Key ingredients
4.2/5
Mild cleansers with no sulfates, parabens, phthalates or silicones. Nothing medicated, so it calms rather than treats.
Home/ Brands/ Kristin Ess/ Extra Gentle Shampoo
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Extra Gentle Shampoo
$11.97
Kristin Ess made this shampoo for people whose skin and scalp react to most formulas, so it skips sulfates, parabens, phthalates and silicones and keeps the fragrance subtle. It cleans gently enough for daily washing and leaves dry hair soft rather than squeaky. It is also safe on color and keratin treatments, which makes it an easy swap if harsher shampoos leave your scalp tight.
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The Edyt Score
4.2 / 5.0
Targets
4.0/5
For dry, sensitive scalps that sting or itch after stronger shampoos. Flakes from dandruff need a medicated wash instead.
Formula standards
4.3/5
Subtly scented and safe for daily use on color and keratin treated hair.
The verdict
A gentle daily wash for scalps that hate sulfates. Pair it with a medicated shampoo if flakes come back.
Compare against similar products
Side-by-side vs 6 near substitutes (Head & Shoulders, Dove, OGX, Aveeno, Biolage, and Paul Mitchell). Compare best for, hair/scalp fit, format, Edyt score, and notes. Swipe sideways to compare.
| Pick | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Sensitive, dry scalps that react to sulfates | Everyday dry scalp | Gentle daily wash | Cooling itch relief | Reactive dry scalp | Dry scalp + dry ends | Salon tea tree cleanse |
| Hair / scalp | Sensitive | Normal to dry scalp | Sensitive / dry scalp | Itchy dry scalp | Sensitive scalp | Dry / dull hair | Oily-leaning dry scalp |
| Format | Shampoo | Liquid shampoo | Creamy shampoo | Liquid shampoo | Creamy shampoo | Liquid shampoo | Liquid shampoo |
| Edyt score Methodology: The Edyt Score reflects ingredient profiles, concentration, and formulation standards. It is separate from crowd-sourced user reviews. | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.4 |
| Notes | Sulfate-free, Subtle fragrance, Color safe | Drugstore · Daily use | Dermacare · Gentle | Tea tree · Drugstore | Oat milk · Sensitive | Salon · Hydrating | Salon · Tea tree |
| $ / size | $11.97 | $12.47 | $9.97 | $6.99 | $15.27 | $27.00 | $50.00 |
| Shop | Buy on AmazonThis page | Buy on AmazonProduct page | Buy on AmazonProduct page | Buy on AmazonProduct page | Buy on AmazonProduct page | Buy on AmazonProduct page | Buy on AmazonProduct page |
FAQ
Who is Extra Gentle Shampoo best for?
Kristin Ess made this shampoo for people whose skin and scalp react to most formulas, so it skips sulfates, parabens, phthalates and silicones and keeps the fragrance subtle. It cleans gently enough for daily washing and leaves dry hair soft rather than squeaky. It is also safe on color and keratin treatments, which makes it an easy swap if harsher shampoos leave your scalp tight.
How did Edyt Beauty score this shampoo?
Edyt Beauty rates Extra Gentle Shampoo 4.2 out of 5 from the ingredient list, who it is for, and how the formula is built. That is separate from crowd-sourced user reviews.
How does it compare to similar products?
The compare table above stacks Extra Gentle Shampoo against near substitutes for the same shopping job, including picks from Head & Shoulders, Dove, OGX, Aveeno, Biolage, and Paul Mitchell. For more from the same brand, see More from Kristin Ess below.
Where can I buy it?
Shop Extra Gentle Shampoo with the Buy button when it is available. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability can change. You can also find it in our guide to 8 Best Shampoos for Dry Scalp Worth Buying.
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