Find the best shampoo for permed hair including sulfate-free and salt-free ones that allows your spiral and piggy perms to last longer.
Discovering the perfect shampoo for permed hair can be like finding a hidden gem—it can make all the difference in maintaining those bouncy curls and keeping your hair healthy and vibrant.
At Hair Everyday, we understand that permed hair requires special attention and a tailored approach to care. That's why we've curated a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the sea of shampoos and zero in on the ones that will best suit your chemically treated tresses.
With the right product, you can ensure your curls stay defined and your hair remains nourished from root to tip. Whether you're a perm veteran or new to the world of curls, join us as we reveal the top shampoos that will keep your permed hair looking its absolute best. Let's lather up and find your hair's new best friend!
Here are the best shampoos for permed hair:
| Shampoo For Permed Hair | Best For | Chief Ingredients |
| Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Shampoo | Dry Scalp | Jojoba, Green Tea, Sage, Oat Protein |
| FRAMESI Color Lover Curl Define Shampoo | Sensitive Scalp | Quinoa, Aloe Vera |
| L’Oréal Paris Ever Curl Shampoo | Curl Enhancing Shampoo | Coconut Oil, Hibiscus Extract |
| Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo with Aloe Vera | Oily Scalp | Aloe Vera, Glycerin |
| Shea Moisture Strengthen And Restore Shampoo | Frizzy Hair | Shea Butter, Black Castor Oil, Peppermint, Apple Cider Vinegar |
| Joico K-PAK Color Therapy Shampoo | Color Treated Hair | Hydrolyzed Keratin, Candlenut Seed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil |
| Recovery Shampoo by Virtue Labs | Damaged Hair | Keratin, Boabab Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Grape Seed Oil |
| Ouidad Shampoo For Permed Hair | Clarifying Shampoo | Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Matricaria Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein |
Which is the best shampoo for permed hair?
There are several shampoos and conditioners that suit permed hair. You need to be careful as to choose a sulfate-free one as these are gentler on permed hair that is already prone to damage due to the chemicals applied during perming. One of the best shampoos I've used for permed hair is the L’Oréal Paris Ever Curl Shampoo and the Virtue Labs Recovery Shampoo. I also liked the conditioners from Arvazallia as they are very rich and nourishing.
Top Shampoo For Permed Hair 2024
Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Shampoo
Best Shampoo For Permed and Dry Scalp
I wanted a perm-friendly shampoo for my hair as the chemical treatments like and even hair coloring had left my tresses damaged and dry.
So I tried out the Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing shampoo as it's a well known salon brand.
I picked this one as it's not just for the best shampoo for permed hair, but it’s among the best products for dyed hair too.
And after using I loved how it cleansed my permed hair without fading the color.
It’s got an Anti-fade complex formula that prevents UV rays from making your hair color lose its sheen.
Plus, the shampoo is sulphate-free, so there’s no worry of surfactants stripping your hair dye, either.
I also absolutely loved how this Pureology shampoo is made of natural, completely vegan ingredients.
The packaging is 100 percent recyclable as well! But what blew my mind was the refreshing scent of ylang-ylang, patchouli, and bergamot. *chefs kiss*.
A little warning,.. This shampoo isn't very moisturizing. So use it if you have oily hair or low porosity hair. But if you want something more nourishing I suggest trying the SheaMoisture or Framesi one instead.
Pros:
- Doesn't contain sulfates so it won't strip hair dye or moisture from hair
- Comes with UV filter that protects hair color from fading
- Lightweight formula won't weight down permed hair and adds volume
Cons:
- Lightweight so it's not very moisturizing on dry scalps
- Contains added perfume which can irritate very sensitive scalp
My Ratings:
- Damage Control Ability - 4/5
- Moisturization And Frizz Control - 3.5/5
- Gentleness of Ingredients - 4/5
FRAMESI Color Lover Curl Define Shampoo
Best Natural Shampoo For Permed Hair
What attracted me to the shampoo is that the formulation contains a blend of quinoa, aloe vera, and vitamin complex that protect your curls from frizz and leave hair shiny and soft.
