The 12 Best Organic Shampoos for Every Hair Concern
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When it comes to skin care, let us not forget that our scalps should also be included in every conversation. Typically, we address hair concerns like maintaining length or reducing breakage, but scalp health is an essential step toward achieving all your hair goals. Caring for your scalp not only reduces irritation but also promotes healthy hair growth. While scalp oils and treatments are a great first step, true scalp health begins in the shower. Similar to how cleansers are the foundation of a good skin care routine, shampoos are the key to a killer hair care routine—and they should be free of any ingredients that can compromise hair health.
Opting for a natural or organic shampoo is a good way to weed out any harsh chemicals or additives that can cause damage to your hair and scalp over time. These good-for-you shampoos are free of synthetic irritants, sulfates, and parabens, and are often formulated with hydrating and nourishing ingredients, making them better for your hair and the environment. Though the perfect shampoo isn’t one-size-fits-all, organic shampoos are great for all hair types and textures and particularly beneficial for those with a sensitive scalp. “If you’re looking for a hydrating formula for your damaged hair, nourishing ingredients like argan oil and shea butter are great options,” says Stephanie Brown, a celebrity colorist at IGK Salons. “If you are looking to get a healthier scalp, ingredients such as tea tree oil, green tea, and calendula relieve itching, dryness, and inflammation.”
Regardless of how many conditioners, leave-ins, and masks we pile on to maintain strong, shiny strands, healthy hair starts at the scalp—and a healthy scalp starts with a good organic shampoo. So, to narrow your search for the perfect shampoo to add to your routine, we called on experts and sifted through dozens of consumer reviews to bring you the 12 best organic shampoos below.
Has dry and damaged hair got you down? Fret no more—Innersense’s hydrating hair bath is packed with organic shea butter that provides intense moisture and hydration to damaged strands. (Also, maybe lay off the heat for a little.)
ELLE editor review: “When I was looking to restart my healthy natural hair journey after months of straightening and dying my strands, my best friend introduced me to this shampoo and I’ve been hooked ever since. I love that it doesn’t leave my hair feeling dry and my curls always look so bouncy after every wash.” — Tasha Nicole Smith, beauty assistant
Coconut oil is the star ingredient in this formula, which nourishes strands while lifting dirt and product buildup from the scalp. The shampoo also provides a bit of scalp stimulation to help promote hair growth and won’t deposit synthetic nasties onto your skin.
Customer review “I have frizzy, wavy, dry hair, and this shampoo always leaves my hair looking soft and shiny. The smell is SO AMAZING and will linger on for days! I am used to shampoos not lathering because I have used more natural ones in the past so that wasn’t an issue for me. I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!”
If you are prone to an itchy or sensitive scalp and have been searching for a solution, look no further. This shampoo clarifies enough to create a fresh, clean foundation for styling products. Your hair is treated with rosemary extract, which is excellent for hair growth, along with coconut oil and aloe for hydration.
Expert review: “I recommend all of Christina Moss’ products if you have a sensitive scalp. This one in particular is soothing and doesn’t irritate your skin.” —Celebrity colorist Stephanie Brown
Typically, hair growth shampoos lean heavily on powerful chemicals, but the folks at California Naturals figured out how to create an effective product with simple, healthy ingredients. With zinc, biotin, and caffeine, this product stimulates the scalp and creates a healthy environment for your roots to thrive. As with all of California Naturals’ products, everything—from the product to the bottle—is made with 99 percent natural ingredients, and no sulfates or silicones ever.
Customer review: “I have had this for a couple weeks and so far it is working great! I have essentially straight hair with thinning and have been trying to find a product that helps for over a year. This shampoo doesn’t dry out your hair, but it must have something to stimulate the hair follicles because after a few days I really felt like it was working. I have been combining it with the green conditioner by California Naturals and my hair feels great! It’s very lightweight, not greasy, but also not dry, and the frizziness has been minimal, even though I live in high humidity all the time. I appreciate the natural ingredients and the company’s commitment to recycling and little waste. All around it’s a good product and I would recommend!”
If you suffer from dandruff, you’re not alone. A detoxifying shampoo, like this one from John Masters Organics, will cleanse your scalp and roots with peppermint and spearmint oils to remove dirt and debris. Plus, ingredients like sunflower oil balance oil production, so you won’t get dandruff again.
Key ingredients: Sunflower Oil, Peppermint Oil, Spearmint Oil
Customer review: “I have a very sensitive scalp, and during summer with the heat, sunscreens, and extra sweating, it’s not happy. This is one of two products I use to keep my scalp healthy during summer and high stress periods. My scalp feels so cool, calm, and refreshed after I use it. No flakes and no itching. I love it.”
