The Best Natural Shampoo for Soft, Eco-Friendly Hair

Dec 23, 2021

Antonia P

The Best Natural Shampoo for Soft, Eco-Friendly Hair

It’s no secret that traditional shampoo and conditioner options are riddled with synthetics and chemicals and poured into planet-polluting plastic bottles. But how bad are they, really? Or, more specifically, how long are they sitting around for after we’re done with them?

Estimates vary depending on things like the location and climate, but most experts believe that it takes up to 400 years for shampoo and conditioner bottles to decompose. And in this country alone, 552 million of these bottles end up in landfills each year.

These are pretty hefty numbers for just one simple product. We can think of about a dozen other plastic-containing products that hide in the average American shower, bathroom, or kitchen drawer, too. We’re here to help you replace them, one simple swap at a time.

Because it’s an easy change involving something we all use, let’s start with the best natural shampoo and conditioner.

What Are Natural Shampoos?

All-natural shampoo or zero-waste shampoo is a true game-changer for two reasons: what’s on the inside and what’s on the outside. Natural shampoos keep things simple with simple ingredients, simple instructions, and simple, plastic-free packaging.

With natural ingredients, including water, coconut oil, essential oils, citrus extracts, cocoa butter, and others, there’s no need or room for synthetics, chemicals, or dyes. In addition to being better for the planet when they leak into the ground through our shower water, these ingredients are better for us, too.

Why Natural Shampoos Are Better for You

Traditional shampoos and conditioners promise that their filler-based products will give you shiny, healthy hair, but that’s rarely true. It’s usually the opposite. The dyes, fillers, and chemicals found in traditional shampoos are linked to many hair and skin complaints.

Scalp itchiness, flakiness, and dryness, as well as hair strand greasiness, frizz, and split ends are often attributed to chemical-heavy hair products. This is another reason we prioritize natural ingredients shaped into colorful bars and shipped in plastic-free packaging.

How to Use a Natural Shampoo Bar

Zero-waste shampoo bars may sound intimidating, but they’re easy to use. You’ll get used to them in no time, and once you do, you won’t miss squeezing those ridiculous plastic bottles over and over again to get what you need.

And learning how to navigate a shampoo bar is a small price to pay for a healthier, happier planet. Most of us grew up on traditional shampoo and conditioners in plastic bottles. But now that we know how long they linger after they’re empty, it’s hard to keep using them.

Considering how long it takes them to decompose, we know now that all the shampoo and conditioner bottles that we used in the past are likely still floating in a waterway or landfill somewhere. It’s time to say goodbye and choose a better way.

Here’s how to use your all-natural shampoo and conditioner bars in three easy steps:

Thoroughly wet your hair.
Gently massage the shampoo bar into your hair and scalp.
Rinse with water.

Follow the same three steps with the conditioner bar, if desired. Thankfully, a little bit of each goes a long way, making them budget-friendly, too.

How to Store Zero-Waste Shampoo and Conditioner Bars

After your shower, leave the bars out where they can dry between uses. This will help prolong their life and prevent waste. We recommend using a bamboo soap dish to keep them dry, clean, and whole for as long as possible.

Bamboo is an incredibly sustainable and naturally renewable resource, which means that this soap dish is 100% compostable. Bamboo also absorbs less moisture than regular wood, so it won’t shrink or swell, and it’s easy to keep clean. Learn more why you should make the switch to bamboo soap dish here.

You can also store your shampoo and conditioner bars in our soap saver bags. They not only help you avoid scrubbing with the little bits and pieces you pull off your shower shelves but also this soap saver bag provide gentle exfoliation and convenient storage. Read more about soap saver bags here.

Now that you know how to use them, let’s talk about what to look for in your new natural shampoo. Because not all beauty products are made equally, even when they’re all eco-friendly.

What to Look for When Buying a Natural Shampoo

One of the key things to look for when buying zero-waste shampoo is that they are plastic-free from start to finish. This means no plastic coating, no plastic bottles, and no plastic in the packaging. Some plastic is not an option.

The next thing you should look at is the ingredients. Consider the following ingredients: Cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium lauryl sulfate, and formaldehyde.

If you guessed that what they have in common is that they’re difficult to pronounce or sound like heavy chemicals, you’d be right. These are common ingredients in traditional shampoos. And they’re often linked to skin irritations, hair loss, and other concerns.

