Originally published on Mamavation: March 6, 2023
Finding a shampoo free of chemicals can be difficult, but it is possible. Everything we use on our bodies has a potential impact on our health, including our shampoo and conditioner.
Have you ever considered that there may be dangerous shampoo chemicals inside your hair care products in the shower? You’ve trusted Mamavation to look into topics like best and worst cookware and best and worst air purifiers, join us as we explore shampoos and conditioners and the ingredients they contain.
Disclosure: This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. Content contains affiliate links.
Best Shampoo Brands — The 411 About This Line of Products
We’re here to bring you the facts about your favorite shampoos and conditioners. Though they’re made out of really common ingredients, commonly doesn’t always mean safe (neither does “natural” products for that matter).
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Most are made with strong chemical formulas that can be harsh to your skin and to the environment. |
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Haircare products like shampoo and conditioner are highly engineered. |
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They’ve been designed to lather up and leave your hair “squeaky clean,” but that’s not even that good for you! |
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Dangerous shampoo chemicals will leave your hair stripped of natural oils causing dry hair, which is why we need conditioner to re-moisturize it without leaving it oily. |
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Build up of these chemicals can also clog and reduce the size of hair follicles, leading to hair loss and damage, especially to sensitive skin. |
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Achieving the desired cleaning effects, being shelf-stable, and not using any harmful ingredients is a big ask for brands looking to make safer options, but it is possible. Even many “natural shampoos” and organic shampoos are not 100% pure. |
In this post, we’ll review harmful chemicals to avoid in your beauty products and the worst and best shampoo and conditioner brands for healthy, natural hair.
Dangerous Chemicals in Shampoo
Look out for these ingredients in your shampoo.
• Fragrance — This is definitely something to look out for. The term “fragrance” can act as a backdoor for all kinds of chemicals to sneak into your products. It’s often applied as an over-arching term for up to 100 ingredients, many of which are toxic to human health.
To name a couple of these toxic offenders, phthalates are linked to reproductive and developmental damage, and synthetic fragrances are known to build up in our bodies and linked to hormone disruption.
• Surfactants — This is what makes your shampoo lather up with suds. We usually associate soap suds with cleaner hair, but that’s not necessarily the case. Sudsing doesn’t really occur much in nature, so it’s often the result of a chemical reaction or agent.
While these chemicals aren’t toxic to humans, they can cause serious irritation and can be really harmful to aquatic life. Given the quantity of shampoo going down the drain every time we wash our hair, we’d prefer to avoid irritation and create a safer environment by choosing better products.
• Preservatives — Ever noticed the expiration date on your shampoo? Nope, neither have we. That’s because shampoos are full of preservatives to keep them shelf-stable. They’ll last for a really long time without separating out or going “off.” These preservatives prevent the growth of yeast, mold, bacteria, etc., but because they’re literally designed to kill things, preservatives are tricky and can have a range of toxicity problems for both humans and the environment.
Dangerous Chemicals in Conditioners
Like shampoo, conditioner suffers from many of the same problems when it comes to surfactants, preservatives, and fragrance, but it has one more problematic ingredient category, emulsifiers.
• Emulsifiers — Emulsifiers combine oil and water to stop them from separating in your conditioner. They also soften your hair giving you that soft, flowy feeling. But though these emulsifiers, such as siloxanes, are effective, they don’t break down in the environment. This is definitely bad news for aquatic life!
Ingredients to Avoid
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Ethanolamines |
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Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives:
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Sodium laureth sulfate |
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Sodium lauryl sulfate |
Fragrance |
Mamavation’s Investigation of Shampoo and Conditioner Brands
Mamavation evaluated and ranked the most popular shampoo and conditioner brands. We looked at all sorts of different categories of shampoo and conditioners like those for dry scalp, clarifying shampoo, shampoo for fine hair, shampoo for frizzy hair, thickening shampoo, salon shampoo, conditioner for hair damage, shampoo for color-treated hair, and shampoo to control frizz.