My permed hair looked damaged so I hoped this would give it some respite. And I was so happy to see it worked in just 4 weeks of using.
My permed hair looked so soft and the best part was the frizz was gone!
Also, this shampoo comes packed with a Rice Curl Complex that is supposed to increase the definition of your curls and prevent them from going flat.
As I have a tight spiral perm so this formula really helped keep the volume intact.
According to our medical expert Dr Adeela, the shampoo is "suitable for dyed hair as well. No color-stripping sulfates here! It’s also got UV and thermal protectors to keep the sun and heat from fading your hair color."
But perhaps the best feature of this shampoo is that it's nourishing without weighing down the hair. It left my tresses so bouncy!
The product is also 100 percent vegan and free of parabens, gluten's, or sodium chloride. According to the FDA (United Food and Drug Administrative Association), parabens are preservatives that are safe to use. But a few recent studies have shown that they can cause endocrine issues.
So is this shampoo perfect? Absolutely not.
I saw that there are added fragrances and colorants in the ingredients list. And while I like the scent and it suited my hair, it might irritate people with more sensitive scalps.
Pros:
- Sulfate-free formula won't strip hair dye or moisture from hair
- Contains quinoa protein that helps repair hair damage
- Aloe vera helps hydrate hair without leaving it greasy
- Contains hydrolyzed rice extract that will add definition to your curly perms
Cons:
- Contains added perfume and colorants which can irritate very sensitive scalp
My Ratings:
- Damage Control Ability - 4.5/5
- Moisturization And Frizz Control - 4.5/5
- Gentleness of Ingredients - 5/5
L’Oréal Paris Ever Curl Shampoo
Best Curl Shampoo For Permed Hair
Folks with naturally curly hair swear by coconut oil for it’s frizz-reducing and conditioning qualities.
And that’s why the L'Oreal Paris Ever Curl Shampoo is on my list! Its major ingredient is coconut oil.
Also, it's a very budget-friendly shampoo and I was looking for something cheaper for daily use!
When I used this shampoo I liked how the formula doesn’t weigh down your hair.
It also helped reduce frizz on my hair but that was only a few times at the beginning.
I then noticed it actually made my hair drier and frizzier than before.
Also, this shampoo is free of sulfates, harsh salts, dyes, and gluten. According to Dr Addela, "those with severe gluten allergy can be affected even its presence in topical applications like creams, shampoos, etc."
And while I was glad that it's mild and free of any problematic ingredients it surprised me by removing hair color.
Yes, this shampoo strips hair color despite being sulfate-free! So if you want to preserve color I'd suggest getting the Framesi shampoo despite the extra bucks.
Also let me give you a heads up. This L'Oreal Paris shampoo has got quite a strong floral fragrance that some people might find overwhelming.
Pros:
- Sulfate-free formula that is gentle on hair
- Vegan and gluten-free formula won't trigger your sensitivities
- No endocrine disrupting parabens in the formula
Cons:
- Strong floral perfume can be overwhelming
- Can strip hair dye if used in excess
- High pH levels can dry hair and scalp in long run
My Ratings:
- Damage Control Ability - 4/5
- Moisturization And Frizz Control - 4/5
- Gentleness of Ingredients - 4/5
Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo with Aloe Vera
Best Shampoo For Permed and Oily Scalps
The Christophe Robin Hydrating shampoo is probably among the more famous products on my list (and the more expensive too).
But there is a reason for its fame. This product hydrates and rejuvenates the scalp, leaving hair of all textures soft and refreshed.
It’s especially good for permed hair thanks to its aloe vera formula. It is just the thing to condition the hair and reduce frizz without weighing your curls down.
I was disappointed in one regard with this shampoo. It contains a milder form of sulfates called ammonium lauryl sulfate.