Natural shampoo means easy-to-pronounce ingredients, no chemicals, and materials that sound natural because they are. Here are some examples of real, natural ingredients in our zero-waste shampoos:

Coconut oil
Cocoa butter
Mango extract
Vitamins
Lemon peel

What These Ingredients Do

Sure, we could just list our natural ingredients and tell you that they’re great. But we’d like to take it a step further and explain what makes these ingredients great. We’ll use the ingredients listed above to give you some context.

They’re some of the main ingredients in our honeydew melon shampoo bar. Altogether, these ingredients make for a bar that leaves your hair soft, clean, and nourished – all without stripping away your color or natural oils.

But how, you ask? Well, coconut oil is basically magic, providing deep moisture without making your hair feel heavy. Mango extract not only smells great but also promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss.

And last, but not least, on the list of incredible natural ingredients, the vitamins and lemon peel add shine and strength to your hair. Each bar tells a similar story, proving, once again, that natural ingredients are the way of the future.

What is the Best Natural Shampoo?

The best natural shampoo is one that contains no plastic or chemicals but does contain all-natural ingredients, a powerful punch in a small package, and plenty of fragrance options to choose from.

Our eco-friendly customers love our shampoo and conditioner bars for these reasons and more. Here are your shampoo bar scent options:

With ten different options to choose from, it’s easy to find your new favorite, or maybe even two! You can also purchase the bundle and save up to 20% on your favorite scents.

Choosing the Perfect Fragrance for Your Zero-Waste Shampoo

Build Your Bundle & Save Up to 20% ALL natural shampoo & conditioner bars!

If you’re not sure which one to try first, build your own shampoo and conditioner bar bundle and save on different scents so you have a few options! Add up to six items to your bundle to save up to 20% of your favorite new plastic-friendly product.

But with user-friendly scents, it’s easy to stick with what you know. If you love all fragrances flowery, try lilac or lavender. If you love light, summery scents, try the citrus fresh, honeydew, or summer breeze.

Alternatively, if you want a unisex bar that everyone in the house can use, try Moroccan oil, forest mist, cocolime, or fresh mint. And lastly, if you’re sensitive to smell and prefer something fresh and clean, and fragrance-free, try the unscented shampoo bar.

When it comes to choosing eco-friendly alternatives, there’s truly something for everyone! And because they’re light, small, travel-friendly, adorable, and practical, these also make an excellent gift.

Are EcoRoots Natural Shampoos Safe for all Hair Types?

The short answer is yes - our natural shampoos are safe for all hair types. Even sensitive scalps and color-treated tresses are treated well with our eco-friendly shampoo and conditioner bars. And since they’re ideal for all hair and skin types, it saves you the hassle of endless searching.

No more scouring the depths of the internet to find the best eco-friendly hair products. You’ll find them all right here. And you don’t have to just take our word for it. Scroll down to the bottom of any of our shampoo bar pages to take a look at our reviews and see for yourself what our customers love about these bars!

Instead of loading up your skin and hair with synthetics and other unwanted ingredients, and polluting the planet with more plastic, natural shampoo truly rejuvenates and refreshes your routine. And that applies to both the natural shampoo and conditioner.

They make your hair cleaner, healthier, and stronger. Gone are the days of dry scalps, straw hair, and too-strong fragrances. Our shampoo bars clean your hair without stripping you of your natural oils and shine or making your hair feel dry or fried.

Check out these 9 natural zero-waste skin care products that you`ll might consider adding to your day-by-day routine.

What are the Benefits of the Best Natural Shampoo?

We mentioned them throughout the sections above, but we love a good recap – especially when it comes to a topic as important as this one, so you can make sure you find the best shampoo bars on the market. So, before we move on, let’s list the top five benefits of the best natural shampoo:

It comes in plastic-free, compostable packaging, so it’s better for the environment.
It’s made with natural ingredients, so it’s better for your hair’s texture and color and the skin of your scalp.
Each bar offers just as many washes while taking up less space, making them ideal for smaller spaces, clutter-free shower shelves, and travel.
It’s easy to use and safe for all hair types, unlike many of the most common traditional shampoo options.
It comes in a wide variety of incredible and natural fragrances to suit every season, mood, and fragrance favorite.

