Skip to main content
Product image coming soon
Equate

Tear-Free Baby Shampoo

Shampoo / Everyday cleanser, balanced

  • Shampoo
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
  • Protein-free
Size21 fl oz
Price$2.48 Good valueseen at one store · 21 oz
Price / oz$0.12/ozat 21 oz
Where to buy1 store

Add it to your products. We’ll tell you if it’s ever recalled.

Scent:

The ingredient list declares fragrance. What it smells of is not stated, and we do not guess.

Strength: Light

Listing used for research: walmart.com

Personal fit

Is this right for you?

Complete the consultation to see how well this product fits your hair and your goals. With 6,000+ products in our library, we can match you to the right ones.

  • About 20 minutes, and your answers save as you go.
  • Every product matched against your hair across the 23 factors we check.
  • A personalized routine built around your schedule, styling habits, and local weather.
  • Find products that do the same job at a lower cost.
  • Your goals, scalp, damage history, water, budget, and scent preferences all shape your plan.

$49 with 60 days of follow-up questions and plan updates

$99 with 12 months. Pay once; the year renews only if you choose.

Start your consultation

Lower cost than most shampoos

$0.12/oz at 21 oz, less than 99% of the 1544 shampoos , which mostly run $0.79–3.04/oz.

Price and stores

Great for

Colour-treated hairthat fades faster in a sulfate wash
Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list

Maybe skip if

this product has a light scent
Hair that needs proteinthere is none in this list
Hair that tangles wetnothing here makes combing easier
Hard waterno chelator here to bind the minerals
Picking it up locallywe’ve only seen it sold in one channel

How much cleansing you need depends on how fast your scalp gets oily, how much product you layer and your water. The consultation works that out.

What the formula actually does

Read from the label, not the marketing

Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.

Cleansing strength Moderate

Removes oil and product; leaves some conditioning behind.

Expected lather Moderate

An ordinary shampoo lather.

Slip and detangling Little

Nothing here is built to reduce combing force.

Water-binding (humectants) None found

No humectants, so nothing here pulls water into the hair.

Scalp active None

No over-the-counter scalp active.

Hard-water defence None

No chelating agent in the list.

Needs detergent to remove No

Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove.

Protein None

No protein or amino acids in the list.

Fragrance Prominent

Fragrance is in the first eight ingredients, so it makes up a larger share of the formula.

from the formula stated by the brand reported by reviewers Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.

Ingredients that matter

The ingredients that change a decision

The workhorse ingredients, plus anything lower down that changes a decision. The chips name what an ingredient does. They are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.

IngredientWhat it doesWhy it mattersChip
WaterWATER (AQUA) solvent The base everything else is dissolved in Neutral
Cocamidopropyl Betaine amphoteric cleanser — Cleanses
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate mild anionic cleanser — Cleanses
PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate cleanser Does the cleaning Cleanses
PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate thickener Sets the texture Stabilizes
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides emulsifier Keeps oil and water mixed Softens
FragranceFRAGRANCE (PARFUM) fragrance The scent Fragrance
Citric Acid pH adjuster Fine-tunes the pH pH balancer
Potassium Sorbate preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
Sodium Benzoate preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesNo sulfates, silicones, or drying alcohols. Protein-free: this is built for moisture rather than for strengthening. Contains fragrance.
Full ingredient list (10)

In the US, ingredients above 1% are listed from most to least. Below 1% they can appear in any order. Each note keeps three things apart: what the ingredient generally does, its role in this type of product, and what its position can tell you.

  • 1 Water · WATER (AQUA)
    General function

    The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    • solvent
  • 2 Cocamidopropyl Betaine
    General function

    A mild coconut-derived co-cleanser that boosts foam and softens the effect of stronger detergents. It appears in most shampoos, gentle or not.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    Mild cleansing leaves more surface lubrication in place on hair that dries out quickly.

    May not suitBuild-up-sensitive routines

    The mildest detergents are also the least complete: a routine that deposits films needs something stronger periodically.

    DependsVery dry or highly damaged hair

    Among the mildest detergents in use — it is what baby shampoos are built on — but it is almost always the second detergent in a formula. How much a wash strips is still decided by the primary detergent listed above it.

