all natural sulfate free shampoo under £10 suggestions? (UK)

[ClassicAim]

Hello All,
I have been on the look out for a cheap all natural shampoo. I have skin allergies (I don't know what to) so it has to be all natural to be on the safe side. Also, sulfate free please :). I have tried numerous sulfate containing shampoos that I am not allergic to but sadly matt my hair which causes breakage when detangling (I have 4a hair).

Looking forward to your relies, thank you x

[Daylilly]

Butts bees is 99 percent natural and can be purchased at Wal-Mart for 8 dollars. The conditioners are also very good silicone free.

[lilin]

Hello All,
I have been on the look out for a cheap all natural shampoo. I have skin allergies (I don't know what to) so it has to be all natural to be on the safe side. Also, sulfate free please :). I have tried numerous sulfate containing shampoos that I am not allergic to but sadly matt my hair which causes breakage when detangling (I have 4a hair).

Looking forward to your relies, thank you x

Unfortunately, looking for something "natural" will not necessarily solve your problem. Natural ingredients are actually just as if not more likely to cause allergies as synthetic ones. The reason is because your body is more familiar with natural substances, and is therefore more likely to attack them due to repeated exposures. You'll notice that a lot more people are allergic to latex (made of natural rubber) than silicone or vinyl (both synthetic), for example.

Having problems with SLS is common, however -- it isn't necessarily prone to causing allergies, but because it's so strong, it can cause quite a bit of irritation for some people, myself included.

I think maybe the place to start is going to the doctor with your shampoo and getting allergy tested so you actually know what's causing it. There's probably 10 to 40 different ingredients in there, and it could be any of them. Then, get a shampoo with the fewest ingredients possible to last you in the mean time. Or switch to cowashing, which tends to be more moisturizing to curly hair anyway.

[ChloeDharma]

Mistrys do a range of shampoos that use shikakai, soapnut and soapwort to cleanse. I think they are £3 something a bottle but then add postage for online ordering. The shop is based in North London.

[ClassicAim]

Daylilly - Thank you :)

lilin - I have never considered the rubber thing before, that is a very good point :). I've tried to get allergy tests before. Whenever I go to my doctor about say, lactose intolerance, or any such thing they just tell me that if I think I'm allergic to it then I should avoid it. I have tried numerous times with skin allergies too and they give me medication but don't test me. I've tried co-washing and even clay washing but I have VERY oily skin (including my scalp) and I only wash my hair once a week so it does nothing. I could wash my hair more but it takes my hair 1.5 days to dry and I don't want to have constantly wet hair because it is cold.

ChloeDharma - Thank you :), I'll look into that

[Agnes Hannah]

I get mine from Holland and Barrett, the Dr Organic range. They have different types of shampoo, lavender, aloe vera, rose, honey etc. I'm sure they are all natural. The Body Shop also do a natural range in shampoo. Boots also have a naturals range, I haven't tried these so I can't give an opinion. Are you in a large city? is there anywhere close that specialise in your hair type?
Let us know how you get on, good luck.

[lilin]

Daylilly - Thank you :)

lilin - I have never considered the rubber thing before, that is a very good point :). I've tried to get allergy tests before. Whenever I go to my doctor about say, lactose intolerance, or any such thing they just tell me that if I think I'm allergic to it then I should avoid it. I have tried numerous times with skin allergies too and they give me medication but don't test me. I've tried co-washing and even clay washing but I have VERY oily skin (including my scalp) and I only wash my hair once a week so it does nothing. I could wash my hair more but it takes my hair 1.5 days to dry and I don't want to have constantly wet hair because it is cold.

ChloeDharma - Thank you :), I'll look into that

Wow, they won't allergy test you? That seems like rather poor service, given what a common task washing one's hair is. Have you tried asking for a referal to someone else, or seeing a dermatologist?

Perhaps minimal ingredients are the way forward then. I also have hard time getting my hair clean enough with many natural DIY solutions, but I had very good results with soapnuts. I suggest combining it with flaxseed or xantham gum to thicken it so it's easier to control (it can sting the eyes, like most cleansers do whether natural or synthetic). You can also buy it pre-made (though you probably have to go online for that). That's a good way to cut your ingredients to just a handful or less.

As you are having allergy problems, do a patch test on your skin before using anything new all over your head.

[Freija]

I'm not sure about 'all-natural' - it's quite a subjective term and I think that shampoo is always going to be at least a grey area. But I can help with sulphate-free! In the past year or so, I've tried and liked Akin shampoo (available in Holland and Barrett and in independent health food places: the 'very gentle' unscented one doubles up as a facewash/makeup remover for me, too); the Naturtint shampoo (available from Holland and Barrett and some independent health food shops); the Boots Expert Itchy Scalp Care shampoo; Earth Friendly Kids shampoo (available cheaply online, from places like Goodness Direct and Amazon); and some of the Naked shampoos (I like the children's shampoos, which have been discontinued but are still being sold in Savers, and the Shine Moisturising Shampoo which you can get in Boots).

