Mindful Momma

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Non-Toxic Shampoo To Please Everyone in the Family

A roundup of the best non-toxic shampoo brands for every type of hair, including natural shampoo for babies and affordable family-sized shampoo.

Non-Toxic Shampoo

 

Wavy, straight, colored, curly, thick or fine – we all have our own unique hair. Whether we love our hair or wish we could trade it in for a completely different set of locks, we all use shampoo to manage our hair and keep it looking its best.

But we don’t all use the same shampoo. Shampoo is personal. As I’m sure you know, it can take some experimentation to find the shampoo that works best for your own hair.

Because of that, I would never try to convince you to use one particular shampoo. Just as you wouldn’t wear the same clothes as me, I wouldn’t expect you to use the same shampoo. But I would like to convince you of this: Stop using that conventional shampoo brand and make the switch to a safe, natural, non-toxic shampoo instead. 

RELATED: 4 Good Reasons to Buy Natural, Non-Toxic Products for Your Home & Life

Why You Should Switch to Non-Toxic Shampoo

I know, I know! Switching shampoo is hard! But here’s the thing. Shampoo is a product you use frequently – whether it’s once a day or once a week – it still adds up to a lot of shampoo over the course of time.

Most shampoo is a chemical soup that foams like crazy and smells strongly of something that didn’t come from nature. The chemicals that make all that happen can be harmful to you and to the environment – and in the grand scheme of things, it just isn’t worth it.

Here are the primary things you’ll want to avoid in shampoo:

  • Sulfates – Sodium lauryl and laureth sulfates are foaming agents and can be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a probable carcinogen.
  • Certain preservatives – This includes parabens which are linked to breast cancer and hormone disruption, as well as DMDM hydantoin, which releases formaldehyde and is linked to hair loss and scalp burns, according to a class action law suit. (FYI – some type of preservatives are necessary in shampoo but safer ones exist.)
  • Artificial fragrances – The term fragrance is a catchall for thousands of chemicals including hormone disrupting phthalates, as well as skin irritants and allergens.
  • Petroleum products – Ingredients that come from non-renewable resources are not environmentally friendly.

Luckily, the developers at many different socially and environmentally responsible companies have mastered the art of non-toxic shampoo made with safe, natural and organic ingredients. There are many great choices and because we all have different needs, I’ve split up my non-toxic shampoo recommendations into four sections:

  • my personal favorites
  • some super affordable family-sized shampoos
  • the best baby shampoos around
  • reader recommendations

Rest assured, all shampoos listed here are phthalate free, artificial fragrance free, and made without the harmful chemicals found in most conventional shampoo brands. And if you are looking for shampoos without DMDM hydantoin, I’ve got you covered.

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Non-Toxic Shampoo Brands

 

Favorite Non-Toxic Shampoo Brands

I may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this article. Full Disclosure

My hair is very thick and on the dry side, so you’ll notice many of my favorites are for my kind of hair. However, these companies make shampoo for lots of different hair types. Please take my word for it – these are awesome brands that I trust to make great shampoo for your type of hair too! I’ve noted the formulas of shampoo the company makes under each brand listing.

John Masters

  • Salon quality products made with many certified organic ingredients.
  • Shampoo formulas: normal, fine and dry and damaged hair
  • My favorite: The Evening Primrose Shampoo for dry hair is super hydrating with a luxurious feel and is safe for color-treated hair.
  • Price: $24 for 8-oz

Beautycounter 

Aubrey Organics

  • A pioneer in the natural personal care products business who uses many organic ingredients in their products.
  • Shampoo formulas: dry, normal and oily as well as specialty formulas for all hair types
  • My favorite: Aubrey’s Honeysuckle Rose Shampoo for dry hair is a great everyday shampoo and has a lovely light floral scent.
  • Price: $11.29 for 11-oz 

Non-Toxic Shampoo Brands

Acure

  • Acure is a family owned company committed to using plant science to deliver effective, natural & organic personal care.
  • Shampoo formulas: hydrating, smoothing, clarifying, volume and balancing
  • My favorite: Acure Ultra Hydrating Shampoo with Argan Oil & Pumpkin is moisturizing and very affordable.
  • Price: $9.99  for 12-oz ( or $6.99 at Thrive Market)

Derma E

  • Derma E began as a small health food store but grew into a leader in the clean beauty industry.
  • Shampoo formulas: nourishing, thickening, restoring, scalp relief
  • My favorite: Scalp Relief Shampoo formulated to soothe flaky and irritated scalp. This is a go-to for some members of my family.
  • Price: $11.75 for 10-oz 

Thrive Market

Best Shampoo Bars

 

