The Best Shampoo for Sensitive Skin – 2023 Reviews and Top Picks
In our commitment to help you find products that are both safe and effective, we’ve come up with this list of the best shampoos for sensitive skin after more than 18 hours of intense work. We’ve studied and ranked the products based on their compatibility with sensitive skin, ability to effectively cleanse the scalp and value for money.
If you are looking for a truly fragrance-free shampoo for your sensitive skin, we highly recommend DHS Clear Shampoo. Despite having a short list for its ingredients, it can cleanse your scalp without disrupting your skin's natural pH level.
Free from silicone, Jason Pure Natural Shampoo can help thicken and bring back your hair's elasticity. It's a good shampoo to invest in if you are also struggling with hair loss and sensitive scalp.
For your baby's sensitive skin, you should give California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo and Body Wash a try. It has a tear-free formulation that is sensitive skin-friendly, too.
It's a bit pricey, but since it can also be used as a body wash and it can last a long time, you can actually end up saving more.
Dermatologist tested, Naturelle Hypoallergenic Fragrance-Free Shampoo is one of the best shampoos for sensitive skin. It has botanical extracts to facilitate your skin's healing.
Apart from that, it also doesn't leave the hair dry which most shampoos do.
TRESemmé Botanique Shampoo, Nourish and Replenish is silicone-free. It makes a good shampoo not only for people with sensitive skin but for people who have limp, frizzy and curly hair, too.
2017’s Reviews of The Best Shampoos for Sensitive Skin
Rankings | Brands | Content | Packaging | Editor’s Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | 16 oz | Bottle | ||
#2 | 16 oz | Bottle | ||
#3 | 19 oz | Bottle with pump | ||
#4 | 15 oz | Bottle | ||
#5 | 25 fl oz | Bottle |
Here, we present to you the best shampoos for sensitive skin that can give you the hair of your dreams- minus the itch and irritation.
DHS Clear Shampoo is made specifically for daily use on sensitive skin. It doesn’t come with harsh ingredients that can compromise your skin.
It’s fragrance-free and comes with only seven ingredients, the eighth being purified water.This is actually impressive since most shampoos use chemicals to mask any undesirable scent from its ingredients.
For the case of DHS Clear Shampoo, there’s no unpleasant scent to mask so it’s essentially fragrance-free.
The product is clear and comes without any tinge of color. It effectively cleanses the scalp without disrupting the skin’s natural pH level.
It produces a thick foam that tends to be a bit drying for the hair.
What We Like:
- Truly fragrance-free
- Limited number of ingredients
- Doesn’t alter the scalp’s pH
What We Didn’t Like:
- Can be a bit drying for the hair
- Expensive for its size
If you have sensitive scalp and your hair is prone to breakage, Jason Pure Natural Shampoo is a must-try shampoo for you. It contains vitamin B5 to bring back your skin’s elasticity.
Apart from this ingredient, you can also find lavender and ginseng extracts in it. These two ingredients minimize split ends and hair breakage.
What makes this a great shampoo for sensitive skin is that it’s free from SLS, parabens and even petrolatum.
The shampoo is a bit runny but it lathers up well despite being free from SLS. A little goes a long way for this one, too.
Although the product is marketed to have a gentle formula, it comes with a refreshing scent. It’s not that intense, but it can be an issue if you are highly reactive to it.
What We Like:
- Contains vitamins and natural extracts
- Doesn’t contain SLS and parabens
- Affordable
What We Didn’t Like:
- Scented
- Can be a bit drying for the hair
#3/ California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo and Body Wash
For kids with sensitive skin and scalp, California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo and Body Wash is a good choice. It comes in a large 19 oz container with a pump.
The packaging is actually nice, especially if you are bathing quite active kids. You won’t have to worry about leaving a mess in the shower or dispensing more products than you are supposed to- all while holding your child.
It has a tear-free formulation that can make you feel a bit more confident and comfortable in bathing your young ones. Take note that it is also a body wash.
Although marketed for kids, adults won’t have any issues using this shampoo. In fact, if it’s safe enough for babies to use, it’s safe for you, too.
The shampoo is a bit expensive but a single bottle can last for several months.
What We Like:
- Tear-free formulation
- Can also be used as body wash
- Convenient packaging
What We Didn’t Like:
- Expensive
- Scented
#4/ Naturelle Hypoallergenic Fragrance-Free Shampoo
Naturelle Hypoallergenic Fragrance-Free Shampoo is dermatologist tested to be extra gentle for everyday use. It’s fit for every skin type, but is especially recommended to those who have sensitive skin.
It doesn’t come with harmful chemicals that can cause irritation. It doesn’t even contain fragrance ingredients.
Instead, it is loaded with natural botanicals to help your skin repair itself from within. It also has ingredients to minimize allergic reactions- all with compromising its cleansing properties.
This shampoo is great for those who have really itchy scalp but don’t want to use shampoos that can dry out the hair.
The product doesn’t offer too much product. In fact, it only has 15 oz. For its size, this shampoo is on the expensive side.
