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Plus, an expert explains whether you really need to make the switch

Much has been made about the use of sulphates in haircare products. Like so many traditionally common ingredients before them – think preservatives, fragrance, parabens and silicones – sulphates are now at the centre of a debate, fuelled by our increasing interest in a gentler, 'cleaner' beauty routine.

But do sulphates really need to be stripped from your bathroom shelf? Here, we explain everything you really need to know about these much-discussed cleansing agents, and reveal the best SLS-free shampoos on the shelves right now, should you wish to try one.

“Sulphates are chemicals that work as foaming agents within most shampoos,” explains hair stylist Paul Edmonds. "They break down oil and dirt so that the hair can be cleansed properly.”

However, not all sulphates are equal. Sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium laureth sulphate are the most widely used sulphates in haircare, and they’re also considered to be the harshest when used in higher concentrations. Now, gentler alternatives are on offer, including ammonium lauryl sulphate and the coconut-derived sodium coco-sulphate.

Sulphates, like preservative parabens, are not inherently bad things: both have been used in cosmetic products for years. For example, sulphates are probably behind the foam in your favourite bubble bath, as well as in your toothpaste and laundry detergent. Haircare is an area of the beauty industry fraught with scaremongering, and it pays to take any ‘clean’ claims with a pinch of salt.

“Not all sulphates are bad: not even all of the ones that get a bad rap,” confirms Edmonds. “Sulphates are perceived as being very harsh, but if you use a good quality shampoo, it will undoubtedly include other ingredients that help stop the negative impacts of sulphates. It then doesn’t damage the hair, but simply opens up the cuticle and draws out the grease."

However, there are some hair types that will benefit from skipping the sulphates. Some SLS-heavy formulas can be drying to both the scalp and hair, meaning they can create frizz in curly hair. If you're looking to encourage springier curls, it might be worth going sulphate-free (or even investing in a creamy co-wash).

Furthermore, those with especially sensitive skin might find a sulphate-rich shampoo irritating. And finally, those with colour or keratin-treated hair should also skip the harsh sulphates, as they can degrade both colour and straightening treatments.

On the contrary, other hair types are best treated with a (good quality) sulphate-based shampoo. “Fine hair requires the deep cleanse that sulphates provide in order to build body,” says Edmonds. What’s more, if you use a lot of styling products and notice residue lingering in your roots, sulphates remain the best route to satisfyingly clean hair.

Below, see the sulphate-free shampoos that perform just as well as a traditional formula. Each one uses alternatives to the traditional sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium laureth sulphate, so you can lather up with confidence.

Bleaching and colour-treating hair can leave your strands damaged, and therefore more susceptible to breakage and frizz. Kérastase's popular Discipline shampoo is fortified with wheat protein, which works to re-strengthen hair and leave it smoother and stronger with regular use. Considering it's a sulphate-free formula, there's a satisfyingly rich lather, and it rinses away with ease.

Virtue's advanced shampoo does more than simply keep your hair clean: it contains a form of keratin identical to that in human hair, meaning your strands will instantly recognise and utilise it for strengthening and repair. The coconut-derived surfactant inside is biodegradable and extremely gentle.

This one is ideal for damaged hair, but the new Curl Shampoo is brilliant on kinks and coils.

There's rarely a Davines product we aren't impressed with, but this vibrancy-boosting shampoo is surely a star of the line. Designed especially to brighten highlights and balayage, it'll dissolve the minerals and pollutants that build up on hair, returning your colour to its post-salon glory. There's next to no lather, but the fresh meadow scent is a crowd-pleaser.

Olaplex's SLS-free shampoo goes further than most, working to repair the bonds in each hair fibre that have been broken by chemical or manual stress. It's a must for anyone looking to speed up the post-bleaching recovery time.

If you're looking to embrace conditioner-only cleansing, this much-loved 'co-wash' is a stellar choice. The creamy, low-lather formulation is packed with plant oils that will condition and care for coils and curls.

Curly hair loses moisture more easily than straight strands, so a hydrating shampoo is a wise move for anyone with natural texture. Moroccanoil's shampoo is specifically designed to cleanse without dehydrating thirsty hair, and leaves frazzled ends feeling notably softer.

Pureology's award-winning range contains an anti-fade complex that ensures you can deeply clean your hair without stripping out the colour. The gentle surfactants in this brightening shampoo deliver a moderate lather, while the purple pigments neutralise brassiness.

This ultra-hydrating shampoo is every bit as good as you'd expect from a hairdresser as respected as Charlotte Mensah. A true authority on textured hair styling, Mensah has created this shampoo to hydrate as it cleanses, meaning kinks and coils dry with maximum spring and shine.

Most clarifying shampoos reply on sulphates to deliver that squeaky-clean feeling, but Noughty's employs gentler foaming agents that still deliver wash-day satisfaction. Peppermint stimulates the scalp, while sorrel rebalances dry areas, ensuring you're left with lifted roots and soft ends. Try it after swimming, exercising, or simply to remove product build-up come the weekend.

Eliminating plastic entirely, a solid, paper-wrapped shampoo bar is a much more sustainable option than a traditional formula. However, many of them are loaded with SLS and seriously lacking in the performance stakes. Not this one from Ethique, though: the gentle coconut-based bar will lather gently when swiped over wet roots, and leave your scalp feeling clean yet balanced. A very impressive eco option.