Granted, it’s not as harsh or irritating as SLS or SLES. But I’d still advise you to steer clear of this shampoo if you’ve got color-treated hair or a sensitive scalp.
Pros:
- Lightweight formula suits oily scalp and curly hair
- Aloe vera helps hydrate without leaving hair greasy
Cons:
- Contains ammonium lauryl sulfate that can cause some amount of hair color loss
My Ratings:
- Damage Control Ability - 4/5
- Moisturization And Frizz Control - 4/5
- Gentleness of Ingredients - 4/5
Shea Moisture Strengthen And Restore Shampoo
Best Anti-Frizz Shampoo For Permed Hair
I absolutely adore this Sheamoisture shampoo! According to me, it has got all the right ingredients, making it one of the best shampoo for permed hair.
Jamaican castor oil and Shea butter are amazing at conditioning dry hair and preventing frizz and flyways.
Then there’s the apple cider vinegar to get rid of product build-up, leaving your curls volumized.
And finally, peppermint oil to refresh the scalp and boost blood circulation to the follicles.
The Shea Moisture shampoo repairs damaged hair strands, adds shine, and leaves the curls bouncy and voluminous.
Phew! What an ingredient list! But that’s not all folks.
The Shea Moisture Strengthen and Restore shampoo is also free of sulfates, parabens, and other harsh ingredients.
Its pH-balanced formula is just the thing for my chemically-treated and styled hair.
Pros:
- Sulfate-free formula that is gentle on hair and safe for colored hair
- Natural, vegan and ethically sourced ingredients
- Adds intense moisturization to dull, damaged permed hair
- Peppermint oil helps balance scalp pH levels while castor oil nourishes strands
Cons:
- Shea butter and castor oil ingredients can get too heavy for fine hair
My Ratings:
- Damage Control Ability - 4.5/5
- Moisturization And Frizz Control - 5/5
- Gentleness of Ingredients - 5/5
Joico K-PAK Color Therapy Shampoo
Best Shampoo For Permed and Color Treated Hair
Using chemical treatments to curl your hair and coloring it as well can cause double the damage.
To prevent this, the Joico K-Pak Color Therapy shampoo comes with a bio-advanced peptide complex to protect hair.
I also liked how the product contains argan oil. So the nourishing formula helps reduce frizz, add softness, and tame flyaways and baby hair as well.
If you regularly style your tresses, this shampoo is a good pick as it makes hair more responsive to treatments.
The shampoo has good cleansing properties too. It removes all debris and excess oil from the scalp, leaving it clean and refreshed.
I liked the pleasant fragrance it left behind. Some users found the texture of the Joico K-Pak Color Therapy shampoo too watery.
But it works well, so I’ve got no cause to complain.
Pros:
- Argan oil helps nourish damaged hair after perming process
- Bio peptides help protect hair color pigments from getting washed out
Cons:
- Formula contains mild surfactants that might not suit sensitive scalps
My Ratings:
- Damage Control Ability - 4.5/5
- Moisturization And Frizz Control - 3.5/5
- Gentleness of Ingredients - 4/5
Recovery Shampoo by Virtue Labs
Best Shampoo For Permed and Damaged Hair
I am not the only ones impressed by the Recovery shampoo by Virtue Labs. It won the Best of Beauty Allure Award in 2017. And rightly so! This product does wonders for damaged, chemically-treated, and colored hair.
For starters, it is completely free of sulfates or parabens. Next, it contains a patented protein called Alpha Keratin 60ku(R).
Now this protein binds itself to the damaged areas of your strands, filling them up. Result? Soft, healthy-looking, and stronger hair.
It also contains nourishing ingredients like quinoa, grapefruit extracts, and baobab adansonia extracts that leave your hair free of frizz and split ends.
The best thing about this shampoo is that it's cruelty-free too.
I confess that it is slightly expensive. But by looking at the work it puts in, we feel it’s definitely worth it.
