List of junk-free shampoos?

[venividibxtchy]

Is there a documented, comprehensive list of junk-free shampoos and conditioners on here? Not only SLS-free, but paraben-free, preservative-free, cone-free, etc.?

I've tried CV shampoo bars, but I'm looking to try some more: DW, etc.

[akurah]

You'll be hard pressed to find a paraben/preservative-free poo that isn't a solid shampoo--essentially, a soap. You do know WHY they put preservatives there, right? Anything liquid that is preservative free will both need to be refrigerated and used up fairly promptly or it will spoil.

[lora410]

my avalon biotin b-complex is junk free. no sls, paraben etc

[HairColoredHair]

my avalon biotin b-complex is junk free. no sls, paraben etc

Ingredients: Certified Organic Lavender Hydrosol (Lavandula Officinalis) and Certified Organic Saw Palmetto (Sarenoa Serrulata) and Aloe Barbadensis, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine (from Coconut), Certified Organic Wheat Protein (Triticum Aestivum), Biotin and Niacin (Vitamin B Complex), Certified Organic Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis), Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Vegetable Glycerin, Zinc Gluconate, Citric Acid, Methyl/Propylparabens, Grapefruit Seed Extract (Citrus Grandis) and pure essential oils.

?? Are there different biotin b-complex shampoos?

[Lindsay]

Aubrey Organics has some junk-free shampoos and conditioners.

[LawyerGirl]

Burt's Bees is mostly junk free? It does have natural preservatives however.

[Elenna]

Why 'o why is it so hard to find shampoos without junk ingredients. It seems that whatever shampoo ingredients I look at have SLS (or similar), parabens, preservatives, cones, etc. Even the shampoos at the local health food stores have these. I think that most of these so called healthy shampoo products have gone the way of big business. Sorry for the rant.

I'm still looking for junk free shampoo.

[chrissy-b]

I just started using Aubrey Organics Calaguala Fern Shampoo. It's SLS, cone and protein free. I ha-luv it.

Deionized Water, Coconut Oil-Corn Oil Soap, Soap Bark Extract, Yucca Root Extract, Carrageenan, White Pine Bark Extract, Organic Lemon Peel Oil, Calaguala Extract, Cade Wood Essential Oil, Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Aubrey's Preservative (Citrus Seed Extract, Vitamins A, C and E).

[TessieAnn]

Check out the Beauty Without Cruelty shampoos. At least some of them don't have sulphates and parabens--haven't seen the ingredients for all so can't attest to that.

Giovanni Shampoos are also sulphate- and paraben-free according to the ingredients lists at http://www.ethicalplanet.com/gish.html

Unfortunately, Aveda and Nature's Gate do contain the parabens.

Just to name a few.

[Isa-belle]

Urtekram shampoos are cone, SLS and paraben free. I can't even find them in France, but I discovered them in Amsterdam and found some in England as well - I think I've seen them online too.
Other than that, you can make your own shampoo, using a neutral and natural base and adding EOs and VOs etc that suit your hair type. Vitamin E and EOs such as rosemary can be used as natural preservatives.

[Elenna]

Other than that, you can make your own shampoo, using a neutral and natural base and adding EOs and VOs etc that suit your hair type. Vitamin E and EOs such as rosemary can be used as natural preservatives.

I'm not familar with shampoo ingredients. Could you please explain what the bases are, and what the oils are. And a place to buy these. I'm in the USA.

[Isa-belle]

I'm in France, so I don't know where you can get this kind of product in the US. What I use is this: http://www.centifolia.fr/htdocs/centifoliauk.htm ("bubble bath" is an inaccurate translation for a washing base).
Urtekram has a perfume-free shampoo with a minimal ingredients list, that may also be used for the same purpose. I googled it and you can order it online.

The ingredients you add to your shampoo will really depend on your hair type. We have a store in France where we can order a lot of natural and/or organic raw materials to create our cosmetics. I don't know if the same kind of store exists in the US - probably, but I really can't help there ;)

[mellie]

As you mentioned, Dairy Whip is good. It just contains saponified oils, goat milk, cocoa butter, plus whatever fragrances (or none) that you want (going from memory here so sorry if I'm forgetting an ingredient). I use it and it works beautifully, much better than shampoo bars for me.

