Best Shampoos for Keratin-Treated Hair: 10 Products to Strengthen & Smooth (2024)

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Choosing the right shampoo is essential to maintaining the health and appearance of your keratin-treated hair.

The products you use should be free of sulfates and sodium chloride, as these strip away the keratin coating, reducing the treatment’s effectiveness.

We’ve compiled a list of the ten best shampoos that meet these criteria, helping you achieve smooth, strong, and healthy hair.

10 Best Shampoos for Keratin Treated Hair

When selecting the best shampoos for keratin-treated hair, consider options like Sulfate Free Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner, Ogx Brazilian Keratin Conditioner, and Biolage Bond Therapy Shampoo. These products are designed to maintain the strength and smoothness of your treatment, ensuring your hair stays healthy and vibrant.

1. Sulfate Free Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner

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The Sulfate-Free Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner is a salon-quality set, perfect for curly, frizzy, or dry hair.

Crafted in the USA, it is free of sulfates, sodium chloride, parabens, salt, gluten, drying alcohols, and phthalates.

This gentle, cruelty-free formula is recommended by professional stylists. It is safe for colored and keratin-treated hair, boosting shine and color retention while detangling, revitalizing, smoothing, and hydrating.

The smaller 8 oz bottles and orange dreamsicle scent make this set a delightful addition to your hair care routine.

Best For: Curly, frizzy, or dry hair.

2. Ogx Brazilian Keratin Conditioner

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The OGX Brazilian Keratin Conditioner is a liquid product designed to smooth and strengthen hair. It contains a blend of antioxidant-rich coconut oil, keratin proteins, avocado oil, and cocoa butter to nourish and protect your locks. With this conditioner, you can expect to achieve softer hair and a brilliant, luminous shine.

Reviewers have praised the product for leaving their hair soft and smelling good, while some have noted issues with packaging and knotting. This conditioner could be a great option for those seeking to enhance the health and appearance of their keratin-treated hair.

Best For: Individuals with wavy hair looking to smooth and strengthen their locks.

3. Biolage Bond Therapy Shampoo

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If you’re looking for a shampoo that will repair your hair from the inside out, Biolage Bond Therapy Shampoo is a great option.

This sulfate, paraben, and silicone-free shampoo is perfect for those with overprocessed or damaged hair.

It gently cleanses and strengthens your locks without stripping them of their natural oils. It also helps reduce breakage, leaving your hair feeling softer and more conditioned.

Depending on your hair type, pair it with the Bond Therapy Conditioner or Conditioning Foam for even better results.

Best For: Overprocessed or damaged hair

4. Tresemme Keratin Smooth Shampoo

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If you’re seeking a keratin shampoo that tames frizz and flyaways, TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo is a fantastic option.

It’s designed to transform unruly, dry hair into a sleek and smooth style that lasts up to 72 hours.

The formula contains amino acids and ceramide, which fortify your hair, making it twice as strong and more manageable with regular use.

Plus, it’s cruelty-free and free from parabens, mineral oil, and DMDM Hydantoin.

For ideal results, pair it with TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Conditioner. This dynamic duo will leave your hair strong, manageable, and healthy-looking.

Best For: Frizzy, dry hair seeking a smooth, sleek look.

5. Virtue Recovery Sulfate Free Shampoo

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Virtue Recovery Sulfate Free Shampoo is a luxurious, lathering shampoo that is safe for color- and chemically-treated hair.

Formulated with Alpha Keratin 60ku, it repairs damage from heat, chemicals, and color treatments.

This shampoo is free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, synthetic colors and dyes, gluten, and cruelty.

The 10.4-ounce bottle is ideal for all hair types, especially those with damaged hair.

Users report that the shampoo makes hair soft and bouncy, improves manageability, and easily detangles thick, coarse hair.

However, some have noted that the bottle size is small for the price, and it can make hair look dull over time.

