The Best Natural Shampoos That Actually Are.
Written by Ajay Chohan, Founder
The best shampoos should help nurture a healthy scalp microbiome that’s conducive for strong hair. It sounds so simple yet it’s an uncommon occurrence given the ubiquitousness of unnourishing synthetic ingredients and misleading advertising. Now, the best natural shampoos should gently cleanse + nourish with ingredients that are whole + alive + plant based. Meaning — whole plant and flower extracts from living & breathing botanicals form the majority of the concoction — not dead chemical compounds from a lab.
Getting into the specifics, we know that the first basic job of a shampoo is safely and effectively cleaning our hair. This should be done via non-toxic and high quality surfactants — like castile soap. Now, that’s just the first part. The shampoo should then rejuvenate our hair and increase its vitality. Not just give the feel of it. This is where whole botanical based shampoos that are naturally rich in vitamins, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties come in.
Synthetic shampoos, with their dead lab-made isolated chemical compounds, not to mention their plastic silicones and other unappetizing ingredients, are excellent at giving the temporary feel of healthy & shiny hair, but it’s just that, a feel. It is not roots down nurturing and strengthening of our hair.
The wholesomeness and aliveness of the ingredients is thus the biggest factor that makes a truly better natural shampoo. Such shampoos gently cleanse whilst promoting overall scalp + hair health.
Our “natural” shampoo is probably not natural. And many of the “best natural shampoos” articles online unfortunately feature shampoos with synthetic and harsh ingredients
My 5 essential attributes of the best natural shampoos — and it’s less complicated than the cosmetologists or dermatologists would like us to think
The Shampoo Needs to Have Effective and Safe Cleansing Agents to Remove Dirt, Grime and Oils:
First things first: Even the mildest natural shampoos for sensitive scalps need to be able to effectively remove dirt and build up. This should be done via high quality and safe surfactants a.ka. surface acting agents. My list of favorite mild surfactant includes:
Good old castile soap made with coconut oil and olive oil: When it comes to safe surfactants, we have to mention castile soap first. This is a traditional centuries old soap recipe that remains very effective as an alternative to harsh sulfates
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate: Long name, but this is a coconut derived mild surfactant that has an EWG rating of 1. It is water soluble and biodegradable. This is another safe alternative to harsh sulfates
As you might have noticed given the above two, coconut oil and coconut based substances are commonly used as cleansing surfactants. The quality of these coconut based surfactants and how they are produced is equally important
All-Natural and Wholesome Nourishment:
After making sure the shampoo will cleanse without damaging our hair or scalp - the basics - we want a natural shampoo that nourishes. It should promote overall scalp health and strengthen follicles resulting in strong hair growth.
To achieve this, the shampoo should have high quality whole flower & leaf extracts and moisturizing botanical oils. These wholesome ingredients should form a meaningful percentage of the overall concoction as well, not a negligible amount added purely for marketing purposes, as we see with mainstream harsh shampoos. Whole plant based hair and skin care beats lab-made isolated synthetics any day
The Shampoo Can Not Have Harsh or Toxic Ingredients:
Perhaps this should be point #1. The best shampoos do not have harsh chemicals and toxic parabens that trigger allergies, cause scalp irritation, disrupt our hormones or affect our immune system. You know, the usual stuff sadly tied with synthetics heavy shampoos.
The shampoo should also be hypoallergenic and safe for even the most sensitive of scalps including those with scalp eczema. Importantly, the shampoo should not excessively strip our hair & scalp of their natural protective oils
Price Accessibility:
Shampoos made with wholesome plant and flower extracts, often in smaller batches, will understandably come at a higher price point than shampoos full of cheap synthetic and harsh ingredients. HAVING SAID THAT, these all-natural shampoos still need to be affordable and worth the price! I have excluded any pretentious brands using corny phrases like ‘ultra luxurious’ or ‘celebrity endorsed’ to justify some obnoxious price point
Who is Making the Shampoo?
