The 10 Best Natural Shampoos to Try (and Ingredients to Avoid)

A quick look at the best natural shampoos

• Best all-around natural shampoos: Stream2Sea Conditioning Shampoo and Body Wash, By Humankind Shampoo Bars
• Best natural shampoo for Black hair: SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo
• Best natural shampoo for oily hair and scalp: 100% Pure Yuzu and Pomelo Glossing Shampoo, WOW Skin Science Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo
• Best natural shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair: Herbal Essences Honey & Vitamin B Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner
• Best natural shampoo for curly hair: Alaffia Curl Enhancing Shampoo
• Best clarifying natural shampoo: Acure Curiously Clarifying Shampoo
• Best splurge natural shampoo: Reverie Shampoo
• Best budget natural shampoo: Native Almond & Shea Butter Strengthening Shampoo

The typical shampoo contains a variety of ingredients—some natural, some synthetic. It’s common for formulations to blend botanical extracts with lab-made components.

Because “natural” can mean different things depending on the brand, we turned to ingredient benchmarks from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the clean-beauty standard from Credo to identify trustworthy natural picks for various hair concerns and textures.

To make shopping easier, we’ve also listed ingredients to avoid when selecting a natural shampoo.

Below are natural shampoo options you might consider based on your hair type and needs.

Pricing guide

• $ = $10 and under
• $$ = $11–$24
• $$$ = over $24

Healthline’s picks for best natural shampoos

Best all-around natural shampoos

Stream2Sea Conditioning Shampoo and Body Wash

• Price: $$
• Key ingredients: green tea, tulsi, wakame, olive leaf
• Scents available: citrus
• Sizes available: 1-ounce (oz.) bottle, 6-oz. bottle, 32-oz. bottle

Stream2Sea is a biodegradable shampoo and body-wash hybrid created with ocean and reef safety as a priority. The formula is fully natural and free of added sulfates and parabens, and even the packaging is designed to biodegrade.

Active, beneficial components include green tea, olive leaf extract, wakame, and tulsi. The formulation also provides UV protection, making it a sensible option for color-treated hair. It cleans thoroughly while producing minimal suds and offers a pleasant citrus aroma.

The brand also makes a biodegradable leave-in conditioner to pair with the shampoo for easier detangling and softer, more manageable hair.

Shop now at Amazon

By Humankind Shampoo Bars

• Price: $$
• Key ingredients: sunflower seed oils, coconut, palm
• Scents available: citrus-lavender, lemongrass, peppermint
• Sizes available: 4-oz. bar

By Humankind’s shampoo bars arrive wrapped in recycled paper; the company focuses on cutting single-use plastic waste.

The bars are vegan and formulated with sustainable oils, oat-derived amino acids, and organic essential oils. Options include unscented, peppermint, lemongrass, and citrus lavender.

They can be bought individually or via subscription refills. Each bar tends to last a long time and produces soft, shiny, manageable hair with only a small amount needed per wash.

Shop now at By Humankind

Best natural shampoo for Black hair

SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo

• Price: $
• Key ingredients: Jamaican black castor oil, shea butter
• Scents available: peppermint
• Sizes available: 13-oz. bottle

This sulfate-free clarifying shampoo deeply cleanses natural hair textures.

It harnesses fair-trade organic shea butter for softness and apple cider vinegar to boost shine.

The formula works well for highly processed or damaged hair and can help decrease visible breakage and shedding.

Some users choose to skip the regular conditioner and instead follow with a SheaMoisture treatment mask for extra repair.

Shop for SheaMoisture treatment masques online.

Shop now at Amazon

Best natural shampoo for oily hair and scalp

100% Pure Yuzu and Pomelo Glossing Shampoo

• Price: $$$
• Key ingredients: yuzu and pomelo fruits, plus pink grapefruit essential oil, aloe juice, rose water, coconut oil, sea salt
• Scents available: citrus
• Sizes available: 8-oz. bottle, 13-oz. bottle

The Yuzu and Pomelo Glossing Shampoo offers a hydrating yet deep-cleaning wash for greasy or oily hair types.

Key components like rose water hydrate, coconut oil adds shine, and sea salt enhances body, bounce, and texture.

In addition to excluding sulfates, this product also omits:

• parabens
• phthalates
• polyethylene glycols (PEGs)
• artificial fragrances

The shampoo helps create a glossy finish. If your hair is fine, you may want to avoid using the conditioner, as some users report it can weigh hair down.

