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The 9 Best Organic and Natural Shampoos and Conditioners

by Suzana Rose

Oct 7, 2024

Back in the day, choosing a natural shampoo would be synonymous with dull, weighed-down hair. With today's options, you can find natural and even organic shampoo that performs just like professional salon brands. Plus, these formulas don't contain any iffy, potentially toxic ingredients. We've rounded up the best of the best in terms of ingredients and results. There are also options for every hair type and every budget.

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Natural VS. Organic

All of the products included are made from safe, non-toxic ingredients. By "natural", we mean that the shampoos are free from any harmful synthetic ingredients, derived from plants or natural sources, and considered safe. Some of the options are also organic, or contain organic ingredients. This means that the ingredients were produced without the use of synthetic chemicals such as certain pesticides, herbicides, or artificial fertilizers.

There are fewer options that are "organic". In order to be certified organic, a product must contain at least 70% organic ingredients. Since organic ingredients are more expensive, it goes without saying that it's more difficult to find a shampoo that is organic at the drugstore. However, there are some good options out there -- plus there are many great options for affordable natural shampoo.

Brands Included

These are my favorite natural and organic shampoo brands, included in this guide:

  1. Rahua (best overall)
  2. Acure (best drugstore)
  3. Odele
  4. Innersense
  5. Carina Organics
  6. SheaMoisture
  7. Evolvh
  8. Avalon Organics
  9. Andalou Naturals

1. Best Overall: Rahua

I've tried several products from Rahua and they're some of my favorites on the market—not just my favorite natural options. Their Classic Shampoo and Conditioner make your hair feel silky soft while also leaving your scalp feel clean. They offer several options depending on your hair goals and needs – whether you're looking to add volume or preserve your color.

My personal favorite is their Hydration combo which is a life-saver for damaged hair. Plus, it's one of the best-smelling shampoos ever. This brand is sustainable, 100% cruelty-free, carbon neutral, gluten-free, and made with organic ingredients. They donate a portion of proceeds to protecting the Amazon Rainforest and the communities they work with to cultivate key ingredients.

What Shampoos Does Rahua Offer?

For all hair typesClassic Shampoo ($36) + Classic Conditioner ($38)
For dry hairHydration Shampoo ($36) + Hydration Conditioner ($38)
For fine or oily hairVoluminous Shampoo ($36) + Voluminous Conditioner ($38)
For color-treated hairColor Full Shampoo ($36) + Color Full Conditioner ($40)
For hair growthEnchanted Island Shampoo ($36) + Enchanted Island Conditioner ($38)

2. Best Drugstore: Acure

Acure offers everything from skincare to body and hair care, and they have some of the most affordable non-toxic products on the market. Even though their ingredients are clean, they're not organic. However if you're looking for the most bang for your buck, you can't beat their prices: an 8 fl oz (236mL) shampoo is only $9.99.

For instance, their best-seller is the Ultra Hydrating Shampoo and matching conditioner. It leaves your hair shiny and manageable, plus it's vegan like all products from Acure. None of their shampoos and conditioners contain any parabens, sulfates, mineral oil and more iffy ingredients.

What Shampoos Does Rahua Offer?

For dry hairUltra Hydrating Shampoo ($9.99) + Conditioner ($9.99)
For oily hairDaily Workout Watermelon Shampoo ($9.99) + Conditioner ($9.99)
For fine hairVivacious Volume Shampoo ($9.99) + Conditioner ($9.99)
For frizzy hairSimply Smoothing Shampoo ($9.99) + Conditioner ($9.99)
For sensitive scalpsBuildup Balancing Hemp & ACV Shampoo ($9.99) + Conditioner ($9.99)
For stressed hairJuice Cleanse Supergreens & Adaptogens Shampoo ($9.99) + Conditioner ($9.99)
To remove buildupCuriously Clarifying Shampoo ($9.99) + Conditioner ($9.99)

3. Odele

Odele is a relatively newer brand, and their ingredients are surprising. They have recently reformulated their products and their current ingredient list doesn't contain anything iffy or harmful, plus their fragrance is all natural. You can find them in several drugstores and at Ulta, making them super convenient to find.

Their shampoos perform really well and similarly to any great mainstream brand, and they're a "salon-grade" brand without the price tag. You can choose between various shampoo and conditioner combos depending on your hair type: their Volumizing shampoo is recommended for fine to medium hair that's straight to wavy, and their Smoothing Shampoo is best for medium to coarse hair, or fine hair that's very dry or damaged.

For fine hairVolumizing Shampoo ($11.99) + Conditioner ($11.99)
For frizzy or damaged hairSmoothing Shampoo ($11.99) + Conditioner ($11.99)
For oily hairClarifying Shampoo ($11.99) + Conditioner ($11.99)
For dry or damaged hairMoisture Repair Shampoo ($11.99) + Conditioner ($11.99)

4. Innersense

Innersense was founded in 2005 by two hair stylists who both felt a need for professional quality hair products that are also natural and non-toxic. Their entire range contains organic ingredients, and their goal is to create the safest and most effective products possible.

Their line includes clean styling products and everything you need to take care of your hair in addition to the basics. Their shampoos are "hairbaths" which is a nice touch. They even have a purple hairbath which is perfect for blondes. Keep in mind each shampoo also has a corresponding conditioner.

