Embrace your curls with the best natural shampoo brands that are chemical-free and cater to the unique needs of curly hair.
Curly hair is beautiful and unique, but it requires some special care and attention to really thrive.
Using shampoos and hair care products with harsh chemicals can dry out and damage your delicate curls. That's why it's important to choose natural shampoos formulated with nourishing ingredients specifically for curly hair.
Natural shampoo options frequently include plant-based oils, butters, and extracts capable of gently cleansing your hair while retaining its much-needed moisture.
Avoiding harsh chemicals and detergents found in conventional shampoos also helps to support your hair's natural structure and maintains the right pH for a healthy scalp.
In this article, we do a deep dive into the unique needs of curly hair, discuss the beneficial ingredients to look for, and the harmful chemicals to avoid when looking for a good natural shampoo brand.
Read on to learn more about the importance of using natural shampoos for your curly hair to avoid dreaded dryness, frizz, and breakage.
Your Curly Hair Has Unique Needs
If you have curly hair, you probably already know that it has a special structure that creates its gorgeous bounce, volume, and definition. The curved shape of each strand creates natural springs and coils that give your curly hair its signature texture.
However, this unique structure also leads to some specific challenges, and you may wonder why your curly hair is naturally more prone to dryness and damage.
Unlike straight hair, which has a round shaft, your curly hair has an oval-shaped shaft that alters how it interacts with the natural oils that your scalp produces.
This irregular shape creates bends and curves that act like barriers, making it more difficult for your natural oils to travel down the length of the hair, resulting in drier ends.
And because your natural oils don't protect the length of your hair, it's more susceptible to damage from heat styling and sun exposure, which further strips away its moisture.
If you’ve ever straightened your hair, you already know that curly hair looks deceivingly shorter than it is. Due to its coiled nature, curly hair has a larger surface area, and this increased surface area makes your hair more vulnerable to damage and breakage over time.
The Biggest Hair Care Challenge for Curly Girls- Fighting the Frizz!
This far, we haven’t talked about that one thing that makes all curly-haired girls cringe- frizz! To get to the root of frizz (no pun intended), we have to talk about the cuticle layer of the hair.
The outermost layer of your hair is called the cuticle layer, which is an important barrier that protects the inner layer of your hair, the hair shaft, from damage.
For those with curly hair, the cuticle layer is typically more raised and open compared to those that have straight hair. This open cuticle structure allows moisture to easily escape, further compounding dryness.
But on the flip side, this open cuticle structure can cause your curly hair to suck moisture from the air, especially in humid conditions, causing the cuticle to swell, creating that dreaded frizz.
Product Build Up
All of those styling products, shampoos, and conditioners can begin to intermingle with the natural oils on your scalp, leading to product buildup that can accumulate on your scalp and hair strands. This is inevitable no matter what hair type you have.
However, product buildup on curly hair can lead to a type of frizz often described as "angry frizz." Yikes!
Angry frizz happens when your styling products, shampoos, and conditioners are used too frequently or in excessive amounts, creating a film that hinders your hair from properly absorbing moisture.
As a result, your hair becomes less hydrated and more prone to frizz. This type of frizz is challenging to manage because the hair is essentially suffocated by the buildup, preventing it from receiving the moisture and nutrients it needs.
You’ll want to be wary of product build-up, especially if you use products containing heavy oils and butters. Regularly incorporating clarifying treatments into your haircare routine will help to minimize this buildup.
A Mismatched Balance of Protein and Hydration
Maintaining just the right balance between protein and moisture is crucial for maintaining healthy curly hair.
Our hair is composed mostly of protein, which provides strength and structure. However, curly hair also needs a good amount of moisture to remain flexible and to avoid becoming brittle, which results in breakage.
Finding the right balance involves using a mix of products that contain protein and moisture based on your hair's specific needs. This balance prevents both protein overload and over-moisturization, which can respectively make hair too rigid or too soft.
So, how will you know whether your hair needs more moisture or more protein? Unfortunately, too much of one, or not enough of the other, is going to lead to, that’s right, you guessed it, frizz.
Using The Wrong Hair Care Products
Using the wrong hair care products can also exacerbate frizz if you have curly hair. The wrong ingredients can strip your hair of the natural oils it needs, cause buildup, or irritate your scalp.
Opting for hair products specifically formulated for your curly hair and that are free of harsh ingredients is essential for maintaining healthy, frizz-free curls. We’ll get into the ingredients you should avoid a little later on.
The Benefits of Going Chemical-Free for Your Curls
Natural shampoos frequently include moisturizing oils, butters, and other natural ingredients that gently cleanse while retaining much-needed hydration. As we know, maintaining the right moisture levels is crucial for your curly hair. Natural oils and butters coat your hair cuticle to seal in moisture and enhance its definition.
Additionally, natural shampoos contain ingredients chosen for benefits beyond just cleansing. Aloe vera, honey, and willow bark extract all provide hydration, soothe your scalp, and protect your hair without stripping natural oils.
