A woman washing her hair (© amixstudio - stock.adobe.com)
In a world where beauty and wellness intersect, the quest for the perfect shampoo often leads us to nature’s bounty. The best natural shampoos harness the power of botanical ingredients, offering a gentle yet effective cleanse without the harsh chemicals found in conventional products. These shampoos not only nurture your hair and scalp but also align with eco-friendly and sustainable practices, making them a top choice for the conscientious consumer. Whether you’re battling dryness, frizz, or just seeking a more wholesome hair care routine, our curated list of the finest natural shampoos promises to transform your locks while respecting the planet. Join us as we explore the top picks that blend nature’s goodness with the science of beautiful hair. Our best natural shampoo list is based on the most recommended products across eight expert reviews quoted below. If you have your own suggestions, please be sure to leave them in the comments below!
StudyFinds is a research-driven platform that analyzes and synthesizes expert recommendations from trusted sources. Rather than writing reviews ourselves, we meticulously compile consensus findings from leading industry experts and established publications to save consumers valuable research time. Each article represents hours of analysis across multiple authoritative sources to identify the most consistently recommended choices.
Table of contents
1. Acure Shampoos
Acure offers a line of vegan shampoos for different hair types with a shampoo bar and two dry shampoo options. Elle Magazine sums up Acure as having “more than a dozen organic extracts and oils team up in this lush formula ideal for quenching brittle strands.”
Classifying Acure as an affordable natural product line, Byrdie supports Acure’s claim that its shampoos are good for daily use, “It is clarifying and great to reach for when you’re feeling like you have excess product build-up on your hair and scalp, but it doesn’t strip your hair of moisture.”
The Grove Collaborative lists two Acure shampoos; their Ultra Hydrating and Vivacious Volume options. The Collaborative says the Ultra Hydrating Shampoo will “calm the craziness that can sometimes go along with having curly hair” and “the Vivacious Volume is high in protein, zinc, and antioxidants.”
2. Plaine Products
Plaine Products is a B-Corp member and a member 1% for the Planet. “At last… A liquid shampoo that’s truly zero waste!” Zero Waste Memoirs reports. Plaine Products’ aluminum bottle is both recyclable and returnable. It says, “The shampoo itself is stellar, and safe for the whole family. It’ll tame an unruly mane in no time, no matter how dry, damaged or color-treated it is.”
Though The Round UP rates Plaine Products as a pricier natural shampoo, but says, “It’s a thick and luxurious product, though, so a little goes a long way. These big 16oz bottles will last you ages.”
One Dey suggests the citrus and lavender scent and reports, “My hair feels light and bouncy after a shower, another surprise in the realm of sustainable shampoo. No residue is left, and my thin strands feel moisturized, but not weighed down.”
3. Ecoroots
Ecoroots offers plastic-free shampoo bars with a coconut oil and cocoa butter base. Voyageur Tripper rates EcoRoots as “the best zero-waste shampoo.” Though it can take some time to transition to a shampoo bar, Voyageur Tripper asserts that “ once you’ve tried (it), you won’t look back.”
According to ZeroWasteMemoirs, Ecoroots shampoo bars are “sure to leave your hair feeling and smelling divine” and they will be good for about 50 washes if left to dry on their bamboo soap dish between washes.
Sustainable Jungle recommends new consumers “build your zero waste kit with (Ecoroots) to ensure you get it in recycled and biodegradable materials like compostable cornstarch packing peanuts.”
4. Etee
Etee’s shampoos and conditioners are also offered in a bar form and are plant-based. According to the The Roundup, etee formulated their shampoo bars based on “their favorite liquid products and removed all the water.” The Roundup raves that the “Etee coconut shampoo bar makes every shower time smell like a tropical vacation” and recommends that you follow it up with etee’s Coconut Conditioner Bars.
Though etee’s shampoos are not free all of all additives that some naturalists may object to, Sustainable Jungle says, they are “scented with a variety of essential oils coupled with foamy properties through non-SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)-means.” In addition, etee’s bars “provide a clean, moisturized scalp with no animal testing or byproducts.”
5. Ethique
Also certified by B-Corp, Ethique sells another solid shampoo that made it to the top of many lists. Voyageur Tripper calls it a “renowned brand.” It identifies Ethique’s shampoo bars as “highly compatible with outdoor travel.”
Because Ethique’s shampoo bars vegan and free of cruelty, palm oil, and plastic, Sustainable Jungle says it “tick(s) each and every one of our boxes!” It says that Ethique bars are a “huge bang for your buck” and notes it for having high ratings on major retailer sites.
Any other recommendations for the best natural shampoo? Let us know in the comments.
Sources we consulted to form this list
- Byrdie
- The Roundup
- Sustainable Jungle
- ZeroWasteMemoirs
- Elle
- OneDey
- Grove Collaborative
- Voyageur Tripper
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.
Coconut oil or derivatives can be irritating to some scalps. But try finding a shampoo that doesn’t have it. Almost impossible! I only found three. One is a bar shampoo and one is a children’s shampoo. The other is too expensive.