There's herbal shampoo alternatives too. I use whole soapnuts. In the past I've used soapwort, which is also very nice. There's also powdered soapnuts (aritha), and shikakai and amla too.

[Isa-belle]

Oh, that Dairy Whip sounds wonderful. Hopefully I'll find some once I'm in the UK.
Ditto about shikakai and amla, they are efficient natural alternatives to shampoo. Rhassoul is one as well (or is it ghassoul you say in English? ;) ).

[Anje]

Why 'o why is it so hard to find shampoos without junk ingredients. It seems that whatever shampoo ingredients I look at have SLS (or similar), parabens, preservatives, cones, etc.

Because if you don't add something to it or keep it refrigerated, things will grow in it. Then you have different junk in your shampoo.

ETA: The Giovanni line looks like it has sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, which is another "junk" preservative.
More ETA: The truth about preservatives (http://www.treasuredlocks.com/trabpringrse.html) -- this looks interesting. The source is a brand specializing in natural black haircare.

[teela1978]

It kinda depends on what you consider 'junk' to be.

[venividibxtchy]

You'll be hard pressed to find a paraben/preservative-free poo that isn't a solid shampoo--essentially, a soap. You do know WHY they put preservatives there, right? Anything liquid that is preservative free will both need to be refrigerated and used up fairly promptly or it will spoil.

I didn't post this as a request for a lecture. I'm well-aware of the reason why certain ingredients are added; I'm just looking for further alternatives.
Besides, there is a plethora of natural preservatives that are simply not used because there are cheaper alternatives that can raise the company's profit margin.

Damn, I just saw DW has goat milk in it, that means it's out for me. I'm allergic.

Elenna, you are absolutely right. Giovanni, Nature's Gate, Shikai, etc. have little reason to be stocked in natural health food stores. I used Nature's Gate (I must have 6 or so different kinds....love many of the scents, and the Henna shampoo does my hair wonders) for quite awhile, and tried 2 kinds from Giovanni, before I realized the extent of the chemicals they contain. Even my Jason Henna shampoo has sodium benzoate in it, which I'm sensitive to.

Chrissy b, thanks for the recommendation. That one sounds promising. The only thing that I'm concerned about is the White Pine Bark Extract -- I'll need to check whether or not it is marked as a possible cross-sensitivity trigger for those with aspirin allergies. I know white willow bark, and another bark, too, are.

I wish that I could get a fragrance sample from each of the companies who make my favorite shampoos, then put them in over my own homemade shampoo base. Hahaha.

[Isa-belle]

Besides, there is a plethora of natural preservatives that are simply not used because there are cheaper alternatives that can raise the company's profit margin.
Absolutely!

[mellie]

Venividibxtchy, FYI - she can make the Dairy Whip without goat milk for people with allergies.

[Flaxen]

There are links to lists of 'cone free conditioners and sulfate free shampoos in the sticky VITs thread. The shampoos are color-coded for certain criteria of "junkiness." :)

[akurah]

I didn't post this as a request for a lecture. I'm well-aware of the reason why certain ingredients are added; I'm just looking for further alternatives.
Besides, there is a plethora of natural preservatives that are simply not used because there are cheaper alternatives that can raise the company's profit margin.



I wasn't lecturing. There are people in the world who thinks preservatives are dangerous outright and don't know that in order to have a relatively safe preservative free product, there are a number of precautions you must take to ensure your health. Special packaging, or making sure the product is completely water free, or requiring refrigeration are a number of such precautions, all of which can make a product prohibitively expensive or otherwise impractical to manufacture. THAT is why preservative free products are on the more rare side of the spectrum, and when you combine that fact with your other "junks" it must not contain, the list of suitable products gets very small indeed. For instance, Lush makes a lovely cone-free, preservative-free shampoo bar (solid shampoo) that happens to have one of your no-nos: SLS.

for your reading pleasure, some more information:
http://thebeautybrains.com/2007/01/24/should-you-use-self-preserving-skin-products/
http://thebeautybrains.com/2008/04/25/7-reseasons-there-arent-more-preservative-free-cosmetics/

[avraea]

The only thing that I'm concerned about is the White Pine Bark Extract -- I'll need to check whether or not it is marked as a possible cross-sensitivity trigger for those with aspirin allergies. I know white willow bark, and another bark, too, are.