Going chemical-free also supports your scalp and hair's delicate pH balance. Harsh sulfates and detergents disrupt this balance, damaging hair and causing irritation. By keeping harsh ingredients out, natural shampoos are gentle enough for daily use.
Furthermore, natural shampoos omit concerning chemicals like parabens, phthalates, and sulfates due to potential long-term health impacts. Opting for plant-based formulas over synthetic ingredients is good for your hair and good for your health.
Suggested Reading: The 3 Best Natural Hair Oils for Shinier, Healthier Locks
Key Ingredients to Look for in Natural Shampoos
When shopping for natural shampoos for curly hair, it's important to look for ingredients that nourish, hydrate, and maintain the health of your curls. Here are some key ingredients to look for:
- Shea Butter: Known for its high fatty acid content, shea butter acts as an emollient, creating a layer of oil on the surface of hair strands to reduce moisture loss. It's especially beneficial for sealing moisture into curly hair.
- Coconut Oil: As another effective emollient, coconut oil seals moisture into the hair and provides shine and strength. It's particularly useful for thicker textured hair, helping to manage curls and providing essential hydration.
- Aloe Vera: Aloe vera contains an enzyme that promotes hair growth, stops hair loss, and treats scalp inflammation.
- Vegetable Glycerin: This ingredient acts as a strong humectant, attracting and binding water to itself, and also forms a layer of oil over the hair strand, aiding in moisture retention.
- Jojoba Extract: Similar to natural hair oils, jojoba oil helps balance oil production at the scalp and is non-greasy. It adds a healthy shine to hair and is great for treating damaged ends.
- Castor Seed Oil: Castor oil is a humectant with anti-fungal properties, ensuring a clean scalp and promoting better hair growth. It's particularly effective for increasing the thickness of thinning hair edges.
- Honey: A light humectant with antibacterial properties, honey is beneficial for hydrating hair and keeping it healthy.
- Avocado/Avocado Oil: Packed with vitamins A, D, E, and potassium, avocado oil is easily absorbed into the skin and scalp, providing nutrients for improved hair growth.
- Tea Tree Oil: With antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties, tea tree oil is an effective remedy for a dry scalp. However, it should be used in moderation as it is highly concentrated.
- Wheat and Soy Amino Acids: These provide natural heat protection and hydration, essential for repairing styling damage and supplying nutrients to hair follicles.
- Peppermint Leaf Extract: If you have oily hair, peppermint leaf extract is useful for regulating the release of sebum, helping to maintain fresh-looking hair between washes.
- Essential Oils (like peppermint and evening primrose): These oils help clean and refresh the scalp while restoring the scalp's natural balance of oils. They are especially good for curly-haired individuals with sensitive scalps.
- Aloe, Oat Milk, and Green Tea Extract: Ideal for those with scalp and skin sensitivities, these ingredients are gentle and soothing.
Harmful Chemicals To Avoid
By nature, curly hair tends to be more fragile and prone to dryness, making it more vulnerable to toxic chemicals that can be particularly damaging.
- Ammonium Thioglycolates: Used primarily in hair perms, Ammonium Thioglycolate is known to make curly hair more fragile and prone to breakage.
- Parabens: These preservatives can cause several issues for hair health, especially curly hair. Parabens have been linked to cancer and can cause allergic contact dermatitis and irritation, leading to a tight and itchy scalp. This can affect hair growth and its condition, potentially resulting in dry, brittle, dull, and unmanageable hair susceptible to split ends. The estrogenic effects of parabens may harm the hair follicle, leading to hair loss or thinning. Additionally, their toxic effects can cause hair damage and reduce hair health.
- Propylene Glycol: Although deemed safe by the FDA in minimal concentrations, Propylene Glycol can dehydrate hair, causing various issues, particularly for those with dry, curly hair. It can cause scalp irritation or inflammation, leading to itching and hair loss, and make hair dry and brittle.
- Bad Alcohols (such as ethanol, SD alcohol, Alcohol denat, Propanol, Propyl alcohol, Isopropyl alcohol): These lower molecular-weight alcohols evaporate quickly and are often used to decrease drying time for hair. However, they can create dry, frizzy hair by roughening the cuticle and removing oil and water from the hair. Benzyl alcohol is commonly used as a preservative and doesn't impact the hair's texture or feel.
- Synthetic Fragrance: Commonly used in shampoos, synthetic fragrances can strip natural oils from your hair and scalp, leading to dry or greasy hair, tangling, and increased frizz. If you have dandruff, these fragrances can exacerbate flaking and itching.
Top Natural Shampoo Brands for Curly Hair
- The Bounce Back Super Moisturizing Shampoo for Curly Hair from Better Not Younger is ideal for those with color-treated hair or mature hair.
- Ingredients like argan oil, coconut oil, and their unique curl reviving 5-plant butter and oil blend, which includes Cupuacu and Kokum butters lock in moisture and will bring life back to your curls, so they hold their shape longer.
- This shampoo is great for removing oil and product buildup without drying out your ends.
- The addition of B Vitamins (B3 and B7) supports overall scalp and hair follicle health.
- This shampoo is vegan, sulfate-free, paraben-free, silicone-free, and cruelty-free.
