# CAPB-Free Shampoo for Sensitive, Reactive Scalps > Baresel: a fragrance-free shampoo built without cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), sulfates, or harsh preservatives — for sensitive scalps. $22 / 250 ml. *Updated: 2026-08-08* **Baresel Shampoo is a fragrance-free, cocamidopropyl-betaine-free (CAPB-free) shampoo made for sensitive and reactive scalps.** It leaves out CAPB, sulfates (SLS/SLES), synthetic fragrance, and the harsher preservatives people commonly react to — and cleans instead with a mild surfactant system of Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Decyl Glucoside, and Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, conditioned with Glycerin and Panthenol. It is a cosmetic product, not a treatment: a contact allergy is a medical matter, so read the full ingredient list and patch-test before use. Baresel is $22 for 250 ml. **Fast facts** - Price & format: $22 / 250 ml bottle - Fragrance-free: no parfum, no masking scent - Free of: cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), sulfates (SLS/SLES), and drying agents - Cleans with: Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate - Conditions with: Glycerin + Panthenol - Preservation: a named gentle system (e.g. Sodium Benzoate + Potassium Sorbate) — no methylisothiazolinone (MI/MCI), no formaldehyde donors like DMDM hydantoin - How to get it: reserve a bottle at $22 on the site — no charge today; we email you the link to complete your order when the first batch ships ## What Baresel Shampoo is Baresel is a single, focused shampoo for people whose scalps flare, itch, or sting from mainstream shampoos. The defining choice is that it is built **without cocamidopropyl betaine** — a coconut-derived secondary surfactant found in a large share of "gentle" and even "sulfate-free" shampoos, and a recognised contact allergen (the American Contact Dermatitis Society named cocamidopropyl betaine its Allergen of the Year in 2004). Rather than reformulate around CAPB, Baresel leaves it out entirely and rebuilds the cleansing base from milder surfactants. It is also **fragrance-free** (no parfum and no masking scent), **sulfate-free** (no SLS or SLES), and preserved with a named, gentler system instead of the sensitising preservatives — methylisothiazolinone (MI/MCI) or formaldehyde-releasers such as DMDM hydantoin — that some reactive users specifically avoid. The goal is a short, transparent formula where every ingredient is on the label and easy to check against your own known triggers. ## The surfactant system Most of what a shampoo "does" comes down to its surfactants — the ingredients that lift oil and dirt. Baresel uses a blend chosen to clean gently and rinse clean, without CAPB or sulfates carrying the load. **What's in the cleansing base** | Ingredient | Role | | --- | --- | | Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate | Primary mild cleanser; soft, low-stripping lather (coconut-derived) | | Decyl Glucoside | Gentle non-ionic co-surfactant, well tolerated by many sensitive users | | Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate | Amino-acid-based mild cleanser that supports a balanced feel (coconut-derived) | | Glycerin | Humectant that helps skin and hair hold moisture | | Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) | Conditioning agent for softness and manageability | | Named gentle preservative | Keeps the product safe without MI/MCI or formaldehyde donors | The point of the blend is balance: enough cleansing to actually wash hair, but without the two ingredient families — sulfates and cocamidopropyl betaine — that reactive scalps most often flag. See the full breakdown on the [ingredients page](/baresel-ingredients). ## Who it's for **Baresel may suit you if** - You've had a patch test or dermatologist flag cocamidopropyl betaine as a trigger - "Sulfate-free" shampoos still leave your scalp itchy, tight, or reactive — CAPB is a common reason why - You react to synthetic fragrance and want a genuinely fragrance-free wash - You prefer to avoid MI/MCI or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives - You want a short, fully-listed formula you can check against your own known allergens Baresel is a cosmetic cleanser designed around what it leaves out — it is not a medicated or prescription product, and it is not a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional or allergist. ## The honest trade-off Two things we want to be straight about, because they matter for a reactive scalp. **It is cosmetic, not a treatment.