The 18 Best Natural Shampoos and Conditioners
Liquid shampoo has been gracing our counters since it was first mass-produced in 1927. And it’s a deeply personal relationship. Coming between a woman and her tried-and-true shampoo is a difficult feat – it can take years to find the right fit for your hair and lifestyle.
Unfortunately, it can also be extremely necessary. Most drugstore shampoos are filled to the brim with toxic chemicals and preservatives. We put these things on our heads, where the scalp is 4 times more absorbent than the rest of the body. And despite our best efforts, they also get into our eyes and ears.
Making the switch to a natural shampoo ensures that you’ll steer clear of the harmful chemicals found in conventional products while enjoying the beauty-enriching benefits of nature’s elements. If you are weary, fear no more! Natural shampoos and conditioners have come a long way in recent years and there are a wide variety of offerings for every hair type and style.
With so many brands popping up on the scene, and sometimes murky labeling around “natural” and “safe” products, you might need some guidance. We’ve got you covered with our list of the best natural shampoos and conditioners – and what ingredients to avoid. Upgrading your shower has never been easier!
What Ingredients Should I Avoid in Shampoo and Conditioners?
The ingredient list on shampoo and conditioner bottles is full of hard-to-pronounce, complicated words resembling a science project. It can be hard to know what each one means and which ones to steer clear of. Here are the biggest culprits.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) – This is the ingredient that started it all. Sodium Laureth Sulfate, or SLS, is a surfactant, meaning it helps to create the suds in shampoo, giving you a luxurious lather. Unfortunately, it also contains carcinogens that have been known to cause cancer. It can also be a skin irritant, bothering anyone suffering from eczema, rosacea or just sensitive skin.
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS) – This is the other sulfate frequently used in shampoo as a surfactant, that also contains a carcinogen and irritates those with skin conditions. When mixed with other ingredients, it can also create something called “nitrosamines” which have been known to cause cancer.
Parabens – Although not as commonly found as they used to be, these ingredients (frequently identified by methyl-, propyl-, ethyl-, butyl-) are still occasionally used as a preservative. Parabens can be a hormone (endocrine) disrupter, and have been linked to breast cancer, male infertility and early puberty.
Polysorbate 20 – Although safe for use on its own, when Polysorbate 20 is used in cosmetics and beauty products, it is treated with an additional chemical that makes it toxic. It has been linked to issues with reproduction and early childhood development.
Methylchloroisothiazolinone – Don’t even try to pronounce this. It’s used as a preservative but is under review as a possible neurotoxin, and can be harmful to the lungs and exacerbate allergies.
Fragrance/Coloring Agents – Typically used as a catch-all for a variety of chemicals manufacturers don’t want to disclose, try to stay away from these if possible. Most chemicals used for fragrance or color have been linked to infertility, hair loss, asthma, cancer and more.
Formaldehyde – I hope this one is self-explanatory! Although formaldehyde is a well-known carcinogen, it’s still routinely found in hair care products. Not only can it seep into your scalp, but it also can leak into the air through the packaging making it extra dangerous to keep around your shower.
There are many more dangerous chemicals not listed here that are found in shampoo, conditioners, masks and other hair care products. They are known by many different names used intentionally to confuse customers. In general, it’s safe to say that the current hair care products most accessible to us are not the safest. It isn’t healthy to expose our bodies to these toxic chemicals constantly and yet that’s what we often do.
The 18 Best Natural Shampoos and Conditioners
Now that you’ve heard about all the scary chemicals, you’re probably ready to switch it up. Or if you’ve already been using natural hair products for a while, you might want to expand your knowledge of the industry and its new offerings. Look no further – here’s our list of the best shampoos and conditioners for everything from sensitive scalps to color-treated hair.
Ursa Major Go Easy Shampoo & Conditioner
Image Credit: Ursa Major
Best Daily Shampoo & Conditioner
This haircare set keeps your scalp clean and your hair feeling bouncy without tons of added fluff and chemicals. With coconut-based surfactants, it also gives you a luxurious lather. The scent is great for both men and women.