We plan on updating this investigation annually now so if we have missed a brand, please let us know in the comment section. This year we evaluated over 200+ brands, adding over 100 new brands to the list. Here are some additional investigations you may find yourself looking for soon:
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Peel-off facial masks, sheet facial masks and k-beauty facial masks |
Not Our Favorite Shampoo and Conditioner Brands
These are all products that contain dangerous shampoo chemicals and ingredients that are to be avoided as far as possible, like carcinogens and endocrine disrupters in “fragrance” and at least two other ingredients hazardous to your health. Things you may find in this list include PEGs, parabens, undisclosed fragrances, nitrosamines, surfactants, harsh preservatives, cancer-causing ingredients, and ingredients that may be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, etc.
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Not our favorite shampoo |
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American Crew Daily Cleansing Shampoo |
Amika Shampoo |
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Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo |
Aveeno Shampoo |
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Axe 2 in 1 for Men |
Bed Head Shampoo |
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Better Natured Moisturizing Shampoo |
Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Shampoo |
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Cetaphil — Baby Shampoo |
Clairol Shampoo Shimmer Lights |
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Clean Freak Dry Shampoo |
Clear Anti Dandruff Shampoo |
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Creme of Nature Moisturizing Dry Defense Shampoo |
Curly Qs Kids Curlie Cutie Cleansing Cream |
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Davines OI Shampoo |
Design Essentials Honey Creme Moisture Retention Super Detangling Conditioner |
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Dove Men+Care |
EDEN BodyWorks Peppermint Tea Tree Shampoo |
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Equate (Head & Shoulders Copycat) Everyday Clean Gentle Dandruff Shampoo |
Equate Beauty Soothing Keratin Shampoo |
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Essence Ultime — Now Schwarzkopf Essence Ultime Omega Repair and Moisture Shampoo |
Eucerin — DermoCapillaire Re-Vitalizing Shampoo |
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Euphoria Shampoo |
Fekkai Full Blown Volume Shampoo |
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Galvin & Galvin London Everyday Shampoo |
Garnier Fructis Hydrating Shampoo |
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Garnier Whole Blends Honey Treasures |
Giovanni Shampoo |
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Girl+Hair Clarifying Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse |
Hair Food Shampoo |
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Head & Shoulders Aloe Vera Shampoo |
Herbal Essences Argan Oil Shampoo |
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Herbal Essences Bio Renew Shampoo |
Honeydew Biotin Shampoo |
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Infusium 23 Renew + Repair Shampoo |
It’s a 10 Miracle Daily Shampoo |
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Jane Carter Solution Moisture Nourishing Shampoo |
Jhirmack Ageless Shampoo |
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John Frieda Shampoo |
Johnson’s Original Baby Shampoo |
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Johnson’s Sensitive Care Baby Shampoo |
Keratin Care Smoothing Shampoo |
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Kérastase Shampoo |
Kevin Murphy Shampoo |
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L’Oréal Elvive Original |
L’Oréal Ever Pure |
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L’Oréal Professional Shampoo |
Love Hair Vegan Shampoo |
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Lulu Organics Unscented Hair Powder/Dry Shampoo |
Keratin Protein — Hask |
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Mane ‘N Tail Shampoo |
Matrix Biolage Shampoo |
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Mixed Chicks Shampoo |
Modesa Shampoo 2 in 1 Dandruff Shampoo |
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Monat Shampoo |
Moroccan Oil Shampoo |
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Mustela Bebe Shampoo |
Nexus Shampoo |
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Neuma Shampoo |
No Nothing Very Sensitive Moisture Shampoo |
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No Nothing Very Sensitive Dry Shampoo |
Nonscents Shampoo |
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Not Your Mother’s: Clean Freak Dry Shampoo |
OGX Ever + Straight Brazilian Keratin Shampoo |
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OKAY | Black Jamaican Castor Oil Shampoo** |
Olaplex Shampoo |
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Old Spice 2 in 1 |
Organic Root Stimulator (ORS) Coconut Oil Shampoo |
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Organic Root Stimulator (ORS) Hair Mayonnaise |
Oribe Hair Alchemy Resilience Shampoo |
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Oway Hair Bath Shampoo |
Pantene Pro-V Shampoo |
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Paul Mitchell Shampoo |
Pert 2 in 1 Shampoo |