Lastly, this might sound a bit unnecessary, but when buying a natural shampoo and other body care, I want to know more about the founders. Why did they start a shampoo brand? What’s their passion? The founders of the all-natural small companies below include herbalists, botanists and beekeepers…people who are passionate about what they make. Do they concoct their concoctions with love? It’s all important ;)
With the above points in mind, the below are my best all-natural shampoo recommendations. I have divided the selections in 7 categories:
1-a) The Best Overall All-Natural Shampoo
1-b) The Best Overall All-Natural Shampoo (+ Baby & Newborn) — runner up
2) The Best Unscented 100% Natural Shampoo (+ Baby & Newborn)
3-a) The Best All-Natural Treatment for Dandruff and Dry Scalp — restore a healthy scalp microbiome
3-b) The Best All-Natural Anti-Dandruff Shampoo — runner up
4) The Best 100% Natural Shampoo Bars — travel & eco-friendly bars
5) The Best All-Natural Shampoo for Men
6) The Best Natural Shampoo for Your Hair — a custom and personalized shampoo
7) The Best Natural Shampoo + Wash for Babies & Newborns — the safest choice for that delicate skin
Please Note: Small Batch Goodness is a participant in the Amazon Associates program. The below all-natural shampoo reviews contain affiliate links from my meticulously selected companies. When you purchase through Amazon, or other, affiliate links on my site, I may earn a commission.
# 1-a
Elva’s All Naturals: The Best Overall All-Natural Shampoo
It’s hard not to immediately fall in love with a company like Elva's All Naturals. Elva’s is all-original goodness from founders with integrity. Regular folks who diligently tested what nature has given us to craft authentic all-natural hair care recipes. Their shampoos and conditioners are freshly made using extracts from biodynamic-farmed plants without the use of harmful pesticides.
Elva’s TRUTH Vanilla Orange Shampoo is an all-natural and scalp-balancing shampoo that cleanses and nourishes. The goodness in this gentle and 100% plant based shampoo includes rosemary extract, burdock root extract, sea buckthorn extract and more. The wholesome nutrition helps sustain shiny and strong hair sprouting from a healthy scalp. Please do look at the full ingredients list to see what the ingredients in an actual wholesome all-natural shampoo look like vs. the many fake natural ones! Regardless of your hair type, this shampoo cleanses gently and nourishes deeply for vibrant hair.
On a mission to detoxify our home and planet, the founder Kirsten Pelchat has organically grown Elva on the basis of authentic recipes that work. Elva's is spearheading what they call "The Toxic Chemical Rebellion" – putting an end to products with ingredients known to cause harm. Elva’s all-natural and refillable creations are certainly doing their part!
# 1-b
Babo Botanicals: The Best Overall Natural Shampoo - sensitive scalps included
A name you are likely familiar with. Babo’s Swim & Sport shampoo is a wholesome + plant-based shampoo made for families, outdoor fun and sensitive scalps. Their shampoo concoction starts with mild but effective coconut based surfactants for cleaning all buildup.
Post clean-up, the nourishment starts with their sustainably sourced maracuja seed oil from the passionflower plant. Maracuja has a very powerful antioxidant and vitamin profile which does wonders for our scalp. This shampoo also has what Babo calls its nutri-soothe blend — a blend of calendula, chamomile, watercress and meadowsweet flower extracts — known for their antioxidant & soothing properties. Lastly, the shampoo has naturally derived phytic acid, which helps remove chlorine and salts after long days at the pool, beach or just general outdoor sweating!
Now, Babo’s Baby focused line-up includes their Sensitive Baby Fragrance-Free shampoo + wash full of shea butter and gentle plant based glycerin. This shampoo is gentle enough for newborns.
Kate Solomon founded Babo after her first born, leveraging her passion and knowledge for beekeeping & sustainable agriculture. You can find the Swim & Sport shampoo here and pair it with their Swim & Sport Citrus Mint Conditioner.
# 2
Carina Organics: The Best 100% Natural Unscented Shampoos
Carina Organics’ formulations are freshly made using sustainable ingredients from the Pacific Northwest. Their 100% natural body care is full of medicinal extracts including tree saps, herbs and flower extracts — and natural ingredients is ALL you will find in their products.
Carina’s Unscented Extra Gentle Shampoo is hypoallergenic, extra gentle in cleansing + suited for treated hair. Wholesome goodness in this shampoo includes pine extract, olive fruit oil and apple cider vinegar. Similar to the above all-natural companies, Carina Organics has found its own unique blends, as nature gives us so many ways to heal and nourish!
The rest of their shampoo line is similarly made with healing extracts that are alive and whole. Their unscented collection also includes Unscented Leave In Conditioner and Unscented Dandruff Flake Removal Shampoo.
