Top Shampoos for Natural Hair

If you have chosen not to “no-poo” and use shampoo in your hair, the shampoo you choose may be the most important product in your arsenal of hair products.  Out of all your moisturizers, conditioners and styling creams, you should be most choosy with your shampoo.  A good shampoo will keep product build-up away and your scalp healthy.  A bad one will likely dry out your hair, lead to a head of frizz and irritate your scalp.  Even those who use the “no-poo” method use shampoo once in a great while to deal with product build-up.  In this article, you will find the top shampoos for natural hair.

Choose a shampoo that is sulfate-free.  Sulfates are surfactants, which are in every cleanser, since they dissolve oil from unclean surfaces.  Surfactants that are based in sulfates, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, are extremely irritating and drying to skin and hair.

Most shampoos available contain sulfates.  They probably won’t damage your hair too much, but it’s best to use something more gentle in your hair.  There are a few gentle surfactants that you can look for on the ingredients list on your shampoo, including Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate.

You also want a shampoo with a proper pH-balance.  pH-balance refers to whether a liquid is acid or base.  Values above seven are bases and those below are acids.  Our skin and hair maintain their strength and integrity when they have pH values between 4.5 and 6.5.

It is also best to choose a shampoo that does not contain alcohol, which is drying.  Find one that uses a natural moisturizing oil. Here are some of of the best shampoos out there for us naturals.

Crème of Nature Argan Oil Shampoo has been the favorite of naturals for years.  This shampoo will leave your hair soft and moisturized.  It also has a nice conditioning effect.

Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo won’t leave your hair feeling stripped and dry.  It is gentle and has several botanical extracts, including peace, anise, ginseng and irish moss.

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Deep Cleaning Shampoo is recommended for naturals suffering from eczema, dandruff or psoriasis of the scalp.  It is completely sulfate free and is great for clarifying your hair and scalp.  The active ingredients in this shampoo are plaintain enztme, salicylic acid, tea tree oil, white willow bark and black soap.

Everyday Shea Vanilla Mint Shampoo smells delicious!  It has no harsh ingredients and it uses saponified shea butter to clean your hair.    It also contains coconut and lavender.  Just be careful, because you’ll be tempted to eat it!

Hydratherma Naturals Moisture Boosting Shampoo is a hydrating, moisturizing, stimulating shampoo that contains seaweed, algae, sea kelp along with other natural extracts.  Sends omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids to your tresses, leaving your hair moist and supple.

These are, in my opinion, the top shampoos for natural hair.  Keep your hair clean and it will be happy! Share any of your favorites below.