Shampoo is one of those personal care products that is such a regular part of our life routine that most of us reach for it without even thinking. Maybe you’ve been using the same shampoo and conditioner for the last 30 years, like my dad. Or maybe you like to try different brands every time you need to replenish or whenever you visit your hair stylist. But have you ever turned the bottle around to read the ingredient label? Do you know what’s in your shampoo and conditioner?
Not to freak you out or anything, but the truth is, conventional shampoos and conditioners are often filled with harmful or questionable ingredients. But don’t worry, there are plenty of safer, non-toxic options out there! The clean beauty movement is growing stronger and larger every day!
Ingredients to Avoid?
Let’s start by identifying what harmful and/or questionable ingredients you should be on the look out for in your shampoo and conditioner.
Phthalates – (pronounced thal-ates) are a class of plasticizing chemicals used to make products more pliable or to make fragrances stick to skin. Phthalates disrupt the endocrine system, linked to decreased fertility in both men and women. They may cause birth defects. Phthalates are tricky because they are often not specifically identified on products ingredients labels because they hide under the name “fragrance” or “parfum”. Pretty much any product that contains the word fragrance, parfum or aroma in its ingredient list contains phthalates unless it specifically states that its formula is phthalate-free. For more information on the dangers of fragrance read this post here. Phthalates are sometimes listed on ingredients labels as DBP, DEHP or DEP.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS and SLES) – SLS and SLES are surfactants that can cause skin irritation or trigger allergies. Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is the most worrisome of the two as it is often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane (a cancer causing agent). Sulfates are added to conventional shampoos because they’re inexpensive ingredients that make shampoos foam up as well as remove grease/oil. Sounds like a good thing for cleansing, but they strip the scalp and can be very irritating. If you’ve ever suffered from dry, itchy scalp issues, I’d recommend first ditching any hair products with sulfates in them before introducing a shampoo made to treat dandruff. Just ditching sulfates may help the issue.
Parabens ( common prefixes include: methyl-, isobutyl-, propyl- and others) – A class of preservatives commonly used to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold. Parabens have been shown to be endocrine (or hormone) disruptors, which may alter important hormone mechanisms in our bodies.
Polyethylene glycol (PEG compounds) – PEGs are widely used in cosmetics as thickeners, solvents, softeners, and moisture-carriers. Depending on manufacturing processes, PEGs may be contaminated with measurable amounts of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, both of which are carcinogens.
Formaldehyde – Used as a preservative in cosmetics, it is a known carcinogen that is also linked to asthma, neurotoxicity, and developmental toxicity. It is often disguised on ingredient labels as: quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, polyoxymethylene urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, or bromopol – all of which are formaldehyde-releasers.
Coal Tar Ingredients – A byproduct of coal processing that is a known carcinogen. Often found in conventional dandruff shampoos.
What to Choose Instead?
Look for shampoos and conditioners that are phthalate, sulfate, paraben & PEG free, as well as synthetic fragrance free. I personally prefer to use products from companies that are not just synthetic fragrance free but that also specifically list the ingredients they’re using to scent their products, rather than using “natural fragrance” in their list of ingredients. There are plenty of clean beauty brands that lead with transparency in this department.
Downloading the Environmental Working Group’s Healthy Living App makes sourcing safer, non-toxic options much easier. Ideally you’ll want to source products that are EWG verified, the safest rating they give. But anything that falls in the 1 to 2 category is probably a fairly safe bet.
My Favorite Safer, Non-Toxic Shampoos & Conditioners
Beautycounter’s Daily Shampoo & Conditioner – is great for all hair types ~ The Daily Shampoo ($26) gently breaks down buildup, but never strips or dries out the hair. It’s made with marula oil, giving hair moisture and shine. This is my personal preference for regular use. It’s salon quality without the conventional toxic ingredients. Believe me when I say this shampoo is awesome. I’m not just saying that because I’m a Beautycounter consultant, this shampoo is one of their best sellers! One bottle will last up to 3 months as a little goes a very long way. The Daily Conditioner ($26) contains marula and mongongo oils to help nourish hair, along with rooibos leaf extract to smooth strands and add shine. Unless you have extremely dry hair I recommend only applying conditioner to the ends of the hair. When used this way one bottle can last up to 5 months.
Alaffia Repair & Restore Conditioning Shampoo & Conditioner – is perfect for dry, damaged or color-treated hair. The Conditioning Shampoo ($16) is super moisturizing. It gently cleanses without stripping natural oils, color and/or process treatments. My hair is actually on the oily side and I don’t dye my hair, so I use this Conditioning Shampoo as a hair mask when I take baths to counteract damage from heat styling tools. The Repair & Restore Conditioner ($18.50) moisturizes, detangles and helps to reduce frizz, which is awesome in the South Carolina humidity.
Alaffia makes a quite a few different types of shampoos and conditioners, so they have something for all different types of hair. You can find them on Amazon and in most Whole Foods stores. I really like Alaffia as a brand and am also a big fan of their deodorant.
Avalon Organics Apple Cider Shampoo & Conditioner, is a great clarifying shampoo and conditioner for oily hair or anyone who uses a lot of styling products. The certified organic Shampoo ($7.99) is made with plant-based botanicals and essential oils that clarify without stripping natural moisture. The Conditioner ($8.29) locks in shine and reduces fly-aways. I like to use this shampoo and conditioner about once every couple weeks for a deeper clean. If you use lots of styling products or have oily hair you may like using this once or twice a week.
Avalon Organics is another clean beauty brand that makes quite a few different shampoos and conditioners. So if don’t need or want a clarifying shampoo you have many options from which to choose. Plus they also make a nontoxic dandruff shampoo. And the great thing about this brand is that most grocery stores in addition to Whole Foods carries their products, and of course you can find them on Amazon as well. Although it is typically less expensive to buy them in a store rather on Amazon.
General Haircare Tips
I get asked a lot about toxic-free options for dry shampoo, but I honestly do not recommend using dry shampoo of any kind. What dry shampoo really does is make your hair produce even more oil creating a vicious cycle. That being said I do understand that for some people it is just something they can’t not use. So if you’re in that camp and are looking for a safer dry shampoo option, you may want to check out Acure Organics Dry Shampoo. They also make a dark hair option as well.
One of the best things you can do for your hair is reduce the number of times per week you wash it. Hair really does not need to be washed every single day, and actually daily washing can damage and dry out your scalp and hair. Unless you’re sweating heavily from an intense workout, try to work toward only washing your hair every couple of days.
Lastly, plain old apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle can work wonders for your hair, balancing the pH of your scalp, increasing shine as well as promoting hair growth. If your hair is more on the oily side, you could even skip using conditioner all together and simply spray on a little apple cider vinegar after shampooing your hair. Let it sit for a minute and then rinse.
For more about safer, non-toxic beauty check out The Safer Beauty Tribe Tab here on the blog, and be sure to sign up for my free Safer Beauty Tribe Monthly Newsletter. You can also learn more about my favorite clean beauty brands and products by following The Safer Beauty Tribe on Instagram. Every Tuesday on Instagram Stories a highlight a specific ingredient as part of my Ingredients 101 series.