Best For: Those with damaged or color-treated hair looking to repair and improve their hair’s health.

6. Matrix Unbreak My Blonde Shampoo

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If you’re looking to strengthen and repair damaged, dry, or over-processed blonde hair, Matrix Unbreak My Blonde Shampoo is a great option.

Designed for lightened, bleached, or over-processed hair, this shampoo helps nourish and restore your hair’s health.

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It is sulfate-free, so it won’t strip your hair of its natural oils but will add softness and shine.

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For optimal results, use it with the So Silver Shampoo and the corresponding conditioner to tone your hair.

Best For: Damaged, dry, over-processed, lightened, bleached blonde hair.

7. Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo

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For a gentle, reparative shampoo, Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo is a great option. It’s sulfate, phosphate, and paraben-free, so it’s perfect for those with keratin-treated hair. This shampoo is also packed with antioxidant-rich argan oil and reconstructive keratin to strengthen and repair damaged hair. With its signature fragrance, this 9.88-oz bottle will leave your hair smelling and feeling refreshed.

Best For: Those with keratin-treated hair or damaged hair seeking a gentle, reparative shampoo.

8. Marc Anthony Argan Oil Shampoo

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The Marc Anthony Argan Oil Shampoo is an excellent choice for keratin-treated hair. This shampoo is designed to strengthen and moisturize all hair types, leaving your locks shiny and protected from environmental damage. With argan oil, keratin, and grape seed oil as key ingredients, it hydrates and revives shine while also reducing frizz.

However, some users have noted that the shampoo can leave a glue-like scent, and may not provide a thorough cleanse.

Best For: Keratin-treated hair.

9. Nexxus Keraphix Shampoo Damaged Hair

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If you’re seeking a keratin shampoo that packs a powerful punch, Nexxus Keraphix Shampoo for damaged hair is an excellent choice.

This salon-crafted shampoo is infused with a unique blend of keratin, collagen, and elastin, which reaches deep into the hair fiber to repair it from within.

Clinically proven to deliver internal repair to severely damaged hair from the very first use, it leaves your locks smooth, strong, and healthy-looking.

With its generous 33.8 oz bottle, you won’t have to worry about running out anytime soon. Plus, at this price, it’s an absolute steal for the quality.

However, a word of caution: some users have reported greasy hair and difficulty lathering.

Best For: Those with severely damaged hair seeking a salon-quality keratin treatment.

10. Arvazallia Advanced Hair Repair

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Arvazallia Advanced Hair Repair is a sulfate-free shampoo, conditioner, and hair mask system that’s perfect for keratin-treated hair. This set includes an 11.16-ounce shampoo, a 10.14-ounce conditioner, and an 8.45-ounce hair mask, providing a complete hair care routine.

The key benefits of this product include deep conditioning and hydration, which are essential for maintaining healthy, keratin-treated hair. It also nourishes your hair with essential nutrients and gives it a lasting, lustrous shine.

Additionally, it’s paraben-free and safe for all hair types, so you don’t have to worry about any negative effects on your treated hair. This product is an excellent choice for those looking to repair, restore, and strengthen their hair, all while maintaining the benefits of their keratin treatment.

Best For: Keratin-treated hair looking for repair, restoration, and strengthening.

Should You Avoid Sulfates in Shampoos for Keratin-Treated Hair?

Regarding keratin-treated hair, sulfates can be particularly damaging, removing the protective keratin and causing increased dryness and frizz. Exchanging it for a sulfate-free shampoo can preserve the benefits of your keratin treatment and keep your hair healthy and smooth.

Impact of Sulfates on Keratin-Treated Hair

Now that we have explored the top 10 shampoos for keratin-treated hair, let’s turn our attention to the impact of sulfates.

Sulfates are a definite no-go when it comes to keratin-treated hair.

