Our Top 6 Picks for Natural Shampoo
There’s nothing like the feeling of freshly washed hair. The right hair products can make you feel like you’re ready for the spotlight, but not all shampoos deliver the same results. Natural shampoo is becoming an increasingly popular pick for those looking to ditch the harsh chemicals in old-school shampoos. We’ve found some of the best natural shampoos that are not only good for your hair but good for the planet, too!
What is a Natural Shampoo?
There is a little flexibility when it comes to the definition of natural shampoo. It usually refers to shampoo made with naturally derived ingredients, such as plant extracts and essential oils, rather than harsh preservatives and additives.
Artificial substances like silicone can strip hair of its natural oils and cause buildup, leading to dull, lifeless locks. Natural shampoo and conditioner are often gentler, and therefore considered the healthier option for many hair types.
Natural shampoos can also be better for the environment thanks to their eco-friendly ingredients. A proper natural product should have an ingredient list that you can understand and sources for those you can’t.
Top 6 Natural Shampoo Picks: How We Chose
To find the best natural shampoo options on the market, we conducted our search with some important criteria in mind.
- Certifications: We looked for companies with third-party certifications to back up their products. Verified sustainable, vegan as well as cruelty-free natural shampoos were the only ones that made the cut.
- Ingredients: Natural shampoo should be made with natural ingredients, and ideally be free from harsh chemicals and additives. We looked for only the cleanest products with ingredients that will make you and your hair feel good.
- Price: Hair care can get pricey, so we looked for natural shampoo options to suit almost any budget. After all, it shouldn’t break the bank to do good.
Our Picks
All featured products are chosen at the discretion of the author and DGHQ editors. However, Do Good HQ may make a small affiliate commission if you click through and make a purchase.
1. Conscious Skincare Cypress and Sage Shampoo
| Certifications | PETA Approved, Vegan & Cruelty-Free, Palm Oil Free, Ethical Consumer Best Buy |
| Best For | All hair types |
| Price at Publishing | $17 – $32 |
This paraben-free natural shampoo stands out for its simple, all-organic ingredients list. Made without perfumes, the shampoo’s herbal scent comes from various essential oils and plant extracts, including sage and lavender. We were especially impressed with their naturally derived active ingredients, which include plum extract to protect hair and hibiscus flower extract to promote collagen production and give hair a healthy glow.
Highlights
The Cypress and Sage Shampoo comes in a glass bottle that can be easily refilled, cutting down on unnecessary waste. It has also been recognized by organizations such as Ethical Consumer for its environmentally-conscious practices, and was even shortlisted for the Free From Skincare Awards, which recognizes premium products made without animal-derived ingredients.
Things to Consider
Since the brand is based in Wales, deliveries to the US take a little longer. However, the company does offer an express delivery option.
2. Ursa Major Go Easy Shampoo
| Certifications | Plastic Negative, Vegan & Cruelty-Free, B Corporation Certified |
| Best For | All hair types |
| Price at Publishing | $23.40 (Subscribe & Save) – $26 |
This shampoo made the list thanks to its hair-healthy ingredients, sulfate-free formula, and Ursa Major’s use of 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. The Go Easy Shampoo is designed to nourish, moisturize as well as gently cleanse all hair types—even color-treated tresses.
Highlights
Ursa Major offers a variety of hair and skincare products, which can be purchased separately or bundled for extra savings. The B Corp Certification means the company has met rigorous standards for transparency, accountability, and additionally social and environmental responsibility.
Things to Consider
The bottle is plastic, so it must be rinsed and recycled after use. At the time of publishing, Ursa Major does not offer a refill option for its shampoo.
3. Ethique Pinkalicious Shampoo Bar
| Certifications | PETA Approved, Vegan & Cruelty-Free, Home-Compostable & Recyclable Packaging, Climate Positive, B Corporation Certified |
| Best For | All hair types |
| Price at Publishing | $16 |
If you’re looking to ditch the bulky bottles, a natural shampoo bar is the way to go. Why pay for a container that’s mostly water when you can get the active ingredients you need in a compact solid? With more than 80 washes per bar, it’s a compact, travel-friendly option for those who need something simple and effective.
Highlights
Ethique’s Pinkalicious Shampoo Bar is pH-balanced and safe for color-treated hair. And we love their compostable packaging! Ethique also donates 2% of its sales to charity and works with Ecologi to plant a tree for every online order.
Things to Consider
Store shampoo bars in a dry place to make them last. Additionally, you might need to buy a soap-saver bag and storage tray to get the most out of your bar.
4. Sienna Naturals H.A.P.I. Shampoo
| Certifications | Vegan & Cruelty-Free, Responsibly Sourced |
| Best For | Textured, curly hair |
| Price at Publishing | $23.80 (Subscribe & Save) – $28 |
Sienna Naturals offers a straightforward, no-filler shampoo specially tailored for curly, kinky, and color-treated hair. As a matter of fact, the name of the shampoo stands for “Hydrating Alimentary PH-balanced Ingredients,” and boasts clean compounds that you can feel good about.
Highlights
As a proud black-owned business, Sienna Naturals makes products that prioritize textured, curly, and even damaged hair. The H.A.P.I. The shampoo formulates with Baobab oil, which penetrates and strengthens textured hair.
Things to Consider
You cannot return the shampoo once you try it at home.
5. Seek Bamboo Honey Shampoo Bar
| Certifications | Cruelty-Free, Palm Oil Free, Handmade |
| Best For | Dry, damaged hair |
| Price at Publishing | $12 (Subscribe & Save) – $15 |
A natural honey-infused shampoo bar packed with everything you want and nothing that you don’t. Seek Bamboo takes sustainability seriously and offers a totally plastic-free product. Their shampoo bars, free from sulfates, silicones, parabens as well as artificial fragrances, infuse amino acids to strengthen and maintain healthy strands.
Highlights
Seek Bamboo offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on their products, so you can try out a new shampoo risk-free. They also offer bundles so you can have all your shower needs squared away in one place.
Things to Consider
Overall, storage can be tricky with shampoo bars. A dish with good drainage in a dry spot is the best place to keep shampoo bars so they don’t make a mess.
6. Ceremonia Guava Protect & Repair Shampoo
| Certifications | Cruelty-Free, Carbon-Neutral, Plastic-Negative |
| Best For | Damaged and color-treated hair |
| Price at Publishing | $20 (Subscribe & Save) – $22 |
Made for locks that need a little extra love, this guava-infused shampoo is made with transparently-sourced plant extracts.
Highlights
Guava fruit packs Vitamin C, protects hair from harmful free radicals and also UV rays. Ingredients like aloe vera leaf powder and guava leaf help nourish hair while protecting it from environmental stressors.
Things to Consider
The moisturizing elements of this shampoo might be too much for people with oilier scalps. However, we can’t help but note that its bottles are made with post-consumer recycled material, and shipments are carbon neutral.
How to Choose the Best Natural Shampoo
With so many options on the market, there are two main factors to consider when choosing a new shampoo.
- What is your hair type? Do you have straight, curly, or wavy hair? Is it fine, dry, oily, or flaky? Your hair type and health will help narrow down your hair product selection.
- What ingredients matter to you? Do you prefer vegan products? Are there any allergens or extracts that you might be sensitive to?
And if there is nothing out there that suits your needs, you can always learn how to make natural shampoo at home that is perfect for you!
Featured image via Seek Bamboo
