The 12 Best Fragrance-Free Shampoos for Sensitive Scalps

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When it comes to overhauling your haircare routine, less is sometimes more. Sulfate-free shampoos might be suitable for those looking to forgo harsh agents, while natural and organic formulas are a fitting way to shop consciously. However, if you find strong scents to be polarizing and perhaps a little irritating, consider this your sign to switch to a fragrance-free shampoo. Make no mistake, just because a shampoo is fragrance-free doesn't mean it is odorless. Rather, these formulas are absent of added scents to augment the aroma.

"Many individuals, over time, have developed olfactory sensitivities or allergies to natural products, including essential oils," explains Nicole Coil, hairstylist and North American education lead at REF Stockholm North America. "For them, a fragrance-free shampoo offers respite in a world saturated with overpowering scents."

These shampoos might sidestep scent, but they don't skimp on quality. "Specifically, they're great for scalp health, which people tend to overlook, and they have compatibility with other hair products," says Ona Diaz-Santin, owner of 5 Salon & Spa in New Jersey. "Everyone should try out a fragrance-free shampoo, but they're especially beneficial for people who have sensitive skin and allergies, as the chemicals from fragrances can cause irritation and reactions."

A bottle of fragrance-free shampoo might be a worth addition to your haircare routine, but it's not a one-formula-suits-all situation. Just like shopping for any other shampoo, you'll have to keep your hair's type and texture as well as any other shopping preferences in mind. To help, read on for the very best fragrance-free shampoos, according to experts and beauty enthusiasts.

No Scent No Colour Shampoo

Since fragrance-free shampoos are free of irritating perfumes and other harsh ingredients, they're a great option for those with sensitive scalps. Thanks to its use of glycerides—which delivers moisture directly to the scalp and strands while making your home appear more manageable—Philip Kingsley's color-free, fragrance-free option is a gentle-yet-effective shampoo. (Not only is this option perfect for daily use, but its formula is vegan, hypoallergenic, and cruelty-free.)

But according to Kristina Maccaro, founder and CEO of Love Lane Salon, it's an option anyone can use. "Great for all hair types and amazing for sensitive skin as it's fragrance-free and formulated without color, sulfates, or parabens. [That means] it's super gentle."

What shoppers are saying:

"I like the clean ingredients in this shampoo. The unscented formula keeps my sensitive scalp from itching and burning. I have this product on repeat in my ordering process."—Chanel B.

Shampoo

Just because you want to add a fragrance-free shampoo to your shower stock doesn't mean you have to spend a small fortune to do so. For a budget-friendly, fragrance-free shampoo that get the job, look to Vanicream. "Their shampoo is suitable because not only is it fragrance free, but it's non-medicated and also doesn't have masking fragrance either," says Diaz-Santin.

This pH-balanced shampoo cleans dirt and buildup, removes flakey skin, and controls oily scalps—all without the use of sulfates, dyes, proteins, and...yes, fragrances. Instead a mix of ingredients like lauryl glucoside and coco-glucoside deliver a substantial cleanse that's not to stringent.

What shoppers are saying:

"Some of the best shampoo on the market. Your hair will feel more amazing than ever. Scent free so shouldn’t have any allergic reaction. Very good for dry [or] sensitive scalps when you want to lay off the heavy duty stuff." —MenchaDragon

The Shampoo

If you're looking to give your thin hair some extra attention, Nécessaire's shampoo may be exactly what you are looking for. Hyaluronic acid offer a jolt of moisture and strengthens the scalp's barrier, while plant surfactants deliver a deep, thorough cleanse without stripping your hair of natural oils. "This shampoo is essentially skincare for your scalp and a must-have for sensitive and dry skin," adds Maccaro.

Meanwhile, a mix of Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, and ApiScalp work together to provide relief to a dry, scratchy scalp and support follicle health. (According to a clinical study, where people used Nécessaire's shampoo for 60 days, 80 and 84 percent of participants said their hair looked thicker and fuller, respectively.)

What shoppers are saying:

"I really wanted to not like this, but oh my god. My hair was damaged and not growing very well, and within a few months of use, my hair has grown out and it’s back to healthy thickness. Also helps with dry scalp." —IzzyDesForges21

Fragrance Free Daily Cleansing Shampoo

Conversely, if you're looking to tend to your thicker strands, consider Kristin Ess's Fragrance Free Daily Cleansing Shampoo. Though the celebrity hairstylist's line is packed with scented styling products that create salon-worthy results for less, its fragrance-free offering should not be overlooked.

Vegan, lightweight, and sulfate-free, this cleanser boasts ingredients like Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine and Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate to cleanse, add shine, and boost volume. While this pick is good for all hair types, its high-lather formula, shine-enhancing formula is particularly good for a more robust head of hair.