Tree To Tub’s Soapberry Shampoo puts your scalp first. Perfect for dry, irritated, or sensitive scalps, the formula is naturally cleansing and free from any toxins that might irritate your skin. Peppermint cleans, while the soapberry moisturizes. A one-two punch!
Customer review: “This shampoo works well and leaves a smooth finish to my hair. I have naturally dry hair and this shampoo makes my hair shiny and feels very healthy.”
Certified organic botanicals (aloe leaf juice, rosemary extract, and quinoa seed) work to plump and fluff even the limpest strands. This gentle lather helps to add lasting volume after every wash for thicker, fuller-looking hair.
Customer Review: “I really like this shampoo! I’ve been using it for almost a month now and have already noticed a growth in the length of my hair. It keeps my hair feeling clean after my shower with no product buildup. It also smells good, not too strong or overbearing but clean and fresh.”
They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Surprisingly, apples can also be beneficial for your scalp and hair health. Unlike sulfates, which are commonly found in shampoos and are known to strip the hair and scalp of its natural oils, the apple amino acids in this shampoo gently cleanse the scalp without damaging the skin’s moisture barrier, resulting in visibly healthier hair and a hydrated scalp.
Customer review: “I can’t praise Act + Acre shampoo enough! It’s simply fantastic. Not only does it cleanse my hair thoroughly, but it also leaves it feeling incredibly soft and healthy. The natural ingredients ensure I’m treating my hair right, and the refreshing scent is an added bonus.”
OGX’s Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo might be the secret to shinier and softer hair. The sulfate-free formula intensely hydrates and locks in moisture with the help of silk proteins.
ELLE editor review: “If there is one shampoo that I always repurchase, it’s this one. This shampoo has been a staple in my stash for years. I love the smell, and it always leaves my hair feeling and looking extremely soft and shiny.”—Tasha Nicole Smith
Using a blend of hand-grown ingredients—including jojoba, olive, babassu, and avocado oils—this shampoo deeply cleans hair and scalp, nourishes strands, and helps repair signs of damage. With the added benefits of rosemary and Ionian bergamot, this shampoo is also great for promoting scalp health and fighting dandruff.
Key ingredients: Jojoba, Babassu, Avocado, and Olive oil
Customer review: “This shampoo is fantastic. Most shampoos leave my hair somewhat dull and I was amazed at the shine and soft feeling after drying my hair. Scalp feels amazing as well.”
If you are as environmentally conscious as you are hair-conscious, then this shampoo is the one to reach for. Apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil are the standout ingredients in this 100 percent plant-based, biodegradable formula, which helps reduce flakiness and dryness. The bottles are also made totally from recycled materials.
Customer review: “As an oily hair person, I love this shampoo SO much! It suds up without much effort at all and really deeply cleanses. My hair is never oily after using this like it is with many other shampoos I’ve tried. I love how it uses natural ingredients and my hair is also super soft afterwards.”
Ideal for curly hair, this nourishing formula miraculously still foams, resulting in a satisfying, softening wash experience. The primary ingredient, babassu oil, acts as a hydrating conditioning agent that helps to smooth ends, reduce dryness and breakage, and strengthen hair’s elasticity for curls that bounce back every time.
ELLE editor review: “Since I started using Mielle products a few years ago, the brand has become a family favorite. My mom, sisters, and cousins all love this shampoo, and of course, so do I. This shampoo has an amazing lather that leaves my scalp feeling clean without drying out my curls. I can even run my fingers through my hair as I wash for some light detangling, which for me is the test of a great shampoo.”—Tasha Nicole Smith
Stephanie Brown is a celebrity colorist at IGK Salons. She has worked with stars like musician Vincint and actress and comedian Kate McKinnon.
What should you look for in an organic shampoo?
According to Brown, finding the right organic shampoo is super easy. It’s all about looking for ingredients you recognize and can pronounce. “Go for oils like coconut, olive, sunflower, apple cider vinegar, aloe, green tea, and other ingredients you would feel safe ingesting,” explains Brown. “Look at the ingredient label and look for certification symbols like COSMOS, Soil Association, or National Organic Program.”
Brown recommends organic shampoo for all hair types, but notes it’s ideal for people with sensitive scalps who have allergies to harsh chemicals. “If you’re looking for a hydrating formula for your damaged hair, nourishing ingredients like argan oil and shea butter are great options,” says Brown. “If you are looking to get a healthier scalp, ingredients such as tea tree oil, green tea, and calendula relieve itching, dryness, and inflammation.”
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items.
For this piece, ELLE.com editors spoke with hair experts about the absolute best organic shampoos to shop before wash day. The authors personally tested a number of these products and scoured reviews for the top-rated products on the market.
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