Shop now at Amazon

WOW Skin Science Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

• Price: $$
• Key ingredients: raw Himalayan apple cider vinegar, saw palmetto extract
• Scents available: sweet apple
• Sizes available: 16.9-oz. bottle

This vegan shampoo features apple cider vinegar and is well-reviewed for its multipurpose performance.

Apple cider vinegar is commonly used in natural hair care for its clarifying properties, although direct research on vinegar and hair is limited. It’s thought to help remove excess oil and buildup.

The formula also includes saw palmetto extract, a botanical often associated with supporting hair growth. Buying direct from the brand’s site comes with a 60-day refund window. It’s generally considered a good value for the amount you get.

Shop now at Amazon

Best natural shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair

Herbal Essences Honey & Vitamin B Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner

• Price: $$
• Key ingredients: glycerin, aloe vera, verified botanicals
• Scents available: honey, jasmine, and creamy vanilla scent
• Sizes available: 12.2-oz. shampoo bottle, 13.5-oz. conditioner bottle

This color-safe, botanical-based set is formulated to protect and soften color-treated hair. The shampoo contains 87 percent ingredients of natural origin, including glycerin, aloe vera, and botanicals verified by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

It’s also free of silicones, parabens, mineral oil, and dyes.

Consumers commonly praise the honey, jasmine, and vanilla fragrance it imparts to the hair.

Shop now at Amazon

Best natural shampoo for curly hair

Alaffia Curl Enhancing Shampoo

• Price: $$
• Key ingredients: shea butter, chamomile, aqueous extract, yarrow
• Scents available: not listed
• Sizes available: 12-oz. bottle

This natural formula uses shea butter, chamomile, aqueous extracts, and yarrow to gently cleanse and enhance curls.

One reviewer notes its effectiveness for dry scalps and hair; an older comment mentions it lathers well. A small number of users report it left their scalp feeling oily (a common issue with sulfate-free formulas that are less stripping).

The brand is GMP-certified and cruelty-free.

The shampoo excludes:

• sulfates
• parabens
• phthalates
• silicones
• mineral oil
• artificial color
• synthetic fragrance

Shop now at Alaffia

Best clarifying natural shampoo

Acure Curiously Clarifying Shampoo

• Price: $
• Key ingredients: aloe vera, lemongrass, argan
• Scents available: lemongrass
• Sizes available: 8-oz. bottle

This vegan shampoo is touted as gentle yet effective at removing buildup.

The company says it’s suitable for everyday use and free from parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, petrolatum, and formaldehyde. It’s also cruelty-free, budget-friendly, and suitable for all hair types.

Many reviewers say it cleans without over-drying and that it doesn’t appear to strip color-treated hair.

Shop now at Acure

Best splurge natural shampoo

Reverie Shampoo

• Price: $$$
• Key ingredients: amino acids, oat protein, panthenol, sweet almond oil
• Scents available: one scent with notes of neroli, pink grapefruit, jasmine, sandalwood, and bourbon vanilla
• Sizes available: 8.45-oz. bottle

This higher-priced option has a loyal following due to its fragrance and lather. The gel-textured shampoo is made with amino acids, oat protein, panthenol, and sweet almond oil.

The brand claims it’s safe for daily use, including on color-treated hair, and notes that the product is cruelty-free and gluten-free.

They recommend applying the shampoo to wet hair in sections, adding water to work up a lather, rinsing, and repeating if desired for optimal results.

Shop now at Reverie

Best budget natural shampoo

Native Almond & Shea Butter Strengthening Shampoo

• Price: $
• Key ingredients: water, food-grade salt
• Scents available: one scent of almond and shea butter
• Sizes available: 16.5-oz. bottle

This vegan, cruelty-free shampoo is affordable and widely available at Target.

It’s made with a short ingredient list (around 10 ingredients), including water, food-grade salt (sodium citrate), and the cleansing agent lauramidopropyl betaine, which the company notes is coconut-derived.

The formulation is free from phthalates, sulfates, parabens, chlorine, and dyes.

Do note that this product uses fragrance labeled as “safe, synthetic, sustainable fragrances” (phthalate-free) alongside natural fragrances. That may not be ideal for those with fragrance sensitivities or anyone seeking a totally fragrance-free option. Most other items in this roundup use essential oils for scent.

Some reviewers also mention a slight residue can be left behind after use.

