I keep hearing it everywhere; when it comes to shampoo, sulfate-free is the way to go.

Sulfates strip natural oils from the scalp and hair, which your hair needs to stay healthy, leaving it dehydrated and brittle. They can also make the scalp dry and prone to irritation.

Unfortunately, many well-established shampoo and conditioner brands still use sulfates today, making it difficult to find a suitable one.

However, I'm noticing more and more hair care brands entering the anti-sulfate space, and every day a new shampoo pops up on my Instagram feed. When looking at customer reviews, Hairstory and R+Co offer the best "sulfate-free shampoo" options. But do their products really deliver results?

I decided to try both brands to see if their products were worth the hype. Here's what I found:

Key Similarities

• Both brands are sulfate-free
• Both brands are cruelty-free
• Both websites have a quiz

Key Differences

• Hairstory offers a subscription option – The Refill Club with free shipping and up to 15% off each order
• R+Co doesn't offer a subscription service, but you get free shipping on orders of $35+
• Hairstory New Wash is a detergent-free shampoo alternative that replaces both your shampoo and conditioner regimen
• R+Co offers shampoos, conditioners, and typical hair care treatments
• Hairstory’s New Wash costs only $44 for 8oz
• R+Co shampoos start at $27 for 6oz, $59 for 8.5oz, and can go all the way up to $99

Hairstory New Wash Overview

I appreciate how stripped back Hairstory is as a brand - it's completely different from any other hair care brand I've ever come across! Hairstory is not only anti-sulfate; it's anti-shampoo. They believe where shampoo is the problem, Hairstory New Wash is the solution.

But would their product really be able to replace my shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, and oil? I was hesitant to be giving up four products for one.

Hairstory makes shopping super simple by offering just three types of New Wash: Original, Rich, and Deep. I took their quiz to find out which works best for my hair type and ordered their recommendation, the New Wash Original. It's a one-step product that both cleanses and conditions. Its main ingredients include four conditioning oils: Peppermint and Jojoba, along with Aloe Vera and hydrolyzed keratin.

Replacing shampoo and conditioner with Hairstory’s New Wash was strange at first. There was definitely an adjustment period, but after a few weeks, my hair was the healthiest it's ever been. I couldn't believe it! Since it's free of detergents, New Wash doesn't strip the scalp of natural oils and officially puts an end to the never-ending wash-grease-repeat cycle.

If you search "life-changing" in their reviews, you'll find pages and pages of results. And now, I understand why! New Wash adds shine and volume I’ve never had before.

It's worth $44 since it lasts a long time, and I don't need any other hair products with it! I'll definitely be signing up for their Refill Club so I can save and never run out thanks to their convenient delivery – better for my hair and the planet.

R+Co Overview

The first thing I realized when I went on the R+Co site was the sheer amount of shampoos and conditioners they offer. It was overwhelming and I had no idea where to begin. The product titles were super confusing as well. How could I possibly choose between Television Perfect Hair Shampoo, Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo, and Super Garden Shampoo?

The second thing I noticed was the price range. All their shampoos have different prices and are only available in specific sizes. For example, the De Luxe Reparative Shampoo is available in 8.5 oz for $59, the Sunset BLVD Daily Blonde Shampoo is available in 8.5oz and 33.8 oz Liter for $99 and some shampoos are also available in mini sizes (1.7 oz).

I decided to take their quiz and answered 12 questions about my hair type and goals. In the end, R+Co recommended the Atlantis Moisturizing Shampoo, and the Analog Cleansing Foam Conditioner. The shampoo is for restoring moisture levels and shine, and the conditioner is for dehydrated coarse hair.

After trying these both out for a few weeks, my hair looked shinier and less dry. However, I noticed my hair getting greasier way quicker than with Hairstory New Wash, so I ended up needing more washes. Looking at the results and the price I paid, I was pretty disappointed. I was hitting the shower every other day and burning through expensive product with R+Co.

Final Thoughts

All the products I've tried have their merits: cruelty-free, paraben-free, and sulfate-free. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to results.

The product that gave me the best results by far was Hairstory’s New Wash. It will transform your hair - you just have to be patient enough to get through the adjustment period. If your hair doesn't need much of a transformation and you just want a bit of shine, maybe R+Co is for you, but in my opinion, it's not worth paying $60+ for the results you get.

I've now signed up for Hairstory’s Refill Club to save up to 15% on each order and get free shipping. New Wash is the most affordable at $44 and gives the best results, so it's a no-brainer – I'm recommending Hairstory.

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