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If you’re looking for top-notch hair care that’s both effective and kind, look no further. Today there are more high-quality, cruelty-free products to choose from than ever before, so I've rounded up the best cruelty-free shampoos on the market.
Unfortunately, however, some brands claim cruelty-free status without actually having been certified as such. So when it comes to cruelty-free labels, know that there are three main certifications to look out for: Leaping Bunny, PETA’s Caring Consumer/Beauty Without Bunnies, and the Choose Cruelty-Free Rabbit logo. That said, it’s important to know that some companies can still be certified by Leaping Bunny or PETA without displaying cruelty-free logos on their packaging, so not all cruelty-free products are labeled as such. This happens because companies have to pay an extra fee if they want to display the cruelty-free symbol on their products, and some companies simply don’t want to shell out the extra cash. So when in doubt, simply check Leaping Bunny or PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies databases to be sure you’re buying products not tested on animals.
Every single shampoo featured below is certified 100% cruelty-free, and they all come from companies that have received the much-coveted seal of approval from Leaping Bunny, PETA, or both. Many of the selections below are also vegan and organic, but it’s important to note that “cruelty-free” doesn’t always mean vegan, and it doesn’t always mean organic, either — so if vegan and organic labels are important to you, stick with shampoos that clearly advertise all three of those environmentally-friendly labels.
Check out the best cruelty-free shampoos below. There's an option for every hair type and price point, and they're all highly rated on Amazon.
1The Best Cruelty-Free Shampoo For Dry Hair
This sulfate-free and paraben-free shampoo won’t strip your hair of its natural oils, and it’s safe for color-treated hair as well. It’s powered by nourishing aloe vera, shea butter, avocado oil, and olive oil — all of which are ingredients that work to replenish dull, dry, and brittle strands. And like all Giovanni products, Giovanni 2Chic Ultra-Moist Shampoo With Avocado And Olive Oil is certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny and PETA. Plus, this pick has earned a 4.6-star rating by Amazon shoppers.
What fans are saying: “Giovanni makes great hair products all-around and this Ultra Moist Shampoo is no exception. A lot of times, natural shampoos feel either watery or they leave your hair feeling like straw. This shampoo actually leaves your hair feeling silky. If you want a paraben-free product but still want that salon-creamy quality, this is the one to get. Leaves hair feeling soft and shiny."
2The Best Cruelty-Free Shampoo For Volume
Yarok Feed Your Volume Shampoo has earned the Leaping Bunny cruelty-free seal, it’s certified organic, and it’s a business member of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy. But not only is Yarok 100% vegan and cruelty-free, it’s also free of alcohol, parabens, sulfates, chemicals, and gluten. A blend of natural botanicals, vitamins, minerals, and essential oils treat the hair and scalp while adding body — and this pick uses vitalized water purified with rare volcanic minerals. On top of that, this option gives back: 3% of all profits go directly to benefiting Pachamama Alliance and protecting over 10 million acres of Amazon Rainforest.
What fans are saying: “Wow! I love this shampoo. After trying almost all shampoos sold at Whole Foods, this the best 'natural' shampoo yet. Every time I use it, I have a perfect hair day. Actually, two perfect hair days! The volume is nicely distributed from scalp to ends. It does not look unnatural. I have flat hair normally. With this it looks as though I blew dry my hair to have volume, even when I let it air dry.”
3The Best Cruelty-Free Shampoo For Color-Treated Hair
Pureology Hydrate Shampoo is sulfate-free, and while it reportedly works wonders for all hair types, it’s specifically formulated to nourish and protect color-treated hair. The formula's jojoba, green tea, and sage work to condition color-treated strands. Plus, Pureology's proprietary AntiFade Complex helps protect color vibrancy. Best yet, the shampoo’s blend of ylang-ylang, bergamot, and patchouli offers a delightful touch of aromatherapy.
Like all of Pureology's products, the Hydrate Shampoo is 100% vegan. The brand doesn’t test on animals, either, and it’s PETA-certified as well.
What fans are saying: “Excellent product! I have color treated hair and this shampoo is really great. It leaves my hair feeling clean, smells amazing, and is moisturizing. I have less fly aways than I had with the Redken shampoo I had been using. I will definitely buy it again.”
4The Best Cruelty-Free Shampoo For Curly Hair
Devacurl No-Poo Original Cleanser is entirely sulfate-free, silicon-free, paraben-free, and ideal for curly-haired folks. In addition to its 4.3-star rating on Amazon, this vegan pick also earned the InStyle Best Beauty Buys Award in 2019. This gentle formula, with peppermint and grapeseed oil, is designed to clean and stimulate your scalp without stripping away any natural oils. And since it doesn’t lather, it rinses out with ease.
DevaCurl is 100% cruelty-free, having earned cruelty-free status from both PETA and Leaping Bunny.
What fans are saying: “This stuff and their normal no-poo cleanser is the best stuff for curly hair!!! If your hair is really fine, though, you might want wash with their low-poo sometimes so there is no buildup. I never have a bad hair day since I switched to their cleansers.”