Baby + Newborn: Carina’s extra gentle all-natural shampoo + wash for babies is made with plant, vegetable and flower extracts. It is scented with sweet pea flower extract and also comes in an unscented version.
Carina was started in 1972 by Helmut Gollner with the belief that nature provides the means for us to be healthy and beautiful. Even today the Gollners venture out to the Pacific Northwest's forests to collect tree saps and extracts of herbs + flowers such as alfalfa, chamomile and nettle. And we simply get to enjoy mother earth’s gifts combined with Carina’s ingenuity.
# 3-a
100% PURE: The Best All-Natural Treatment for Dandruff and Dry Scalp — restore healthy scalp microbiome
Dandruff is generally caused by an oily scalp while dry scalp is irritated scalp lacking moisture. 100% PURE crafts shampoos with purposeful all-natural ingredients to treat the root cause of both.
Their Burdock and Neem Healthy Scalp Shampoo is a restorative shampoo to both relieve dryness + itching as well as dandruff. Neem has anti-fungal properties that help with reducing dandruff, promote overall scalp health and has regenerative properties which help in reducing hair fall. Nettle aids in blood circulation + makes it easier for our scalp to absorb nutrients making it potent for hair growth and hair loss prevention. 100% PURE’s approach to treating dandruff is thus focusing on restoring overall scalp health.
If a dry scalp is your primary concern, their Moisture Drench Shampoo made with rose water, seaweed collagen and coconut oil will naturally hydrate and restore your scalp. High quality natural extracts is all their shampoos are made of BTW. They don’t form a small percentage of the ingredients with the rest being cheap synthetics. Make sure you read the full ingredients list to see this for yourself. Both these shampoos are also ideal if you have brittle & damaged hair or an unhealthy scalp in general, as the plant based treatment will restore scalp health and promote stronger hair.
The color of their shampoos - and all their other hair + skin care concoctions - comes from fruit pigments and not petroleum based dyes. Susie Wang founded 100% PURE driven by her disappointment of the hundreds of unsafe chemicals being used in mainstream cosmetics. 100% PURE has an extreme focus on ingredient quality & on harnessing nature’s gifts!
# 3-b
Just Nutritive: The Best All-Natural Dandruff Treatment Shampoo - runner up
Just Nutritive’s Dandruff Clear Scalp Shampoo similarly takes a holistic approach to clearing dandruff flakes by nurturing a healthy scalp. It does so without the harsh chemicals found in medicated dandruff shampoos.
This all-natural shampoo’s root extract + botanical oil based concoction first cleanses hair down to our follicles leaving it free of dandruff flakes. The wholesome nutrients then help nurture a healthy scalp environment allowing the scalp to naturally get rid of dandruff over time.
Key ingredients include comfrey root extract which is a healing extract with anti-inflammatory and anti-dandruff properties. Neem oil again promotes a healthy scalp which helps reduce dandruff. The licorice root extract soothes a dry and irritated scalp. Andiroba oil stimulates scalp blood flow. The overall approach of Just Nutritive is providing abundant healing for our scalp in addition to clearing dandruff flakes. The goal after all is to have the scalp stop producing dandruff in the first place!
It’s important to remember that there is no magic pill in permanently getting rid of dandruff. If you are currently using a medicated shampoo like Selsun Blue, it will get rid of dandruff temporarily, but it is only addressing the symptoms. The root cause is always addressing scalp - and gut - health.
Some other Just Nutritive products that I love include their Itchy Scalp Calming Shampoo, Dry Scalp Treatment Oil and their Hair Loss Therapy Shampoo — all of these are full of healing botanical and root extracts. Do read their full ingredients list to see what I mean.
# 4
J.R.LIGGETT: The Best All-Natural Shampoo Bars — travel + eco-friendly bars
If you accused me of having an extra pep in my step as I walk around knowing there’s a bar of J.R.LIGGETT in my carry-on…you would not be wrong. J.R.LIGGETT is the OG of all-natural shampoo bars. Minimalist yet so very effective.
