We all know that having a good-smelling hair is part of any person’s regular hygiene habit. However, are you sure that your shampoo doesn’t leave out any residue that can cause dandruff, itchy, and flaky scalp? Most shampoos in the market have SLS and sulfates because they are fillers that can make the shampoo more in content. However, these sulfates are not very eco-friendly and scalp-friendly, either.
If you are looking for alternatives, you might try switching to organic shampoos. This is why you may be looking for the best eco-friendly shampoo out there. Organic shampoos are usually made with natural ingredients, usually plant-based, and are mostly vegan. They can be a little pricier but they can be worth it if you don’t want the added shampoo fillers. Most of them also have eco-friendly packaging.
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Best Environment Shampoo Reviews
Here are our top picks for the best eco-friendly shampoo:
1. Pure Nature Lux Spa Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo
We chose this argan oil shampoo due to being free from SLS and sulfates, making it not only nature-friendly but also hair-friendly. It can be used on almost any kind of hair, such as curly, dry, damaged, and frizzy hair. Since this is a shampoo and conditioner combination, you don’t need to buy a conditioner separately.
It is safe to be used for colored hair and those treated with keratin in salons. It has UV and thermal protectants as well as hair vitamins to keep your hair nourished and not dry. Each bottle has 16.9 ounces of shampoo and two pump bottles are in each pack.
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Argan oil contains vitamin E and antioxidants to help freshen your hair. It does not contain chemicals at all and may even help you to repair your hair from the chemical damage due to salon perming. It is also vegan since no animal testing was done to make the product.
2. Ethique Eco-Friendly Hair Sampler
If you prefer an eco-friendly shampoo bar over a standard liquid shampoo, this might be your choice. It has 5 bars in the pack – 3 shampoos and 2 conditioners for you to use. It can be travel-friendly due to the small packaging and creative design. The packaging is also quite eco-friendly since it is plastic-free and the bars are soap-free in their formulation. All of the bars are made with plant-based ingredients.
The packaging is also compostable, allowing you to throw it away with less guilt. Each bar is heart-shaped so it can also make a great gift for someone this Christmas. Instead of plastic bottles, these soaps can help become a sustainable product. They are also vegan and palm oil-free.
Since it is a sampler, it has different ingredients and product types in each bar – Frizz Wrangler, Heali Kiwi, and St. Clements for the shampoos and The Guardian and Wonderbar for the conditioners.
3. The Seaweed Bath Co. Volumizing Shampoo
As a shampoo contained in eco-friendly shampoo bottles (made with post-consumer recycled plastics) this one comes in lavender, citrus vanilla, unscented, rosemary & mint, and eucalyptus & peppermint. The different formulas can be ideal for various hair conditions, such as for shine, for moisturizing, for all hair types, for dry scalp, and other hair conditions.
Organic and sustainably-harvested Bladderwrack Seaweed is used as the main ingredient, which was harvested from Maine, USA. This seaweed variant contains various vitamins and minerals to help nourish your hair.
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It has no dyes, gluten, fragrances, SLS, or parabens, so it can be earth-friendly overall. Since it is a combination of aloe and argan oil, it can moisturize your hair naturally. It is also a vegan formula since it has no animal testing in its process.
Among the other ingredients are coconut, coffee bean, spirulina, French clay, green tea extract, neem oil, kukui, and various other resources from nature.
4. Beauty by Earth Organic Dry Shampoo Powder
For those who are looking for a dry shampoo instead of al liquid one, this one can be an organic choice for you. We chose this because it doesn’t have any harsh toxins or chemicals, as it is free from parabens, sulfates, gluten, GMOs, and the like (USDA organic certified). Since it is dry shampoo, you can use it for travel and it won’t easily spill or get troubled by the TSA and airline companies.
To use this shampoo, you only need to shake it and then section your hair, spraying the fine powder onto it. You only need to massage it into your scalp just like you would with wet shampoo, especially into your hairline. There are also two formulations: dark and light, depending on the roots of your hair.
It is also vegan and cruelty-free while it smells decent due to the natural ingredients. It might be ideal for those with oily hair or often on the go.
5. Love Beauty And Planet Rose Shampoo and Conditioner
If you like simple drugstore finds then this one from Love Beauty and Planet can be an eco-friendly shampoo that you might like. It can be used for color-treated hair and the formulation is also paraben-free and vegan. It is also made without silicone and the formula is infused with organic coconut oil and other earth-sourced ingredients.
You get a pack of 2 products, both of which are made with Bulgarian rose petals, which were handpicked, sustainably and ethically sourced. It also contains no artificial dyes so you only get a vegan hair treatment, which also contains natural murumuru butter and plant-based cleansers.
Its formulation can help those with hair that are lacking vibrancy and shine. This shampoo set also has beautiful packaging, which can make it a great gift. The price tag is also low so it can be ideal for those with a limited budget.
6. WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo & Hair Conditioner Set
As a set of shampoo and conditioner in one set, these two do not contain parabens or sulfates and can be okay to use for all hair types. It can help with problems on hair hydration and itchy scalp due to its organic virgin coconut oil and avocado oil (conditioner) and apple cider vinegar (shampoo). It was made without silicones and salt that could irritate your hair.
Raw apple cider vinegar from the Himalayan region was used to make the shampoo’s formulation. Both the products are formulated in the USA, gluten-free, and vegan (cruelty-free). Because of its pH level balancing formula, it won’t dry your hair too much unlike regular shampoos that aren’t organic.
It was also infused with pure Himalayan spring water on the shampoo part to make it more natural.