5The Best Cruelty-Free Shampoo For Natural And Chemically Processed Hair
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore is great for most hair types, but it’s particularly formulated for natural and chemically processed hair. It’s formulated with Jamaican black castor oil and certified organic shea butter to help strengthen damaged strands and it works to reduce breakage as well. A touch of peppermint oil invigorates the scalp, too. Amazon shoppers give this pick a 4.5-star rating and thousands of positive reviews.
The Shea Moisture brand has earned a cruelty-free status from PETA, and all of their products are made without parabens, phthalates, petroleum, formaldehyde, and mineral oils. The company has been certified fair trade, and sustainably sourced as well. Shea Moisture is also a certified B Corporation, which means they're committed to ethical approaches to business.
What fans are saying: “I have dry, relaxed hair and this is definitely my go to shampoo! It lathers really well and makes my hair so soft. It's not a drying shampoo and is one of the few shampoos that doesn't dry out black women's hair! This nourishes your hair and scalp which helps prevent dandruff.”
6The Best Cruelty-Free Shampoo For Gray And Blonde Hair
Kevin Murphy Blonde Angel Wash is sulfate-free, paraben-free, and it’s specially formulated to enhance blonde, gray, or silver hair and keep brassiness at bay. This purple shampoo is packed with nourishing natural ingredients, like mango seed butter, shea butter, and sunflower seed extract to lock in moisture. Additionally, it’s made with jojoba oil to keep hair strong and prevent breakage, and Amazon shoppers gave it 4.5 stars. This pick, like all Kevin Murphy products, has been certified cruelty-free by PETA.
What fans are saying: “Love love love this product! Makes my gray hair sparkle and smells awesome! Worth every penny.”
7The Best Cruelty-Free Shampoo For Sensitive Skin
If you’re scalp is prone to irritation, this unscented, sensitive shampoo from ATTITUDE is a great find. The PETA-approved shampoo is infused with gentle oatmeal and grapeseed oil to soothe and moisturize, and the vegan, hypoallergenic formula is also free of parabens, SLES, silicone, PEGs, and formaldehyde. Not surprisingly then, it’s earned the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) seal of approval, too
What fans are saying: “It's gentle to the scalp even if your skin is sensitive while giving a great cleanse. I would 100% recommend to everyone!!”
8The Best Cruelty-Free Shampoo For Dandruff
This dandruff-busting shampoo from JASON contains sulfur and salicylic acid, two FDA-approved ingredients for treating dandruff, as well as a trio of hydrating oils (jojoba, olive, and rosemary) to ensure that your scalp stays nourished. The Leaping Bunny certified shampoo is also free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and petrolatum — and it has amassed quite a following on Amazon with more than 3,000 ratings and counting.
What fans are saying: “The shampoo is creamy. It doesn’t lather at all. So, when I used it for the first time I was clueless what should I do with it. I was thinking that I had bought the wrong product instead of a shampoo. Boy, was I wrong! It cleared off all the flakes and my scalp felt super clean. It’s free of flakes, sebum and itchiness. I’m waiting for the winter to use it more often. It’s a big bottle and I think it’s gonna last for years [...]”
9The Best Cruelty-Free Shampoo & Conditioner Set
If you’re looking to buy both shampoo and conditioner at once, this three-piece set from Love, Beauty & Planet is not only cruelty-free, it’s also well-loved on Amazon (some 1,600 ratings and counting) and reasonably priced since it also contains a smoothing leave-in cream. The PETA-approved set is infused with ethically sourced French lavender, as well as argan and coconut oil to nourish strands, and the formulas are free of parabens, silicones, dyes, and phthalates.
What fans are saying: “There is so much to love about this company. If you are someone concerned with animal welfare and keeping the planet beautiful then you should definitely give these products a try. They package their goods in recycledbottles, which are also of course recyclable, and the products are vegan and not tested on animals. That combined with the fast rinse technology of the conditioner to save on water makes this a winner in my book. The shampoo works well, and also does not strip your hair of artificial color, and the conditioner works fairly well, not quite as well as others that I favor, but good enough. The leave-in conditioner left my hair less frizzy, and with more thickness and body. [...]”
10The Best Cruelty-Free Dry Shampoo
This gentle dry shampoo is perfect for extending time between washes and it smells lovely to boot thanks to the peppermint and rosemary formulation. And in addition to being paraben-free, sulfate-free, mineral oil-free, petrolatum-free, and formaldehyde-free, this pick is certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny and PETA, and more than 2,000 Amazon shoppers have weighed in for a 4.1 overall rating.
What fans are saying: “Hands down the absolute BEST working dry shampoo I have ever used. I have thin dirty blonde hair and it gets greasy within like 8 hours after washing. My goal was to go from washing my hair daily to every other day with a dry shampoo in between but this product was like NOPE, here's an extra 3-4 days without washing and perfectly voluminous fresh smelling hair every morning. Customer for life over here, thank you for creating a natural and highly effective product, Acure!”
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