Their Original Formula shampoo bar’s full ingredient list reads: olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil + an essential oil blend. That is all. Since their old fashioned and healthy bars are mild, all-natural and do not strip our scalp’s natural oils – you will more than likely not need a conditioner either. J.R.LIGGETT’s other natural shampoo bars are similarly minimalist and include the itchy scalp healing + hair growth stimulating Tea Tree & Hemp Oil bar and the dry scalp healing + follicle clearing Jojoba & Peppermint bar. These shampoo bars are suited for all hair types including treated hair.
J.R. discovered the recipe for an all-natural ‘hair soap’ in a 19th century New England cookbook. He and his wife Diane turned that into the goodness we get to enjoy today.
# 5
Jack Henry: The Best All-Natural Shampoo for Men — a self-indulgent botanical treat
A botanical + biotin rich treat for hair that needs serious nurturing. Kyle Bardouche started and named the company after their first new born, seeking to craft care that is free of harsh chemicals and safe for the most delicate of skins. Jack Henry’s approach to ingredients is minimal and purposeful.
CLEANSE+ shampoo begins with a castile soap base of organic olive + coconut oils for effective cleansing that is hypoallergenic. Then come their botanicals + vitamins designed to remove buildup but also nourish our scalp and hair. The rich oils in their shampoo include organic bergamot, cedarwood and sandalwood oils. Don’t be scared if you have oily hair and skin - these are botanical oils - not mineral oils - and aid in fuller, stronger hair as well as a pH balanced microbiome. This shampoo is safe for the most sensitive of scalps including if you have eczema or contact dermatitis.
One can recognize and pronounce literally every ingredient in this shampoo. This is a plant based concoction that harnesses nature’s wholesome gifts, not one based on lab made synthetic ingredients.
Ladies: If you sneak in and use this natural men’s shampoo occasionally, or daily, you will be A-OK.
Fellas: Be sure to also check out Jack Henry’s minimalistic hair styling clay pomade, made with only 4 natural ingredients, not 30 synthetics like the American Crews of the world.
# 6
Prose: The Best All-Natural Custom Shampoo
If you are looking to take your hair care to another level, getting a custom shampoo freshly made to order for your hair might be the move.
Once on their site, you begin with a questionnaire covering aspects like your hair type, whether you have a sensitive scalp, existing hair products you use as well as questions on your lifestyle — after which Prose will show you your custom shampoo.
I selected Prose as the best natural custom shampoo due to, you guessed it, their focus on ingredient quality. Prose focuses on sourcing natural, sustainable and safe ingredients. Prose lists all their ingredients here and even shows the EWG safety rating next to each one.
Some of my favorite ingredients found in Prose shampoos include the antioxidants rich babassu oil which protects our scalp + hair while helping in hair repair, maracuja oil to protect against hair loss, and the scalp blood flow stimulating yucca extract. The ingredients in your shampoo will be determined by your hair’s unique needs. You can build your natural custom shampoo here.
Outside of shampoos, Prose also crafts a custom hair styling gel to give your hairstyle definition without the frizz, a dry shampoo to refresh hair roots and extend hairstyles and more natural custom goodness — all made with the highest quality ingredients.
# 7
Earth Mama Organics: The Best Natural Shampoo + Wash for Babies & Newborns
Ok. I am cheating a little here as this is technically called a baby wash, but it is meant for all around use for those delicate baby hands, skin and hair. It has been clinically tested for irritation and used even by hospitals. Earth Mama as a company is entirely focused on creating concoctions for expecting and new mothers, as well as babies and newborns, so making body care for babies is kind of their thing.
The castile soap in the Earth Mama baby wash is very effective against germs while being gentle on the skin. This baby wash also has soothing calendula and the anti-inflammatory shea butter. It’s a moisturizing and safe wash for the most sensitive of baby skins. The overall ingredient list is very short with recognizable names. In addition to this original unscented version, Earth Mama’s castile baby wash also comes in sweet orange and calming lavender versions, with naturally derived scents of course. This is a great choice especially if your baby has eczema or contact dermatitis.
The company was started by Melinda Olson, an herbalist with a passion for studying medicinal herbs and their healing powers. I would say her understanding of plant medicine is well reflected throughout Earth Mama’s product line. Earth Mama’s all-natural baby goodness also includes Baby Lotion, Baby Oil, Baby Mineral Sunscreen and more.
And that’s all for now. Let’s begin respecting our precious scalp & hair with our shampoo choices. Let me know in the comments below what you think and if you have already used any of these all-natural shampoos!