Other shampoos I've seen but haven't tried are the Dr. Organic range, the North American Hemp Co. range, the Avalon Organics range, the Giovanni range and the Australian Organics range, all of which are sold in Holland and Barrett (that place sells loads of sulphate-free options!); the Weleda range, the JASON Naturals range and the Bentley Organics range, which are often sold in independent health food shops; and Burt's Bees (I think the shampoos are available in Boots, and in Debenhams/Fenwicks/John Lewis/other big department stores). I've also heard some good things about Green People (though some of these definitely contain sulphates), and the Yes To range (in the UK Yes To Carrots has sulphates, I think, but the Yes To Cucumbers does not).

If you're happy to order online, some people really, REALLY love the hair cleanser from Pure 'Nuff Stuff - it's basically just a mild glucoside surfactant, apple cider vinegar and water, so it's about as close to a totally natural shampoo as you'll get. Moo Goo also do a shampoo that is designed for unhappy scalps that gets good reviews, and NaturallyThinking sell absolutely huge bottles of really simple, pH-balanced, sulphate-free shampoo base (that you can scent with your own essential oils or leave plain) for £9.

[hydrationseeker]

Hello All,
I have been on the look out for a cheap all natural shampoo. I have skin allergies (I don't know what to) so it has to be all natural to be on the safe side. Also, sulfate free please :). I have tried numerous sulfate containing shampoos that I am not allergic to but sadly matt my hair which causes breakage when detangling (I have 4a hair).

Looking forward to your relies, thank you x

Hi! We have a similar hair type but my hair issues are different.
As for matting when washing, do you wash in sections? If your hair will stay in fat twists when drenched or do like I do use clamps. Makes a massive difference, takes a little longer but cuts the shedding and breakage when detangling after.

Another tip is not to wash hair in shower, I found this by accident as I was using a bucket and cup (old school) for the whole wash process and my contact dermatitis on my back and shoulders reduced dramatically.

I suspect its a synergistic reaction from SLS and other detergents, preservatives, fragrances and colours can really confuse the situation.

I am liking Butterbur & Sage conditioner at the moment, I haven't tried their shampoo yet as I am on a use your stash challenge. But their ingredients list is very basic. I found it in a healthfoòd shop in SE London for £2.50 for 200ml.

Yes to Carrots £8 for 500ml from Holland n Barrett, is quite strong I'm still trying to work it. But dilution with water or some conditioner in my hand before application would work.

I've been quite wary of those Dr Organic shampoo ranges, the ingredient lists are way too big.

If you use heavy butters and oils òn your hair it might make those natural choices not work as well off the bat. But a friend of mine has had great results from yucca root, but expensive to buy online.

HTH and good luck.
X

[ClassicAim]

ChloeDharma - Thank you but sadly I am in the midlands, london has all the great stuff :P. I looked into the soapnuts a little and they seem lovely but I'm not sure if I want to add another DIY to my regimen (I already DIY my prepoo/ deep conditioner and clay rinse each time I wash).

Agnes Hannah - No, at the moment I live in a parish. My parents live in a large city and when I visit them I always try and get all the things I cannot get here but things for my hair type specifically tend to be more expensive and I'm on a students budget :)

lilin - I may look into it more when I'm less busy. It not really a big deal for my life, it just moderately annoying. I just lean towards hypo-allergenic products for anything that comes into contact with my skin, be it laundry soap or shower gel. On the plus side I don't wear make up so that is one less skin thing to worry about. I really like the idea of minimalist ingredients.

Freija - Thank you for all your great suggestions. I think I'm going to try pure 'nuff stuff, I really like the minimal ingredients and that there's an unscented option.

hydrationseeker - Yeah, I wash my hair in 4/5 sections. I tried washing it in twists once and sadly it didn't really work, I shed quite a bit so I need every bit of loose rinsing in the shower to allow the shed hair to pass through otherwise I spend even more time detangling. I currently don't use any heavy butters but I am going to try shea butter soon, thank you for bringing my attention to their interaction with shampoo.

