I have been on the clean-living bandwagon for over a decade and have tried many shampoos and conditioners. This post will focus specifically on the best non-toxic shampoo and conditioner for fine hair.
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Shampoo can be a challenge when you have fine hair. Most shampoos weigh down fine hair or leave it looking oily right after a wash. In the past, I have not had luck with salon shampoos and conditioners, so I started asking for a damp cut years back rather than leaving with freshly washed flat hair.
Why Non-Toxic Hair Care Products?
As I mention in lots of posts, the U.S. does not ban many cosmetic ingredients like they do in the EU (European Union). There are over 1,300 banned ingredients in the EU but only a handful in the U.S. In 2021 alone, the EU banned 25 new ingredients. Wow!
Toxins are largely overlooked by the mainstream medical community too, but there is hope … it’s just very slow moving. Recently a friend told me that her dermatologist cautioned her about parabens and phthalates in her lotion.
This is definitely not common advice in the small southern town where we live. I’m thrilled that the information is finally trickling down! It’s a slow process though, so it’s still mostly up to the individual to research and protect your family from toxins.
Toxins are absorbed through our skin and scalp (when talking about hair care), so it makes sense to clean up your hair care routine if you are trying to live a healthy lifestyle. On average, women are exposed to far more personal care and beauty products than men are.
We are more likely to use beauty products like lotions, perfumes, nail polish, spray tans, hair dye and more, wrinkle creams and more. Because of this, I am always looking for the safest beauty and self-care products available.
Because of this, women have to work extra hard to reduce their toxic load.
Ingredients to Avoid
Hair styling products contain all sorts of unhealthy ingredients including parabens, synthetic fragrances, phthalates, sulfates and more. It can be especially hard to find products that add volume in the clean beauty space.
These ingredients are all toxic to your health.
Synthetic fragrance is one of the hardest ingredients to avoid in shampoo and conditioner and even many clean beauty shampoos and conditioners commonly contain it. This may be listed as “fragrance” or “perfum.” For more details on the health impacts of synthetic fragrances, see my related post.
Sulfates are an ingredient that is often debated as unhealthy. Some dermatologists argue that sulfates strip the hair of too much oil, while others think sulfates are just fine. There is some evidence that sulfates aren’t so great for the environment, while other experts believe the common sulfate, SLS, breaks down so quickly that it does not pose a risk.
The EWG rates SLS as a 1-2, so it is not something that I am super concerned about except when I very occasionally color my hair. We know for sure is that sulfates strip color from hair. So, you will want to look for “sulfate free” if you use any type of hair color whether it be something natural like henna or a salon color.
It’s time to dive into the best non-toxic shampoo and conditioner for fine hair!
Best Non-Toxic Shampoo for Fine Hair
Acure Vivacious Volume Shampoo
After years of trying lots of non-toxic shampoos, I gave Acure Vivacious Volume a try last year, and it does a better job of removing residue than others I have tried. It gives my fine, oily hair extra body and seems to remove residue from my scalp.
It’s affordable compared to other shampoos in the clean beauty space for under $8.00 on Amazon at the time of this post.
Acure is vegan, certified cruelty-free, paraben free, sulfate free, mineral oil free, petrolatum free and formaldehyde free. It scores a 3 on the EWG Skin Deep Database, but this is primarily due to the peppermint essential oil, which can be an allergen for some people.
Avalon Organics Volumizing Rosemary Shampoo
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This one is a certified organic formula made with plant-based botanicals and essential oils. It contains no GMOs, parabens, harsh preservatives, synthetic colors or fragrances or phthalates.
It does contain sulfates, so do not use if you color treat your hair!
Avalon Organics is EWG Verified, which I love! It’s also affordable at under $9.00 on Amazon at the time of this post. I am a fan of Avalon Organics, but admittedly I feel like Acure does a slightly better job of removing oil from my scalp.
Best Non-Toxic Conditioner for Fine Hair
It comes as no surprise that my favorite conditioners are the mates to the shampoos listed above. Personally, I do not use much conditioner as my hair gets weighed down easily, but I do apply just a dab to my ends.
Acure Vivacious Volume Conditioner
Acure vivacious volume conditioner is vegan, certified cruelty-free, paraben free, sulfate free, mineral oil free, petrolatum free and formaldehyde free. The Vivacious Volume Conditioner also gets a score of 3 by the EWG.
Like the shampoo, Avalon Organics Volumizing Conditioner is an organic formula containing plant botanicals and essential oils. It is free of GMOs, parabens, harsh preservatives, phthalates, synthetic colors and fragrances.
Conclusion
If you have fine hair that gets oily easily, I hope one on these brands impresses you! If you don’t have fine hair, check out the full lines offered by these brands. They both make shampoos and conditioners for all types of hair.
As always, thanks for stopping by and best wishes on your clean-living journey.