This is because sulfates are strong cleansing agents that can remove the keratin proteins from your hair, undoing all your efforts. To protect your investment and extend the lifespan of your keratin treatment, choose a shampoo free of sulfates. This small change can yield significant results, ensuring the health and durability of your keratin-treated hair for the long term.

Benefits of Sulfate-Free Shampoos

Now that you understand the impact of sulfates on keratin-treated hair, let’s explore the advantages of opting for a sulfate-free shampoo:

• Sulfate Buildup Prevention: Sulfate-free shampoos are formulated without harsh detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), which are known to strip away natural oils and moisture from your hair and scalp. By avoiding these ingredients, you prevent the buildup of sulfates, which can lead to dull, dry hair and an irritated scalp.
• Dandruff Control: The gentle nature of sulfate-free shampoos helps maintain a healthy scalp environment, reducing the chances of dandruff and flakes. This is especially beneficial if you have a sensitive scalp or are prone to dandruff.
• Scalp Irritation Relief: If you have a sensitive scalp, sulfate-free shampoos can be a game-changer. They’re less likely to cause irritation, itching, or redness, making them a gentler option for your keratin-treated hair.

Concerns With Sulfate-Containing Shampoos

Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of sulfate-free shampoos, let’s address some potential concerns with using shampoos that contain sulfates, especially if you have keratin-treated hair.

Sulfates are known for their effective cleansing properties, but they can also be quite harsh on the hair and scalp. One of the main concerns with sulfate-containing shampoos is the risk of protein loss. Sulfates can strip away the natural oils and moisture from your hair, leading to dryness and brittleness. This is especially problematic for chemically-treated hair, as it can accelerate protein loss and cause breakage-prone hair.

Another issue is scalp irritation. The strong cleansing action of sulfates can disrupt the delicate balance of your scalp, leading to dryness, itching, and even inflammation. If you have a sensitive scalp, sulfates can further aggravate these issues.

Additionally, sulfate residue can build up on the hair shaft, making it difficult for moisturizing shampoos and conditioners to penetrate the hair effectively. This can result in hair that feels rough and looks dull, rather than the smoother, shinier hair you desire.

Can Dry Shampoo Be Used on Keratin-Treated Hair?

Using dry shampoo on keratin-treated hair can be tricky, as it may potentially cause buildup and reduce the treatment’s effectiveness. However, with careful selection and application, it’s possible to use dry shampoo without compromising your keratin-treated hair.

Risks of Dry Shampoo for Keratin Treatments

Dry shampoo can be a convenient option when you’re short on time or want to extend the life of your keratin treatment. However, there are a few risks to keep in mind:

• Dry Shampoo Buildup: Excessive use of dry shampoo can lead to buildup on the scalp and hair, which may weigh down your strands and make it difficult to style.
• Keratin Treatment Damage: Dry shampoos that contain harsh ingredients, such as alcohol or sulfates, can strip away the keratin proteins in your treatment, reducing its effectiveness and longevity.
• Hair Breakage: The combination of dry shampoo and keratin-treated hair can make your locks more prone to breakage, especially if you frequently use heat styling tools like blow dryers or flat irons.
• Frizziness: While dry shampoo can help absorb excess oil, it may also contribute to frizziness, leaving your hair looking unruly and feeling unmanageable.
• Scalp Irritation: Some dry shampoos contain fragrances or other irritants that can cause scalp irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Safe Practices for Using Dry Shampoo on Keratin-Treated Hair

While dry shampoo can be a quick fix for greasy hair, it’s not ideal for maintaining the longevity of your keratin treatment. If you’re committed to preserving your treatment, it’s best to steer clear of dry shampoo. Instead, opt for a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to extend the life of your keratin treatment. This guarantees your hair remains smooth and frizz-free for longer, without the need for dry shampoo.

If you’re looking for alternatives to extend the time between washes, try using a shower cap to protect your hair from moisture, or blow-dry your roots to give them a quick refresh. These options are safer for your hair and will help maintain the health and shine of your keratin-treated locks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)