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Prell Shampoo |
Prose Shampoo |
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Psssst Dry Shampoo |
Pure Brazilian Anti Frizz Daily Shampoo |
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Pureology Hydrate Shampoo |
R+Co Shampoo |
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Rausch Chamomile Amaranth Shampoo |
Redken Shampoo |
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Ricitos de Oro Baby Shampoo |
Rizos Curls Hydrating Shampoo |
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Rusk Shampoo |
Sarah Jane Shampoo |
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Seaweed Unscented Hydrating Moisturizing Shampoo* |
Selsun Blue Shampoo |
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Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo |
Shea Moisture Manuka Honey and Yogurt Hydrate and Repair Shampoo |
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Shu Uemura — Oil Shampoo |
So Cozy 3 in 1 Kids Shampoo/Conditioner and Body Wash |
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Soapbox Shampoo |
Suave Essentials Shampoo |
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Suave Professionals Shampoo |
Suave Professionals for Natural Hair Moisturizing Curl Shampoo** |
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Surface Curls Shampoo |
Tresemme Strengthening Shampoo |
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Up & Up (Copycat of Johnson’s & Johnson’s) Baby Wash |
VO5 Shampoo |
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Wella Shampoo |
Wen Shampoo |
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White Rain Kids 3 in 1 Shampoo |
WOW Skin Science — Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo |
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Not our favorite conditioner products |
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Alikay Naturals Caribbean Coconut Milk Shampoo** |
American Crew Daily Moisturizer Conditioner (Men) |
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Amika Intense Moisturizing Conditioner |
Arbonne True Daily Conditioner |
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Aussie Miracle Moisturizing Conditioner |
Aveeno Conditioner |
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Axe 2-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner |
Bed Head Moisture Maniac Conditioner |
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Better Natured Moisturizing Conditioner |
Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Hydrating Conditioner |
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Clairol Shampoo Shimmer Lights Conditioner |
Creme of Nature Moisturizing Dry Defense Conditioner |
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Davines OI Conditioner |
Design Essentials Almond and Avocado Moisturizing and Detangling Conditioner |
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Earth Science Conditioner |
EDEN BodyWorks Peppermint Tea Tree Detangling Conditioner |
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Equate (Head & Shoulders Copycat) 2-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner |
Equate Beauty Soothing Keratin Conditioner |
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Eufora Conditioner |
Essence Ultime — Schwarzkopf Essence Ultime Omega Repair and Moisture Supreme Repair Treatment |
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Fekkai Full Blown Volume Conditioner |
Galvin & Galvin London Everyday Conditioner |
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Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Hair Reset |
Garnier Whole Blends Honey Treasures Conditioner |
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Girl+Hair Clarifying Apple Cider Vinegar + Charcoal Conditioner |
Hair Food Conditioner |
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Head & Shoulders White Charcoal Anti-Dandruff Conditioner |
Herbal Essences Repair Oil of Morocco Conditioner |
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Infusium 23 Renew + Repair Conditioner |
It’s a 10 Miracle Daily Conditioner |
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Jhirmack Ageless Conditioner |
John Frieda Replenish and Repair |
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Kérastase Fondant Densité Conditioner |
Keratin Care Smoothing Conditioner |
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Kevin Murphy Conditioner |
L’Oréal Elvive Original Conditioner |
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L’Oréal Ever Pure Conditioner |
L’Oréal Professional Conditioner |
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Love Hair Vegan Conditioner |
Hask — Keratin Protein Conditioner |
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Mane ‘N Tail Conditioner |
Matrix Biolage Conditioner |
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Melaleuca Sei Bella Rice Conditioner |
Mielle Organics Soothing Conditioner |
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Mielle Organics Moisture and Detangling Conditioner |
Mixed Chicks Detangling Deep Conditioner** |
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Modesa Moisture Conditioner |
Moroccan Oil Conditioner |
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Nexxus Conditioner |
Neuma Conditioner |
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No Nothing Very Sensitive Moisture Conditioner |
No Nothing Very Sensitive Hair Moisture Mist |
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Nonscents Conditioner |