As far as I know, all (or almost all) of Aubrey Organics shampoos are free of "junk", as they are soap-based and the only preservative they use is the citrus extract, vitamin a, c and e. They all have different ingredient lists, including different herbs, etc, so you can check out other ones that don't have white pine bark extract in it.

[intothemist1999]

I'm not at all up on ingredients.

How do these fair: I bought the conditioner once which had very basic ingredients. These are the shampoo ingredients:

Ingredients: WATER, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE (FROM PLANT SOURCE), DISODIUM COCOAMPHODIACETATE, CAPRYLYL/CAPRYL GLUCOSE, GLYCERIN, XANTHAN GUM, DICAPRYLYL ETHER, LAURYL ALCOHOL, CITRIC ACID, SAPINDUS MUKUROSSI PEEL EXTRACT, CHONDRUS CRISPUS (CARRAGEENAN), FOENICULUM VULGARE (FENNEL) FRUIT EXTRACT, HUMULUS LUPULUS (HOPS) EXTRACT, ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM EXTRACT, MELISSA OFFICINALIS LEAF EXTRACT, VISCUM ALBUM (MISTLETOE) FRUIT EXTRACT, ALPHA BISABOLOL, BETA-GLUCAN, PHENOXYETHANOL, TROPOLONE

At the bottom of the page, they have a link to a "MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET", but some of it is Greek to me.

Here's what my bottle of conditioner lists:

WATER, METHOSULFATE (from cabbage), CETYL ALCOHOL (Palm oil), Shea butter, jojoba oil, Vitamin E, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE (from cellulose gum), Panthenal (Vit B5), grapefruit seed extract.

Now I notice their website shows extra items and no jojoba:
WATER, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CETYL ALCOHOL, SORBITOL, ETHYL MACADEMIATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, FOENICULUM VULGARE (FENNEL) FRUIT EXTRACT, HUMULUS LUPULUS (HOPS) EXTRACT, ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM EXTRACT, MELISSA OFFICINALIS LEAF EXTRACT, VISCUM ALBUM (MISTLETOE) FRUIT EXTRACT, ALPHA BISABOLOL, TROPOLONE, PANTHENOL, GLYCERIN, PHENOXYETHANOL, CITRIC ACID.


Was it minus a preservative in the first conditioner list? I've had two bottles a long time, and they don't look or smell bad. The only think is that it got that "old oil" smell (it's unscented). I'm going to email them to ask why the change.

This is a Canadian product, but if it looks like something you could use, they have an online store,and there was a link to US online retailers.

[Anje]

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative. Tropolone looks like it's an antibacterial agent of some sort.

[TessieAnn]

Naturallydirect.net (http://www.naturallydirect.net/natural-shampoo.htm) has an unscented shampoo with herbal extracts, none of the "junk" preservatives and no EOs. Presumably, you could add EOs if you want to. Scroll down to see the unscented version.

I haven't tried this line but it looks interesting.

Here are some organic shampoo recipes (http://organic.lovetoknow.com/Organic_Shampoo_Recipes) just for fun. I've noticed that some of the shampoo bases such as those offered by From Nature With Love and Mountain Rose Herbs have methylparabens and such. Too bad!

[Elenna]

The shampoo recipe looks interesting. I have two bars of Kiss My Face olive oil soap. The ingredients are: Saponified Olive Oil, Water, Sodium Chloride. I realize that at some point there is a chemical reaction to be able to turn oil into soap. So I'm ok with the sodium chloride (really). Some blending of ingredients to try out a hair shampoo recipe would be interesting.