7. Earth Vibes Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo
Yet another Moroccan argan oil shampoo, this one is infused with other oils, such as jojoba oil and coconut oil so those with problems of dry hair could benefit from this formulation. It is free from parabens and sulfates and each bottle contains 16 ounces of shampoo.
It is also safe for those with color-treated and damaged hair due to salon treatments. In fact, the shampoo may work best for those with split ends due to the natural oils included in the shampoo.
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The shampoo can also be used for various hair types, including frizzy, wavy, straight, curly, and natural. It is also cruelty-free on its formulation and it can be used by both men and women. Vitamin E was infused with the product to add hair growth stimulation and make your hair healthier as well.
8. Avalon Organics Clarifying Lemon Shampoo
For those who want a dash of natural citrus fruits in their daily shampoo, this is a lemon formula that contains 11 ounces per bottle and is GMO-free and paraben-free. It is also made without phthalates, sulfates, colors, fragrances, and preservatives. Because of its organic essential oils and plant-based ingredients, it is eco-friendly.
It is also not tested on animals and is NSF-certified. Other than lemon, it also contains a bit of aloe extract and orange peel oil to make it quite a botanical formulation. The shampoo also includes lime oil as part of its plant-based ingredients.
The product is also USDA organic certified. It was also infused with vitamin E for hair nourishment and it also mixes with other natural products, such as chamomile extract, quinoa protein, and the lemon essential oil.
9. Era Organics Organic Tea Tree Oil Shampoo
This shampoo is made with tea tree extract so it can be used for those with dry hair, flaky, and itchy scalp. It doesn’t include any fillers, sulfate, SLS, silicone, and parabens. Among its ingredients, other than tea tree oil, include pomegranate seed oil, jojoba oil, willow bark extract, Aloe Vera, baobab fruit extract, citrus stem cell, and green tea.
As this is also GMO-free, it can be friendly to the environment and to your health. It is also cruelty-free for all the vegans out there. Since it is sulfate-free, it won’t leave any residue on your hair. Watermelon seed oil, orange oil, and cehami extract are also in the botanical shampoo mix. It also doesn’t have a strong smell so it can be ideal for those with scent allergies or sensitivities.
10. ArtNaturals Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner Set
This one is infused with keratin for added hair treatment and it can be safely used on colored hair and even curly hair. It is free from sulfates and is made with organic Moroccan argan oil. You get a shampoo and a conditioner from this known brand that sells organic formulas.
The shampoo and conditioner sets are both cruelty-free, paraben-free, and do not contain phthalates. Its ingredients were also ethically harvested other than being organic, so they are eco-friendly in general. You can use this for damaged hair due to excessive styling or salon treatments.
It was also infused with vitamin E for those with problems on split ends. Those with dry and brittle hair with too much frizz can also benefit from its argan oil.
Guidelines to follow while purchasing Eco-Friendly Shampoo
Before choosing the best eco-friendly shampoo, here are our tips on buying:
How do I choose the best eco-friendly shampoo?
- Natural ingredients. This ensures that your shampoo doesn’t contain anything harmful. Look for argan oil, tea tree oil, citrus fruits, lavender, and the like.
- Third-party certifications. Consider shampoos that are USDA-approved, NSF-certified, and the like.
- Cruelty-free. If your shampoo is vegan, there’s a big chance that it is made only with botanicals that are ethically-sourced.
- No harsh chemicals. Consider shampoos without parabens, sulfates, SLS, phthalates, GMOs, and the like. You can also avoid gluten if you have sensitivities.
- Smart packaging. Most eco-friendly shampoos are liquid, but they could be using recycled plastic or any similar eco-friendly packaging. Some of them are also dry shampoos so they are less of a mess when traveling while others are in the form of a shampoo bar.
How do I use an eco-friendly shampoo?
You can just use them as you would with any regular shampoo. For best results, they should be used with conditioners that are also organic. Most of our picks above have combinations of conditioners as well so you don’t have to buy them separately.
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Shampoos should go with conditioners because too much shampoo can dry out your hair, no matter how organic you think it is. Conditioners help freshen your hair after being cleansed by shampoo.
What are the benefits of an eco-friendly shampoo?
Using an eco-friendly shampoo can:
- Help reduce leakage of sulfates into the soil
- Doesn’t cause itchy scalp as much
- Thoroughly help with dry and flaky hair
- Work safely on color-treated hair and of all types
- Reduce harsh chemicals on your hair (and to the environment)
Wrapping Up
To wrap it up, our top pick for the best eco-friendly shampoo is Pure Nature Lux Spa Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo because it was made without SLS and sulfates, which can not only irritate your skin and scalp but also harm the environment due to being harsh chemicals in the long run. You can use it for almost any hair type and it also already comes with a conditioner formula so you don’t have to buy a conditioner.
The Moroccan argan oil shampoo can be safely used for colored and keratin-treated hair since it can help reduce the damage on your hair from harsh chemical treatments. It is also vegan and cruelty-free. We chose this over our other eco-friendly picks in this review due to its 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner function.
Name: Rebecca Tarvin
Discipline: Integrative biology
Degrees: B.A., Biology, Boston University, 2010; Ph.D., Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin,2017
Rebecca Tarvin is broadly interested in integrating studies of natural history with molecular genomics and phylogenetics. Specifically, she aims to elucidate causal genetic mechanisms underlying novel traits, characterize phenotypic diversification at macro and micro-evolutionary scales, and identify factors that promote and constrain biodiversity.
She also likes to write about eco-friendly lifestyle and other material alternatives that are eco-friendly, aside from other ways to save Mother Earth