Shop now at Target

How to choose the best natural shampoo for you

Beyond price, consider several important factors when selecting a natural shampoo.

Check the ingredients

Always read labels to ensure you’re not allergic to anything. Natural components can still trigger reactions in some people. If in doubt, do a patch test before full use.

To perform a patch test, apply a small amount to an area unlikely to be washed or rubbed off—like the inner forearm or the crook of the elbow—and monitor for redness or irritation over 24 hours. Guidance on where to test can be found here.

Consider scents

Decide whether you’re comfortable with natural aromas. Many natural shampoos avoid synthetic fragrance and instead use essential oils for scent. Truly fragrance-free natural shampoos are rarer but do exist—customer reviews can help reveal what a product really smells like.

Think about lather

Unpaid user reviews are useful for details like foaming. Because natural shampoos often omit sulfates (the main foaming agents), they may produce less lather. If users report a greasy after-feel, it could mean the product doesn’t rinse out completely.

Pay attention to hair types

Choose natural shampoos formulated for your specific hair type. Many brands state which hair textures they’re best suited for, helping you aim for the results you want.

Research the brand

Explore the brand’s overall approach. Some companies genuinely prioritize excluding harsh chemicals and using a higher proportion of naturally sourced ingredients; others may use marketing to appear more natural than they are.

Cross these ingredients off the list

Always check the complete ingredient list before buying.

Ingredients you may wish to avoid include:

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde (sometimes labeled formalin) is a carcinogen and can appear in products that contain keratin. It’s best avoided.

Phthalates

Phthalates are endocrine disruptors that have been linked to reproductive harm in males and females, including potential risks to infants and fetuses.

Fragrance

FDA rules don’t require brands to list individual fragrance components. If a label only says “fragrance,” it could contain ingredients you’d rather avoid—such as phthalates—without being transparent about it.

Parabens

Parabens serve as preservatives and exhibit estrogenic activity. Trace amounts have been detected in breast tissue, prompting concern, though conclusive links to disease remain unproven.

Sulfates

Sulfates are surfactants that create foam. They’re petroleum-derived and may irritate the skin, scalp, or eyes in some people. Their production is tied to industries that generate pollution, and they’re often tested on animals. Natural alternatives include sarsaparilla, soap bark, soapwort, agave, and ivy.

Triclosan

Triclosan is an antibacterial once used widely and now banned in antibacterial soap by the FDA. It’s been detected in the environment and is an endocrine disruptor linked to cardiovascular, cancer, and developmental concerns.

PFAS

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been associated with cancer, immune suppression, and thyroid issues.

Choosing shampoos without these harmful chemicals can benefit both your health and the environment—many harmful ingredients eventually wash into waterways and damage aquatic ecosystems like coral reefs.

Tips for shampooing your hair

Even a great shampoo won’t deliver if used improperly. A few pointers:

• Avoid over-washing. For most people, every other day or every third day is enough, even for oilier scalps.
• Pick a shampoo targeted to your hair type and any scalp issues. Hair changes over time, so a product that worked years ago might no longer be ideal.
• Massage shampoo gently into scalp and hair, and rinse thoroughly.
• If you apply conditioner, leave it on for at least five minutes and rinse with cooler water.
• Don’t tug wet hair—it’s more fragile. Use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to detangle while conditioner is in.
• Use warm or cool water; very hot water can fade color and dry out hair. Many people find a final cool rinse gives extra shine.

Frequently asked questions about natural shampoos

What are the best natural shampoo ingredients?

It depends on your hair. Coconut oil and shea butter help dry hair, while apple cider vinegar and witch hazel can benefit oily scalps. Natural foaming agents include sarsaparilla, soap bark, soapwort, agave, and ivy.

Is it possible to find a shampoo without chemicals?

There are brands that use predominantly naturally derived ingredients. The aim is to locate a product that works for your hair while minimizing harsh additives and relying mostly on botanical or nature-derived components.

Are natural shampoos actually better for your hair?

Avoiding ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and formaldehyde can make shampoos gentler and potentially safer for the scalp and hair. Finding the right natural shampoo may require some experimentation, but you might notice less irritation and healthier-looking hair once you do. Always check for potential allergies first.

Takeaway

Demand for natural, low-toxicity products continues to grow. There are natural shampoos available that clean and condition a variety of hair types without contributing as much to pollution or chemical exposure—making them better both for personal health and for the planet.