What shoppers are saying:

"I truly love how this shampoo (and this conditioner) make my hair feel. I wash and condition my hair daily, which this shampoo never makes my hair feel too dry and keeps it smooth and shiny."—PaxieCat6

Fragrance Free Shampoo

Dessert Essence's shampoo is an excellent choice. Free of dyes, synthetic fragrances, parabens, and phthalates, this shampoo is gentle enough to accommodate those with sensitive scalps or allergies, but don't worry: This shampoo is still robust enough to deliver nourished results. Hydrating ingredients like organic jojoba oil and comfrey leaf work in tandem to moisturize the hair and scalp, while the antioxidant-rich green tea gives your hair an illustrious shine.

Another thing to love? Since this shampoo both lathers and rinses out nicely, you won't have to worry about product buildup.

What shoppers are saying:

"I didn't think my former shampoo was weighing my hair down until I felt how light my hair was after using this. It also looked extra shiny and felt very soft and I kept touching it even into the next day just to admire its softness!" —Lotus54

All Over Hair Shampoo & Body Wash

Paula's Choice prides itself on providing effective, science-backed formulas that live up to their promises. This two-in-one combination for delivers for a head-to-toe cleanse. However, if you're looking to double down on your upper half, it's well-suited for those with sebaceous scalps. The magic lies in its coconut-derived cleaners, which gently removes oil and grease without overdoing it. It also features aloe and pro-vitamin B5 to hydrate strands as well as soothe hair and skin.

Shoppers might love shampoo from Paula's Choice because it deftly tampers down oil and grease, but it's cruelty- and paraben-free, too.

What shoppers are saying:

"My hair is very straight and oily, and I usually have to wash it a lot in the summer, but with this I can get away with every other day and I feel really clean. As a bonus, it is a great body wash." —Louiismyname6917

SEEN Skin-Caring Shampoo Fragrance Free 8.6 fl. oz.

With rave reviews from beauty insiders and enthusiasts alike, Seen's Fragrance-Free Shampoo ticks off all of the boxes. For starters, it is made with clean ingredients, gentle enough to work with sensitive scalps, and promises to keep pores unclogged.

Thanks to its dose of hemisqualane, it's built to reduce frizz, too. The plant sugar-derived ingredient, which is a more natural alternative to silicone, can also provide plenty of color and heat protection. Carob tree increases hair resistance and elasticity, while a hint of horseradish tree offer plenty protection from pollution and UV exposure. Seen's shampoo also includes naturally-derived bisabolol that's known to soothe the skin. Healthy scalp and smooth, frizz-free hair? Yes, please.

What shoppers are saying:

"I am so glad I found this totally scent free products. I love how the shampoo and conditioner leaves my hair soft and frizz free. I can also use it daily if needed or go up to three days in between washing. My hair was never felt better and no more itchy scalp."—Haley

No-Poo Original Zero Lather Cleanser

If you're looking for a fragrance-free option to cater to your curls, why not trade in your shampoo for DevaCurl's No-Poo? Free of harsh cleansing ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and silicones, this pick cleanses your waves, curls, and coils without them losing their buoyancy. It's developed alongside a dermatologist, so it uses ingredients like isopropyl palmitate and behentrimonium chloride to soften the hair and skin. And, since this particular formula is fragrance-free and hypoallergenic, it's well-suited for those with irritated or sensitive scalps.

DevaCurl's No-Poo cleaners doesn't lather, which is by design. Simply use your fingertips to scrub in the formula into your hair and scalp—and do the same to scrub out once you rinse—and your curls will thank you later.

What shoppers are saying:

"I have searched and searched for a product that works for my daughter — she has somewhat coarse and wavy hair, and can’t tolerate products with any fragrance. Everything we’ve tried before this product has been ineffective with managing tangles and preserving her curls, but this has been a total game changer! So silky to comb through after using these products at night, and then again in the morning." —Karen

Full Transparency Pure Revitalizing Shampoo

Give your hair the glossy finish it deserves—sans scent, of course—with Better Not Younger's Full Transparency Pure Revitalizing Shampoo. The brand uses a dash of chia seeds to strengthen strands and retain moisture for a natural shine—without weighing the hair down in the process. Make no mistake, Better Not Younger's Shampoo has more to offer than its high-shine results. The hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested cleansers also uses yuzu to strengthen and condition hair. Meanwhile, an ingredient called galactoarabinan helps create the appearance of thicker hair, making it a great option for those with thinner strands.

Another thing to love? This shampoo is eco-friendly. Not only is this pick vegan, cruelty-free, and made with clean ingredients, but it also comes in a bottle made with 25 percent recycled plastic.

What shoppers are saying:

"I decided to try the Better Not Younger Full Transparency Shampoo and I am so pleased with the way it has tamed those crazy grays as well as added shine, volume and brightness to my hair. My sensitive scalp even likes it so I highly recommend it. You will love the silky hair texture that it gives you!"—Elizabeth D.

