Here are the best herbal shampoos that are chemical-free and good for for all hair types including dry, damaged, curly, straight and natural hair.
As a hair expert and stylist, I can tell you that regular shampoos can be pretty harsh on your hair as they are full of chemicals like sulfates, parabens, and added perfumes.
I often recommend herbal shampoos containing all-natural ingredients like fruits, flowers, essential oils, and herbs for people to help their hair recover from damage.
Here are some of my favorite ones!
| Best Herbal Shampoo | Great For | Chief Ingredients |
| Khadi Herbal Shikakai Shampoo | Preventing Grey Hair | Henna, Tulsi, Reetha, Shikakai, Honey |
| WOW Skin Science Red Onion Black Seed Oil Shampoo | Hair Growth | Red Onion Seed Oil Extract, Black Seed Oil & Pro-Vitamin B5 |
| Mamaearth Onion Hair Fall Shampoo | Hair Fall | Vitamin E, Onion Oil & Plant Keratin |
| Herbal Essence Bio-Renew Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo | Dry, Frizzy Hair | Moroccan Argan Oil |
| Khadi Shampoo Herbal Saffron, Tulsi & Reetha | Dandruff | Saffron, Tulsi & Reetha |
| Tree To Tub Soapberry Shampoo | Sensitive Scalps | Organic Moroccan Oil, Wild Soapberries |
| Avalon Organics Nourishing Lavender Shampoo | Oily Hair | Aloe Vera, Lemon, Lime, and Lavender Essential Oils |
| Biotique Herbal Shampoo Bio Kelp Protein | Damaged Hair | Kelp Protein, Neem, Reetha, Bhringraj |
The best herbal shampoo includes sulfate-free, organic products like the Tree To Tub Soapberry Shampoo, Avalon Organics Lavender Shampoo, Khadi Herbal Shampoo and Wow Red Onion Shampoo. These do not contain harsh surfactants or harmful ingredients like parabens, dyes, formaldehyde, etc. They are also mostly in a eco-friendly packaging.
Top Herbal Shampoo 2024
Khadi Herbal Shikakai Shampoo
Best Herbal Shampoo To Prevent Grey Hair
Among the best herbal shampoo, you can buy today is this one by Khadi Natural. So naturally this is the product I tried out first. As the name suggests, Shikakai is the top ingredient in this product.
What I loved about this shampoo is that the herbs in it form a natural surfactant, responsible for creating lather when you mix the shampoo with water. So the Khadi Natural Shikakai shampoo does not have any use for SLES or SLS.
In short, it's fantastic if you have sensitive scalp or color-treated hair.
Shikakai is great at cleansing your hair. But apart from that, it also prevents greys and restores shine to your tresses. I didn't see the grey hair part right away, but yes it did leave my hair feeling softer and shinier than usual.
I loved this shampoo’s herbal formulation, which contains henna, a natural hair conditioner. There’s also gooseberry that strengthens the tresses and neem, which acts as an antifungal.
I feel this shampoo can dry out your hair if you’ve got a naturally dry scalp. So it’s better to use a nourishing conditioner after using this product.
Pros:
- There's no sulfates in here so you can use it on color-treated hair
- The shikakai in it gives a good lather despite it being sulfate-free
- The herbs restore shine and add softness to tresses in just one wash
Cons:
- It's a bit expensive compared to the other natural shampoos on this list
- There are not enough conditioning agents in the shampoo so it leaves hair frizzy
My Ratings:
- Natural Formula - 4.5/5
- Benefits To Hair - 4/5
- Cleansing Ability - 4/5
- Price Range - $$$ (Expensive)
- Color Safe - Yes
- Who It's For - People with sensitive, inflamed scalp
WOW Skin Science Red Onion Black Seed Oil Shampoo
Best Herbal Shampoo For Hair Growth
Okay, if you asked us to pick the best herbal shampoo for sensitive scalps, we’d choose this one.
Why? First of all, the WOW Skin Science Red Onion Black Seed Oil Shampoo is completely free from sulfates, parabens, silicones, and other no-no chemicals.
Another reason is its natural ingredient list consisting of vitamin-rich red onion seed oil. This oil helps strengthen the hair strands by clarifying their blocked roots.
There’s also black seed oil that helps with dandruff and scalp troubles. And finally, panthenol, which helps soothe inflamed, sensitive scalps.
As this herbal formulation improves the blood circulation to the scalp, it is great for treating hair loss as well. (National Center for Biotechnology Information. "PubChem Patent Summary for KR-101242736-B1" PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/patent/KR-101242736-B1. Accessed 7 November, 2023.)
Pros:
- There's no sulfates in here so you can use it on color-treated hair
- The formula is cruelty-free and doesn't contain parabens either
- The shampoo has DHT blockers that help reduce hair loss
- Black seed oil and panthenol soothe inflammation and reduce dandruff
Cons:
- My hair seemed very frizzy after using
My Ratings:
- Natural Formula - 4.5/5
- Benefits To Hair - 5/5
- Cleansing Ability - 4.5/5
- Price Range - $$ (Affordable)
- Color Safe - Yes
- Who It's For - People with oily hair, hair loss issues, color-treated hair
Mamaearth Onion Hair Fall Shampoo
Best Herbal Shampoo For Hair Fall
I really needed something for my frizzy hair as most of the herbal shampoos I was using were developed for cleansing. And finally after much looking, I found the the Mamaearth Onion Hair Fall Shampoo. And I think that’s it's the perfect solution for dryness, dullness, and frizzy hair.
