Non-Toxic Shampoo – What are the Best Natural and Organic Choices?

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We all care about our hair. It’s one of the first things that people notice about us. It can be a source of pride or something that makes you feel self-conscious. The hair products you use have the potential to make or break your hair – literally. Shampoo is one product we use several times a week, alongside a hair conditioner. Your hair care routine revolves around the shampoos you use, which is why you want to make sure you understand the formulas and that they’re free of toxins. We’re going to run through why you want to choose a non-toxic shampoo, what chemicals might be lurking in your hair products, and which shampoos you should be on the lookout for.

What Shampoos are Harmful?

Your body absorbs all the ingredients in every beauty product you use, including your shampoo. The same is true for your daily soap and body wash. Reading product labels to check an ingredient list might feel like you’re reading a foreign language. A lot of the shampoos you’ll see in your local supermarket are full of preservatives and parabens that aren’t kind to your hair or the environment. If you want to look after your hair, you need to be making a conscious choice about the products you choose to use – most of all your shampoo.

Your shampoo works with the water in your shower to remove dirt and odours from your hair. It can also remove excess oil that gives your hair a greasy appearance. Shampoos moisturise your hair and help leave them soft and smooth, making them easier to style. Your hair care routine should spread out your shampooing as you don’t want to be using a shampoo every day – this will strip your hair of its natural oils.

You want to avoid using the classic 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash products, as they’re usually not the best for your scalp. Instead, choose a classic shampoo or shake it up with a shampoo bar.

Is Shampoo Toxic?

To look after your hair, you want to be choosing non toxic shampoos that have an eco friendly formula and clean ingredients. You want to learn how to check the ingredient content of a shampoo bottle – and avoid things like sulfates, phthalates, and formaldehyde. The safest shampoos and conditioners are ones that have a product label full of organic or natural ingredients.

With safety in mind, you want to avoid any ingredients that may transform to carcinogens (chemicals that may cause cancer), the ones that are endocrine disruptors (chemicals that interfere with the body’s hormones) and those that represent toxicity to different systems of the human body (developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, etc.)

These are primarily:

• Parabens: propylparaben, methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben etc. endocrine disruptors and developmental and reproductive toxins.[1]
• Cocamide Dethanolamine (Cocamide DEA): it’s a coconut oil based foaming agent that may cause cancer. [2]
• Formaldehyde: some ingredients may release formaldehyde which is a known carcinogen, these are for example: DMDM Hydantoin, Diazodinydil Urea, Imidazodinyl Urea, Quaternium-15 [3]
• Retinyl Palmitate: a carcinogen that may cause skin tumors. [4]
• Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone: known skin toxicants, can cause itching, burning, blistering, etc. The latter is very common in shampoos. [5]
• Lilial (Butylphenyl Methylpropional) and Lyral: immunotoxicants and allergenes causing cell death, lilial is quite common in shampoos. [6]
• Sulfates: Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, although these are less risky (not identified as carcinogens) they are known irritants and very common in shampoos. [7]

These are the most common dangerous ingredients, however this is by far not a complete list. Now let’s look into what ingredients there are in safe shampoos.

What Are The Healthy Shampoo ingredients?

You want to consider your hair type when you’re shopping around for natural shampoos. If you have curly hair, you’ll want a different shampoo from someone who has color treated hair. You want to identify what your hair needs. If you have sensitive skin, you might find that there are some natural ingredients you want to avoid. Understanding your hair is the first step to establish a proper hair care routine.

For dry hair: you can consider different oils, like almond, coconut or castor oil and several herbs like aloe vera, chamomile, lavender or calendula. Essential oils can also be a beneficial ingredient, e.g. geranium, lavender, rosemary or ylang ylang.

For oily, greasy hair: canola, bay leaf, lemongrass and thyme are useful and also essential oils like bergamot, eucalyptus, orange or peppermint.

Tea tree oil is something you want to look for in a shampoo and conditioner as it can help tackle dandruff. You’ll want to be careful though as the ingredient has been known to cause inflammation and irritation if not diluted properly.

If you suffer from itchy hair or dandruff, you should be on the lookout for a conditioner that includes shea butter. It’s something you’ve probably spotted in your other beauty products and it’s renowned for its nourishing properties and helps to boost your hair’s hydration to keep it healthy. You can also find certified organic shea butter, which is a win-win.

There are some you want to look at with a little caution, including apple cider vinegar which can leave a brassy texture to your hair. As it’s an acidic solution, it can even make your hair brittle if you overuse it.

Once you pay attention to treat your hair with natural shampoo and conditioner, you may want to go non-toxic on other haircare products, too. Check out our guide on safe hair dyes and also our extensive and updated review about natural hair sprays.

What Is The Best All Natural Non-toxic Shampoo?

We all know how overwhelming it can be to start looking for a new product, especially when you’re trying to avoid buying a toxic shampoo and conditioner. We’re rounding up some of the best non toxic shampoos from Amazon that are worth clicking the ‘add to cart’ button for.

#1 CLEVOS Natura Foresta Natural Organic Hair Shampoo

This shampoo is great for dry scalp, and hydrates and moisturizes hair. It also removes dandruff. The product is safe, containing mostly natural ingredients. It holds an EWG, a BDIH and an USDS certification. This organic, non-toxic, mild and hypoallergenic shampoo is free from parabens, alcohol and sulfates. It contains eucalyptus extract, calendula, licorice, turmeric and rosemary oil. It is a rich foaming shampoo, leaves behind a healthy looking well moisturized hair after each use.

