduces oils without drying your hair out.”

For proof that you can find a drugstore shampoo that’s a) affordable and b) gentle enough for regular use, look no further than this hydrating formula from Pantene. It’s completely sulfate-free and spiked with soothing rose water. Oh, and it smells effing great too.

• Key ingredients: Panthenol (or Pro-Vitamin B5), rose water
• Sulfate free? Yes
• Fragrance free? No

Glowing Customer Review: “It was one of the most luxurious shampoos I’ve had in a long time. There were soft, silky suds, and it felt wonderful to use!!!!”

Formally known as Free & Clear, this cult-favorite shampoo is as mild as they come. The formula is free of dyes, fragrance, parabens, and sulfates, making it the ultimate cleanser for anyone with sensitive, allergy-prone skin or an itchy scalp.

• Key ingredients: Lauryl Glucoside (a gentle cleanser), Panthenol
• Sulfate-free? Yes
• Fragrance-free? Yes
  
  
  
  Glowing Customer Review: “I was having allergic reactions to the shampoo and conditioner I’d been using for years, switched to this brand and no longer have issues. [It] leaves hair and scalp squeaky clean, and my hair feels soft when dry.“

Does a prettier anti-dandruff shampoo even exist? Probably not. Looks aside, though, this top-notch formula is loaded with salicylic acid to treat dry scalp and dandruff without drying out your hair. It also smells ridiculously good.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, niacinamide, watermelon extract
• Sulfate-free? Yes
• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: “This shampoo and conditioner IS THE BEST LIFE SAVING! I’ve tried the dermatologist, gotten shampoos and steroids, and nothing helps but this stuff. IDK how, but it keeps my scalp so moisturized! 10/10.”

This heavenly scented, super-gentle cleanser leaves my sweaty-ass, post-gym hair silky smooth and next-level shiny, thanks to its dose of pure coconut oil. And surprisingly, it’s so lightweight that I have zero problem using it every day.

• Key ingredients: Lactic acid, salicylic acid, coconut oil
• Sulfate-free? No
• Fragrance-free: No

Glowing Customer Review: “It’s one of the few shampoos that I have tried that leaves my hair clean and my scalp doesn’t break out the next day. And I love the coconut smell.”

Curly hair specific products are in a league of their own, mostly because they require intense moisturizing ingredients to satisfy the Curly Girl Method. Still, that doesn’t mean mild shampoos with a bit of sudsing action are totally out of the question. This sulfate-free cleanser washes away oil and product buildup and contains silk protein and neem oil to soften and moisturize thick, coarse curls without leaving them greasy.

• Key ingredients: Coconut oil, shea butter, aloe vera leaf juice
• Sulfate-free? Yes
• Fragrance-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: “After washing with this shampoo, my curls are left feeling bouncy, defined, and healthy-looking. I’ve noticed a significant reduction in frizz and breakage since I started using it, which has made styling my hair much easier.”

If your thin, easily weighed-down hair looks oily even when it’s clean, you’re going to love this lightweight shampoo. The mild formula is stacked with moringa seed oil to moisturize your strands without weighing them down.

• Key ingredients: Panthenol, lactic acid, moringa oil
• Sulfate-free? Yes
• Fragrance-free? No

Glowing Customer Review: “I have oily hair on the finer side and this doesn’t weigh it down, but it still gives my hair good moisture and feels clean after washing.“

Not only does this mild shampoo feature a blend of argan oil, lavender, and jojoba extracts to hydrate and soften your hair, but it’s also formulated with keratin to repair weak, damaged strands (whether that’s from coloring or heat-treating your hair).

• Key ingredients: Argan oil, panthenol
• Sulfate-free? Yes
• Fragrance-free? No

Glowing Customer Review: “This left my hair so soft and silky, no residue or greasy feeling near my roots. It also smells amazing! Highly recommend.”

You might call your shampoo “mild” or “gentle,” but that’s no guarantee that someone else will. Ultimately, the best shampoo for you isn’t going to work for everyone, so it’s important to really get to know your hair needs before trying to find the best gentle shampoo for you.

Consider your hair type:

As you can see, there are mild shampoos formulated for many different hair types, so step one to finding the best gentle shampoo for you is to determine your hair type and what benefits you want out of a shampoo. Do you want a shampoo to help treat an oily scalp, or dandruff? If so, you probably won’t be using the same gentle shampoo as someone hoping to moisturize a dry scalp or curly hair.

Test for allergies:

If you have sensitive skin, Dr. Rodney advises doing a patch test before shampooing your entire head of hair. Just put a normal amount on your neck or any patch of skin, leave on for a few minutes (or the length of your normal shampoo routine), and see how your skin reacts.

• Dr. Ife J. Rodney, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist and Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. She is also the founding director of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics, where she works with patients focusing on skin cancer prevention, detection, and treatment, anti-aging, hair and scalp disorders, and more general dermatology.

Olivia Truffaut-Wong is an editor at Cosmopolitan. She has 10 years of experience writing about culture, entertainment, and beauty. She loves trying new hair care products and learning about everything from the best shampoo bars to the best tinted sunscreens.

Ruby Buddemeyer was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan for three years and has written hundreds of beauty stories about hair, skin, and makeup, including deep dives on the best hair growth oils and the best shampoos for scalp acne.