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.
Winners: Best Natural Shampoo and Conditioner Products 2022
Overall Best Natural Shampoo for Both Men and Women: REVERIE
This brand earned our top spot for it's overall quality, price, and eco-friendly features.
Best Natural Shampoo and Conditioner: True Botanicals
Natural ingredients and elevating scents that won't break your budget.
(Runner-Up) Second Best All Natural Shampoo and Conditioner: Soapbox
Coconut scents create a tropical breeze with all natural ingredients.
Best Natural Shampoo for Men: Dr. Squatch
All natural and eco-friendly line just for men.
Best Natural Shampoo for Women: Prose
Customized natural shampoo and conditioner made specifically for your unique hair type.
Best Natural Shampoo for Straight Hair: Aveda
Their line of beauty products are all natural, and work perfect for straight hair.
Best Natural Shampoo for Wavy Hair: Briogeo
Wavy hair is treated to luxury care with this eco-friendly shampoo and conditioner.
Best Natural Shampoo for Curly Hair: Mielle Organics
Deep moisturizers and all natural ingredients to strengthen curly hair.
Best Natural Shampoo for Coily Hair: SheaMoisture
Delicious scent and powerful natural ingredients.
Best Natural Shampoo for Fine Hair: Rahua
Plenty of body and softness, without weighing down fine hair.
Best Natural Shampoo for Oily Hair: Tree to Tub
Natural oils help maintain scalp PH balance.
Best Natural Shampoo for Seborrheic Dermatitis (Dandruff): Yes To
Completely plant based and contains natural antibiotics of tea tree.
Best Natural Shampoo for Color Treated Hair: Innersence Organic Beauty
Keep your color longer.
Best Natural Shampoo and Conditioner for Hair Loss: Natural Riches
Help keeps scalp healthy with vitamin infused formula.
Best Natural Dry Shampoo: Acure
No water needed!
Best Natural Shampoo and Conditioner Bar Set: Peach
Save on plastics and waste with this set.
Organic and Eco-Friendly Shampoo and Conditioner Brand: Avalon Organics
No plastic bottles and recycled packaging.
1. Overall Best Natural Shampoo for Both Men and Women: REVERIE
Free from sulfates, parabens, and other harsh chemicals that are common in regular hair care products, REVERIE shampoo is considered one of the best all-natural shampoo brands for both men and women because it caters to every hair type and texture. The product is made from almonds and a fusion of essential oils, giving it a pleasing scent that users love.
1REVERIE Shampoo
2. Best Natural Shampoo and Conditioner: True Botanicals
One thing about True Botanicals is that they don’t just claim to be one of the best natural shampoo and conditioner sets around. They back this statement with clinical trials1 too.
2True Botanicals: Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner
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.
3Soapbox: Coconut Oil Moisture & Nourish Shampoo and Conditioner Set
4. Best Natural Shampoo for Men: Dr. Squatch
With most of the best all-natural shampoos focused on women, it’s refreshing to find a brand focused on men. Dr. Squatch, founded by Jack Haldrup, is a men’s only personal care brand with a catchy purpose – to produce products that make a man “feel like a man and smell like a champion”.
4Dr. Squatch: Cypress Coast Shampoo
5. Best Natural Shampoo for Women: Prose
Prose takes the best natural shampoo mark to another level. Apart from using only natural ingredients, it also offers customized hair care solutions. You begin by taking an online quiz about your hair, including mentioning what it is you want to achieve (e.g., revive dull or lifeless hair, moisturize dry hair and scalp, etc.).
Prose will then create a personalized hair care routine for you. The products will be created and be ready for delivery straight to your doorstep between 7-12 days.
5Prose: Custom Shampoo
Best Natural Shampoo by Hair Type
Do you know your hair type? In general, there are four different hair types: straight, wavy, curly, and coily.2 Knowing your hair type is a great first step to discovering which natural shampoos and conditioners are best for you. Why?
Hair Care products are not created equal. If you know your hair type, then you can make a more informed decision as to which organic shampoo and conditioner are most suitable for you.
6. Best Natural Shampoo for Straight Hair: Aveda
Is your straight hair on the ‘fine’ side? If so, then Aveda probably has the best natural shampoo for fine hair for you since this particular product is crafted from ingredients known to build hair body and volume.
6Aveda: Pure Abundance™ Volumizing Shampoo
7. Best Natural Shampoo for Wavy Hair: Briogeo
Wavy hair is prone to dryness so it’s all about hydration. Luckily, Briogeo has a shampoo that locks in moisture all the way down to your hair’s cuticles.
7Briogeo: Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo
8. Best Natural Shampoo for Curly Hair: Mielle Organics
Curly hair is also prone to dryness but thanks to Mielle Organics, you have a natural shampoo that deeply moisturizes and strengthens hair.
8Mielle Organics: Babassu Oil Conditioning Sulfate-Free Shampoo
9. Best Natural Shampoo for Coily Hair: SheaMoisture
If you want to tame your wildly coily hair, then SheaMoisture has got you covered with one of its best natural shampoos. The presence of virgin coconut oil in its formulation also works to strengthen coily hair that tends to suffer from dryness and split ends.
