Natural shampoo: 3 steps to choosing the right one!

After months of hesitation, you’re finally ready to take the leap. No more conventional shampoos filled with harmful ingredients, you’re going to switch to a natural shampoo!

The intention and motivation are there, but when it’s time to choose… you freeze. Faced with the overwhelming number of so-called natural products, you don’t know which one to trust. The one that claims to be 100% natural? The one with the little green leaf on the label? The one that’s natural and organic? Don’t panic, at Hairborist, we know how complicated it can be to find the best hair care, so we’re here to help. Here are our 3 essential steps to choosing the best natural shampoo.

Step 1: analyze the label of your natural shampoo

“Natural” products are a major trend that’s here to stay. That’s why some brands play with the term “natural” to market products that aren’t always healthy. You’ve probably noticed plenty of shampoos labeled as “natural” on green bottles decorated with little leaves or flowers, designed to catch your eye. Be careful, this could just be greenwashing, an eco-friendly façade to sell a product that isn’t natural at all.

The smartest way to pick a real natural shampoo is to carefully read the label. This allows you to quickly spot which ingredients are safe and which ones aren’t. But what should you absolutely avoid in a natural moisturizing shampoo?

Sulfates. Not all sulfates are bad, which is why it’s important to know the difference. But first, what are sulfates? They’re surfactants that remove impurities and create the foam in your shampoo. The problem is that many sulfates, like Sodium Laureth Sulfate or Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, are very harsh on hair. Others, however, are derived from natural agents (like cocoglucoside) and are safe to use.
Silicones. At first glance, silicones make hair look smooth, shiny, and soft, but in reality, they’re just a quick fix. They suffocate the hair, weigh it down, and are difficult to wash out. Worse, they pollute oceans. Definitely not eco-friendly! On your shampoo label, they usually end in -icone, -iconol, or -siloxane.
Parabens. These preservatives are highly controversial because they can disrupt your hormonal system and trigger allergies. Fortunately, they’re used less and less these days. On your shampoo label, you’ll find them under terms starting with butyl, phenyl, or propyl.

Decoding labels might not sound like the most exciting part of your shopping trip, but luckily there’s a shortcut: enter the ingredient names into the INCI search tool on the website The Truth About Cosmetics. In just a few seconds, you’ll know if your natural shampoo is truly safe, or not!

Detecting an organic label to choose the best natural shampoo

If you’ve decided to change your habits and switch to a natural shampoo, it’s certainly for the health of your hair. That means choosing a natural shampoo brand without harmful ingredients, as we’ve already seen, but you can go even further by looking for a shampoo that is both natural and organic.

Not sure what the difference is? It’s actually quite simple. A natural shampoo must contain at least 95% natural or naturally derived ingredients. The rest may include chemical ingredients, which can even mean silicones or parabens. So not really 100% natural!

A good organic shampoo, on the other hand, is 100% natural, with 95% of the natural ingredients coming from organic farming. In addition, it must meet a strict set of requirements imposed by its organic certification. At Hairborist, for example, our Ecogarantie label certifies that your professional natural shampoo is 100% neutral, biodegradable, GMO-free, and free from petrochemical ingredients. Silicones and parabens are therefore strictly excluded.

Choosing the best organic and natural shampoo means playing it safe by combining the characteristics of natural with those of organic. The label also provides an extra layer of guarantee. By choosing the best organic shampoo and correctly decoding the label, you can be sure you’re opting for a high-quality, restorative natural shampoo.

Gentle natural shampoo: choose according to your hair type

You’ve carefully analyzed the label of your natural shampoo and decided to add extra assurance by opting for an organic certification. Now all that’s left is to find the best natural shampoo adapted to your hair type!

Indeed, not all hair has the same needs. Sensitive hair requires a gentle shampoo, while colored hair needs a product specifically formulated for dyed hair. You should therefore focus on your hair’s characteristics to know which organic shampoo to choose. Of course, we can give you a hand to make things easier: at Hairborist, all our shampoos are natural and certified organic!

If you have an oily scalp, you’ll need to regulate sebum production and bring freshness back to your hair. The Harmony Clean shampoo does this wonderfully, thanks in particular to the purifying properties of linden essential oil it contains.
If you’re unsure which natural shampoo to choose for a sensitive scalp (for example prone to eczema or seborrheic dermatitis), the Sensity shampoo is your go-to. Fragrance-free and without essential oils, it cleans without irritation and protects your hair thanks to rice protein.
For chemically colored hair, it’s essential to choose the most natural shampoo possible that also contains moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera. That’s the case with Color Clean shampoo, formulated with soap nut, rice protein, aloe vera for hydration, and chamomile to enhance your color’s radiance.

It’s important to remember that even the best natural shampoos don’t heal your hair (their role is to wash, not to treat!). This is why you should always add a pre-shampoo oil and a conditioner to your hair care routine for the best results.

That being said, you now have all the keys you need to know which natural shampoo is right for you!