Since your hair is your crowning glory, finding the best natural shampoo and conditioner, which is also affordable, makes sense. After all, who wants harsh and toxic chemicals dulling their hair and helping pollute groundwater?

But if you think that taking care of your hair the ‘natural way’ is going to empty your pockets, think again.

We’ve compiled a list of natural hair products that are both planet- and wallet-friendly.

3. (Runner-Up) Second Best All Natural Shampoo and Conditioner: Soapbox

Is there anyone who doesn’t love the scent of coconuts on their hair? Rich in coconut oil, a plethora of vitamins, and fatty acids, it’s no wonder Soapbox is considered one of the best natural shampoo and conditioner sets today.

Criteria for Picking the Best Natural Shampoo and Conditioner

In general, what you’re looking for in a ‘natural’ shampoo and conditioner is one that’s free of parabens and phthalates, which are chemicals that give plastic its soft and flexible characteristics.

You may want to steer clear of shampoos with sulfates too, which are foaming agents that give shampoos their ‘big lather’. Sadly, sulfates take away your hair’s natural oils too. So that lathery, luxurious experience you get while shampooing is actually doing your hair more harm.

The above ‘general rules’ alone go a long way in choosing the right earth-friendly hair care option. However, why stop there?

To choose the RIGHT natural shampoo and conditioner brand for you, consider the following as well.

• Hair Type. Firstly, you really need to know your hair type. There are so many vegan, organic, natural, and eco-friendly ingredients out there that the RIGHT resources should be the ones present for your specific hair type.
• Hair Problem. Sometimes, even with the best hair care routines can’t do everything. In this case, you should go with a natural shampoo and conditioner that has ingredients specifically aimed at solving your hair problem.

For example, dandruff, a non-inflammatory skin condition, affects the scalp and can potentially lead to hair shedding, thinning, or loss. The thing is, dandruff can be characterized by a dry scalp OR an oily scalp. So if you have this hair problem, you should also know its specifics, which will lead you to the best natural shampoo.

• Budget. All the natural shampoo and conditioner brands mentioned in this article are affordable, but don’t let the price tag be your sole deciding factor. Some may cost a bit more, but you may find that you tend to use LESS of that product, making it more economical.
• Sustainability Stand. Deciding to go for the best NATURAL shampoo and conditioner will already make a major positive impact on the environment. However, if you’re enthusiastic about a specific planet-friendly issues such as plastic recycling, CO2 emissions, or even how or where a specific hair care manufacturer sources its organic ingredients, then go ahead and dig deeper into a company’s sustainability stand.
• Brand Reputation. A reputable company will have a good set of reviews not just by users, but by the industry in general. (Think reviews by known fashion and beauty magazines). If the company also mentions a certain award or organization affiliation, check it out too, and don’t just believe any image or logo that it displays on its website.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to experiment too. Keep in mind that many factors affect your hair condition such as your diet, lifestyle, gender, age, etc. so be a bit adventurous and try different organic, natural shampoo and conditioner combos and see which ones fit YOU the best.

Frequently Asked Questions When Selecting the Best Natural Shampoo and Conditioner

1. What is the best natural shampoo for me personally?

When talking about shampoos and conditioners, people normally just think about HAIR. In reality, you should also consider scalp health. If your scalp feels tight after washing, then you probably have a dry scalp. If your scalp is ‘shiny’ all the time, then you probably have an oily scalp.

Shampoos in general are meant to cleanse hair roots so if you have a dry scalp, you should probably go with a natural shampoo that focuses on moisturizing. If you have an oily scalp, go for one that’s more focused on ‘deep cleansing’.

2. What is the best natural shampoo for a dry scalp?

If you have a dry or itchy scalp, it’s important to select the right shampoo so you can prevent other hair problems from occurring, such as dandruff. So here are a few tips for you when trying to find the best all-natural shampoo for dry scalps.

• Stay away from shampoos that offer fortifying or volumizing features. These can further strip your scalp of much-needed moisture.
• Look for shampoos that focus on moisture and hydration.
• Focus on all-natural shampoos and conditioners that are sulfate-free. Sulfates can be drying to the hair and scalp.⁴
• If you want to avoid washing with water to prevent further scalp drying, then think of switching to dry shampoos.

3. What is the best natural shampoo for an oily scalp?

Consider the following tips when selecting the best natural shampoo for oily hair and scalp.

• Stay clear of shampoos that focus on moisture and hydration.
• Focus on all-natural shampoos and conditioners with volumizing, strengthening, clarifying, or balancing qualities. These hair care products tend to be more effective at getting rid of excess oil.
• Since ‘double cleansing’ for the face has become the rage, then perhaps double shampooing⁵ is the answer for your oily scalp. When trying this method, try to use two different shampoos to address different needs. For example, first, use a shampoo to address your oily scalp, then follow suit with a shampoo that takes care of your hair roots.
• Take your time. Life can be hectic but when it comes to taking care of oily hair and scalp, don’t rush. Really work in the all-natural shampoo into your scalp to break up oil, and then rinse your scalp well to ensure that no product residue is left behind.
• Conditioner tip. A conditioner is primarily a moisturizing agent.⁶ Since you’re trying to avoid added moisture on your scalp, apply your conditioner mid-shaft or just at the ends of your hair. And as always – rinse well.

4. What is the ‘no poo’ method?

Some people who have dry, wavy, or coarse hair types advocate the ‘no poo’ method. This requires the use of minimal to no shampoo at all. They prefer to just use conditioners to soften and hydrate hair.

5. Why does my natural shampoo and conditioner have no scent?

In general, fragrance means the addition of chemicals. As such, some manufacturers of natural shampoos and conditioners avoid adding any artificial fragrance to their products. However, this does not mean that any natural hair product should be devoid of scent.

The best thing to do is to read the shampoo and conditioner label and check for fragrance derived from organic or natural resources such as organic coconut oil, organic lemongrass, etc.

6. What is the best natural shampoo for thinning hair?

Any of the products listed that rebuild body and volume are great for thinning hair, and many can be used by both men and women.

These hair care products are all affordable, but you can go a step further with their sustainability efforts by adding tree planting offsets, sold by one of the best carbon offset providers. And, if you really want to go the extra mile, consider measuring your personal emissions with an ecological footprint calculator, that way you can remove the greenhouse gases you generate everyday, and become completely carbon neutral.

Finding the right natural shampoo and conditioner for your hair type (that’s also affordable) just takes a little research, but the results you can achieve for your style… and for the planet, will be worth it.