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Shop by need · Curly hair

Curly-girl-friendly products: no sulfates, no silicones, no drying alcohol

43 products in our library pass every rule for curly hair: free of sulfates, silicones and drying alcohol. The best of each type are below, picked by code from their full ingredient lists and updated November 6, 2026.

The catch: a product can suit you by its ingredient list and still not suit your skin, so patch test anything new and see a doctor if a problem doesn't settle.

Curly hair tends to do best with moisture-rich ingredients near the top of the label, such as shea butter, panthenol, glycerin and keratin, the protein hair is made of. Labels list ingredients from highest amount to lowest, down to about 1%, so the order tells you what you are really buying. Every product on this page was picked by reading its full ingredient list, not the front of the bottle.

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What we leave out, and why

This hub's picks leave out three groups. Sulfates, such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), clean hard, and dry, curly or color-treated hair often feels better with gentler cleansers. Silicones, the -cone or -siloxane film-formers such as dimethicone, are safe and give slip and shine, but some people skip them to cut build-up. Simple drying alcohols, such as alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol and isopropyl alcohol, can dry and sting when high on a list; fatty alcohols like cetyl alcohol are fine.

  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
  • No drying alcohol

A simple routine for curly hair

  1. 1

    Choose a sulfate-free cleanser

    Start with the cleanser. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are strong foaming cleansers that clean hard. Dry, curly, color-treated hair and sensitive skin often feel better with gentler cleansers. On the label, scan the full ingredient list for SLS and SLES. Pick a bottle without them.

  2. 2

    Check styling products for silicones and alcohol

    Silicones are smoothing film-formers with names ending in -cone or -siloxane, such as dimethicone. They are safe and give slip and shine. Some people avoid them for curly-hair routines or to cut build-up. Alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol and isopropyl alcohol can dry and sting when they sit high on the list. Fatty alcohols such as cetyl alcohol are different and fine.

  3. 3

    Read the full list and patch test

    Ingredients rank from highest amount to lowest, down to about 1%. Below that, the order is free. Fragrance-free means no added fragrance, but only the full list proves it. Patch test new products: apply a little to a small area, such as inside the elbow, for several days before using it all over.

Frequently asked questions

What should I look for on a curly hair product label?

Check the full ingredient list, which runs from the highest amount to the lowest, down to about 1%. Below about 1%, the order is free. Look for helpful ingredients such as shea butter, panthenol, glycerin and keratin, and avoid products with high-ranking drying alcohols.

Why are sulfates left out of curly hair products?

Sulfates are strong foaming cleansers that clean hard, so the picks on this hub leave them out. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are the common examples. Dry, curly, color-treated hair and sensitive skin often feel better with gentler cleansers.

How do I patch test a new curly hair product?

Patch test anything new before you use it all over. Apply a little to a small area, such as inside the elbow, for several days. This applies to any curly hair product, including the picks on this hub.

Are silicones bad for curly hair?

No, silicones are safe and give slip and shine. Silicones are smoothing film-formers whose names end in -cone or -siloxane, such as dimethicone. Some people still avoid them in curly-hair routines or to cut build-up, so the picks here are silicone-free.