[Freija]

Oh, good luck - I hope the PNS shampoo works out for you! They're a really nice company and they make some good things. I didn't get on with the shampoo myself (my hair seems to get stroppy with every glucoside-based shampoo I've tried; it's just a 'me'-thing), but I swear by their 'Body Bliss' moisturiser for my face, and their soaps are lovely. : )

[cathair]

If you have a Waitrose near you, they do a sulphate free shampoo with a matching cone free conditioner:

http://www.waitrose.com/shop/DisplayProductFlyout?productId=346810

The ingredients are really simple:


Aqua (water), Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, PEG-150 Distearate, Citric Acid, DMDM Hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Panthenol

And it's on offer, £1.49 down from £2.99 at the moment :)

[two_wheels]

You could also try Anita Grant stuff. It's designed for curlies. The shampoo bars are £3 so worth a shot. I haven't tried them because sulphate-free is not for me, but I had some of her leave-in once and it was really nice. http://anitagrant.com/natural-hair-care-1.html

[flickm]

Natural Life UK do non chemical shampoos based on stuff like coconut oil and with essential oils in. at the moment, though, they are only available through a closed invite group on Facebook till they get their website up and running. and postage is pretty steep.

[ClassicAim]

Update:

I have been used Pure 'Nuff Stuff unscented. I love it. I mix it with a little bit of water and rhassoul clay.

[LegoCaltrops]

If you have a decent health food shop nearby, see what they've got in stock. Mine has at least 3 brands with several options in each brand, all natural & as far as I remember, SLS free. I think a bottle of Suma shampoo was about £6.

I also quite like the soapnut shampoo bars from Living Naturally.

[Suzysu]

I've heard good things about Lush shampoos - in terms of gentle ingredients and effectiveness.

I'd always imagined that their shampoos would smell great and look fun but wouldn't really DO much! But lately I've been thinking that actually a shampoo shouldn't do much. That when it tries to do a lot is when you end up with lots of silicon and chemicals.

But anyway, I've heard that the co-founder of Lush was a tricologist, so I guess there is some reason to believe their hair products may have merit.

[missblueeyes]

I don't know if it has been mentioned before but Naked does a shampoo for sensitive scalp that's sulfate free. :) I have it at home right now and it's good. It's only 97% natural, though, if that puts you off. I personally made an exception for it because I couldn't find a different sulfate-free shampoo in that price range with similarly good ingredients.

Edit: I don't know how it's in the UK but as far as I know, all Lush shampoos contain sulfates. :(

[Suzysu]

I don't know if it has been mentioned before but Naked does a shampoo for sensitive scalp that's sulfate free. :) I have it at home right now and it's good. It's only 97% natural, though, if that puts you off. I personally made an exception for it because I couldn't find a different sulfate-free shampoo in that price range with similarly good ingredients.

Edit: I don't know how it's in the UK but as far as I know, all Lush shampoos contain sulfates. :(

Well, this is what Lush say about it - don't know if they're right or not - have never used their shampoos!

https://www.lush.co.uk/article/dont-stress-about-sls

I will say that, I found the sulphate-free shampoos I have tried to be very harsh. The problem is they often swap the sulphates for something equivalent that we know less about. The majority of people wash their hair with sulphate shampoos and don't react to them. Doesn't mean it's ideal, I know.

The best one was Paul Mitchell Wild Ginger shampoo and conditioner - but it had keratin in it and I'm sure after my Brazilian horror story I've probably developed an allergy to keratin (even though it's not a harmful ingredient) - at any rate I don't want to risk it.

But the PM shampoo and conditioner was V expensive anyway BUT smelt and felt like heaven!

[lapushka]

I've heard good things about Lush shampoos - in terms of gentle ingredients and effectiveness.

Lush does contain SL(E)S.

Edit: oh I see it's been mentioned. :o

[Suzysu]

Lush does contain SL(E)S.

Do you mean sulphates? Yes they do - see my previous post. I link to the fact that they do and they explain why they think it's okay. To sum up:"Most people can use shampoos containing SLS without worrying about skin or scalp irritation."

As I say, I've found some sulphate-free shampoos very harsh. I guess we need to watch that sulphate free shampoos aren't removing sulphates just to replace it with something worse, that our skin is less used to than sulphates.

Maybe we should make our own! I bet there are recipes on here. Cheaper too.

[lapushka]

Look up the channel "Loepsie" on YT. She used a Lush bar and her hair started to fall out for no reason - at first. Then she found out it was due to the sulfates in the shampoo. Her scalp couldn't take it. It's a case of YMMV, I think.

[LegoCaltrops]

How about https://www.faithinnature.co.uk/shampoo

They say they don't use SLS or SLES in any of their products. They do use Ammonium Laureth Sulfate in some, however it's apparently naturally sourced (ie of vegetable origin).

I particularly like the smell of the hemp & meadowfoam ones, they don't smell of hemp at all, but sort of spicy, like gingerbread.

[Suzysu]

Look up the channel "Loepsie" on YT. She used a Lush bar and her hair started to fall out for no reason - at first. Then she found out it was due to the sulfates in the shampoo. Her scalp couldn't take it. It's a case of YMMV, I think.

Then I wouldn't risk it. Not given what I'm already going through. That's shocking. Presumably she used other sulphate shampoos. I mean kids use sulphate shampoos - so Lush must be particularly harsh / heavy handed with the sulphates.