Best Shampoo Bars

HiBar 

  • A Minnesota-based company (local to me!) making zero waste shampoo bars & conditioner bars that really work.
  • Shampoo formulas: Clarifying, Moisturizing and Volumizing (matching conditioner available for each)
  • My favorite: I have the Moisturizing Solid Shampoo and Conditioner bars and they are fantastic! Love how easy they are to hold in the shower!
  • Price: $13.95 per bar (equivalent to 16-oz bottle of shampoo) 

Ethique

  • Started by a student in New Zealand, Ethique has become an international, zero waste hit!
  • Shampoo formulas: dry, frizzy, oily, dandruff, volumizing, plus shampoo bars for kids
  • My favorite: I bought the special edition Wombar for normal hair (couldn’t resist the purple color!)
  • Price: $15 and up per bar 

Looking for more natural, non-toxic products like laundry detergent, cookware or mattresses? I’ve got you covered!

Non-Toxic Shampoo Brands

 

Family-Sized Non-Toxic Shampoo

OK I know I was saying earlier that shampoo is personal and we all need different shampoo formulas to manage our own hair type. However, when you have a family, especially with young kids, it’s likely that you can get away with one basic shampoo that will work for almost everyone. Here are some of the affordable natural shampoos that we keep stocked in our family bathroom.

ATTITUDE

Alaffia Everyday

Whole Foods 365 

  • Everyday value shampoo free of parabens, sulfates and artificial ingredients.
  • What we use: Citrus Grapefruit Shampoo
  • Price: $7.99 for 32-oz

Non-Toxic Shampoo Brands

Non-Toxic Baby Shampoo

Babies tiny bodies can’t process chemicals the way the rest of us so extra care should be taken with shampoo used on infants. Here are some of the safest baby shampoos around. You’ll notice many of them double as baby wash as well! (find more natural baby care brands here)

Earth Mama

Pleni Naturals

Babo Botanicals

BabyTime by Episencial

Non-Toxic Shampoo: Andalou Naturals, EO Products, Rahua

 

More Non-Toxic Shampoo Recommendations

When I put out the all-call for favorite natural, non-toxic shampoos boy did I get a lot of responses! Here are some natural shampoo brands that are highly recommended by other bloggers and Mindful Momma readers.

 

Andalou Naturals

Rahua

Neal’s Yard Remedies

Shea Moisture

EO Products

Beauty Without Cruelty

What is your favorite non-toxic shampoo? Let us know in the comments so we all can learn from each other!

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About Micaela

Micaela Preston is natural living educator and safe and sustainable product activist. She has spoken at conferences and events, has lobbied for safer chemical laws, and has consulted with many brands and businesses. Her book, Practically Green: Your Guide to Eco Friendly Decision Making was published in 2009.

Reader Interactions

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Comments

  1. Angela Bravin says

    Are these products PERFUMED? Since I’ve changed my lifestyle, going organic, life (as far as possible) without plastic, NO allopathic chemical medicines, cleaning products etc., I’ve become highly intollerant to perfumes of any kind. I find that most “organic” products have intollerable penetrant smells that literally make me sick. HELP!!!!

    Reply

  3. J. Doyle says

    I have white hair and need a shampoo with no coloring of any kind. Clear, in other words. Are any you showed above colorless?

    Reply

  4. Barb says

    I’ve heard of package free shampoo bars. I haven’t looked into those. Have you heard of them? Any feedback? Thank you!

    Reply

  6. Clau says

    Alba botanicals shampoos And conditioners are great too! This brand goes underestimated! Face cleaners are all natural and free of GMOs. Their sunscreens are great too! I love this brand 🙂

    Reply

  7. Kristi Likes says

    I use aloe-based shampoo and conditioner from Pure Haven. It is the cleanest shampoo out there and my hair has never looked better!

    Reply

  8. Sue Kaup says

    Great point about the frequency of use when it comes to shampoo and hair products, Micaela! I feel the products that get rinsed off aren’t as critical as the ones that stay on the skin, but this raises awareness. My personal favorite is the Invigorating Seaweed Shampoo and Conditioner from Neal’s Yard Remedies.

    Reply

  10. Lauren Radney says

    Hi, Michaela!
    Thank you for these types of posts. I can’t tell you how helpful it is for people like me who are beginning their toxin free journey.
    Quick question, what so you think about the brand Truly Organic? I’ve been using them for a while especially their shampoo and conditioner, but I hope I’m not being greenwashed. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Micaela says

      Hi Lauren – I’ve actually never heard of Truly Organic. I took a quick look and I’ve very intrigued. I’m a bit thrown off by all those colors and the glitter – but the ingredients look good! I asked them some questions through the contact form on their website but I have not heard back yet. I’ll let you know what I hear back. Do you like the shampoo & conditioner?

