The best sulphate-free shampoos: Tried, tested & reviewed

Every time I try a different product from the Hair by Sam McKnight range, I feel I'm bringing a serious slice of salon energy into my otherwise unremarkable bathroom. Along with the rest of the line, Cool Girl Cleanse is predictably excellent (and smells divine). I have masses of hair, to the point where I actively avoid anything promising volume. But the formula doesn't simply multiply what you've got, instead it delivers a gentle voluptuousness in the areas in which you need it.

I always treat frizz-banishing products with an air of suspicion. Will you seriously live up to your lofty claims? Living Proof's No Frizz Shampoo is pretty bang on. Sulphate-free shampoos are so well developed these days, and this luxuriant lather is testament to the fact. My hair felt extremely clean, but not with that false squeakiness that many budget smoothing shampoos impart. It is formulated using a blend of slip modifiers to reduce surface friction and my hair was visibly less frizzy (not utterly devoid) for days, especially in combination with heated styling tools.

Now this is truly first-rate. Drybar's Liquid Glass Shampoo is a blissful, moisture-rich blend that lathers easily and delivers major shine. It is formulated with vegan keratin to help smooth and nourish each strand, but my hair didn't feel like it was weighed down, I still had body and movement. The inclusion of neroli oil targets frizz and I was taken aback by the level of glossiness. Plus, I'm not usually big on coconut, but the scent is reassuringly subdued, not at all synthetic-smelling. My one gripe? It's a total nightmare to get out of the bottle. Like I actually nearly did myself a shower injury trying to coax out the product. 

If dryness is your primary hair woe, you need Bumble and Bumble's Invisible Oil Shampoo in your life. The formula is packed with six oils  (coconut, argan, macadamia nut, sweet almond, safflower seed and grapeseed), designed to deliver a shot of moisture. It certainly minimised frizz, but didn't get rid of it entirely. Instead, its hero quality is how soft and silky it makes your hair feel, without leaving any residue. (I always find it annoying how some moisturising shampoos leave the hair around my roots looking flat and limp.) This would be great for when you need rich nourishment, but lack the time for a leave-in mask.

I'm still on the fence about exfoliating scrubs. On the one hand I like the gratifying feeling of abrasion against my scalp, but I'm impatient and find the grains a bit of a pest to wash out thoroughly. Plant-based performance-driven Aveda is excellent across the board, I trust it implicitly. But in particular its Scalp Solutions formula presents the perfect happy medium. To be clear, it is not a scrub. Instead, the citrusy scent is bright and uplifting, and it's the best shampoo I've found so far for leaving my hair feeling immaculate (but not 'squeaky clean') and my scalp soothed and balanced.

Centred's Daily Calma Shampoo was specifically formulated using a coconut-derived cleansing agent, far gentler other sulphate options. My hair is constantly dry, and I found that it left my upper and mid lengths comfortably satiated. (My ends could always do with special measures, the accompanying conditioner is great for knife-through-butter silkiness.) The aloe vera, chamomile and orange blossom scent is pleasant and inoffensive: a nice, mid-priced all-rounder. 

Curl specialist Bouclème's Scalp Exfoliating Shampoo is a great option if you are drawn towards the pleasing feeling of gentle abrasion. It contains hydrogenated castor oil beads to shift dead skin cells and product build-up. A good tip is to use it in conjunction with a massage tool to fully remove the grainy texture. The invigorating minty scent feels cohesive, and I liked that my curls felt bouncy and nurtured (unlike that annoying half-wave purgatory that you sometimes get) after use.

Leonor Greyl is a haircare brand that actually wasn't on my radar before researching this piece. Oh my goodness am I looking forward to rectifying the situation. Its Shampooing Crème Moelle de Bambou is a brilliant detangler and my hair looked smooth, but not flat - my roots still had an element of welcome texture. Scent is always less important than performance, but if you like 'mature' perfumes, you will likely love the powdery, aldehydic aroma - I've been opening the cap just for a whiff even when I'm not about to wash my hair.

In previous years, shampoo bars fell flat, inferior to their liquid counterparts and incapable of producing a decent lather. They have come on leaps and bounds, and L'Occitane's versions (they do three: one reparative, one purifying and one especially gentle) are great if you're trying to avoid plastic or travel with guaranteed no leakage. Building it up to a lather was quick and fuss-free, and of course you have its sustainable credentials. Make sure you rinse it thoroughly or you run the risk of leaving the shower with product residue, but overall I thought it was testament to how solid shampoos have improved drastically.

If you're looking to save rather than splurge, Wella Professionals' Elements Renewing Shampoo is a great mid-priced option. The floral scent is bright and energising, and the vitamin E-rich formula made my hair appear glossy and fresh, but it without that irritating slipperiness that comes with some other formulas. 

Relative newcomer to the haircare world Virtue has made a serious impact in the space of just over six years - I love its Refresh Dry Shampoo as a last-minute volumiser. Its Smooth Shampoo is great, coating strands with its patented Alpha Keratin 60ku, a whole keratin protein, born from regenerative medicine. It works by binding directly to areas of damage and encouraging repair. My hair did feel lovely and smooth after use, but, crucially, not weighed down or limp.

Mineral and product build-up can leave your hair feeling dry and looking lifeless. The very purpose of independent beauty brand Hello Klean is to help you offset the specific beauty woes linked to hard water. Especially when used in conjunction with the conditioner, I found my hair looked more energised and bouncy. The Hard Water Shampoo is formulated with bamboo charcoal to draw out minerals and metals in the shaft - don't let the dark colour alarm you - and oat protein for softness. It also produced a mountain of foam. I haven't quite recovered.