What We Like:
- Has natural botanicals
- Works great in relieving itchy scalp
- Contains no fragrance
What We Didn’t Like:
- Expensive
- Small size
#5/ TRESemmé Botanique Shampoo, Nourish and Replenish
Unlike shampoos that can leave your hair brittle and hard after drying, TRESemmé Botanique Shampoo, promises to leave your hair feeling moisturized and soft. That’s thanks to its salon quality formulation and blend of aloe vera and coconut milk.
It’s a good choice for sensitive skin since it is free from dyes, parabens and silicones. It does, however, contain a tropical scent which isn’t that too intense.
It has a lightweight gel-like texture. It lathers well and rinses off easily, too.It won’t weigh down hair which makes it a good choice for those people who are struggling to add volume to their hair. Apart from that, it also doesn’t make the scalp feel gunky.
It can also tame frizz and curly hair well.
One issue you are likely to encounter with this shampoo is its packaging. It can be quite messy to dispense since it doesn’t come with a pump.
What We Like:
- Affordable
- Silicone-free
- Doesn’t weigh down hair
- Easy to rinse off
What We Didn’t Like:
- Scented
- Packaging can be an issue
Reviews and Comparisons of the Best Shampoos for Sensitive Skin
Rankings | Best Overall | 2nd choice | 3rd choice | 4th choice | 5th choice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Top-Rated Shampoos for Sensitive Skin 2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
Brand | |||||
Lather | Good | Good | Slightly foams up | Fair amount of suds | Good |
Fragrance-free | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
Claims | Designed for daily cleansing of sensitive scalp | Gently cleanses and restores health to damaged skin | Soothes sensitive skin to help keep it soft and healthy | Washes away impurities and replenishes moisture | Gently cleanses while soothing and nourishing hair |
Get Started |
How Your Shampoo is Making Your Sensitive Skin Worse
Is your scalp flaking? Are you noticing frequent breakouts on your scalp?
If these things sound exactly like you, it’s probably your shampoo that is at fault. Or it just doesn’t match your skin type.
A lot of people are allergic to their shampoos or, at least, some of their ingredients without even realizing it. In fact, it can take several months or even years before they figure it out.
One good reason is that it’s unlikely for someone to blame his shampoo right away, especially if it foams up real good and smells really nice.
Unfortunately, these are the exact same reasons why you have sensitivity issues.
One of the most common culprits is fragrance.
It is usually added to shampoos to mask any of its ingredients’ undesirable smell. For other manufacturers, it is added to make the shampoo a lot more appealing.
Although with good intentions, the problem with fragrance is that it contains a handful of chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin.
Another factor that can cause irritation is alcohol. It has a drying effect and using it on your scalp that is already flaking can trigger more problems.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is one of the most common detergents in shampoos. One good reason why it’s most preferred is because it’s cheap.
Although helpful in making the shampoo lather up really nicely, SLS isn’t that safe for sensitive skin. Apart from the irritation, it can also weaken your hair follicles and that can result to hair loss.
So, what to choose instead?
For sensitive skin, the best shampoo would be one that is free from all of these nasty ingredients. Pick one that is hypoallergenic as it has a lower amount of irritants than your typical shampoo.
Strong isn’t always good, especially if you have vulnerable scalp. Choose a shampoo that is gentle yet effective enough in removing oil, dirt and sweat from your scalp.
If you can, go for products that contain natural ingredients. The more natural ingredients a shampoo has, the better
How To Wash Your Hair If You Have Sensitive Skin
It may sound like a bad idea but washing your hair frequently is a no-no for sensitive skin and scalp. When you wash your hair daily or more frequent than that, it gets stripped off of its natural oils.
When there’s not enough oil, your scalp’s barrier becomes compromised. This results in two things: water gets lost easier and your skin becomes more penetrable for harsh chemicals.
Your scalp turns dry and then it becomes itchy, red and uncomfortable.
Ideally, you should wash your hair every other day.
Apart from the number of times you wash, it’s also a good idea to check the water in your area. Hard water can leave residues on your scalp which can be mistaken for dry skin.
Only use a small amount of shampoo when washing your hair. You don’t really need to use too much product to get your scalp and hair clean.
Concentrate on cleansing your scalp by massaging the shampoo using the pads of your fingers. Avoid using your fingertips as your nails can cause scratches and injury.
When washing your hair, try to use gentle circular motions to stimulate blood flow to the area, too. Better blood flow can help keep your scalp healthy.
Conclusion
Having sensitive skin can be too stressful, especially if you have to deal with an inflamed scalp, itching and redness most of the time. It can make you feel really uncomfortable and even too conscious about yourself when you’re with other people.
Because we know how it feels like to be disappointed by products after products, we aim to help solve your skin issue. One way we can do that is by recommending the best shampoo for sensitive skin, which is DHS Clear Shampoo.
It has a short but impressive ingredient list that doesn’t contain fragrance and harsh ingredients. Apart from that, it can also preserve the integrity of your scalp.
- Shares
