The 17 Best Natural Shampoos of 2023

Our Top Picks

If youre looking for a natural formula thats also good for the environment, youre in luck. This universally loved shampoo may be a solid instead of a liquid, but it doesnt cut down on quality—offering a great lather and salon-grade results. Its made with all-natural ingredients like argan oil, castor oil, and cupuaçu butter for nourished, healthy strands. To top it off, it has orange oil and coconut oil in its formula for a lovely, tropical scent.

Reviewers love that it cleanses their scalp well without leaving a residue, and it leaves their hair hydrated. They also love that one bar can last them months with washing a couple times a week.

"I was hesitant at first to use a shampoo bar—but am a loyalist to Odacité for its powerful botanical formulas so I tried this. I was blown away by the suds created by this shampoo bar, which is soap-free and extremely nourishing," said buuk.top Senior Commerce Editor Jill Di Donato. "My hair had amazing volume and scalp felt squeaky-clean after just one use. Plus, theres no plastic packaging so this natural option is also a sustainable one."

Hair Type:All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Citrus | Size: 3.7 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This brand is known for offering affordable natural products, and this shampoo is no exception. It’s free of sulfates, formaldehyde, dyes, and parabens, among other things. Yes, it is clarifying and great to reach for when you’re feeling like you have excess product build-up on your hair and scalp, but it doesnt strip your hair of moisture. Credit the addition of argan oil, your hair’s BFF when it comes to hydration. Bonus points for the refreshing and invigorating lemongrass scent.

Hair Type: All, oily | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Lemongrass |Size: 8 ounces | Cruelty-Free:

Yes

This fan-favorite relies on 100% raw and natural Himalayan apple cider vinegar, which among other things, acts as a reset for hair and scalp. It removes build-up and color-dulling minerals from hard water, so your hair is left looking shinier than ever. As a bonus, it also contains saw palmetto, a plant-based extract that can do great things for your scalp when it comes to promoting healthier hair growth.2

"This shampoo felt a lot like what other shampoos feel like in my hand—slippery and soapy. In my hair, it felt a lot like other shampoos feel like, too: It was foamy, I had no issues rubbing it in, and it washed out easily," our product tester said. "I found that my hair was shinier, smoother, and healthier-feeling the next day."

Hair Type: Oily, thinning | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Essential oil derived |Size: 16.9 ounces | Cruelty-Free:

Yes

buuk.top / Leigh Weingus

Sure, this could be considered a “dry” shampoo... but not a dry shampoo in the traditional sense. You simply mix a small amount of the plant-based powder with water until it turns into a luscious lather, similar to that of a traditional shampoo. It contains softening aloe and marshmallow extract and has a delightful floral scent. Plus, one bottle lasts as long as four shampoo bottles and is made from totally recyclable packaging, a major environmental boon.

“Putting the environmental benefits of powder shampoo aside, this shampoo really works. I have an oily scalp, so Im particular about my natural and sulfate-free formulas, but Meow Meow Tweets shampoo really works into a lather and gives my hair a fresh, clean feeling," said buuk.top Editorial & Strategy Director Kathryn Vandervalk. "Plus, a travel-size packet lasted me about as long as a regular bottle of shampoo—a little goes a long way.”

Hair Type:All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Rose geranium | Size: 2 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This top-rated pick is effective on all hair types and textures, from straight and fine to coarse and curly. That’s no easy feat for any shampoo, much less one that’s this natural, free of sulfates, parabens, and a litany of other chemicals. Instead, it relies on botanical ingredients (that are sustainably sourced, no less), like amino acids from almonds to strengthen your strands and a mix of essential oils that give it its lovely scent profile.

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Neroli, pink grapefruit, jasmine, sandalwood, vanilla |Size: 8 ounces | Cruelty-Free:

Yes

Believe it, you can find a great natural shampoo at the drugstore, and this one is proof positive. From the brand that makes one of the best natural deodorants out there, this pick not only contains only 10 clean ingredients, it actually clearly details them and explains what each one is on the ingredient label. We like this strengthening pick, though there are also volumizing and moisturizing variants (each with its own great scent).

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Almond & shea butter | Size:16.5 ounces |Cruelty-Free:

Yes

The ingredient list on this shampoo alternative is super minimal and clean. Apple cider vinegar helps to deliver a clean scalp by restoring pH levels, which in turn reduces both grease and itching. Its a good shampoo alternative, but it’s awesome to use it as a clarifying treatment in between wash days, especially on curls or natural hair.

Hair Type: Natural, curly | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Mint | Size: 16 ounces | Cruelty-Free:

Yes

We totally get being wary of natural shampoos if you happen to have fine hair. After all, even the tiniest trace of any leftover residue can be a recipe for hair that falls flat and looks greasy. Lucky for you, this product not only rinses hair clean (taking with it all the stuff that can weigh things down), but it also works wonders to boost limp hair with, yep, totally natural ingredients. More specifically, the products namesake kelp and mint extracts invigorate and boost your roots.

Hair Type: Fine, thin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Mint | Size: 13 ounces | Cruelty-Free:

Yes

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times—curly hair is structurally and compositionally different from straight hair and therefore needs different types of products. Using the right shampoo for your curls is paramount—its the foundation to ensure you end up with the exact style and curl pattern you want post-washing. This one is a great choice, without any silicones, parabens, mineral oil, sulfates, or artificial color. Instead, it touts raw shea butter and botanical extracts to cleanse and hydrate your curls.