It contains ingredients like onion oil, vitamin E, D-panthenol, and plant keratin that help smoothen the hair cuticle, making it straight and soft.
I also like how the nourishing blend also helps strengthen the tresses from root to tip, reducing breakage. And guess what? It’s perfectly safe to use on colored hair and chemically-treated hair as well.
It’s free from sulfates and parabens and hypoallergenic too! So if you’ve got sensitive skin, you can use it without a second thought.
I've got to give you a heads up. While the shampoo works wonders for frizzy, dry hair, it can weigh down oily or combination hair types.
The product is fantastic for daily use, but I feel you should give it a skip if you need something more powerful and clarifying.
Pros:
- Sulfate-free shampoo good for colored hair
- Onion oil helps in hair growth
- Contains panthenol that soothes inflamed scalp
- Shampoo is hypoallergenic and free of parabens and harsh chemicals
Cons:
- It's not very cleansing so unsuitable for oily scalp or hair with product buildup
- The shampoo is a bit expensive
My Ratings:
- Natural Formula - 4.5/5
- Benefits To Hair - 4.5/5
- Cleansing Ability - 4.5/5
- Price Range - $$$ (Expensive)
- Color Safe - Yes
- Who It's For - People with dry, frizzy and damaged hair
Herbal Essence Bio-Renew Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo
Best Herbal Shampoo For Dry, Frizzy Hair
Herbal Essence is one of the best herbal shampoo brands there is for dry and damaged hair.
If you’re someone who regularly styles your hair with chemical treatment or heating tools, their Bio-Renew Argan Oil Shampoo is a good pick.
It has a blend of antioxidants and 90 percent natural ingredients that help shield the hair cuticle from future frizz and breakage and repair any present damage.
The shampoo contains no sulfates, parabens, colorants, or other harsh chemicals that further trouble your hair, either.
And if you want to use it to color-treated hair, go right ahead!
I love what the argan oil formulation does for dry hair.
But be warned, this shampoo will not leave your tresses feeling very clean if you already suffer from an oily scalp.
Pros:
- The argan oil in shampoo helps condition hair
- The strong cleansing formula helps remove buildup, grease and oil
- Lovely herbal scent
Cons:
- It contains sulfates so it's bad for colored or damaged hair
My Ratings:
- Natural Formula - 3.5/5
- Benefits To Hair - 4/5
- Cleansing Ability - 5/5
- Price Range - $$$ (Expensive)
- Color Safe - No
- Who It's For - People with oily scalp
Khadi Shampoo Herbal Saffron, Tulsi & Reetha
Best Herbal Shampoo For Dandruff
If you want a suitable herbal shampoo that treats dandruff and flaky hair, I suggest you try the Khadi Herbal Saffron, Tulsi & Reetha Shampoo.
Apart from the ingredients in its name, this shampoo also contains shikakai, basil, and lodhra. No sulfates or surfactants here! The shikakai and reetha act as natural cleansers, generating a rich lather.
The saffron helps add lost protein to your tresses, while the tulsi acts as an antibacterial agent.
So if you’ve tresses have suffered due to dandruff or scalp inflammation, this formulation gets them healthy and clean in no time.
Another thing I liked about this shampoo is its reasonable price. It won’t burn a hole in your pocket like most other products that claim to be natural or organic.
And the best part is, you require only a tiny amount of shampoo for each hair wash.
Oh, and I also loved the fragrance. But some users have found it a bit too strong for their liking.
Pros:
- The shampoo contains shikakai which is a natural cleanser
- The saffron and turmeric helps control inflammation and redness
- Affordable price
Cons:
- The shampoo is a bit too strong despite lack of sulfates
- Can leave hair frizzy due to to cleansing formula
- The scent can be too overpowering sometimes
My Ratings:
- Natural Formula - 4/5
- Benefits To Hair - 4/5
- Cleansing Ability - 3.5/5
- Price Range - $$$ (Expensive)
- Color Safe - Yes
- Who It's For - People with dry scalp
Tree To Tub Soapberry Shampoo
Best Herbal Shampoo For Sensitive Scalps
One of the reasons why people have started using herbal shampoos is that they’re gentler on the scalp.
If you’ve got a scalp condition like mild psoriasis, excess dandruff, itching, acne, inflammation, etc., a chemical-based shampoo can make things worse.
An all-natural, mild shampoo like this one by Tree to Tub can is the best choice in such a case.
This product contains soapberry as the surfactant and no sulfates. It cleanses all the oil, dead skin cells, flakes, and crusts from your scalp without irritating your skin.
In fact, the Tree to Tub Soapberry shampoo maintains the ideal pH level of 5.5 on your scalp.
It’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory formulation not just clarifies your tresses but also prevents dandruff and itchiness.