Not Your Mother’s: Leave In Conditioner |
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Olaplex No. 5 Conditioner |
OGX Ever + Straight Brazilian Keratin Conditioner |
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OKAY | Black Jamaican Castor Oil Leave-In Conditioner |
Organic Root Stimulator (ORS) Coconut Oil Conditioner |
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Organic Root Stimulator (ORS) Hair Mayonaise** |
Oribe Hair Alchemy Resilience Conditioner |
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Pantene Pro-V Conditioner |
Paul Mitchel Moisturizing Conditioner |
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Prell Conditioner |
Psssst Dry Hair Conditioner Spray |
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Pure Brazilian Conditioner |
Pureology Conditioner |
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R+Co Conditioner |
Rausch Chamomile Amaranth Conditioner |
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Redken Conditioner |
Rizos Curls Deep Conditioner |
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Rusk Conditioner |
Sarah Jade Conditioner |
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Selsun Blue 2 in 1 Conditioner |
Soapbox Conditioner |
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Suave Essentials Conditioner |
Suave Professionals Conditioner |
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Suave Professionals for Natural Hair Moisturizing Curl |
Surface Curls Conditioner |
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Tresemme Conditioner |
VO5 Conditioner |
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Wella Conditioner |
Wen Cleansing Conditioner |
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WOW Skin Science — Coconut Milk Conditioner |
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Better Shampoo and Conditioner Brands
These products contain some dangerous shampoo chemicals, but they are light years better than the bad category. Here you may find polysorbates, propylene glycol, undisclosed fragrance, and/or plant-based surfactants.
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Better shampoo products |
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Acure Ultra Hydrating 100% Pure Argan Oil and Pumpkin Shampoo |
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Arbonne True Daily Shampoo |
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Attitude Shampoo for Sensitive Skin, Extra Gentle and Volumizing Unscented |
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Attitude Little Leaves, Hypoallergenic 2-in-1 Shampoo and Body Wash, Vanilla and Pear |
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Burt’s Bees Very Volumizing Shampoo (Adults) |
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doTerra Shampoo |
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Fridda Dorsch + Farma Dorsch Go Organic Anti-Hair Loss Shampoo |
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Genedor Beauty Superfruit Antioxidant Shampoo |
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Lemongrass Shampoo |
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Lowen’s Shampoo is Betta Vegan Shampoo |
Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue Shampoo |
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Melaleuca Sei Bella Rice Shampoo |
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Norwex Shampoo Lysere Shampoo |
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tgin Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo |
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Better conditioner products |
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Derma E Thickening Conditioner (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off products!) |
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Derma E Restoring Conditioner |
Derma E Nourishing Conditioner (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off products!) |
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Derma E Deluxe Mini Thickening Conditioner |
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doTerra Daily Conditioner |
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Fridda Dorsh + Farma Dorsh Go Organic Conditioner |
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Genedor Beauty Conditioner |
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Pacifica Coconut Power Strong and Long Moisturizing Conditioner |
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Seaweed Unscented Hydrating Moisturizing Conditioner |
Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl and Shine Conditioner** |
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Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Moisturizing conditioner** |
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner |
Best Shampoo and Conditioner Brands
These sulfate-free paraben-free shampoo brands also do not contain added phthalates or parabens. They may contain preservatives, but not ones I’m concerned about. If you are looking for shampoo free of chemicals, you should feel comfortable using just about any of the products on this list.
Most rely on natural ingredients like essential oils, coconut oil, argan oil, avocado oil, tea tree oil, shea butter, and aloe vera, to provide cleansing and moisture to various hair types. In addition to being free of harsh chemicals, most of these brands are also cruelty-free and/or eco-friendly and most are made from organic ingredients.