[Desdemona]

Dairy Whip is great but actually none of us have ever gotten a gurananteed complete ingredient list from the manufacturer and partial or no ingredients are listed on the tub, depending on when you got yours (my first order had some ingredients listed, my latest order has none). So we can't be absolutely positive it contains no "junk." Still, it works very well and is definitely worth a try.

Here are a few other things I have used recently and really like that seem to qualify as "junk" free - no cones, no panthenol, no protein, no quats, no preservatives other than citric acid or rosemary extract. Also, no castor oil or added glycerin which were high on my list of no-nos once I realized they were what was causing buildup on my hair from shampoo bars. These are all liquid soap-based shampoos made with potassium hydroxide instead of sodium hydroxide (used in hard shampoo bars) and work much better in hard water. None of them require an acid rinse or conditioner:

Encoura Natural Shampoo - comes in two versions scented with essential oils and no synthetic fragrances (almond or citrus) plus an unscented version. This is extremely gentle, requires two lathers and is probably not strong enough for very oily scalps.

Deionized water, Potassium Heliantus Annuusate (Sunflower Oil), Potassium
Cocoate (Coconut Oil), Potassium Simmondsia Chinensisate (Jojoba), Citric Acid.

Encoura Body Wash - comes in three versions scented with essential oils and no synthetic fragrances (almond, citrus, or peppermint) plus an unscented version. I noticed this formula was almost the same as the shampoo, it's just missing the jojoba oil and is a lot cheaper than the shampoo so I tried it on a whim. It works really well on hair, only requires one lather and is probably strong enough to handle very oily scalps.

Deionized Water, Potassium Heliantus Annuusate (Sunflower Oil), Potassium
Cocoate (Coconut Oil), Citric Acid.

Encoura also makes a Transition Shampoo which I have not tried.

Deionized water, Decyl Glucoside, Potassium Heliantus Annuusate (Sunflower
Oil), Potassium Cocoate (Coconut Oil), Potassium Simmondsia Chinensisate
(Jojoba), Xanthan gum, Citric Acid, Citrus Essential Oil Blend.


Vermont Soap Organics Aloe Castille Liquid Soaps - comes in five versions scented with essential oils plus an unscented version. I used this diluted 50/50 with water and it is a wonderful shampoo, extremely gentle but cleansing enough to clean a very oily scalp. It is nothing like other castile soaps I have tried in the past, like Dr. Bronner's, which dreadlocked my hair. This is as gentle as the Encoura Body Wash when used as a shampoo.

Saponified organic oils of coconut, olive and jojoba, organic aloe vera, rosemary extract (preservative).

[venividibxtchy]

The shampoo recipe looks interesting. I have two bars of Kiss My Face olive oil soap. The ingredients are: Saponified Olive Oil, Water, Sodium Chloride. I realize that at some point there is a chemical reaction to be able to turn oil into soap. So I'm ok with the sodium chloride (really). Some blending of ingredients to try out a hair shampoo recipe would be interesting.

I own that; it's not bad.


Dairy Whip is great but actually none of us have ever gotten a gurananteed complete ingredient list from the manufacturer and partial or no ingredients are listed on the tub, depending on when you got yours (my first order had some ingredients listed, my latest order has none). So we can't be absolutely positive it contains no "junk." Still, it works very well and is definitely worth a try.

Here are a few other things I have used recently and really like that seem to qualify as "junk" free - no cones, no panthenol, no protein, no quats, no preservatives other than citric acid or rosemary extract. Also, no castor oil or added glycerin which were high on my list of no-nos once I realized they were what was causing buildup on my hair from shampoo bars. These are all liquid soap-based shampoos made with potassium hydroxide instead of sodium hydroxide (used in hard shampoo bars) and work much better in hard water. None of them require an acid rinse or conditioner:

Encoura Natural Shampoo - comes in two versions scented with essential oils and no synthetic fragrances (almond or citrus) plus an unscented version. This is extremely gentle, requires two lathers and is probably not strong enough for very oily scalps.

Deionized water, Potassium Heliantus Annuusate (Sunflower Oil), Potassium
Cocoate (Coconut Oil), Potassium Simmondsia Chinensisate (Jojoba), Citric Acid.