9Shea Moisture: Coconut & Hibiscus, Curl & Shine Shampoo
Best Natural Shampoo by Hair Problem
If you use the best natural shampoo and conditioner for your specific hair type, then you’re already ahead when it comes to preventing hair problems. However, if you do happen to suffer from a specific hair problem already, then read on and be guided by the following natural hair care products.
10. Best Natural Shampoo for Fine Hair: Rahua
Fine hair is prone to greasiness, thinning and even dryness from time to time. But mostly, people with fine hair are frustrated by its lifelessness. Fortunately, Rahua addresses this hair problem with its organic lemongrass-infused shampoo, which provides the body that fine hair needs. No wonder it’s considered the best natural shampoo for fine hair.
10Rahua: Voluminous Shampoo
11. Best Natural Shampoo for Oily Hair: Tree To Tub
Is oily hair weighing you down? Greasy hair is due to overactive sebaceous glands, which produce too much sebum. Normal or healthy sebum production is good since it helps to maintain the pH balance of our skin, which in turn prevents dryness.
However, too much sebum can lead to an oily scalp, which in turn can also lead to scalp problems such as dandruff. Luckily, Tree to Tub is here for you.
11Refreshing Peppermint Shampoo for Sensitive Scalp
12. Best Natural Shampoo for Seborrheic Dermatitis (Dandruff): Yes To
Dandruff is an annoying and embarrassing condition to have. If you’re suffering from this hair problem, then YES TO offers the best natural shampoo for seborrheic dermatitis. It has salicylic acid to lessen scalp itchiness and tea tree oil to gently cleanse and moisturize the scalp.
12Yes To: Naturals Tea Tree & Sage Calming Scalp Relief Shampoo
13. Best Natural Shampoo for Color Treated Hair: Innersense Organic Beauty
If you frequently color your hair, then you should know that sulfates are believed to be one of the biggest reasons for color-fading.3 So if you’re looking for the best natural shampoo for color-treated hair, then go for sulfate-free ones.
13Innersense Organic Beauty: Color Awakening Hairbath
14. Best Natural Shampoo and Conditioner for Hair Loss: Natural Riches
Whether your hair is prone to shedding or stress is causing your hair to fall out, Natural Riches has the answer. It’s fortified with Moroccan argan oil to strengthen the hair shaft within. It also has essential oils to improve overall hair quality, plus vitamins A and B5 to make your hair stronger and thicker.
14Natural Riches: Argan Oil and Conditioner
15. Best Natural Dry Shampoo: Acure
Washing your hair every day – should you or shouldn’t you? Although there’s no fixed rule, it doesn’t seem to hurt if you don’t want to wash your hair every day. In fact, many people suffering from dry scalps opt for this. However, not washing (using water), doesn’t necessarily mean not shampooing. So if you’re on the lookout for the best natural dry shampoo, give Acure a try.
And in case you’re wondering how to use dry shampoo. It can’t be any easier. Just squeeze a bit onto your hairbrush and then run the brush through your strands. You can also just put some directly on your hair, and then gently work the product on your scalp and down you’re your hair with a comb.
15Acure: Dry Shampoo
16. Best Natural Shampoo and Conditioner Bar Set: Peach
Peach, by Grove Collaborative, is one of the few shampoo and conditioner bars in the market today. And true to its name, users love the Wild Honey and peachy scent that’s very prevalent in the bars.
16Peach: Shampoo & Conditioner Bar Set for Volumizing
17. Organic and Eco-Friendly Shampoo and Conditioner Brands: Avalon Organics
The product by Avalon Organics below is not only authenticated by the Environmental Working Group, but it’s also a cult favorite for being budget-friendly. And with natural ingredients and vitamins in its formulation, it’s great for thinning hair.
17Avalon Organics: Biotin B-Complex Thickening Therapy Shampoo
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.
(Image: pmv chamara7)
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Best Natural Shampoo
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’.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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References
1Clinical Trial Results. Independent Scientific Clinical Studies (rando. True Botanicals. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2021, from <https://truebotanicals.com/pages/clinical-trial-results-independent-scientific-clinical-studies-randomized-comparative-double-blind-trials.>
2Rohini Radhakrishnan, E. N. T. (2021, February 25). What are the four types of hair? MedicineNet. Retrieved September 20, 2021, from <https://www.medicinenet.com/what_are_the_four_types_of_hair/article.htm.>
3Team, C. C. E. C. (2021, July 26). The truth about color-safe shampoo. Color&Co Blog. Retrieved September 22, 2021, from <https://blog.colorandco.com/blog/the-truth-about-color-safe-shampoo/>
4MediLexicon International. (n.d.). Sulfate in shampoo: What to know. Medical News Today. Retrieved September 22, 2021, from <https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327013>
5Howell, C. (2021, March 2). The double shampoo method. Upfront Cosmetics. Retrieved September 22, 2021, from <https://upfrontcosmetics.ca/blogs/be-upfront/the-double-shampoo-method>
6Fasanella, K. (2018, October 16). Here’s why you should always use conditioner. Allure. Retrieved September 22, 2021, from <https://www.allure.com/story/what-does-a-conditioner-do-why-should-you-use-it>
7pmv chamara. Unsplash. Retrieved from <https://unsplash.com/photos/an-assortment-of-makeup-products-on-a-pink-background-sCFL6R7loQk>