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Best shampoo products |
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100% Pure Yuzu and Pomelo Glossing Shampoo (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off) |
100% Pure Honey and Virgin Coconut Shampoo (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off) |
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100% Pure Kelp and Mint Volumizing Shampoo (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off) |
100% Pure Burdock and Neem Healthy Scalp Shampoo (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off) |
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100% Pure Grow More Shampoo (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off) |
100% Pure Repair Shampoo (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off) |
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100% Pure Moisture Drench Shampoo (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off) |
100% Pure Glossing Shampoo (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off) |
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AnnMarie Sweet Sunrise Shampoo (Links directly to small biz, use code “15forYOU” for 15% off full sizes) |
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Be Green Dry Shampoo |
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Billie Floof Dry Shampoo |
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Clean Kids Naturally Shampoo |
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Conscious Skincare |
Derma E Scalp Relief Shampoo |
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Derma E Wash Day Curl Shampoo (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off products) |
Derma E Thickening Shampoo |
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Derma E Nourishing Shampoo |
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Earthley Rosemary Lavender Shampoo Bar |
Earthley Shampoo Bar (Oily Hair) |
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Earthley Dry Shampoo (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 10% off products) |
EO Sulfate-Free Tea Tree Shampoo |
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Hairprint Jasmine Silk Hair Masque |
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Healthy Baby Shampoo (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 15% off sitewide no minimum purchase, eligible for use on diapers subscriptions too, 1 use per customer) |
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Honest Company Purely Simple Fragrance-Free Shampoo + Body Wash* |
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LifeVantage Shampoo |
Morocco Method Volcanoic Dry Shampoo |
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Naturel Vegan Dry Shampoo |
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Paul Penders Men’s Shampoo |
Paul Penders Women’s Shampoo |
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Pure Haven Sweet Orange Shampoo |
Pure Haven Sweet Orange Conditioner |
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Pure Haven Charcoal Detox Shampoo |
Pure Haven Dry Shampoo |
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Pure Haven Super Greens Shampoo |
Pure Haven Supergreens Conditioner |
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Pure Haven Supergreens Deep Conditioner |
Pure Haven Kids Wash and Shampoo |
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Pure Haven Baby Wash and Shampoo |
Pure Haven Honey and Fig Shampoo (Limited Time Offer) |
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Pure Haven Honey and Fig Deep Conditioning Hair Mask (Limited Time Offer) |
PUUR Ingrid Wash Duet |
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Rejuva Minerals Hair Powder |
Soap For Goodness Sake Shampoo Bar |
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The Big Green 23 Shampoo |
Thinkbaby Baby Shampoo and Body Wash |
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ThinkBaby Shampoo and Body Wash Chlorine Removal |
Think Shampoo and Body Wash Chlorine Removal Hibiscus (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off products) |
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Thinksport Shampoo Aloe and Tea Leaves |
True Botanicals Shampoo |
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Best conditioner products |
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100% Pure Yuzu and Pomelo Conditioner (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off products) |
100% Pure Honey and Virgin Coconut Conditioner (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off products) |
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100% Pure Kelp and Mint Volumizing Conditioner (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off products) |
100% Pure Burdock and Neem Healthy Scalp Conditioner (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off products) |
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100% Pure Healthy Vitamin Healthy Hair Conditioner (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off products) |
100% Pure Glossing Conditioner (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off products) |
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Alaffia Everyday Coconut Conditioner |
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California Baby No Fragrance Super Sensitive Hair Conditioner |
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Clean Kids Naturally Mango Mist Spray Detangler |
Conscious Skincare Conditioner |
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Derma E Scalp Relief Conditioner (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off products) |
Dr. Bronner’s Organic Citrus Hair Rinse (Conditioner) |
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Earthley Leave-in-Conditioner (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 10% off products) |
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Lemongrass Spa Conditioner |
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Lowen’s Conditioner is Betta! |
Morocco Method Raw Conditioner |
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Paul Penders Best Hair Conditioner |
Pure Haven Sweet Orange Conditioner |
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Pure Haven Supergreens Conditioner |
Pure Haven Supergreens Deep Conditioner |
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Soap For Goodness Sake Miessence Shine Herbal Hair Conditioner |
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We hope this list will help you make informed decisions about chemical-free shampoos you can feel safe switching to. For more information on how to avoid hormone-disrupting chemicals in your personal care products, pick up a copy of Green Enough: Eat Better, Live Cleaner, Be Happier (All Without Driving Your Family Crazy!).
About the Author
Leah Segedie is the President and Founder of Mamavation.com. Mamavation produces award-winning content and independent consumer studies examining the intersection of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and everyday products brought into American households. She’s been referred to by many as “the real FDA.”
Since 2008, Mamavation has been helping everyday moms navigate the grocery store by commissioning consumer studies on food, beverages, personal care products and other such products and thus democratizing science and testing for everyone.