Pros:
- 100 percent natural, vegan ingredients
- Patented alpha keratin protein helps repair damaged strands
Cons:
- Very expensive shampoo
My Ratings:
- Damage Control Ability - 4/5
- Moisturization And Frizz Control - 4/5
- Gentleness of Ingredients - 4/5
Frederic Fekkai Moisturizing Shampoo with Shea Butter
Best Smelling Shampoo For Permed Hair
I’ve said this before - Shea butter is one of the best things to condition curly hair.
And it is exactly what the Frederic Fekkai Moisturizing shampoo contains! If you’ve got dry, damaged hair after getting that perm, this product should be able to sort it out.
The formulation helps de-frizz hair and leaves it soft and smooth. It coats the strands in moisture and seals split ends too.
I am in love with the exotic jasmine fragrance it leaves behind on the hair.
It’s also an excellent choice if you want something to clean up the scalp. But let me warn you, this shampoo comes with sodium laureth sulfate.
So if you’ve got a sensitive scalp or have color-treated hair, I suggest you check out the other products on this list.
Pros:
- Nourishing shea butter formula helps remove frizz and adds softness to hair
- Lovely jasmine perfume that is pleasant not overwhelming
Cons:
- Contains SLS that can dry out scalp in long run and strip hair color
- Added perfumes are not good for sensitive scalps
My Ratings:
- Damage Control Ability - 4/5
- Moisturization And Frizz Control - 5/5
- Gentleness of Ingredients - 4/5
Strictly Curls Curl Defining Shampoo by Marc Anthony
Best Salon Shampoo For Permed Hair
If you’ve already got a dry scalp, getting chemical treatments like perms and keratin can leave it parched and flaky. This is where the Strictly Curls shampoo by Marc Anthony helps.
Among the preferred choice for salon stylists, this shampoo contains hydrolyzed silk, vitamin E, and Shea butter that nourishes your scalp and hair. It leaves your curls smooth and frizz-free too!
The best thing about this shampoo is that it doesn’t feel heavy on the hair. So despite being super moisturizing, it leaves a light bounce to the curls.
I also liked the lemony scent it leaves behind after you use it.
Plus, this Marc Anthony shampoo is sulfate-free. So you can use it on color-treated hair without a second thought.
Pros:
- Hydrolyzed silk helps repair damaged hair
- Shea butter and vitamin E formula control dryness and frizz
- Sulfate-free shampoo suited for color-treated hair
Cons:
- None that I could find
My Ratings:
- Damage Control Ability - 4.5/5
- Moisturization And Frizz Control - 4.5/5
- Gentleness of Ingredients - 4.5/5
Schwarzkopf Shampoo For Permed Hair OSiS + Refresh Dust
Best Dry Shampoo For Permed Hair
A lot of experts suggest not washing curly hair often. But permed hair can get greasy in between your shampooing sessions.
In this case, I've found that using this Schwarzkopf dry shampoo is the perfect solution.
The powder formula melts discreetly into your hair without leaving flaky residue behind. It helps leave your curls grease-free, vibrant, and bouncy.
The shampoo is priced higher considering the amount of the product in the can. But if you don't want to wash your curls everyday, this is a good choice.
The shampoo is priced higher considering the amount of the product in the can. But if you don't want to wash your curls everyday, this is a good choice.
Pros:
- Dry shampoo so you don't need to use water, saving you time
- Won't contain surfactant so good for dry/color-treated hair
- Powder formula absorbs grease from scalp without leaving curls dry
Cons:
- Not suited for those who want regular shampoo
- Pricey dry shampoo
- Powder formula might not suit color-treated hair
My Ratings:
- Damage Control Ability - 4/5
- Moisturization And Frizz Control - 4/5
- Gentleness of Ingredients - 4/5
Ouidad Shampoo For Permed Hair
Best Clarifying Shampoo For Permed Hair
After using this shampoo I can safely say that Ouidad is one of the best shampoo for permed hair thanks to its nourishing formula.