    Indian Journal of Dermatology
    • amphoteric cleanser
    • secondary cleanser
    • cleanser
  • 3 Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
    General function

    A gentle, dense-lathering cleanser used as the primary detergent in many sulfate-free shampoos.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    May suitCurls or waves needing flexible hold

    The detergent class most curl routines are built around: it lathers and cleanses without stripping the strand back to bare.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    A gentler detergent leaves more of the surface oil that slows water loss from coarse or porous hair.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    Cleanses with less sebum removal than a sulfate detergent, so hair that is short of moisture keeps more of it through the wash.

    • mild anionic cleanser
    • cleanser
  • 4 PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate
    General function

    A nonionic surfactant that helps cleanse and keep other ingredients dispersed in a formula.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    • cleanser
    • solubilizer
    • nonionic cleanser
  • 5 PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
    General function

    A thickener used to build viscosity in sulfate-free cleansers, which are otherwise hard to thicken.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    • thickener
    • emulsifier
  • 6 PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
    General function

    A coconut-derived emulsifier that softens a cleanser and helps oils disperse.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    Emollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.

    • emulsifier
    • emollient
  • ▾Below about here, the order stops meaning much. These are usually used at 1% or less.
  • 7 Fragrance · FRAGRANCE (PARFUM)
    General function

    An undisclosed blend of scent ingredients. Regulations let it stay unlisted, so a fragrance-free product is the only way to be certain what is not in it.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines

    Declared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.

    • fragrance
    • declared fragrance
  • 8 Citric Acid
    General function

    Used to bring the product to a slightly acidic pH, which helps the cuticle lie flat. It is almost always near the end of the list.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitBuild-up-sensitive routines

    Holds hard-water minerals in solution so they rinse away instead of depositing on the hair.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    The acid side of pH adjustment, and the reason it matters is measured: alkaline formulas raise the fibre's surface negative charge, increase friction between strands and lift the scales, while lower-pH ones do the reverse.

    May suitGray, silver, or brass-prone hair

    Where a warm cast comes from water minerals rather than from the hair itself, holding those metals in solution is what removes it.

    International Journal of Trichology
    • pH adjuster
    • hard-water chelator
  • 9 Potassium Sorbate
    • preservative
  • 10 Sodium Benzoate
    • preservative

What the whole list adds up to

  • 3 cleansers
  • 2 emulsifiers
  • 2 preservatives
  • 1 solvent
  • 1 amphoteric cleanser
  • 1 secondary cleanser
  • 1 mild anionic cleanser
  • 1 solubilizer
  • 1 nonionic cleanser
  • 1 thickener
  • 1 emollient
  • 1 fragrance
  • 1 declared fragrance
  • 1 pH adjuster

Ingredient list captured 2026-10-03. Formulas change, so check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.

Price · 21 oz

Seen at $2.48 1 store · checked Oct 22
Good value under $57 Under $2.71/oz it costs less than three-quarters of the 8 products we score as doing the same job

Usually a good value. Most stores sell it under the $57 line, and products that do this job typically go for about $59 at this size.

Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it1 listing · 1 store

Sorted by price per ounce. Dated observations from our research, not live prices. Direct store pages, no affiliate links. We don’t sell this product.

How we work this out
  1. 21 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
  2. Seen at $2.48 is the price we have observed for the 21 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
  3. Good value under $57 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $2.71/oz; at 21 oz that is $57. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
  4. About $59 is what those same products typically cost at this size: the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 21 oz.

Formula

Formula score
6 of 10

The formula covers the core of what a shampoo does, and it costs less per ounce than most shampoos in our library.

How the score is counted
  • Costs less per ounce than 99% of the 1544 shampoos we’ve priced
  • No slip for detangling in the formula
  • Reviewers mention 3 things they like about how it performs
  • Value tier, sold at Grocery / mass
  • A working detergent systemWhat actually removes oil and product.3 pts
  • Slip for detanglingReduces the force it takes to comb wet hair.2 pts
  • A humectantBinds water into the hair.1 pt
  • A hard-water chelatorBinds the minerals that dull hair in hard water.1 pt
  • A pH adjusterBrings the formula to the acidic pH hair prefers.1 pt
  • No detergent-dependent filmNothing that needs a clarifying wash to remove.1 pt
  • Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt

The formula score measures completeness for the job: a weighted share of the systems this product type is usually built around that we find in this list. It does not rate how well the product works or its quality, and it never compares across product types.