I also loved how Tree to Tub practices sustainable harvesting and fair trade. And all their products are vegan and cruelty-free too.
Avalon Organics Nourishing Lavender Shampoo
Best Organic Herbal Shampoo
Most herbal shampoos claim to be gentle, eco-friendly, and full of the goodness of nature. But I love how the Avalon Organics Nourishing Lavender Shampoo actually delivers what it promises.
It contains nothing objectionable to you or your hair. No harsh sulfates, parabens, synthetic colorants, GMO ingredients, artificial fragrances, or phthalates.
And the best part? It doesn’t test on animals either. So it’s the perfect choice for the nature-lovers.
But what about your tresses? Oh, it takes care of them too. There’s aloe vera to condition them, quinoa protein to strengthen the strands, and Babassu oil to tackle frizzy and dry hair.
And finally, the ingredient list also features lavender essential oil that gives this shampoo a soothing scent.
As the Avalon Organics shampoo does not contain any sulfates, it might not lather as you might be expecting. So get ready to pump out more product than usual.
Biotique Herbal Shampoo Bio Kelp Protein
Best Herbal Shampoo For Damaged Hair
The last name in our best herbal shampoo list is the Biotique Bio Kelp Protein. If you’re suffering from intensive hair loss, this natural product might be your best bet.
It contains a host of proteins in the form of sea kelp and other nourishing botanicals.
The reetha and neem extracts in the shampoo keep your scalp clean and free of dandruff and inflammation.
Reetha acts as a natural surfactant, so this shampoo doesn’t contain any SLS or SLES. It’s also free from other dubious ingredients like parabens and silicones.
Unlike other Biotique shampoos, this one can dry out your hair quite a bit. So I suggest using a super-moisturizing conditioner if you’re going to try out this product.
Patanjali Herbal Shampoo Kesh Kanti Natural Cleanser
Best Herbal Shampoo For Thin Hair
The Patanjali herbal shampoo comes packed with a host of all-natural ingredients amla, hibiscus, reetha, and shikakai that help nourish your hair.
If you're looking for a shampoo that will leave your tresses with a brilliant shine, you should check out this one.
The amazing herbal blend also stimulates blood circulation and hair growth on the scalp.
It's got sunflower oil which means it might not be suitable for very oily scalp types.
But if you have issues with dullness and frizz, the Patanjali shampoo leaves your tresses soft and nourished in no time.
Lotus Herbal Shampoo Kera Veda
Best Herbal Shampoo For Oily Hair
Enriched with the goodness of henna and other nourishing herbs this Lotus herbal shampoo will leave your hair shiny and soft.
I like how it helps condition your tresses, removing frizz and dryness.
The shampoo also works as a co-wash. So you don't need to buy a separate conditioner for this one.
How To Choose The Best Herbal Shampoos For Hair
Choosing the best herbal shampoos for your hair can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to decide which choice is best. But, by following a few simple steps, you can identify the right herbal shampoo for your hair type.
Shampoo Formula and Effects
First and foremost, you should understand what herbal shampoos do to your locks. Herbal shampoos are specifically designed to give hair much-needed nourishment. They contain natural herbs, extracts, and oils that provide moisture, shine, and volume.
By using one of these shampoos, you can improve the health of your hair, restore lost nutrients, and even stop existing problems from getting worse.
Shampoo pH and Ingredients
When selecting the best herbal shampoos for your hair, you should consider several factors. For instance, check for natural ingredients like aloe vera, lavender, rosemary, and chamomile. Additionally, examine the pH level of the shampoo – it should be somewhere between 4.5 and 5.5.
This range of pH levels is proven to be most beneficial for hair. All of these considerations can make a huge difference in the effectiveness of the herbal shampoo.
Reviews and Ratings
It’s also important to read customer reviews before making a purchase. Reviews will give you a good idea if the shampoo is doing what it promises, or if it still needs work. Those who use the herbal shampoo will be able to provide an honest opinion on the product.
Benefits Of Using A Herbal Shampoo For Hair
Natural and herbal shampoos create a depth of texture and increases the strength of your hair while allowing it to stay more manageable.
The ingredients used in herbal shampoos help combat dryness and breakage and promote overall hair health. Not only do natural and herbal shampoos improve the look of your hair but provide amazing benefits from the herbs that are used.
Different herbs such as lavender, chamomile, rosemary, and peppermint have been known for centuries for their remarkable ability to improve your hair’s health and strength. Natural and herbal shampoos also have a ton of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals that nourish the hair and scalp, helping to produce strong and healthy hair.
Most importantly they are free of synthetic additives, surfactants, and other harsh chemicals used in regular shampoos.
And, being free of harsh chemicals also makes them kinder to the environment. Not only are they proven to be more beneficial to our hair, they lack any unnecessary toxins that could end up polluting the environment.
Conclusion
So this was our list of the top herbal shampoos in the market. Take your pick among these to get stronger, healthier tresses.
Apart from using the best herbal shampoo, I also suggest getting a natural conditioner to keep your hair soft and shiny.
A proper hair care routine can do wonders for your mane.