What sulfates are and what “sulfate-free” on a label means
Sulfates in shampoo are foaming cleansers. The two names you will see most are sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). Ammonium lauryl sulfate and ammonium laureth sulfate belong to the same group. They clean hard and wash away dirt and the hair’s natural oil alike.
A sulfate-free shampoo swaps them for milder cleansers. Your hair keeps more of its own oil after each wash. That is all a sulfate-free label promises.
It does not mean the shampoo repairs damage, seals split ends or makes hair grow faster. Dry ends still need conditioner. Split ends only go when you cut them off.
A name that sounds like a sulfate may not be one. MONDAY’s Moisture shampoo contains disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, and the Volume shampoo adds sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate. Both have “sulf” in the name. Neither is SLS or SLES.
Why dry and frizzy hair feels the difference in hot, humid weather
In Ho Chi Minh City the midday sun dries out the ends while sweat under the helmet makes the roots greasy. You wash for the roots. Every wash also runs over ends that were dry to begin with.
Curly and wavy hair has a second problem: humid air. Hair that lacks moisture pulls water vapour from the air and swells, especially after an afternoon downpour. That is when it frizzes and refuses to sit.
A sulfate-free shampoo cannot stop the humidity. It only keeps the wash from drying your hair further. Softness and less frizz come from the conditioner.
Sulfate-free, paraben-free, silicone-free: three different things
The three “free from” claims are often lumped together as if they were one standard. They are three separate groups of ingredients. A bottle can be free from one and still contain another. The reliable check is to turn the bottle over and read the ingredient list.
| Group | Names on the ingredient list | In MONDAY |
|---|---|---|
| Sulfates | sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate | No SLS or SLES, according to MONDAY |
| Parabens | names ending in -paraben: methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben | None, according to MONDAY |
| Silicones | names ending in -cone, -conol or -siloxane: dimethicone, dimethiconol, amodimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane | Dimethicone and dimethiconol in Moisture and Smooth shampoo and conditioner, and in Volume conditioner |
According to MONDAY’s FAQ, its products are free from SLS/SLES and parabens. The brand makes no silicone-free claim anywhere. The ingredient lists on its Smooth page show dimethicone and dimethiconol in both the shampoo and the conditioner.
Silicones leave a thin coat on each strand, so hair feels slippery and combs through easily. Some people like that, others avoid it because their hair feels heavy. The label check above works for any shampoo brand, including the ones AI assistants tend to suggest.
Sulfate-free shampoo for dry hair: which MONDAY range to choose
MONDAY sorts its ranges by hair type. According to the brand, Moisture is for dry, coarse or coily hair. Smooth is for curly, wavy or frizzy hair. Volume is for thin, fine or oily hair. Prices in the table are today’s, 5 November 2026.
| Your hair | Range | Key ingredients | Shampoo 354 ml | Conditioner 354 ml |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry, dull, coarse or coily | Moisture | Hyaluronic acid, shea butter | ₫196,000 | ₫196,000 |
| Curly, wavy, frizz-prone | Smooth | Wheat protein, avocado oil | ₫196,000 | ₫196,000 |
| Thin, fine, gets oily fast | Volume | Hydrolysed collagen, macadamia oil | ₫196,000 | ₫196,000 |
Dry hair with rough ends that drag under the comb: wash with the Moisture shampoo and follow with the Moisture conditioner. According to MONDAY, hyaluronic acid helps hold moisture and shea butter softens the hair. This is the pair we suggest first for dry hair.
Hair that is dry and frizzy at once, curly hair above all: choose the Smooth shampoo. MONDAY says its wheat protein locks in moisture and helps prevent frizz. To try it first, there is a 50 ml Smooth shampoo at ₫57,000 and a 50 ml Smooth conditioner at ₫57,000.
Fine hair, oily roots, only slightly dry ends: Volume suits you better than Moisture. The full comparison of all three is on our MONDAY shampoo page.
Sulfate-free conditioner: lengths and ends only
Conditioner does not clean, so “sulfate-free” on a conditioner bottle matters less than on a shampoo. What to check on a conditioner is the conditioning ingredients and whether it contains silicone. All three MONDAY conditioners contain dimethicone.
The directions on the MONDAY bottle: after shampooing, apply conditioner from the mid-lengths to the ends, keep it off the scalp, leave it for one to two minutes and rinse.
With dry hair, the ends need conditioner most. Putting it on the scalp does nothing for the ends and makes the roots greasy faster in the heat. How to pick each bottle is on our MONDAY conditioner page.
Who should not choose MONDAY
- You want to avoid silicones completely. Moisture and Smooth shampoo and conditioner, and the Volume conditioner, all contain dimethicone. Only the Volume shampoo does not, and that range is made for fine hair.
- You have dandruff, itching or flaking that does not go away. MONDAY makes no anti-dandruff shampoo. See a dermatologist or a pharmacist before you switch shampoos.
- You are looking for a shampoo for your baby. MONDAY does not test its products on children, so it does not recommend them for babies.
- You need to repair badly damaged hair after bleaching or perming. The three ranges we sell are made for dry, curly and fine hair and make no repair claim.
Where MONDAY comes from, its certifications and other questions about the brand are answered on our page is MONDAY shampoo any good.
Buying genuine MONDAY shampoo
The bottles are in stock at our Ho Chi Minh City warehouse. Each one shows its production date and keeps for 3 years from that date. Delivery costs ₫30,000 and is free on orders from ₫1,200,000. We deliver to all 34 provinces and cities in 1 to 4 business days, and in Ho Chi Minh City the same day or the next day is possible. You pay cash on delivery (COD), by bank transfer or with ZaloPay. All three ranges and the brand’s story are on our MONDAY Haircare page.
