Grab These 10 All-Natural Haircare Must-Haves That We're Obsessed With

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The phrase "clean beauty" has been thrown around a lot lately. However, "clean" ingredient standards aren't universal across brands, so oftentimes, this phrase leads to major confusion among shoppers. Given that there's recent data and litigation regarding the link between hair relaxer use and uterine cancer, specifically in the Black community, knowing how to spot the difference between advertising jargon and scientifically backed ingredients can make all of the difference in not just personal preference, but also our livelihoods. So, how do you find all-natural clean hair products?

Aishia Strickland, an educator and expert in tight curl and natural hair care, defines "clean" as products formulated with "integrity, thoughtfulness, and tailored to meet the needs of the end user." She emphasized the importance of finding the perfect scientific balance. Kelsy Osterman, a master stylist at Spoke & Weal Salon echoes this sentiment.

"The science behind haircare can often feel dense and mysterious," says Osterman, but her philosophy is simple. It’s all about reading the details and looking for transparent language regarding a product's origin and ingredients.

We did the hard work and carefully researched everything from conditioners and oils to heat protectants and dry shampoos to find the nine best all-natural hair products for every hair type, ranging from coily and curly to straight and thin. These standout haircare products ensure you and your lucky giftee can complete a fully all-natural hair care routine with just a few clicks.

What to Consider

Fun beauty fact: Many of the successful all-natural beauty brands on the market were created in the homes of pioneers from the Black community, going all the way back to Annie Turnbo Malone at the turn of the 20th century and, more recently, Lisa Price, the founder of Carol's Daughter, and Muhga Eltigani, the founder of the NaturAll Club. Since most of us don’t have the patience to commit to a trial and error process of creating our own products from scratch, this guide should serve to help you find cleaner, all-natural hair products without the fuss.

All hair types are unique and have diverse needs. “Fundamentally, we all, no matter where we fall on the elusive curl chart, need to cleanse, condition, and style our hair regularly,” recommends Strickland. “Although this is the general baseline of hair care, it gets more specific when we take our unique characteristics into consideration when choosing products.” While natural organic ingredients can offer benefits, it's crucial to be discerning. The expert recommends shoppers look for shampoos and conditioners that have "lots of oils and butter present within the first five of the ingredients.” This is especially crucial for people who have curly or natural hair (think strands with 3a-4c density) because synthetic ingredients can weigh it down and even strip moisture in some cases. However, it's important to play with options and evaluate how they affect your hair.

Osterman, who has years of professional experience using hair care products, admits that not every single all-natural find is designed to accommodate the specific needs of yourself or your hair-obsessed bestie. And that’s totally fine! “It isn't guaranteed that just because a product is natural it will work well for your hair," says Osterman. "You have to go one step deeper into the science of the product to understand its potency on your hair.” She considers moisture content, hold, and other variables because “the hair and product are communicating on a more cellular level, both being organic matter.”

It’s also important to consider what we’re slathering onto our hair as it’s absorbed into our skin. Unbeknownst to us, we might inadvertently introduce allergens. "I've encountered numerous nut allergies, orange allergies, and many other sensitivities stemming from natural ingredients, which present a new challenge for hair care brands," Strickland says. It’s essential to keep your well-being in mind when searching for ingredients and knowing what your body can tolerate.

What's more, quality, clean ingredients often come at a higher price compared to average hair products. This is because they utilize less-processed ingredients, which can prevent damage to your hair in the long run. Investing in quality over quantity is advisable for maintaining healthier hair, our experts advise.

Considering all of this, we want to give you a few key ingredients to look for when you're choosing your all-natural products.

👍 BEST INGREDIENTS

Natural oils such as avocado, coconut, and jojoba hydrate your hair and promote shine. Jojoba oil, specifically, is one of our favorites. Dr Neera Nathan told Elle that "Jojoba oil can help smooth hair, moisturize the scalp, and may have anti-inflammatory or anti-dandruff properties to help with itching or irritation,”

Shea Butter contains fatty acids that soften the strands and work wonders for smoothing the hair (we see you flyaways), as well as moisturizing the scalp and helping improve its health thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, according to Cosmopolitan. Aloe Vera is calming and soothing to the scalp as well.