Hair Type: Curly | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Essential oil derived |Size: 12 ounces | Cruelty-Free:

Yes

Consider this shampoo-scalp scrub hybrid an absolute must if you have oily hair (and/or an oily scalp, for that matter). It’s essentially a whipped shampoo that has tiny bits of exfoliating Himalayan sea salt mixed in for exfoliating purposes... it sounds a little strange, but trust us, it works. It’s not in the least bit harsh or scratchy—the salt quickly dissolves—and the result is so purifying that you could easily call it a clarifying shampoo, great to reach for whenever you really want your hair to feel extra clean and fresh.

Hair Type:Oily | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Rosemary, geranium, orange, peppermint | Size:6.7 ounces or 0.8 ounces |Cruelty-Free:

Yes

A staple shampoo for team buuk.top (and previous Eco Beauty Award Winner), this is a great pick for all hair types, though it’s especially good if you have dry hair. Coconut and shea butter impart plenty of moisture, but despite the richer formula, this still cleanses and rinses extremely well.5There are protein-bonding sugars in the mix, too, a major plus for combating any damage. And we’d be remiss not to mention the signature scent, a heady palo santo fragrance that we love.

Hair Type: All, except oily | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Palo santo |Size: 9.3 ounces | Cruelty-Free:

Yes

Sulfates are one of the biggest culprits for color-fading, so generally speaking, going with a natural shampoo is a great move if you dye your hair. Not to mention that natural shampoos are gentler and less damaging on your hair, and the healthier your hair is, the better your color will look. But this one is especially great, given that it not only won’t strip your shade but is also full of ingredients such as coconut and pumpkin seed oils to both protect and enhance your color at the same time. Plus, it works on all textures, too.

Hair Type: All, colored |Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Citrusy | Size: 2, 10, or 32 ounces | Cruelty-Free:

Yes

This is a great option for anyone dealing with thinning hair (as well as another top-notch, affordable drugstore pick). Credit the addition of proven ingredients such as biotin, saw palmetto, vitamin E, and protein to boost hairs body, leaving it thicker and fuller. As far as the natural formula goes, it’s so natural that it’s both certified-organic and verified by the Environmental Working Group.6

Hair Type: All, thinning | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Citrusy, herbaceous | Size: 32 ounces | Cruelty-Free:

Yes

Another great pick that also takes into consideration the environmental factor, this waterless formula is three times as concentrated as regular shampoo; the small, travel-friendly bottle lasts as long as a regular bottle. How to use it: Take anywhere from a 0.5-inch to 1.5-inch strip of the product (based on your hair length) and combine with water to transform it into regular shampoo. It works great for all hair types and textures, too, an attribute confirmed by many happy reviewers.

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Bergamot, rosemary, sage |Size: 3.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free:

Yes

Looking for something you can use for daily washes? Ursa Major Go Easy Shampoo is your best bet. It gently yet effectively cleanses your mane without leaving any residue behind, and it lathers surprisingly well for a sulfate-free formula. The strong cologne-like scent might not be everyones cup of tea, but otherwise, we have no complaints about this all-natural, coconut-derived hair wash.

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free:Yes | Scent: Balsam, fir, ginger | Size: 8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Shampoo is formulated to take damaged, over-processed hair back from the brink. It leans on a blend of naturally derived butters and plant oils to moisturize parched strands while working to condition, soften, and restore your hair to a bouncier, healthier state. But due to the oils, bear in mind this shampoo isnt ideal for fine hair, as it might weigh it down.

Hair Type: Dry, damaged, thick | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Honey |Size: 13–24 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Flaky scalp? This plant-sourced shampoo has you covered. Its formulated with tea tree oil, which has natural antimicrobial properties, meaning it kills the bacteria that cause dandruff.7The hydrating, restorative formula is also a good choice for folks with dry or damaged hair.

Hair Type: Dandruff-prone, dry, damaged |Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Fresh | Size: 16–34 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Meet the Expert

Shopping Sustainably? After Testing 22 Shampoo Bars, We Found These 6 Rival Liquid Formulas

Updated by
Shannon Stubbs

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

Gavazzoni Dias MF. Hair cosmetics: an overview. Int J Trichology. 2015;7(1):2-15. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.153450

Evron E, Juhasz M, Babadjouni A, Mesinkovska NA. Natural Hair Supplement: Friend or Foe? Saw Palmetto, a Systematic Review in Alopecia. Skin Appendage Disord. 2020;6(6):329-337. doi:10.1159/000509905

Ryssel H, Kloeters O, Germann G, Schäfer T, Wiedemann G, Oehlbauer M. The antimicrobial effect of acetic acid--an alternative to common local antiseptics? Burns. 2009 Aug;35(5):695-700. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2008.11.009

Babilas P, Knie U, Abels C. Cosmetic and dermatologic use of alpha hydroxy acids: AHA in dermatology. JDDG: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft. 2012;10(7):488-491. doi:10.1111/j.1610-0387.2012.07939.x

Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. Published 2017 Dec 27. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070

EWG. AVALON Organics THERAPY biotin B-Complex Thickening Shampoo Rating.

Carson, C F et al. Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) oil: a review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties. Clinical microbiology reviews vol. 19,1 (2006): 50-62. doi:10.1128/CMR.19.1.50-62.2006