Now that eco-friendly beauty and skincare products are becoming the preferred choice for eco-conscious consumers, more and more people are turning to pure, all-natural hair care products as well. Organic shampoo and conditioners from companies such as Aubrey Organics, Kiss My Face, and Nexxus are encouraging consumers to reap the benefits of natural ingredients. These can help to moisturize, repair, and strengthen hair and without the harsh chemicals and alcohol-based formulas found in most generic brands. However, most organic shampoo is priced at least $2-$10 above the average brand – is it really worth the extra cost?
Organic Shampoo: Key Benefits and Ingredients
Authentic organic shampoo does offer a number of benefits for the scalp and hair, as it infuses hair follicles and skin cells with natural oils, minerals, and herbal extracts. Organic shampoo made with coconut oil and aloe vera, for example, can stimulate healthy hair growth because of their natural moisturizing properties on the scalp. Organic shea butter is another important ingredient in organic shampoo, as this provides shine and moisture for the hair from root to tip. Organic shampoo also smells great; the ingredients and essences come together for a much milder, more natural scent than non-organic varieties.
Leading Brands and Prices for Organic Shampoo
The leading brands and average prices of organic shampoo on the market include:
-Burt’s Bees Shampoo: made with natural ingredients such as pomegranate, soy, green tea, fennel seed, and brazil nut; average retail price is $7.95 per bottle
-Nature’s Gate Shampoo: made with ingredients such as lemongrass, blue cypress, and aloe; average retail price of $7.99 per bottle
-Jason Cosmetics Earth’s Best Organic Shampoo: a tear free formula that’s perfect for baby, and promoted as 100% vegetarian. This contains oat oil, aloe vera, and chamomile; average retail price of $7.89 per bottle
-Bumble & Bumble Organic Shampoo: made with lemon grass, green tea, and chamomile; average retail price of $19.99 per bottle
-Avalon Organic Botanicals Shampoo: made with lavender and vitamins to strengthen hair; average retail price of $17.95 per bottle
The Problem with Organic Shampoo
While the leading brands of organic shampoo do contain a significant amount of natural ingredients, most do contain synthetic ingredients. Organic shampoo manufacturers are allowed to label their products as they please; this means they can label a product ‘infused with botanicals,’ but there is no evidence of the concentration of these botanicals. In many cases, the ratio of herbal extracts and natural ingredients is so low compared to synthetic ingredients, that the product isn’t truly organic.
How to Choose Real Organic Shampoo
The best choices in organic shampoo are those that contain only 100% natural ingredients, with no additives or chemicals. These products usually contain certified organic ingredients, and only about 8-10 ingredients – take a look at any generic shampoo, and you’ll soon see dozens of ingredients and chemicals listed. Shampoo that contains purified water as the first ingredient is usually a diluted version of the pure product, and is best avoided if you’re looking for something pure and potent. Still, many of the leading brands do contain water (Aqua) in the first line of ingredients, but contain a higher concentration of natural ingredients and oils that do offer some benefits to the skin and hair.