For those who are highly susceptible to allergic reactions, scent-free products can be game-changers.

👎 WORST INGREDIENTS

Formaldehyde is a carcinogen that is used to preserve products. However, it can irritate the lungs, skin, and eyes. And while you might not see it listed on an ingredients list, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has flagged several other ingredients that release formaldehyde when heated (like with a hair dryer or flat iron), like methylene glycol and timonacic acid. Some people may find that sulfates, which are commonly found in hair products, may contribute to hair and scalp dryness. Other ingredients to avoid are oxybenzone, octinoxate, and formaldehyde releasers that can contribute to a host of bad news, including disruption to your thyroid.

How We Chose

We’ve consulted experts, editors, and reviewers alike to find game-changing products that we can’t live without. The aim was to create a comprehensive product guide suitable for all hair types, highlighting the benefits of natural ingredients with the help of science-backed research so you can find everything you need from start to finish, whether that be hydrating hair masks, best frizzy hair shampoos, or heat protectant sprays. After all, you want to look your best while feeling your best.

Our careful research found dozens of brands to choose from that create collections to cater to various hair concerns. For example, London-based hairstylist Charlotte Mensah is a favorite of the fashion set for crafting products designed for hydrating curly and coily hair textures. The Rootist is a newcomer to the digital Sephora shelves and is designed with all hair textures in mind. They also earned a Clean at Sephora seal of approval and a recent mention in our guide to the best dry scalp shampoos.

Check out our favorite all-natural haircare products picks below!

Organic Beauty - Natural Clarity Hypoallergenic Hairbath

Let us introduce you to your new BFF. It's our winner for Best Shampoo in the 2024 Best Products Beauty Awards, Innersense Hairbath. Innersese is a hypoallergenic and fragrance-free formulation that features comfrey leaf and Japanese Swertia that work together to calm red, angry scalps and lock in moisture into dry hair. Both Nicole Saunders, our Beauty Editor, and Cat Bowen, one of our Senior Editors, use this product (and others in the line) religiously.

In particular, Cat says that her scalp suffers from severe dryness and psoriasis that gets worse in the winter but that this hair bath has helped immensely, especially around the edges of her scalp and behind her ears. Also, her normally dry 3a curls are bouncier than they've ever been on wash days.

More: 13 Best Argan Oil Shampoos

Don't Despair Repair Super Moisturizing Shampoo

Briogeo proudly asserts its commitment to being 91% naturally derived, vegan, and internationally recognized as Leaping Bunny certified, signifying their dedication to cruelty-free practices with absolutely no animal testing.

We adore their restoring shampoos designed for damaged and brittle hair, thanks to the inclusion of rosehip and algae. These ingredients provide rich antioxidants and fatty acids to each strand, effectively strengthening your hair and guarding against breakage.

"This affordable product saved my hair after highlights fried my hair," wrote one reviewer. "My hair has never looked healthier!"

Wash & Go System

Strickland is a devoted fan of the CurlMix brand due to its thoughtful consideration for individuals with scent allergies, offering a scent-free option. The brand prides itself on using 100% natural and organic ingredients, all meticulously handcrafted in Chicago, and is black-owned and operated. Each set includes shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, and quinoa gel.

Founded with the vision of helping people achieve their dream curls, CurlMix's products are formulated with clean ingredients, including slippery elm extract known for sealing in moisture and facilitating detangling effortlessly. Additionally, the inclusion of flaxseed oil in CurlMix's formulations offers benefits such as humidity resistance, enhanced shine, and frizz reduction along with other plant-derived ingredients, ensuring that customers enjoy not only beautiful but also healthy hair.

