We all want to do our part to save the planet, but sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start. One small way you can make a difference is by switching to environmentally friendly shampoos. There are several reasons why you should make the switch to eco-friendly shampoos. For one, they are better for your health. Most conventional shampoos are full of harmful chemicals that your skin can absorb. These chemicals can link to several health problems, including cancer. Eco-friendly shampoos are also better for the planet. Natural ingredients that are not harmful to the environment compose most of these products. Recyclable or biodegradable materials for packaging are also a priority. So, if you want to make a small change that can make a big difference, switch to one of these nine eco-friendly shampoos. You (and the planet) will be glad you did!
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How do I know if my shampoo is eco-friendly?
With so many different “eco-friendly” products on the market, it can be hard to know what’s actually good for the environment and what’s just greenwashing. When it comes to shampoo, there are a few things you can look for to make sure you’re getting a truly eco-friendly product.
First, check the ingredients list. If you see any harsh chemicals or sulfates, that’s a red flag. Second, see if the shampoo is packaged in recyclable or biodegradable materials. And finally, check to see if the company has any eco-friendly certifications. If they do, that’s a good sign they’re committed to making a green product.
Of course, there’s no perfect way to know if a shampoo is 100% eco-friendly, but these tips should help you weed out the ones that may just be trying to appear environmentally friendly but aren’t.
Act + Acre Cold Processed Cleanse Shampoo
This is a plant-derived scalp and hair cleanse. The formula is vegan, sulfate, silicon, paraben, phthalate, petrolatum, and synthetic fragrance-free. Act + Acre uses fully recyclable packaging and 90% less energy during production. They also work with partners that subscribe to sustainable business practices and fair wages. You can get 2% cashback when shopping with Rakuten. Retails for $32.
Bathing Culture Kelp Forest Shampoo
Kelp Forest shampoo is a gentle, hydrating, biodegradable shampoo. Suitable for all hair types and scalp health. This plant-based shampoo comes in 100% #nonewplastic bottles with a reusable locking pump. There are locations across the US where you can refill Bathing Culture products instead of purchasing more containers. If purchased through Credo Beauty, get 5% cashback through Rakuten. Retails for $28.
Dip Shampoo Bar
This Shampoo Bar is a salon-quality bar that removes the plastic bottles we use so much. Dip, as a company, does not sell to big box stores that require pallets of plastic-wrapped goods. They ship directly from the manufacturer to reduce their carbon footprint and do not overproduce their stock, leading to excess. They promote small changes to help the environment over performative ‘clean beauty.’ Switching to a shampoo bar will save you money as an added benefit! Retails for $24.
Juice Beauty Green Apple Shampoo
The Green Apple Shampoo is great for all hair types but is especially beneficial for normal or dry hair. This revitalizing shampoo uses a blend of antioxidant-rich organic botanical juices. Juice Beauty‘s formula contains no parabens, petroleum, propylene or butylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfates, pesticides, phthalates, artificial dyes, or synthetic fragrances. Most of their cleanser bottles use Post Consumer Recycled material; additional packaging uses FSC paper. FSC guarantees the material source is from certified, responsibly managed, renewable forestlands. Get 5% cashback with Rakuten. Retails for $20
Peach Shampoo Bar
This plastic-free Peach Moisturizing Shampoo Bar uses a formula for dry and dull hair to restore scalp health, deeply moisturize, and restore shine without weighing down your hair. It’s sulfate-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, and made with only natural fragrances. Shampoo bars are an excellent way to cut down on plastic waste. When shopping through Grove Collaborative, get 4% cashback with Rakuten. Retails for $14.99
Tree to Tub Soapberry for Hair
This invigorating soapberry shampoo with biotin and caffeine strengthens your hair and nourishes your scalp. Tree to Tub products uses soapberries from the eco-reserves of Taiwan. No trees are cut down during this process, and the berries are wild and sustainable. Once the berries are harvested, the by-products are used as meditation beads, so there is no waste. Products are packaged using rPET, an eco-friendly plastic created by collecting, sterilizing, and recycling consumer-used PET products such as water bottles. Tree to Tub is working to become plastic-free by 2025. When shopping through Grove Collaborative, get 4% cashback with Rakuten. Retails for $22.99
Moringa Shine & Protection Shampoo
Moringa shampoo uses Community Fair Trade moringa seed and Vegan silk protein to make your hair softer and healthier and protect it from daily pollution. In addition, the bottles are made with 100% recycled plastic, including Community Fair Trade plastic recycled off the streets of India. Retails for $15.
Ceremonia Weightless Hydration Shampoo
This lightweight, sulfate-free shampoo is optimized for fine, thin, and oily hair. Natural ingredients effectively cleanse hair without stripping its natural oils, and products are Leaping Bunny Certified. Shampoo bottles are made of 30 to 100% post-consumer recycled plastic which is also lightweight making shipments more carbon efficient. Ceremonia commits to donating 1% off all sales to non-profits working to reverse climate change. They are also a certified plastic-negative brand meaning they have pledged to remove twice as much plastic waste from the environment to be recycled and repurposed for every product they sell. The company also partners with Carbonfund.org to ensure all shipments are carbon-neutral. When purchasing through CredoBeauty.com, get 10% cashback with Rakuten. Retails for $20.
Captain Blankenship Cleanse Shampoo
A cleansing plant-based shampoo that is great for all hair types and gentle enough for daily use. Organic seaweed extracts and aloe vera moisturize and soothe the scalp. Captain Blankenship is committed to sourcing ingredients from suppliers who work directly with farmers meeting supply-chain transparency criteria and sustainable and regenerative farming and harvesting practices. Currently, they are using aluminum packaging because aluminum is infinitely recyclable and recycled at a much higher rate than plastic. They also partner with a program to recycle the pumps and sprayers from their packaging. When purchasing through CredoBeauty.com, get 10% cashback with Rakuten. Retails for $29.
If you’re looking for environmentally friendly shampoos, there are a few things to remember. First, check the ingredients list to ensure no harmful chemicals exist. Second, look for shampoos that are vegan and cruelty-free. Finally, choose a shampoo that uses recycled or recyclable packaging. This list provides nine great options for environmentally friendly shampoos. If you are starting to use more environmentally friendly products like me, connect with me on Instagram or join my private Facebook group!
