Non-Toxic Shampoo To Please Everyone in the Family

A roundup of the best non-toxic shampoo brands for every type of hair, including liquid shampoo, dry shampoo, shampoo bars, natural shampoo for babies and affordable family-sized shampoo.

Wavy, straight, colored, curly, thick or fine – we all have our own unique hair. Whether we love our hair or wish we could trade it in for a completely different set of locks, we all use shampoo to manage our hair and keep it looking its best.

But we don’t all use the same shampoo. Shampoo is personal. As I’m sure you know, it can take some experimentation to find the shampoo that works best for your own hair.

Because of that, I would never try to convince you to use one particular shampoo. Just as you wouldn’t wear the same clothes as me, I wouldn’t expect you to use the same shampoo. But I would like to convince you of this: Stop using that conventional shampoo brand you’ve been using for years and make the switch to a safe, natural, non-toxic shampoo instead. 

RELATED: 4 Good Reasons to Buy Natural, Non-Toxic Products for Your Home & Life

Why You Should Switch to Non-Toxic Shampoo

I know, I know! Switching shampoo is hard! But here’s the thing. Shampoo is a product you use frequently – whether it’s once a day or once a week – it still adds up to a lot of shampoo over the course of time.

Traditional shampoos are a chemical soup that foam like crazy and smell strongly of something that didn’t come from nature. The chemicals that make all that happen can be harmful to you and to the environment – and in the grand scheme of things, it just isn’t worth it.

Here are the primary toxic ingredients you’ll want to avoid in shampoo – so check the ingredient list before you buy:

• Sulfates – Sodium lauryl and laureth sulfates are foaming agents and can be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a probable carcinogen.
• Certain preservatives – This includes parabens which are linked to breast cancer and hormone disruption, as well as DMDM hydantoin, which releases formaldehyde and is linked to hair loss and scalp burns, according to a class action law suit. (FYI – some type of preservatives are necessary in shampoo but safer ones exist.)
• Artificial fragrances – The term fragrance is a catchall for thousands of chemicals including hormone disrupting phthalates, as well as skin irritants and allergens.
• Petroleum products – Ingredients that come from non-renewable resources are not environmentally friendly.
• Benzene – This cancer-causing ingredient has been found in aerosol dry shampoos, so if you use one you’ll want to check this dry shampoo recall list. 

The good news is that many companies have mastered the art of non-toxic shampoo made with safe, natural and organic ingredients. Clean shampoo brands are made with plant-based ingredients and herbal and botanical extracts, and scented with essential oils or pure, plant extracts, while avoiding the harsh chemicals and artificial fragrance found in conventional shampoos.

Keep in mind that organic certification for shampoos is rare, but many are made with some certified organic ingredients. (read up on personal care certifications here)

There are so many great clean shampoo brands and because we all have different needs, I’ve split up my recommendations into the following sections:

• My picks for best natural shampoos by hair type and personal needs
• Best shampoo bars
• Best dry shampoo brands
• Best non-toxic baby shampoos 
• Non-toxic drugstore shampoos
• Reader recommendations

Rest assured, all the shampoos listed here are phthalate free, free of synthetic fragrances, and made without the harmful chemicals found in most conventional shampoo brands. And if you are looking for shampoos without DMDM hydantoin, I’ve got you covered. My goal is to help you find the safest shampoo possible!

Best Non-Toxic Shampoo Brands

I may receive commissions from purchases made through affiliate links in this article. Full Disclosure

My hair is very thick and wavy, on the dry side and yes, I do color it – so I gravitate towards clean shampoo brands that help me manage my crazy locks and maintain my color for as long as possible.

But whether your hair is curly or straight, thick or fine, colored or natural, there is a non-toxic shampoo for YOU! As you browse the recommendations below, take note of the various formulas of shampoo the company makes under each brand listing. My goal is to help you find the best natural shampoo for your needs!

(Be sure to check out the conditioners and other hair products from these brands too!)

Wellnesse

Wellnesse was founded by Katie Wells of Wellness Mama after she perfected products that are human safe, planet safe and work better than conventional alternatives. Her shampoos blend moisturizing shea butter and coconut oil with aloe vera, quinoa and herbal extracts to nourish hair.

• Shampoo formulas: smoothing and cleansing
• Fav product: Smoothing Shampoo
• Best for: Curly hair
• Price: $18 for 8-oz
• EWG-Verified

Buy Wellnesse (take 20% off a haircare bundle)

EVOLVh

EVOLVh has been a pioneer in clean hair care, by creating science-based, high-performance products using natural and organic ingredients.

• Shampoo formulas: UltraShine, SmartCurl, SmartColor, InstaVolume
• Fav product: SMARTCOLOR Color Protecting Shampoo
• Best for: Color Care
• Price: $34 for 8.5 oz

Buy EVOLVh (Use code MINDFULMOMMY20 for 20% off through 11/17/22 only – or take 15% off with code MINDFULMOMMA)

Beautycounter 

Beautycounter is an innovative B-Corporation that is committed to bringing safer beauty products to everyone.

• Shampoo formulas: daily (for all hair types)
• Fav product: Beautycounter Daily Shampoo leaves my hair feeling SO clean and soft. This plus the Beautycounter Daily Conditioner are a perfect pair for soft, shiny hair!
• Best for: Daily use
• Price: $29 for 9.29-oz (refill bottles are also available)

Buy Beautycounter (get 20% off when you sign up for their emails)