Sensitive Volumizing Shampoo

Give your hair some extra oomph with No Nothing's Sensitive Volume Shampoo, an ultra-gentle formula that's hypoallergenic, vegan, paraben-free, and fragrance-free. In addition to being suitable for sensitive scalps, No Nothing uses thickening ingredients like cocamidopropyl betaine and pisum sativum peptide to bolster thin or fine hair. It also boasts a special, propriety protein that helps strengthen and nourish hair, not to mention protect it from damage.

You might buy No Nothing's Sensitive Volume Shampoo for its hair-boosting formula, but it's also worth noting that its bio-based sugarcane plastic packaging can be fully recycled. That way, you can boost your hair and lower your carbon footprint in a few, simple clicks.

What shoppers are saying:

"I have sensitive skin and allergies to odors. This shampoo gives me great volume and no side effects."—Sydney

Purple Shampoo Bar

It doesn't matter if you added highlights or dyed your hair a new hue, color-treated hair must be treated with care. Without the right shampoo, your strands might appear dingy or brassy. That's what so great about Superzero's Purple Shampoo Bar, which is free of synthetic fragrances. Don't let this assuming bar fool you: This ultra-concentrated cleanser offers as much shampoo as a conventional, 16-ounce bottle. (Translation: Though lathering this shampoo might require a learning curve, it offers excellent bang for your buck.)

Ultraviolet pigments are key in this bar as they enhance brightness and neutralize yellow, brassy undertones, making this a great get for blondes as well as those with highlights or white hair. (In fact, the brand claims 90 percent of users have noticed an improvement in their hair color.) Additionally, a cocktail of triolein, vegan keratin, and hemisqualane work together nourish the scalp, hydrate strands, and reduce frizz. And, since color-treated strands can be prone to damage, Superzero's bond builder can help make the hair's internal structure up to three times stronger than untreated hair.

What shoppers are saying:

"I have tried a lot of shampoo bars in my quest to cut down on plastic, and this one is the best I've found by far. The fact that it's a purple shampoo that helps with light blonde hair is a great bonus. So many of the bars I've tried don't lather up very well, or leave my hair feeling weighted-down. This one lathers easily and beautifully, and after each use, my hair feels soft and healthy."—Merry

Extra Strength Scalp Therapy Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Though sensitive scalps and dandruff might go hand-in-hand, they're very different phenomenons. Simply put, a sensitive scalp often refers to heightened reactivity or discomfort on the scalp, while dandruff is defined by the presence of visible flakes often by a yeast-like fungus called malassezia. Fortunately, Diaz-Santin calls Neutrogena's solution "perfect for people who struggle with dandruff and dry scalp."

This medicated formula features three percent salicylic acid, which penetrates the scalp to remove skin flakes and hydrate the scalp. According to the brand, this extra-strength shampoo works long after its rinsed out of your hair. For best results, Neutrogena recommends using this shampoo at least twice a week. (That said, some customers have noticed this formula is a little hard to lather, so it will require a learning curve.)

What shoppers are saying:

"Always struggled with flaking and irritated scalp, product buildup. This plus a shampoo brush? No more flakes when I get out of the shower now. It's strong though, so use as personally needed as it can be drying. Great for the money."—SPotts

Is there a difference between unscented and fragrance-free shampoo?

Unscented and fragrance-free might seem synonymous, but there is a difference. While fragrance-free shampoos are formulated without any added fragrances, making them great for those with allergies or sensitivities, unscented shampoos may contain masking fragrances to neutralize the natural scent of the ingredients. To start your search, look for shampoos that are labeled "fragrance-free" on their bottles. However, if you want to do your due diligence, you can also look at the ingredients list: Anything formulas that feature "fragrance" or "parfum" are not fragrance-free.

What ingredients should you look for in fragrance-free shampoo?

It's important to avoid formulas with added, synthetic scents, but what ingredients can really make your shampoo work wonders? "Look for a shampoo that also has effective ingredients so that you are lessening your risk of irritation, but not skimping on the cleansing and hydration," says Maccaro. "Some ingredients to look for that will help add and lock in moisture are shea butter, biotin, aloe vera, glycerin, or even hyaluronic acid."

How do you use fragrance-free shampoo?

While fragrance-free shampoo is ultimately just like any other fragrance, these formulas are often designed for people with allergies or sensitivities, which is why Diaz-Santion recommends doing a patch test first. "Apply a small amount of the shampoo to a small area of your scalp and wait for 24 hours to check for any adverse reactions," she says. "It's a good idea to do a patch test before using it on your entire scalp."

Once you find a shampoo that works with your scalp and hair, feel free to use it just as you would any other option. That said, many reviewers have found some fragrance-free shampoos to be drying after daily use, so you might want to space out washes if you find yourself in a similar situation.

Meet the Experts

• Nicole Coil is a hairstylist and the North American education lead at REF Stockholm North America.

• Ona Diaz-Santin is the owner of 5 Salon & Spa in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

• Kristina Maccaro is the founder and CEO of Love Lane Salon in Jersey City, New Jersey.

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