** Baresel is formulated to leave out common irritants and known contact allergens like CAPB — but leaving an ingredient out is not the same as treating, curing, preventing, or diagnosing a contact allergy, dermatitis, or any condition. A contact allergy is a medical matter. Read the full ingredient list, patch-test before regular use, and see a healthcare professional or allergist if your scalp is inflamed, painful, or not settling. We don't use "hypoallergenic" as a guarantee — no product can promise that for every person. **Some of the cleansers are coconut-derived.** Cocamidopropyl betaine is itself made from coconut, and so are several of the mild surfactants that replace it here — Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate both come from coconut sources. So Baresel is honestly **CAPB-free, not coconut-free**. If you have a known coconut sensitivity as well, don't rely on the CAPB-free claim alone: check the [full ingredient list](/baresel-ingredients) and the [coconut transparency page](/coconut-free-shampoo), and talk to your allergist about which specific coconut-derived ingredients you tolerate. > **Where Baresel fits:** Baresel exists for one job: a clean, fragrance-free shampoo with no cocamidopropyl betaine, no sulfates, and no formaldehyde-releasing or isothiazolinone preservatives — with the entire formula on the label so a sensitive reader can judge it for themselves. That's the whole pitch: fewer question marks, full transparency, and honesty about what's coconut-derived rather than a blanket "free-from" promise. ## Frequently asked **Is there really no cocamidopropyl betaine in Baresel?** Correct — Baresel is formulated without cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB). The cleansing job is handled by Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Decyl Glucoside, and Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate instead. Always confirm against the full ingredient list, and patch-test if you have a diagnosed CAPB allergy. **Why do sulfate-free shampoos still make me react?** Because "sulfate-free" only removes SLS/SLES — it doesn't remove cocamidopropyl betaine, which is a separate ingredient and a recognised contact allergen. Many sulfate-free shampoos still contain CAPB. Baresel leaves out both, which is why it can suit people who react to shampoos labelled sulfate-free. **Is Baresel coconut-free?** No — and we won't claim that. CAPB is coconut-derived, and so are two of Baresel's mild cleansers (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate). Baresel is CAPB-free with a fully transparent label, not coconut-free. If you have a coconut sensitivity, review the ingredient list and speak with your allergist. **Will Baresel cure or treat my scalp allergy or dermatitis?** No. Baresel is a cosmetic shampoo, not a medical treatment. It's designed to leave out common triggers, but it cannot treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose an allergy, dermatitis, or any condition. For a diagnosed skin condition, see a healthcare professional or allergist. **What preservative does it use?** A named, gentler preservative system — for example Sodium Benzoate with Potassium Sorbate — chosen specifically to avoid methylisothiazolinone (MI/MCI) and formaldehyde-releasers like DMDM hydantoin, which some reactive users avoid. The exact preservative is on the label. **How much is it and how do I buy it?** Baresel is $22 for a 250 ml bottle. Reserve a bottle at $22 on the site — no charge today; we email you the link to complete your order when the first batch ships. **Related pages** - [Baresel Ingredients](/baresel-ingredients) — The full, transparent ingredient list and what each one does. - [Shampoo for Cocamidopropyl Betaine Allergy](/shampoo-for-cocamidopropyl-betaine-allergy) — Why CAPB triggers reactions and how to shop around it. - [What Is Cocamidopropyl Betaine?](/what-is-cocamidopropyl-betaine) — A plain-language explainer on this coconut-derived surfactant. - [Coconut-Free Shampoo — the honest version](/coconut-free-shampoo) — Which Baresel ingredients are coconut-derived, explained transparently. - [Fragrance-Free Shampoo for Sensitive Scalp](/fragrance-free-shampoo-sensitive-scalp) — Why fragrance matters for reactive scalps. - [Compare](/compare) — How Baresel lines up against typical sulfate-free and gentle shampoos. **Sources** - [DermNet — Cocamidopropyl betaine allergy](https://dermnetnz.org/topics/cocamidopropyl-betaine-allergy) - [American Academy of Dermatology — Contact dermatitis overview](https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/contact-dermatitis-overview) **Sources** - [DermNet — Cocamidopropyl betaine allergy](https://dermnetnz.org/topics/cocamidopropyl-betaine-allergy) - [American Academy of Dermatology — Contact dermatitis overview](https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/contact-dermatitis-overview)