Finding the right shampoo for natural hair can feel like a never-ending quest. The market is saturated with products, many of which make tall claims but fall short on delivery. This guide cuts through the noise, providing you with a curated list of the best moisturizing shampoos, tailored for various hair types and concerns. It's time to say goodbye to toxins and hello to healthy, hydrated hair!
Before diving into specific product recommendations, it's essential to understand your hair type and its unique needs. Natural hair encompasses a wide range of textures, from wavy to coily, each requiring a different approach to cleansing and hydration. Consider factors such as porosity, density, and scalp condition when selecting a shampoo.
Navigating shampoo ingredient lists can be daunting. Many products claiming to be "plant-based" or "herbal" still contain questionable ingredients. Here are some common culprits to avoid:
Learning about ingredients empowers you to make informed choices and avoid greenwashing tactics.
Shampoo is used to cleanse your hair. It is not a product to make your hair feel soft, look shiny, or appear moisturized. Even moisturizing shampoos aren’t meant to moisturize your hair, they just contain more emollients to leave that smooth coating on the hair after shampooing. The entire purpose of shampoo is to cleanse sebum, environmental debris, and product buildup from the scalp and hair. Instead of thinking of shampoo like one monolithic product out to destroy our hair, we like to think of shampoo as primer for the hair that comes in a spectrum of cleansing strengths that prepare the hair for everything we want to do to it.
Read also: Find the Perfect Moisturizing Shampoo
Just like choosing a shampoo formulation, how many times you shampoo will be determined by the needs of your scalp and hair. There is no correct number of times to shampoo, just make sure that your hair/scalp is clean whatever you use or how many times you use it.
Here's a breakdown of some of the best moisturizing shampoos for natural hair, categorized by specific needs:
This is one that I have personally used the longest and most consistently! There’s so much to love and some of my readers feel the same way. It uses aloe instead of water so it’s more concentrated and a little goes a long way. You can get a sudsy lather and it even thoroughly washes thick hair like mine; it’s very clarifying and great for removing excess oil! BONUS: The bottles are recyclable aluminum but Plaine actually covers the cost of return shipping and has a subscription/refill program. They’re an extremely eco-conscious company! You even reuse your pump, and they offer BULK glass jugs. Although many people with drier hair like this shampoo, I have heard from a couple that it’s too clarifying/drying for them, so just a heads up.
A super popular response from my curly-haired readers! It’s Curly Girl Method approved and was created to maximize pliability, elasticity, and hydration while lessening frizz. It’s silky and rich yet won’t weigh your curls down. “I like the EVOLVh curly shampoo because it doesn’t leave any buildup in my hair, lathers well, and feels lightweight (doesn’t make my hair feel heavy and limp like a lot of natural hair products can since the oils are heavy).
Sooooo many of my readers like this one! Most of the responses from people that love Under Luna have thinner or drier hair. Some curly-haired people too! It’s available in two scents and an unscented version (if you’re sensitive to strong smells or essential oils). However, this one did not totally work out for me personally! 🤷♀️ These are a little different because you’re supposed to double wash; there is a learning curve. The first application of Under Luna shampoo should grab dirt/oils and then the second time will have a stronger foam. “Under Luna shampoo gently cleans my scalp and hair while not drying it out. I love the smell and feel of it, too! It meets my ingredient standards but still has suds and lathers. The glass pump bottles are a bonus!” -Laura M.
Read also: Ingredient Breakdown: Pantene Shampoo
A better swap for Head & Shoulders! Many conventional shampoos made for dandruff or scalp conditions can contain coal tar (😯) or active drug ingredients such as zinc pyrithione. Briogeo’s formula is made with salicylic acid, lactic acids, tea tree, and charcoal to help eliminate scalp flaking and irritation without stripping moisture. It can be helpful for dandruff, dryness, itching, flaking, and psoriasis. “I have reallllllly bad flakiness in winter and I swear Briogeo is the only one that actually helps!” -Joanna G. Note: While these types of shampoos can help symptoms, it’s always good to figure out WHY you’re experiencing them! Many skin conditions might be linked to gut or autoimmune issues, for example.
While all of the shampoos in this post are color-safe because they do not use harsh sulfates, Innersense’s is specifically formulated to protect color from fading and preserve chemically-treated hair. It uses ingredients that are gentle enough to not remove color deposits, such as pumpkin seed oil which can promote vibrancy and shea butter which can enhance UV-B defense. “Innersense Color Awakening Hairbath is my favorite clean shampoo. The consistency is good, i.e. not runny, and has a pretty good lather. My hair feels really clean and not weighed down, and my color holds really well!”-Sydney G.
If you look at the color wheel, violet is the opposite of yellow. So using a purple shampoo is a simple way to counteract those tones! I have tried numerous natural purple shampoos and my favorite is the Innersense Bright Balance Hairbath! It’s concentrated, smells like jasmine and apple, and also performs well as a shampoo to thoroughly wash.
I had not heard of this brand before, but some of my readers swear by this one and it was the most popular bar response! Shampoo bars are nice if you’re looking for something low-waste and package-free. Viori uses Longsheng rice water which makes hair smoother, shinier, and stronger. I gave it a try myself, and yes, it does surprisingly lather and clean hair well! I also appreciate that Viori has an unscented (Native Essence) bar, so my husband uses it too. I do find that shampoo bars can take longer to disperse the lather if you have thick hair (like me!) or a lot of hair. “I switched to Viori and will never look back because 1. My hair is so soft after using it and stays looking clean for far longer than other toxin free shampoos I’ve tried and 2. I love that it is not in a plastic bottle; I can use every drop of the shampoo without wasting any expensive product or making any waste. Another plus is that it smells amazing! 10/10” -Paulina M.
Another popular reader favorite for various hair types. Carina has simple and organic formulas at affordable price points. Plus, they also have an unscented version without any fragrances or essential oils. It does have a good lather but I find that it dissipates quicker than I would like it to; I kind of have to use a lot of shampoo for my thick hair. But it literally leaves my hair squeaky clean and soft, and I was pleasantly surprised for the price!
Read also: Moisturizing Shampoos: Black Hair Guide
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