- The CurlMix Shampoo strikes the perfect balance between moisturizing and cleansing and is our top pick if you have fine hair.
- The blackberry scent is delicious!
- Organic jojoba oil and aloe vera make this shampoo extra moisturizing while maintaining your scalp’s natural pH. Your hair will feel clean, and it won’t leave your scalp feeling dry or itchy.
- This is also a good option if you suffer from dandruff or a sensitive scalp.
- Free of formaldehyde, sulfates, parabens, and phthalates.
- This shampoo is a great option if you have curly, thick, or coarse hair that is dry and brittle and tends to break easily.
- Ingredients include ECOCERT certified kiwi seed oil, sweet almond oil, and seaweed extract that infuse your hair with essential nutrients and moisture
- Active ingredients also include beneficial plant extracts like rosehip oil, wild pansy extract, sweet clover extract, and cucumber extract, which are all non-GMO ingredients.
- This vegan-friendly shampoo is free from salt, sodium lauryl sulfate, silicone, parabens, panthenol, phthalates, ethoxylates, synthetic fragrances, and is gluten free.
- Approved for use with the Curly Girl Method.
- Rahua's Hydration Shampoo is definitely on the pricier side. However, despite the high price, the benefits it offers in terms of hair health and its ethical approach make it a worthwhile investment, especially if you prioritize sustainable and clean beauty products.
- As a brand, Rahua respects the principle of regenerative farming practices, ensuring no harm to the rainforest. The plant-based ingredients are all ethically sourced.
- This shampoo is a great choice if you have fine hair. Rahua oil leaves your strands moisturized but won’t weigh them down.
- For best results, we recommend rotating this shampoo with at least one other in your routine since it can tend to leave product build-up with consistent use.
- Passion fruit and mango extracts will make your shower smell like a tropical getaway- however, if you’re sensitive to strong scents, this shampoo is probably not a good option for you.
- If you're used to using conventional shampoos, the first thing you'll notice about Yarok's Feed Your Moisture Shampoo is the minimal lather, but that's OK; just know it is still cleansing your hair.
- It’s formulated to cleanse your hair gently using a blend of vitamin-infused water and organic fair-trade African soap.
- A great shampoo for a range of hair types, from super-curly to wavy.
- Organic argan, coconut, and hemp seed oils provide hydrating, detoxifying, and restorative properties for your curls.
- 100% vegan and free from alcohol, parabens, sulfates, chemicals, and gluten.
- 3% of all profits from the shampoo go directly to the Pachamama Alliance, supporting the protection of over 10 million acres of the Amazon Rainforest.
Tips For Taking Care Of Your Curly Hair
- Use the Right Shampoo and Conditioner: Choose shampoos with low pH, free from sulfates and alcohol, as these ingredients strip moisture from your hair. Deep condition your hair regularly, using hydrating masks once a week to lock in moisture and seal the cuticles.
- Be Gentle When Detangling: Curly hair is prone to tangling, so it's important to detangle gently to minimize breakage. Use a wide-tooth comb and start detangling from the ends, working your way up. Detangling in sections can be more manageable, especially for longer hair.
- Hydration and Moisturizing: Make sure your hair is completely wet, and apply a generous amount of conditioner to aid in detangling. After washing, while your hair is still damp, use a hair oil or leave-in conditioner. Scrunch your hair gently towards the roots to encourage curl formation and hydration.
- Avoid Excessive Heat: Limit your use of heat styling tools as they can cause dryness and damage. If you need to use them, apply a heat protectant spray and avoid high heat settings.
- Apply Hair Products The Right Way: When applying products, cup your hands over small sections of hair and gently squeeze towards the roots. Let your hair air dry and do touch-ups as needed. Avoid brushing curly hair when dry; instead, use a wide-tooth comb on wet or dampened hair.
- Scalp Care: A healthy scalp supports healthy hair growth. Occasionally use a clarifying shampoo and scalp scrub to maintain a healthy scalp, but be sure they're suitable for curly hair.
- Nighttime Hair Care: Sleep on a silk pillowcase to prevent moisture loss and reduce friction that can cause frizz and breakage. You can also wrap your hair in a silk scarf or bonnet for the same effect.
- Regular Trims: Get regular hair trims to eliminate split ends, which can worsen tangling and cause further damage.
This blog post was all about the best natural shampoo brands for curly hair.
Using natural, nourishing shampoos free of harsh chemicals, along with our targeted tips for hydration, detangling, and protecting your curls, can help you achieve healthy, defined, frizz-free hair. We recommend looking for moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, aloe vera, and essential oils while avoiding harsh chemicals like sulfates, parabens, alcohol, and fragrances.
We went through the specific causes of dryness, damage, and frizz that those with curly hair often contend with. We also provided our top natural shampoo recommendations. Which of these will you try first to give your curls new life?
We hope the information and curly hair care tips have helped you better understand how to nurture your coils. Share this post with friends and family who may benefit from these natural shampoo suggestions and curly hair care advice! What questions do you still have about caring for your curls? Ask us in the comments!
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