Last update on 2024-12-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

#2 ATTITUDE Shampoo for Sensitive Skin

This is an unscented shampoo made from natural, plant-based ingredients. Oatmeal hydrates your hair deeply and grapeseed oil soothes the sensitive scalp. The shampoo is dermatologically tested, free from irritants such as fragrance, or sulfates. No formaldehyde and parabens. The product is also eco-friendly (ECOLOGO certified). It’s ideal for people who have sensitive skin or sensitivity to odors. The shampoo gives volume to your hair, makes it more elastic and protects it from breakage.

Last update on 2024-12-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

#3 Faith in Nature Grapefruit and Orange Shampoo

This non toxic shampoo is perfect for all hair types. The Faith in Nature brand uses only natural fragrances and are made in the UK. The natural ingredients are kind to you and the environment – just like nature intended. Each Faith in Nature shampoo has a complimenting conditioner, perfect for those who aren’t sure where to start with their hair care routine. Its formula is free of SLS and parabens.

Last update on 2024-12-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

#4 Sukin Natural Balance Shampoo

Sukin offers the quality of a salon brand at an affordable price point. This Australian made shampoo uses natural ingredients and is cruelty-free. It’s also carbon neutral! The ingredients list is free from artificial fragrances, sulfates, parabens, mineral oil, and harsh detergents. The key ingredients within this shampoo are baobab, burdock, horsetail, and nettle. You’ll love the smell of this non toxic shampoo and its natural mandarin, tangerine, vanilla, and lavender aroma.

Last update on 2024-12-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

#5 Maui Moisture Hair Thickening Vegan Shampoo

Maui is a brand you’ve probably seen in your local health food store. This non toxic shampoo is made for weak and brittle hair to thicken and restore your locks. A key ingredient in this shampoo is bamboo fiber which revives and densifies your hair. The ingredients list also includes castor oil and neem oil. The first ingredient in this shampoo is 100% aloe vera, which nourishes your hair to help it recover from oxidative damage. Maui is one of the leading vegan shampoo brands and you can find it in the beauty section of most high-street stores. It’s free of oils, silicones, and surfactants.

Last update on 2024-12-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

#6 NYK1 Salt & Sulphate Free Shampoo and Conditioner

If you have hair extensions, you want a sulfate free shampoo that you can use for them. The NYK1 shampoo and conditioner is SLS free and cleans your hair without stripping its colour. It’ll get rid of dirt and oil, while smoothing your hair for a shiny finish. This is one of the most popular natural shampoos on Amazon and is suitable for all hair types. It’ll keep your colour looking vibrant and stronger for longer. This non toxic shampoo and conditioner is safe to use with Brazilian keratin hair straightening treatments. Contains benzyl benzoate though that is a possible allergen.

Last update on 2024-12-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Verdict: The Best Non-Toxic Shampoo

Comparing the formulas of the various shampoo bottles on this list of organic shampoos, our vote for the best non toxic shampoo has to go to CLEVOS Natura Foresta Natural Organic Hair Shampoo. It’s one of the most environmentally conscious brands with a variety of certifications. Their formulas are free of chemicals and kind to your skin. The product works well, it helps dehydrated and split-end hair to become healthy, moisturized, and smooth.

Hair Products Q&A

Can Organic Shampoo Cause Hair Loss?

Organic shampoos and conditioners contain highly concentrated natural ingredients. Their lack of chemicals means that they’re unlikely to impact your hormonal balance or result in an allergic reaction or hair loss. The chemicals that you find in toxic shampoos strip your hair of its essential oils and breakdown the protein in your hair that enables the follicles to grow.

Where To Buy Organic Shampoo and Conditioner?

There are hundreds of organic shampoo brands for you to choose from. Whether you prefer shampoo bars or a traditional shampoo and conditioner, you’re spoilt for choice. The shampoos and conditioners we’ve featured on this list are from Amazon but you can find options at any store. If you’re looking for baby shampoos, it’s always best to look in chemists and pharmacies for doctor recommended brands.

Are Organic Shampoos Better For Your Hair?

In traditional shampoos there can be many chemicals, some of them are dangerous, others (like e.g. sulfates) are just not great for your hair. Organic shampoos are non-toxic and usually better for your hair, however always read the labels carefully and check reviews before ordering.

Does Organic Shampoo Make Hair Grow?

While there’s no miracle cure to helping your hair grow, organic shampoos can help you along the way. Natural shampoos have plant oils and herb extracts that moisturise your hair to stimulate the hair follicles and encourage new hair growth. If you’re focusing on growing your hair, you’ll want to invest in an organic conditioner to use alongside your shampoo. We’ve featured several 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner packs in this article.

How To Use Natural Shampoo?

Everyone has their own hair care routine. It’s a little like how we all have our favourite soap and different body wash. You can use your natural shampoo the same way you would any shampoo. It makes sense to avoid using it on a daily basis as it can lead to excess oil production. You should be using your shampoo alongside conditioners for the best results. Natural shampoo brands will always have an eco friendly conditioner in their collection. You can also try using collagen that helps nourish your hair.

Are dry shampoos toxic?

Most of the dry shampoos contain risky chemicals even more than regular shampoos as they have to reach a similar cleaning effect without the use of water, so the ingredients are usually a bit more invasive, however you can find great organic dry shampoo choices in this guide.