Does the same job

Formulas that do the same things (cleanse, condition, coat or hold) for less per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy them can still differ.

Maria NilaLowest cost per oz Luminous Colour Shampoo $2.71/oz $2.59/oz more
  • Fragrance-free
  • Unscented
  • Sulfate-free
· Same function
Differs
  • Unscented
  • Cruelty-free
  • Vegan
Compare
Maria NilaSame function Pure Volume Shampoo $2.79/oz $2.67/oz more
  • Fragrance-free
  • Unscented
  • Sulfate-free
Differs
  • Unscented
  • Cruelty-free
  • Vegan
Compare
Maria NilaSame function Structure Repair Shampoo $2.71/oz $2.59/oz more
  • Fragrance-free
  • Unscented
  • Sulfate-free
Differs
  • Unscented
  • Cruelty-free
  • Vegan
Compare

See more alternatives in the product library

These products do a similar job. We haven’t matched them to you. Find the one that fits your hair, routine and budget

Suits every hair pattern

Final decision

Should you buy it?

A solid pick for the hair it suits
Best user

Colour-treated hair, looking for washing without sulfates and a protein-free formula

Biggest tradeoff

Worth skipping for anyone sensitive to fragrance, soft, over-stretchy hair that needs protein, or hair that tangles the moment it is wet

Best alternative if not

Nothing in our library matches it closely at a lower price.

We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.

Claims check

What the brand says, and what the formula shows

Claims are quoted from the brand. We mark a claim supported, partly supported or conflicting only when the ingredient list speaks to it. Everything else stays "stated by the brand". That isn’t a criticism: most claims can’t be checked from a label.

1
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
0
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
Equate Tear-Free Baby Shampoo is specially formulated to gently cleanse your baby’s delicate hair and scalp while keeping bath time comfortable and worry-free. The mild, tear-free formula helps prevent irritation, making it ideal for everyday use. Designed with gentle ingredients, this shampoo is free from sulfates and dyes, and is pediatrician-tested to ensure it is safe for your little one. It creates a soft lather that rinses clean, leaving hair fresh, soft, and easy to manage. The convenient pump bottle makes dispensing simple during bath time. Equate Tear-Free Baby Shampoo helps keep your baby clean, happy, and comfortable with every wash. Making the right health decisions can be challenging. With a complete range of products and simple solutions, Equate allows you to take care of your family with confidence. Equate Tear-Free Baby Shampoo, 21 fl oz Compare to Johnson's Baby Shampoo Tear-free formula gently cleanses hair and scalp Free from sulfates, dyes, parabens, phthalates, and phenoxyethanol Pediatrician tested for safety Rinses easily without leaving residue

No sulfate detergents appear in the ingredient list.

—

Supported

Gentler on colour and coils.

How to read this

We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula, not at the marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.

Reviewers

What people report

Themes that come up again and again in sourced reviews, written by our researchers in their own words. We don’t store or scrape star ratings.

Several reviewers describe effective cleansing and soft-feeling hair.

Most-relevant written-review sample for exact formula; pack sizes may be pooled. Not prevalence.

Some reviewers appreciate the price and size compared with the branded alternative.

Most-relevant written-review sample for exact formula; pack sizes may be pooled. Not prevalence.

Several reviewers enjoy a mild or pleasant fragrance.

Most-relevant written-review sample for exact formula; pack sizes may be pooled. Not prevalence.

More from Equate

How this page was made

  • Everything above comes from our researched product record: identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated prices and review themes our researchers wrote in their own words. No part of this page is written by hand for one product.
  • The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
  • Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
  • The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
  • 4 sources consulted for this product (0 manufacturer or regulatory, 3 retailer, 1 editorial), last checked 2026-10-22.
  • Ingredient references are linked for 2 of 5 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are general formulation guidance. They aren’t a verdict on the finished product or on you.
  • We haven’t tested this product in a lab, and we don’t physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list. Claims about how it behaves are labelled as the brand's.
  • Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are what we saw on the dates shown and can change.
  • Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
  • This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
  • Formula readings: derivation v23. Record last updated 2026-10-22.

Hair Care Consultation

A care plan made for your hair and goals, then follow-up questions and plan updates.

  • Answers to your hair concerns
  • Formula-based product picks
  • Routines for your lifestyle and preferences
  • Updates for weather, needs and goals

$49with 60 days of follow-ups

Start my consultation