I'm surprised that a brand like Lush, which is supposed to be so natural....is so....unnatural.

[LegoCaltrops]

Ha! Aside from the pink calamine facial cleanser, which I believe they've just discontinued, just about all Lush products are full or sulphates, parabens, or other chemical nasties. People think that because their products have natural ingredients in, that they're good - there's also some pretty questionable chemicals in there too.

[furnival]

Look up the channel "Loepsie" on YT. She used a Lush bar and her hair started to fall out for no reason - at first. Then she found out it was due to the sulfates in the shampoo. Her scalp couldn't take it. It's a case of YMMV, I think.
I took two Lush shampoo bars with me when I spent six months in India, and within two months I'd lost loads of hair and what remained was dry and brittle. (Adding some chunks of Shea butter to a bar of solid SLS doesn't make it conditioning, whatever Lush may claim.) They're made from incredibly highly concentrated SLS and although Lush claim this is ok because "only the foam touches your scalp", they don't tell you to make sure that only the foam touches your scalp.

[redhead_rachel]

Following this thread with interest.
I think I'm allergic to SLS; or at least, shouldn't use it every time I wash my hair.
I have a big patch of dermatitis on my scalp which is prone to bleeding at the moment :( and I'm paranoid about getting a bald patch.
I'm cruelty free so that's another consideration when buying hair products for me.
I was using the Superdrug own coconut and almond which is CF. I love the conditioner, smells great and doesn't have to many nasties in (does have cones, but I need those on my coarse hair)
The shampoo is okay, but does leave me itchy.
Need something that won't irritate and dry out my scalp, but will also not leave too much build up which will also irritate my excema.
I've tried the lush shampoo bar in copperhead. This is less irritating, and has more natural stuff in. but it does still have SLS which leaves me a little scratchy.

Consider scouring easy for handmade shampoo bars maybe? That's my next stop.

[lapushka]

Following this thread with interest.
I think I'm allergic to SLS; or at least, shouldn't use it every time I wash my hair.
I have a big patch of dermatitis on my scalp which is prone to bleeding at the moment :( and I'm paranoid about getting a bald patch.
I'm cruelty free so that's another consideration when buying hair products for me.
I was using the Superdrug own coconut and almond which is CF. I love the conditioner, smells great and doesn't have to many nasties in (does have cones, but I need those on my coarse hair)
The shampoo is okay, but does leave me itchy.
Need something that won't irritate and dry out my scalp, but will also not leave too much build up which will also irritate my excema.
I've tried the lush shampoo bar in copperhead. This is less irritating, and has more natural stuff in. but it does still have SLS which leaves me a little scratchy.

Consider scouring easy for handmade shampoo bars maybe? That's my next stop.

Is it seborrheic dermatitis? In that case treat it with something like for instance Nizoral shampoo until the itchies and scaling is gone.

[ChloeDharma]

Well, this is what Lush say about it - don't know if they're right or not - have never used their shampoos!

https://www.lush.co.uk/article/dont-stress-about-sls

I will say that, I found the sulphate-free shampoos I have tried to be very harsh. The problem is they often swap the sulphates for something equivalent that we know less about. The majority of people wash their hair with sulphate shampoos and don't react to them. Doesn't mean it's ideal, I know.

The best one was Paul Mitchell Wild Ginger shampoo and conditioner - but it had keratin in it and I'm sure after my Brazilian horror story I've probably developed an allergy to keratin (even though it's not a harmful ingredient) - at any rate I don't want to risk it.

But the PM shampoo and conditioner was V expensive anyway BUT smelt and felt like heaven!

I found some of the comments in that link very interesting. I also have noticed alternatives like ALS feel much more stripping and harsh than SLS or SLeS. Herbs like shikakai work well for me but lack the convenience of picking up a bottle. I've also been using Avalon Organics peppermint shampoo and like that as the conditioners I have used have been cone free so I've not felt the need for sulphates to remove the cones.

[Cholie]

Not sure if I'm too late to reply to this but I've been using Ayurvedic soapnut bar from soapnuts.co.uk for the past few months and they're under £10.
Gave one to my BF that has some bad eczema and it's really helped clear that up while keeping the scalp moisturised. Just be sure to use some sort of acid rinse after! (I use some diluted aloe juice)

[Arachnid]

For 'all natural' in the UK I always recommend Purenuffstuff (http://www.purenuffstuff.co.uk/Hair-Care) it isn't cheap but is around your £10 limit and a lot goes along way. I use their hair cleanser diluted on my now BSL hair and it lasts around 6 months. Even if you think its too expensive right now I still think its worth a nosey around there site.

Another one I use is Faith in Nature. The conditioner is great for CO washes but I find that unless I dilute the shampoo and mix it with a bit of conditioner its too strong for me.