When it comes to the words “clean beauty,” it’s tough to define what they truly mean. It becomes especially tricky to navigate when you find shampoos and conditioners labeled as “natural” or “nontoxic.” I think it’s great to aim to buy products without harsh ingredients, but most out there on the market are not made of 100% natural ingredients—there are usually safe synthetics added in to make the formula effective. That’s another thing. A lot of clean shampoos and conditioners have gotten a bad rap over the years for not working as well as those with sulfates or other strong cleansing agents.
Well, I’m here to tell you that’s not true, and I have several celebrity hairstylists to back me up on that. It’s definitely possible to find an effective shampoo and conditioner without harsh cleansing agents, and if this is a concern for you, there are a few ingredients you should keep an eye out for. Avoid sulfates, which are known to strip the hair—especially if you have curls. Curls are already dry by nature, and using sulfates might make your hair even drier or cause damage. You’ll instead want to look for hydrating ingredients like honey and oils like avocado, coconut, and black cumin seed. Most natural shampoos and conditioners also use gentler plant-derived cleansing agents that won’t strip the hair of its essential natural oils or fats.
I asked three celebrity stylists to weigh in on their favorite sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners and included a few of my own favorites for every hair type below.