Buy From: Credo

For fine hair, oily scalpsPure Harmony Hairbath ($30)
For damaged or coarse hairHydrating Cream Hairbath ($30)
For color-treated hairColor Awakening Hairbath ($30)
For sensitive scalpsClarity Hairbath ($30)
Purple shampoo for blonde or gray hairBright Balance Hairbath ($32)

5. Carina Organics

I first had the opportunity to try this brand when I started my blog, and they really stood out. It's one of the few budget-friendly brands that uses organic ingredients, plus they're also 100% vegan and natural (of course).

What I also love is that they offer some products that are fragrance-free, making it perfect for those with allergies or sensitivities. Similarly, they also have the cutest, unscented baby shampoo. This is a Canadian company but they ship to the United States as well.

For dry or color-treated hairSweet Pea Extra Gentle Shampoo ($14.99)
For all hair typesCitrus Daily Moisturizing Shampoo ($14.99)
For oily hairPeppermint Shampoo and Body Wash ($14.99)
For sensitive scalps, dandruffUnscented Dandruff Flake Removal Shampoo ($14.99)
For kidsBaby Shampoo & Body Wash ($14.99)

6. SheaMoisture

SheaMoisture has been around for so long, and they're one of the first brands made specifically for black hair. They use not only natural key ingredients like Castor Oil, Black African Soap, or Argan Oil, but their entire formulas are non-toxic. They're available in many drugstores.

If you're looking for a natural shampoo and conditioner that caters mainly to coily or curly hair, look no further. They have so many options ranging for dry hair to extremely damaged hair. They also have a shampoo that's suitable for all hair types, and even though most of their products target dry hair, they can work for normal or even oily hair as well.

For all hair typesDaily Hydration Shampoo ($11.99)
For very dry hairHydrate & Repair Shampoo ($11.99) + Conditioner ($11.99)
For thick & curly hairCurl & Shine Shampoo ($11.99) + Conditioner ($11.99)
For heat-styled, damaged hairStrengthen & Restore Shampoo ($11.99)
For dandruff-prone scalpsAnti-Dandruff Shampoo ($11.99)

7. EVOLVh

EVOLVh has been around since 2009, long before the clean beauty movement was as huge as it is now. They offer a line of clean shampoos and conditioners that work for all hair types.

All of their products are free from chemical fragrances, and avoid common additives like sulfates, parabens, propylene glycol, and silicones. Everything in their line is also vegan and cruelty-free, of course, and uses only natural and organic ingredients.

EVOLVH was also featured in one of our first Better Beauty Boxes!

For all hair typesUltraShine Moisture Shampoo ($26)
For color-treated hairSmartColor Protecting Shampoo ($34)
For thick & curly hairSmartCurl Hydrating Wash ($32)
For fine, flat & oily hairInstaVolume Cleansing Treatment ($29)
For scalp wellness & hair growthBetter Roots Growth Support Shampoo ($32)

8. Avalon Organics

Avalon Organics offers a lineup of affordable hair, skincare and body care products. While no shampoo can truly be 100% organic, all of their products are certified by 2 organizations in the US, meaning their ingredients are all at least 70% organic.

All of their products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free, and they're one of the most affordable on our list, with a 32 oz bottle coming in at under $20. Avalon Organics is available on Amazon.com and at some Whole Foods stores in the US.

For normal to dry hairNourishing Lavender Shampoo ($9.99)
For fine hairVolumizing Rosemary Shapoo ($9.99)
For dry and irritated scalpsScalp Treatment Tea Tree Shampoo ($9.99)
For sensitive scalps, dandruffAnti-Dandruff Shampoo ($10.99)
For oily hairClarifying Lemon Shampoo ($9.99)
For brittle hairStrengthening Peppermint Shampoo ($9.99)

9. Andalou Naturals

Andalou Naturals is a Non-GMO Project verified brand founded in 2010 as a skincare brand, and quickly expanding into haircare (including their shampoos) in 2012.

All of their shampoos are cruelty-free and 100% vegan (they have a couple of skincare products that contain manuka honey) and their packaging is 100% recyclable BPA plastic.

For all of the shampoos, there is a corresponding conditioner as well.

For curly, coarse, or frizzy hairExotic Marula Oil Silky Smooth Shampoo ($9.99)
For dry hairArgan Oil & Shea Moisture Rich Shampoo ($9.99)
For fine or medium hairLavender & Biotin Full Volume Shampoo ($9.99)
For all hair typesSunflower & Citrus Brilliant Shine Shampoo ($9.99)

The Verdict

Today, it's not difficult to find a great natural or organic shampoo that's not only free from any animal testing, but also has safe ingredients, and is also effective. Whether you want a drugstore shampoo or are willing to splurge for the best quality, there are choices for every budget

To help you decide, here’s a quick roundup of our top picks:

Best overall: Rahua Classic Shampoo ($36)
Best drugstore: Acure Ultra Hydrating Shampoo ($9.99)
Best for sensitive scalps: Avalon Organics Unscented Dandruff Flake Removal Shampoo ($14.99)

Which Brands Are Cruelty-Free?

Download our list of 600+ verified cruelty-free brands straight to your device. Bring it with you everywhere you go, and never worry about supporting animal testing again. Click here to download

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