Odacité 552M Bar
Image Credit: Odacité California
Best Overall Shampoo Bar
If you are looking to cut down plastic waste with a shampoo bar that doesn’t skimp on quality, look no further. This well-loved bar leaves hair clean and nourished with a beautiful scent. Users say it lasts a long time and the argan & coconut scent is great.
WOW Skin Science Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo & Coconut Oil Conditioner
Image Credit: WOW Skin Science
Best for Shine
This is a bit of a cult classic among early clean beauty adopters. Apple cider vinegar leaves your hair squeaky clean and luxuriously shiny while ultra-rich coconut oil nourishes your strands and fights off dryness. These ingredients together form a hair-enriching powerhouse that is reasonably priced as well.
Acure Curiously Clarifying Shampoo
Image Credit: Acure
Best Budget Shampoo
Acure is a natural brand we all know and love for its amazing products at accessible price points. Their shampoos are no different, made 100% vegan with natural ingredients like lemongrass and argan oil. This clarifying one is gentle enough for daily cleansing and they have great hydrating shampoos as well.
Goop G-Tox Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo
Image Credit: Goop Beauty
Best for Oily Hair
If you have oily hair, definitely try out this shampoo-scalp scrub hybrid. Its whipped formula might seem strange at first, but it gently exfoliates your scalp with pink Himalayan salt, removing oil, dirt and buildup. It then works into a lather to clarify your strands with rosehip and moringa oil. It’s great for that extra clean feeling you need sometimes.
100% Pure Kelp & Mint Volumizing Shampoo
Image Credit: Pure Formulas
Best for Fine Hair
Natural products have a bad rap among those with fine hair because residue can be a serious problem. Not with this shampoo! Users report zero residues left behind and the kelp and mint work to lift up your roots for a volumized and clean look. The minty scent is refreshing as well.
Meow Meow Tweet Rose Geranium Shampoo & Conditioner Powder
Image Credit: Meow Meow Tweet
Best Shampoo & Conditioner Powder
If you love the idea of a low-waste and low-maintenance haircare routine but haven’t vibed with shampoo bars, check out this highly-rated shampoo powder and its matching conditioner. It’s activated by water, creating a texture similar to a lotion-based shampoo. These 100% plant-based products have a lovely floral scent.
Reverie Suna Exfoliating Shampoo
Image Credit: Reverie
Best Strengthening Shampoo
This product recently won big at the 2022 Allure Beauty Awards and it’s easy to see why. Their gentle cleanser exfoliates the scalp to eliminate build-up, dry flakes and excess oil, all while providing essential nutrients and moisture to keep hair looking cleaner longer. The result is clean and strong hair.
Alaffia Curl Enhance Shampoo & Conditioner
Image Credit: Alaffia
Best for Curly Hair
Alaffia has all the good stuff you need to enhance your curls. It’s made from fair-trade, organic certified shea butter from West Africa, with yarrow and chamomile, giving you unrivaled moisture for glorious curls. These silicone-free products add hold for frizz-free definition without weighing down your curls.
Rahua Organics Hydration Shampoo
Image Credit: Rahua Organics
Best Hydrating Shampoo
This award-winning shampoo was created to bring the driest, most brittle hair back to life. Using rare Amazonian oils and other plant-powered ingredients, your strands will be feeling hydrated and healthy after using Rahua. Users with dry hair love the rich and creamy formula.
Avalon Organics Biotin B-Complex Shampoo & Conditioner
Image Credit: Avalon Organics
Best Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner
Looking to build body for fine or thinning hair? This amazing shampoo and conditioner set uses a balanced blend of saw palmetto, quinoa, biotin and vitamin E to cleanse, restore and strengthen hair. As a plus, it’s vegan and 100% biodegradable.
