The Best Non-Toxic, Organic, & Natural Shampoos
This hair washing mantra has obsessed us with the idea that a rich, foamy lather will mean smooth, silky, and healthy hair.
But that rich, foamy lather does not necessarily mean a shampoo is better or more effective at cleaning your hair and it doesn’t necessarily equate to healthy hair either.
This guide explores what to look for when choosing safe shampoos, the sustainability of hair care, and a few of the best brands to explore when shopping for natural products.
This post does contain some affiliate links which means The Honest Consumer may receive a commission if you decide to purchase, however, at no additional cost to you!
Is Shampoo Toxic to Humans?
Like so many personal care products, shampoos and conditioners are loaded with toxic ingredients that may be harmful to you and the planet, and while the FDA classifies personal care products, it does not regulate them.
Since your skin is the first barrier between you and the environment, it’s important to remain mindful of what you put onto it and thus absorb through it.
Shampoos contain a plethora of toxic ingredients with the kind of long, complicated names you may have become used to seeing on cosmetic labels and other personal care products.
Some may be toxic due to their mere presence, while others may pose a risk due to continued or regular use.
These toxic ingredients can lead to a number of harmful effects such as dry and damaged hair, hair loss, skin and eye irritation, itchy scalp, allergies, and respiratory problems. Some ingredients are even known or probable carcinogens.
Can harsh chemicals in my shampoo damage hair strength & shine?
In traditional shampoos, a popular ingredient you’re likely to find are sodium lauryl sulfate along with sodium laureth sulfate. These are surfactants that cause your shampoo to lather, often as a result of a chemical reaction.
At this point in time the FDA reports that SLS are not toxic to humans when used briefly and rinsed off, but may cause irritation.
And products that stay on the skin longer shouldn’t exceed 1 percent concentration of SLS. Given the limitations of this ingredient...it's probably not the most ideal product to be putting on our heads multiple times a week.
It's also reported that sodium lauryl sulfate was developed for laundry...so not the most gentle product to be using on your beautiful hair.
Hairstory reports that today, many shampoos are still made with sodium lauryl sulfate and its close cousin sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) – and such detergents can cause hair problems since detergents are amphiphilic.
This means they form super strong chemical bonds with both oil and water. When we wash our hair using detergents, they not only grab onto grease and dirt, but also our scalp’s natural protective barrier.
Made from sebum, this barrier keeps our scalp hydrated and protected from allergens, the sun, and dryness.
Detergents then grab onto water, which pulls dirt and both good and bad oils out of our hair and down the drain as we rinse.
This is why it's important beware of the key ingredients and choose hair products that promote healthy hair and are gentle on your scalp.
Other potentially harmful ingredients to look out for in shampoo:
These are a few other ingredients you might want to check your favorite shampoo for. As tricky as it can be to say goodbye to your favorite brand of haircare products, it's important to choose a shampoo made with ingredients to promote healthy hair.
Cocamidopropyl betaine. Another common ingredient in shampoos, it can cause skin irritation, as well as allergies with continued use.
Polyethylene glycol. A thickening agent that’s potentially carcinogenic.
Ethanolamines such as diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA). These are emulsifiers or foaming agents. When combined with other chemicals they can form nitrosodiethanolamine (NDEA) which is a carcinogen.
Silicones like dimethicone or simethicone. They may make your hair look smooth and shiny but can also cause dryness or damage.
Sodium chloride. A thickener that can become an irritant.
Preservatives that make products last longer like parabens, quaternium-15, bronopol, and triclosan. Some preservatives (like quaternium-15) release formaldehyde, which can be carcinogenic.
Synthetic fragrances. Multiple ingredients are used for fragrances and can include toxic chemicals like phthalates and polysorbate 20.
Is Shampoo Harmful to the Environment?
It’s not just your hair and health that can suffer. The planet does too. Toxic ingredients wash down the drain, getting into waterways where they can harm aquatic life as well as land animals that may drink contaminated water. And that’s just while you’re using the shampoo.
Once you’ve finished a bottle the environmental impact persists. Single-use shampoo and conditioner bottles are chucked into the trash, clogging up landfills. These bottles are rarely recyclable or reusable and take thousands of years to decompose, leaching chemicals into the ground in the process. They may also land up in our waterways, further impacting aquatic life.
6 Sustainable Brands with the Best Non-toxic Shampoos
These brands offer some of the best natural shampoo featuring a clean ingredient list free of harmful chemicals. These hair care brands are leading the beauty industry with their sustainable practices, priority of hair health, and ethically sourced ingredients.
by Humankind's Sustainable Shampoos
Offering a range of personal care products, including Sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, by Humankind’s aim is to reduce single-use plastic and offer sustainable, natural, and eco-friendly options.
Their website provides a list of ingredients for each of their products, even breaking down what each ingredient is. by Humankind’s products are available in refillable containers and reusable pumps.
Once a product is finished you can order refills that come in biodegradable paper packaging. by Humankind is also carbon-neutral and has partnered with Plastic Bank, enabling you to offset your plastic footprint. by Humankind's hair care products range from $15-$26.
Public Goods: Affordable Natural Shampoo
Public Goods offers a wide range of home, health, and beauty products, from shampoos and conditioners to organic towels and tree-free paper. Public Goods products are free of parabens, phthalates, and sulfates and they offer refills for several of their products including shampoos and conditioners.
