Frustrated by my search for an effective yet chemical-free shampoo, I’m almost to the point of boycotting shampoo in general and wearing a messy bun everyday. Wow, do I have a lot to share!
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My intention with this Green Beauty series is to discover healthy products that are also easy to find. And I’ve spent hours in the hair care aisles of supermarkets and drugstores. Not to mention, the staff at Target must think I have an obsessive-compulsive hair washing disorder. Trust me when I tell you that I have found very few shampoos on store shelves that rate hazard-free on the EWG scale. Pantene, Garnier, Bed Head, Redken (and the list goes on)… don’t even think about them. But don’t worry; if you don’t want to resort to purchasing your shampoo online, you’re still in luck – if you are either a baby or African American.
Babyganics Shampoo & Body Wash rates only 1 on the EWG scale and does deliver fair results. It does, however, have some drawbacks:
- It needs to be used with a conditioner. After rinsing out the shampoo, my hair felt very dry and tangled; I definitely needed to reach for a conditioner.
- It doesn’t foam very much, so you are likely to use more of it. If you don’t mind the lack of suds, good for you. Lathering agents aren’t necessary to clean hair; rather, they are merely included because people feel a product works better if it lathers well. Ironically, these foaming agents (such as PEG-7M and cocomide MEA) are toxic.
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo rates 1 on the EWG scale, smells great and lathers moderately. But it’s not for everyone. Here’s why. Unless you have thick, curly hair, it will likely be too heavy for you. In store shelves, it is often displayed alongside hair products catering to the African American community. My fly-away, super fine, white girl hair is about as far from thick, luscious African American curls as it can be, but I nonetheless gave it a try. Way too heavy for me! It made my fine hair feel thick, heavy and limp.
Eventually, I gave up my store stalking and resorted to the internet. I still haven’t found my go-to shampoo, but I did stumble upon a close substitute to use in the meantime – Aubrey Organics Chia Shampoo.
Here’s the scoop:
- EWG rating of 2 (not my preferred 1 but still considered low hazard)
- Sold in some health food stores and online.
- Average price $10 per bottle.
- Why do I like it? This shampoo lathers some but not too much, cleans effectively and leaves my hair soft.
Thanks for Shampoo review
I had been using sulfate free shampoo for almost 03 years now when I stumbled upon this guy at Target. I became instantly hooked. I have curly hair so I need to retain as much moisture as I possibly can. I love the scent, I can smell it on my hair still 2-3 days after washing (I only wash 2x per week). After 3 months of using this, I can’t say I noticed anything different than my usual sulfate free shampoo and conditioner, but the scent alone is why I’ve continued purchasing it.
Have you investigated Alaffia African Black Soap? It’s an all-in-one liquid body wash and shampoo. I’m a barber and I love the way it makes my hair feel and look.
After reading your comment, I began researching it. The ingredients are all healthy and safe, and the mission of the company sounds wonderful. I will have to get some and give it a try. Just wondering if it will be too heavy for my fine hair. Thanks for the suggestion!!