Encoura Body Wash - comes in three versions scented with essential oils and no synthetic fragrances (almond, citrus, or peppermint) plus an unscented version. I noticed this formula was almost the same as the shampoo, it's just missing the jojoba oil and is a lot cheaper than the shampoo so I tried it on a whim. It works really well on hair, only requires one lather and is probably strong enough to handle very oily scalps.

Deionized Water, Potassium Heliantus Annuusate (Sunflower Oil), Potassium
Cocoate (Coconut Oil), Citric Acid.

Encoura also makes a Transition Shampoo which I have not tried.

Deionized water, Decyl Glucoside, Potassium Heliantus Annuusate (Sunflower
Oil), Potassium Cocoate (Coconut Oil), Potassium Simmondsia Chinensisate
(Jojoba), Xanthan gum, Citric Acid, Citrus Essential Oil Blend.


Vermont Soap Organics Aloe Castille Liquid Soaps - comes in five versions scented with essential oils plus an unscented version. I used this diluted 50/50 with water and it is a wonderful shampoo, extremely gentle but cleansing enough to clean a very oily scalp. It is nothing like other castile soaps I have tried in the past, like Dr. Bronner's, which dreadlocked my hair. This is as gentle as the Encoura Body Wash when used as a shampoo.

Saponified organic oils of coconut, olive and jojoba, organic aloe vera, rosemary extract (preservative).

Thank you for the recommendation. I've used Bronner's for as long as I can remember, but like you, my hair hated it.


I wasn't lecturing. There are people in the world who thinks preservatives are dangerous outright and don't know that in order to have a relatively safe preservative free product, there are a number of precautions you must take to ensure your health. Special packaging, or making sure the product is completely water free, or requiring refrigeration are a number of such precautions, all of which can make a product prohibitively expensive or otherwise impractical to manufacture. THAT is why preservative free products are on the more rare side of the spectrum, and when you combine that fact with your other "junks" it must not contain, the list of suitable products gets very small indeed. For instance, Lush makes a lovely cone-free, preservative-free shampoo bar (solid shampoo) that happens to have one of your no-nos: SLS.

for your reading pleasure, some more information:
http://thebeautybrains.com/2007/01/24/should-you-use-self-preserving-skin-products/
http://thebeautybrains.com/2008/04/25/7-reseasons-there-arent-more-preservative-free-cosmetics/

My reason for desiring a product without SLS is far less...political. I am not one of those idealistic hippies who cannot comprehend the reason why more preservative-free products are not made -- as both a practical person, and someone who works in the science field, I already know.

However, I have seborrheic dermatitis on my scalp, and I'm curious as to whether I could just simply be allergic to SLS. I did have eczema as a child when allergic to this and that, so a dermatological reaction would not be an irrational assumption. H&S and other dandruff shampoos burn when I use them, so they're automatically out, and I'd rather not go on a steroidal anti-inflammatory medication unless absolutely necessary.

Also, I feel that SLS is a cheap detergent, and that there are far gentler cleansing ingredients out there that I'd prefer to use. They might cost me a little more, but I think that's worth it. It's like choosing EVOO over margarine, or Patron over Jose Cuervo -- a little bit of admitted snobbery, albeit, but overall, just common sense.

[CryssieWillow]

My favorite brands: Urtekram, dr. Hauschka, Herboretum and de Traay.

[Katze]

However, I have seborrheic dermatitis on my scalp, and I'm curious as to whether I could just simply be allergic to SLS. I did have eczema as a child when allergic to this and that, so a dermatological reaction would not be an irrational assumption. H&S and other dandruff shampoos burn when I use them, so they're automatically out, and I'd rather not go on a steroidal anti-inflammatory medication unless absolutely necessary.

Also, I feel that SLS is a cheap detergent, and that there are far gentler cleansing ingredients out there that I'd prefer to use. They might cost me a little more, but I think that's worth it. It's like choosing EVOO over margarine, or Patron over Jose Cuervo -- a little bit of admitted snobbery, albeit, but overall, just common sense.