Their gentle shampoo is powered by a blend of essential oils that nourishes and cleanses hair. What you won't find in their signature formula are harsh detergents and chemicals that can potentially strip away, dry out, and erode the health of your hair.
Specifically their shampoo is free from Parabens, synthetic fragrance, sodium lauryl sulfates, phthalates, and anything derived from formaldehyde. Public Goods shampoo is designed to help hair feel stronger and radiant with a natural, fresh scent of bright grapefruit, juicy mandarin, and Mediterranean herbs.
Public Goods hair care products feature shampoo, shampoo bars, conditioner, dog shampoo, and more ranging from $4.50-$6. This is a great option for anybody interested in trying natural shampoos and on a budget.
PACKAGE FREE SHOP: zero-waste living kits
Package Free was created with the intention to bring change and make zero waste living more accessible. Customers can shop for home care, body care, and on the go products either in their New York store or online.
Package Free has very many options when it comes to shampoo bars. Their basic round shampoo bars priced at $14 has different scents to choose from such as balancer, cleanser, detoxifier, fixer, hydrator, and stimulator.
Their products range in price from $6-$108 featuring a huge range of goods including pet products, laundry detergent, reusable produce bags, bamboo toothbrushes, baby products, wellness products, cleaning products, and so much more that you're just going to have to check it out for yourself.
If you choose to order online you can expect your order to arrive in eco-friendly packaging. Package Free ships everything 100% plastic free in an upcycled or 100% post-consumer box with paper wrapping and paper tape. All of their shipping materials are 100% recyclable and compostable.
EcoRoots Package Free Shampoo Bars
EcoRoots zero waste shampoo bars are handmade of coconut oil and cocoa butter-based, this vegan shampoo bar will leave your hair soft, clean, and nourished without stripping away your natural oils or hair color. This plastic-free shampoo bar will last around 50+ washes.
EcoRoots shampoo bars feature a range of unique scents include forest mist, moroccan oil, citrus fresh, honeydew, and more. They also have matching conditioner bars! These shampoo and conditioner bars are $11.95.
Corvus Botanicals Zero Waste Shampoo Bars
Owner and founder Stacia Thompson-Wrench has a background in Environmental Biology and started Corvus Botanicals as a solution to seeking skincare and beauty products that take care of you and the planet.
Corvus Botanical’s products, which include shampoo and conditioner bars, are low waste with minimal, plastic-free packaging. Ingredients are sustainably sourced, taking into account a plant’s conservation status, productivity, and growth patterns, while working with suppliers that follow ethical farming and harvesting practices.
Corvus Botanicals natural beauty products feature a lot of organic ingredients including organic coconut oil, organic shea butter, & more.
Corvus Bontaicals Emerald Shampoo & Conditioner Bars are part of my regular hair care routine . As someone with super fine hair I that easily turns into greasy hair, it took me a while to find a good natural shampoo that was zero waste & worked with my hair. Corvus Botanicals shampoo bars and natural beauty products have been a good choice for me! Corvus Botanicals hair care bundles including shampoo and conditioner range from $16-$75 depending on the size chosen.
HiBar's Sulfate Free Shampoo Bars
Specializing in shampoo bars and conditioners, HiBar uses almost entirely plant-based ingredients and contains no sulfates, phthalates, parabens, or silicones.
Their products are not tested on animals, are gluten-free, and come in plastic-free packaging. HiBar's hair care products range from $10-$27.
Meow Meow Tweet's Eco-friendly Hair Care
An all-natural vegan apothecary, Meow Meow Tweet is all about providing ethical, eco-friendly, and sustainable personal care products, including shampoo and conditioner powders and bars.
Meow Meow Tweet’s products are palm-free and Fair Trade, using ingredients that are certified organic, non-GMO, and sourced from strong or renewable plant populations.
They use only raw and unrefined plant oils and butters, along with steam-distilled and cold-pressed essential oils and house-made extractions. Their hair care products feature shampoo and conditioner in powder and bar form. Their hair products range from $12-$24.
Plaine's Refillable Shampoo
Founded by two sisters, Plaine Products aims to reduce plastic through a personal care line that utilizes aluminum bottles that can be reused and refilled. The products, including shampoos and conditioners, are vegan and non-GMO, as well as being free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicones, and palm oil. Breakdowns
Breakdowns are provided on their website, listing the natural ingredients as well as the blend of whole essential oils that are used instead of synthetic fragrances. Plaine's hair products range from $15-$30.
Tips for Non-Toxic Shampoo Shopping
Read labels.
Consider different hair types such as dry hair., oily hair, curly hair, straight hair, etc. There is not a one size fits all, so it might take a few tries to find a non-toxic shampoo that works well with your type of hair. Don't be afraid to try a few out.
Beware greenwashing terms like “all-natural”, “clean”, and “green”.
Look for MADE SAFE labels, a certification that has products thoroughly screened by scientists to assess the risks to humans and the environment.
Choose shampoos that come in recycled, recyclable, or compostable containers and packaging or don’t use bottles at all (like shampoo bars).
Look for products that are either palm-free or responsibly and sustainably source their palm oil.
Use dry shampoo sparingly and opt for natural and talc-free varieties.
Support sustainable and natural brands.
Hopefully this guide has given you a few things to consider next time you shop for shampoo.
For more tips & tricks on sustainable living be sure to follow The Honest Consumer on social media, subscribe to our newsletter, & check out the Ethical & Sustainable Brand Directory.