HG Conditioner

This vegan-formulated shampoo is designed for individuals dealing with thinning hair. Its superstar ingredients? Australian aloe vera and rosemary extract. Both ingredients are renowned for promoting hair growth and exfoliating the scalp so your locks can grow thicker and fuller than before. They also relieve an itchy scalp, especially during the colder months when our skin dries out and promotes shine.

"I will never go back to other shampoos and conditioners," wrote one reviewer on Amazon. "It makes my hair so soft and shiny and my hair always grows super long using it!"

Natural Juice Drench Nourishing Hair Mask

This clean, hydrating mask fights dull and dry hair by keeping your hair soft, healthy, and shiny using 99% plant and water-based ingredients. Designed for once-a-week use, the brand encourages you to “run errands, lounge, fly” or really whatever you want while it nourishes your hair to perfection, all without harmful chemicals and greasy silicones.

One customer enjoys wearing it for 24 hours before rinsing, although 15 minutes will suffice. She said that as a new mom, she doesn't have time to dedicate to long spa days at home, but just a few minutes with this mask and her hair is revived!

Shampowder Dry Shampoo

Aveda has long been a trailblazer in the realm of natural haircare, championing plant-based ingredients and ethical practices well before it became a trend. Their unwavering commitment extends to meticulous sourcing, with a keen emphasis on its positive impact it has on the communities where these resources originate.

This dry shampoo is Osterman's top choice, with her stating, "By far, my favorite dry shampoo. I love the packaging; it is non-aerosol and still delivers the powder in an airborne state."

Additionally, it's aluminum-free and adds fantastic texture to both freshly cleaned and day-old hair using plant-derived powder.

OI Oil

The incorporation of roucou oil, celebrated for its antioxidant properties, nourishes strands and establishes a protective barrier against aging and environmental damage. Apply to damp hair before styling and add post-styling for finishing touches.

During the winter, your hair might feel drier than the Sahara desert, especially if you color your strands. However, with Davines OI Oil, you can combat frizz and pesky flyaways without compromising your values or weighing your hair down.

Davines is a certified B Corporation that remains steadfast in its commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.

GRO Hair Serum

For those looking to increase growth with the help of nature backed by clinical research, we cannot stress Vegamour enough. The brand's hair serum harnesses the healing power of curcumin stem cell extract (aka turmeric) that hits pause on hair loss by stopping premature shedding while increasing growth for a thicker and fuller head of hair, along with other beneficial plant-based ingredients.

Olive Fruit Oil Deeply Repairing Hair Mask

Kiehl's is known for its nature-inspired, scientifically-backed products focusing on apothecary treatments that solve our beauty needs.

The brand's deeply hydrating mask enriches your hair by using avocado and olive fruit oil, known to lock in moisture and reduce split ends. It’s best for hair that has experienced heat damage or dryness. Infused with lemon oil, this product will restore a lustrous shine to your hair while delivering the essential nutrients it craves.

Given the nourishing formulation, it’s no wonder Saunders considers this one of the best hair masks in the game. “Kiehl’s haircare products are super underrated. This deep conditioner is incredibly nourishing and helps revive my curls. I could skip using a detangler because it makes combing through my hair before blowdrying seamless,” notes Saunders.

Simply lather on before cleaning your hair and allow it to set for at least 15 minutes, or wear it while working around the house to saturate as long as possible. When you’re ready, rinse and proceed with your favorite nurturing shampoo and conditioner.

MahaMane Detangling Leave-in Conditioner

Say goodbye to unmanageable hair. Just spritz on this leave-in conditioner and experience effortlessly combable hair (yes, really!), all thanks to its unicorn ingredient, aloe vera. Aloe vera works wonders by sealing in moisture, making it a breeze to tackle those pesky tangles.

One five-star Sephora review raves, "It smells so amazing and leaves my hair nourished for days." Additionally, this conditioner provides protection against breakage and heat, thanks to the infusion of alma berries.

This milky elixir utilizes the power of red hibiscus to restore your hair's natural radiance, all without compromising toxic ingredients.

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