Whether you came here looking for a way to reduce your impact or treat yourself to a better shower experience, you’ve found both. In the next section, we’ll help you round out your collection with the rest of our natural hair products to achieve a zero waste haircare routine that you can be proud of it!

More Natural Hair Products

So, you’ve found a natural shampoo bar that you love or one that you’re excited to try. Now, you’re wondering how to change up the rest of your routine. After all, it’s easy to make one positive change but fall back into bad habits in other areas.

For example, using a shampoo bar and a traditional conditioner might make you feel like you only made it halfway there. Another example might be switching to natural shampoo and conditioner bars but continuing to use plastic-based hairbrushes.

Why not take it the rest of the way and create a well-rounded routine? Luckily, it’s easier than it sounds. For a fully guilt-free and eco-friendly daily hair experience, we recommend picking up these products, too:

From the skin of your scalp to the end of your strands, these products give you everything you need. And they do it all without polluting the planet, irritating your skin, or drying out your hair. There aren’t many products out there that boast this many benefits!

Your Natural Hair Product Breakdown

Alongside your new shampoo and conditioner bars, these three zero-waste products are truly a game-changer. Its lightweight bamboo and gentle yet firm bristles are effective and massage-worthy, so you get all the detangling power without any of the plastic.

Plus, the bamboo hair brush with its natural and antibacterial base, it lasts longer and is better for your hair and scalp. Each use is like an eco-friendly spa experience right at home. And on those days when you want spa-quality hair without putting it through a wash, try our natural dry shampoo. Learn more about the best natural dry shampoo here.

Our natural dry shampoo product smells amazing and absorbs oil so you can get out the door fast when you need to. This plant-based zero waste dry shampoo removes residue and odor, replacing them with minerals that refresh your strands and support healthy hair.

The combination of lavender and cocoa is a powerful one that many people don’t know about. But when it comes to extending the life of your hair, it’s hard to beat. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, and works great with all hair colors and types.

The aloe smells great and adds a touch of color, so your hair won’t look powdery or dull. Meanwhile, the baking soda, corn starch and clay absorb oil and odor. And to cap it off, the lavender essential oil promotes a healthy scalp.

Packaged in a recyclable or reusable glass jar with metal lid, it may not be what you’re used to. Most people use dry shampoos that come in a sprayable aerosol can. But we promise this way is better.

All you need is a makeup brush and a bit of patience. And while it may take some adjusting, but once you find your stride, it’s easy to use, too. On the opposite end of the list, our natural hair oil is the solution for dry, dull hair.

Rather than removing moisture, this adds it. It’s made to moisturize, promote healthy hair growth, improve elasticity, and prevent heat and chemical damage. Its base of plant extracts nourishes, revitalizes, and protects your hair and scalp.

They also have natural anti-inflammatory properties that help restore moisture to your scalp. With sustainably sourced and certified organic ingredients, it works great on all hair types and textures. And a little bit goes a long way.

With organic and natural ingredients, these eco-friendly products provide a better way to clean, brush, and style your hair.

Adding the Best Natural Shampoo to Your Eco-Friendly Product Lineup

If you’re searching for the best natural shampoo and conditioner around, you’ve come to the right place. But because we care about the planet and the people who buy our products, that’s far from all we offer.

Our lineup of natural hair products provides a well-rounded, unbeatable routine. Better for the planet and better for you is a combination that’s hard to beat. And why stop there? The eco-friendly journey is never over.

Whether you replace products in every room at once or take your time making small changes and easy swaps, there is always room for improvement. Thankfully, we offer eco-friendly products that fit every category.

Shop our eco-friendly home and kitchen collection for items like zero-waste laundry detergent, wool dryer balls, reusable produce bags, loofah scruber, wooden dish brush, reusable bamboo cutlery set, and more. Or shop our eco-friendly bath and beauty collection for some of our and our customers’ favorites.

Along with our wooden hairbrush, this category also includes favorites like our safety razor, organic body wash, body soap bars, bamboo floss, organic reusable cotton rounds, natural loofah and natural bamboo toothbrushes.

Whether you’re shopping for eco-friendly products to treat yourself or someone else, you’ll find everything you need right here in one convenient place. A portion of each of our sales goes to sustainability initiatives and organizations that give back to the planet. We love to give back to our mother Earth and help each one of you live a little bit more sustainable by making small but impactful choices.

Welcome to the journey to a better world. Together we can change the world. We’re happy you’re here!