I love how it's got ingredients like peppermint oil, chamomile, wheat protein, and lavender that condition your curls and keep them bouncy and soft.
I used it a few times on my hair and every time, I noticed that it helps moisturize dry hair but doesn't leave them greasy. I also loved the floral scent this shampoo leaves behind on my tresses.
Of course, this means that the shampoo contains added perfumes which can irritate your scalp if you have a sensitivity. However, I didn't mind the fragrance as my scalp doesn't react to perfumes badly.
Another gripe I have with this shampoo is that it is very expensive.
Pros:
- Wheat protein helps repair strands damaged during perming
- Moisturizers without leaving hair greasy
Cons:
- A bit on the expensive side
- Contains added fragrances
My Ratings:
- Damage Control Ability - 4/5
- Moisturization And Frizz Control - 4/5
- Gentleness of Ingredients - 5/5
Arvazallia Advanced Hair Repair
Best Sulfate Free Shampoo For Permed Hair
The Arvazallia Advanced Hair Repair is one of the best shampoo for permed hair for two reasons.
First, it contains a nourishing blend of argan oil and macadamia nut oil that softens your curls and tames frizzy hair.
Second, it is free of any harsh ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and more.
I bought this combo pack that contains shampoo, conditioner and hair mask and it was the best decision ever.
It is very nourishing although it can get too heavy if you have very fine, thin hair. So be careful to not overuse the hair masks and conditioners.
Pros:
- Argan oil and macadamia nut oil provide intense nourishment
- Affordable and comes in convenient pack of shampoo and moisturizer
Cons:
- Can get too heavy for fine hair and might weigh strands down
- Not a fan of the added perfume
My Ratings:
- Damage Control Ability - 4/5
- Moisturization And Frizz Control - 5/5
- Gentleness of Ingredients - 4/5
How to select the best shampoo for permed hair?
Before you check out our list of the best shampoo for permed hair, it’s important to know… What exactly should a permed hair shampoo be like? Here are a must-haves:
Sulfate Free: Make sure the shampoo you’re using on permed hair is sulfate and paraben-free. These are bad enough on virgin tresses, but they can wreak havoc on chemically-treated hair.
Hair Texture: Pick the shampoo for your hair texture. If you’ve got really coarse hair, it might need that extra dose of conditioning. But too much moisture can weigh down soft, fine, thin hair strands. Choose wisely.
Hydrating Ingredients: The best ingredients for permed hair are those that provide hydration and seal the cuticle. These include glycerin (an excellent humectant), Shea butter, Moroccan argan oil, Jamaican black castor oil, and more.
Silicone Free: Choose shampoos that do not contain silicone in them. This ingredient might provide a glossy coat on your curls, but it just weighs them down and adds to the product build-up in the long run.
Why do you need a different shampoo for permed hair?
If you've been wondering why you can't just use your regular old shampoo after you perm your hair let me explain it to you.
Firstly, your hair is the not the same texture anymore. Perming, which usually refers to the process of changing your hair from straight to curly, gives your hair a new texture. This makes it necessary to change your shampoo, conditioners, and other hair care products to suit this new texture.
So if you were using say a clarifying shampoo for your straight fine hair after perming it into curls, you will need something more moisturizing as curly hair tends to be dry.
This is true vice versa as well!
Another chief reason why you need to change your shampoo after perming your hair has to do with the hair damage according to the Journal of Cosmetic Science Yes, no matter how professionally you get your hair permed, it will cause a bit of damage nonetheless.
So your new shampoos and conditioners should be well equipped to help repair this damage.
Conclusion
Using the right shampoo and conditioner can help you rock those beautiful curls with pride. And save a lot of trips to the salon.
Pick your favorite from our list today to make sure your hair is shiny, voluminous, and bouncy.
But it’s not just about the shampoo. You’ve got to use the nourishing hair masks, serum, and sprays to get the curls of your dreams.
Perms and conditions apply.