      Reply

  12. Al Faychak says

    I’m a 70 year old male. And I am looking for a shampoo and conditioner that will be healthy and nourishing for my hair. What would you recommend?

    Reply

  14. Dawn says

    Are there ANY hair & body cleansers that are toxin free, as well as, coconut, palm, olive oil free, gluten & corn free? Having an exhausting search😔.

    Reply

  15. Rachel Eastep says

    I have very oily, thinning hair. Since I had my two kids my hair hasn’t been healthy. I use suave now. I need a recommendation for a good non toxic shampoo and conditioner. My hair is also hard to brush. It tangles easy.

    Reply

  16. Becca says

    I stumbled upon Cara B Naturally products recently and OH MY GOSH – they have a lovely, light scent, are made for babies/children but can be used for anyone, and are some of the most seriously natural products I’ve come across. They only have 3 products, a shampoo, a leave-in conditioner, and a spray detangler (which I’ve not used yet), but the shampoo and conditioner are the absolute bomb. The shampoo is fresh and sweet smelling and the most gentle I’ve found, and the leave in conditioner makes my coarse, frizzy hair behave beautifully with no other products needed. 🙂

    Reply

  17. Lia Kulla says

    I absolutely love Beautycounter’s everyday shampoo and conditioner. Nothing makes my hair feel as good. But I cannot justify the expense. I tried Hibar to try to get away from plastic bottle but I’m not a fan of the shampoo bar as it turns out. I’m now onto Alaffia Everyday shampoo in coconut.

    Reply

  18. Maddie Van Horn says

    My daughter alerted me to all the toxic shampoos, because I am losing my hair because of Covid. I am in the process of throwing out some of these toxic shampoos. I enjoyed your Article! I am changing my lifestyle because of everything I’ve been through in the last year! Actually I have a good lifestyle I just have to eat more wholesome food and watch the products I use and be kinder to my beautiful hair!!

    Reply

    • Micaela says

      I’m sorry to hear you had the virus – but I’m glad to hear you are on a mission to change up your products and lifestyle! Hope you find a healthy shampoo that works for you!

      Reply

  19. Rose A Tester says

    I appreciate the fact that in the beginning of the article you say that our personal choice is just that, our choice and everyone is different. However, you proceed to then attempt to educate your reader on what makes one kind worse then another. The things written about, my mother NEVER new about and therefore never taught me about. Recently, just today actually, my 14 year old daughter is now bringing to my attention that brands I thought were ‘better’ (probably due to price and brand name) are in fact ‘worse’, due to the reasons you are explaining in this article. I feel so very stupid for not thinking about these things sooner, but thank YOU for not making me feel ‘less than’!

    Furthermore, I also wanted to thank you for not belittling manufacturers of ALL things that are by a particular company. I just read two different articles by different writers and publishers that chose to just be mean about their ‘findings’. I’m not actually sure the findings were related to product safety for users or not because I simply shutdown and moved on. As a human being, it hurts my heart to see someone/something to be attacked and there be NOTHING good about whoever or whatever is being attacked? Instead of taking in the important information, I go on the defensive and it makes me not want to ‘hear’ what that ‘perfect’ writer/speaker is trying to say. As I’m just starting out in my journey in trying to become more informed, I thank you for passing along some of your knowledge in such a positive way. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction with what I should be look for! My daughter told me that not ALL things manufactured by a specific company are bad, but she didn’t have the time to teach me what I should be looking for when I shop next.

    Again, thank you for passing along some of your knowledge in a positive, informative and enlightening way. There is not a thank you big enough, nor can I properly express how much it means you me that you did not make me feel worse then I already did for not already knowing these things at my age!

    Reply

    • Micaela says

      Hi Rose – I’m so glad you found my blog post positive and helpful – that is my goal! There is no reason to feel bad about your journey to find safer products – it’s called a journey for a reason – it takes time! I love hearing that your daughter is helping to inform you – we need the young people to speak up and help more people learn about this topic!

      Reply

  20. DD says

    I, too, am losing hair due to Covid, and it is not slowing down. I also had been using shampoos with DMDM hydantoin. I am now limiting how often I am washing and am trying to locate an affordable shampoo option or even a DIY/homemade option. Any suggestions?

    Reply

  21. tracy miller says

    Some Shea Moisture products contain cocamidopropyl betaine as the third ingredient. Anyone switching to natural products to stop hairfall should be aware. This is NOT an ingredient you want on your scalp or hair.

    Reply