I also came here as a devotee of 'as natural as possible' - I washed with Rhassoul (Ghassoul/Moroccan clay) for about a year before finding LHC. I had a black roommate who got me into vinegar rinsing, oiling, etc. and I could see the benefits, even if what worked for her hair didn't work for mine.

And I also have sebhorreic dermatitis and eczema. Going natural seemed to help a LOT - but sulfate free didn't. After being here a while and observing my scalp with different routines (CO, WO, no 'poo, 'cones, 'cone free) I decided that lots of moisture as well as SLS or ALS washing is the best thing for my fine, fragile hair and sensitive itchy scalp. Honey is also good, but I do need occasional sulfates to get my scalp and hair clean. I WANTED to only use 'things I can eat' on my hair and scalp, but am much happier with occasional sulfate use.

If you have a lot of allergies, as it sounds like you do, you are lucky to be in the USA. There are many more products available there, for cheaper, than there are here in Europe. Aubrey Organics comes to mind as one of the 'purest' - but you will still encounter ingredients with 'long names.' I notice that Aubrey lists their cleansing agent as 'coconut oil/corn oil SOAP' on their 'sulfate free' shampoo (Chamomile), making me think they are marketing their products at people like us who get worried when we see long names.

However, as my chemist BF likes to remind me, 'people are scared of chemistry.' Sodium chloride, for example, is table salt. Nothing more. You can eat it, so it is probably OK to put on the outside of your body too.

I'm not trying to preach at all here; as a former vegan, I understand where you are coming from completely. I just want to say that going 'junk free' (however you define junk - for me, that means fragrances and colors and silicones) might be something you might want to reconsider as you figure out what your hair and skin and scalp like.

To follow up on the Mane Forum thread on SD, I found honey (SMTs, masks) to be one of the best treatments for SD, as well as the oil cleansing method. Not brushing or touching my scalp also helps it stay calm and minimize crusties, as does a better diet.

There is a lot of information on this site about natural skin and hair care. Since we have so many members from so many walks of life, the information tends to be critically presented, with different opinions or background information. This is a good thing, IMO, as it allows you to make an informed opinion.

Hope you find what you are looking for! :flower:

[healingsolitude]

I agree with Mellie that Lisa will make the Dairy Whip without goats milk. She has made it with shea butter substituting the goats milk for those who want a more vegan product.

[young&reckless]

Burt's Bees is mostly junk free? It does have natural preservatives however.


Glucose oxide and lactoperoxidase

But it is ph balanced, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, parben and phthalthe free.

It can be a little drying so I recomend condish if your use to cv bars. I like to use it when I'm in a hurry.

[Lisa Marie]

As an acupuncturist who treats chemically sensitive people (and am pretty sensitive myself) the best shampoo I've found is at www.realpurity.com. I use the hair repair shampoo because I have some damage from highlights. It has the best ingredients and is very sudsy! Unfortunately, I don't find their conditioner does anything for me. I do use their cosmetics, though, which I love.

Here are the ingredients: Hair Repair Shampoo Ingredients- Purified Water, Liquid Protein, Neutralized Coconut Extract, Coconut Oil, Sesame Oil, Avocado, Wheat Germ Oil, Biotin, Panthenol, Seaweed Extracts (Carrageenan, Iodides, Amino Acids), Citrus Seed Extract and Vitamins A, C And E.

[mikegeorge]

Sorry so late, but Morrocco Method is about as junk free as you can get.

[freznow]

The most widely available commercial liquid shampoo with no questionable ingredients in the majority of their products, that I've found, is Aubrey Organics. There are probably many others, but I don't think you could really find any, besides shampoo bars, at a local store, as they can't be stored indefinitely in the back room as Americans like to have their food/products.

However, if you want to be frugal, crafty, and really eco friendly, you can't beat making your own shampoo! (Soapwort, yucca, aritha have natural saponins. Eggs clean very well, and it's nice to add honey to them. Catnip works as a weak natural CO. Fenugreek (or was it fennel?) thickens up to a good CO type wash as well. There are a number of others I haven't looked at specifically, too, like horsetail, and cassia does a good job of cleaning my hair, though that isn't my main intent.)