Davine’s MINU Shampoo
Image Credit: Davines
Best for Color-Treated Hair
If you color your hair frequently, you need a product that will keep long-lasting color while gently cleansing. This shampoo by Davine’s does the job with natural ingredients that leave your hair shiny and protected. Even people without color treatment love this product with all-natural ingredients.
Nurture My Body Everyday Shampoo & Conditioner
Image Credit: Nurture My Body
Best for Sensitive Scalps
If you have a sensitive scalp, it can be difficult to find ANY shampoo that works, let alone a natural one. Nurture My Body has created a wonderful line of products that are fragrance-free, nut-free, and gluten-free but still manage to lather and cleanse very well. They also help to create volume and increase shine, for luxurious locks.
Native Shampoo & Conditioner
Image Credit: Native
Best Drugstore Shampoo & Conditioner
If you need natural products in a pinch and can’t wait on good ole Amazon shipping, Native is your best bet. They are well-loved for their deodorant offerings and now have amazing shampoos and conditioners as well. Whether you need volumizing, strengthening, scalp refreshing or simply a daily cleanse, they’ve got it all. They only have ten natural ingredients clearly defined and listed and amazing scents to boot.
Babo Botanicals Citrus Mint Sport & Swim Shampoo & Wash
Image Credit: Babo Botanicals
Best Sport & Swim Shampoo
Babo Botanicals is beloved by families everywhere for creating natural products for babies and kids. Truthfully, their products are great for everyone. If you go for swims or hit the gym frequently, you know how damaging it can be to wash your hair constantly because of sweat buildup. Finding a natural product that can handle bacteria is a feat. This shampoo replenishes, hydrates and purifies the scalp. It’s plant-based and hypoallergenic.
Nylah Naturals Strength & Shine Curly Hair Shampoo
Image Credit: Nylah
Best for Natural Hair
This rich and velvety shampoo is perfect for those with natural hairstyles and specifically afros – it was voted ‘Best Shampoo for Afros and Curly Hair’ in 2021. It has powerful moisture-binding ingredients for deeper hydration and repair. It also protects your hair cuticle against environmental stressors while being natural, vegan and halal-friendly.
Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling Shampoo
Image Credit: Mielle
Best for Type 4 Hair
If you have kinky, coiled or tightly packed curls, this best-selling natural shampoo is what you need. Using fresh ingredients like babassu oil, this shampoo pre-detangles thick, curly hair and helps it retain moisture. You’ll get a gentle cleanse that provides a silky slip.
Innersense Bright Balance Hairbath & Purple Conditioner
Image Credit: Innersense Beauty
Best Shampoo & Conditioner For Blondes & Greys
Innersense has been one of the most hyped natural haircare brands for a while, routinely making lists like these and it’s easy to see why – their products are amazing! The purple-hued “hair bath” and conditioner neutralize brass and yellow tones while brightening color. It tones while cleansing and hydrating hair brilliantly.
Final Thoughts on Natural Shampoo and Conditioners
Shampoo and conditioner – our shower BFFs – are not only hard-working haircare tools but our closest confidants. We get attached, okay? So it only makes it harder to realize that some of our friends are really frenemies poisoning our scalp and skin.
If you think that sounds dramatic, and yes it does, that’s because everything from carcinogenic surfactants to literal formaldehyde can be hiding in our favorite products. With such serious risks from cancer to infertility on the table, we’ve got to be more careful with what we put on our very absorbent scalps.
Luckily, we are truly spoiled for choice in this day and age with so many great options for natural haircare products. There are products available for volumizing, hydrating, strengthening, exfoliating and more. There are products to suit every hair type and style from curly thick hair to thin straight hair.
Many natural hair care products not only do a great job taking care of our hair, but they also come with added sustainability benefits. There are great low-waste, vegan and biodegradable options so you can save your scalp and the planet.
You might have been weary of natural hair products before, but you won’t regret trying out one of these amazing haircare options. You won’t be missing any sulfates with the luxurious care these products deliver.
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