A QUEST FOR HEALTHY SHAMPOO

January 24, 2025

Healthy Shampoos: A Journey to Cleaner, Happier Hair

Switching to healthier personal care options has been a gradual journey for me, and shampoo was next on my list. If you’ve ever gone down the rabbit hole of finding the perfect healthy shampoo, you know it’s a mix of trial, error, and occasionally, regret. Follow me as I ditch my old favorite for a cleaner alternative, test different contenders, and finally crown the ultimate winner for my hair care routine.

Pantene The Multi-Tasker Shampoo

My go-to for a few years has been Pantene The Multi-Tasker Shampoo. True to its name, it delivered everything I wanted: moisture, detangling, softening, heat protection, and more—you name it, it did it.

But (and this is a big but), it turns out this powerhouse isn’t exactly healthy. The sodium lauryl sulfate it contains is a well-known irritant and can have inflammatory effects on skin. A quick scan on my favorite app, Yuka, confirmed the bad news: a “Poor” grade. That was my cue to move on.

So, I set out to find a healthier, yet still effective, shampoo. Here’s how the search went:

Stop #1: Pantene Essential Botanicals Sulfate-Free Volumizing Shampoo

Since I was loyal to Pantene, I figured I’d start there and landed on Pantene Essential Botanicals Sulfate-Free Volumizing Shampoo. The label read like a health nut’s dream: no sulfates, silicones, phthalates, parabens, mineral oil, phosphates, or dyes.

It got a respectable “Good” rating on Yuka, and at $19.99 for a huge 38.2 oz bottle at Walmart, it felt like a steal. My first reaction when trying it out was, “Wow! Tons of lather!” But then came the scent. It was cloying and not at all what I’d call high-end.

In addition, the word “greasy” showed up in my vocabulary when I was on Day 2 hair. So, sadly this one did not make the cut. Apparently, I was not done with the search.

Stop #2: Maui Moisture Lightweight Hydration + Hibiscus Water Shampoo

This one was only $7.97 for 13 oz at Walmart, so the price was very reasonable. It received a healthy grade of “Good,” so I bought it to give it a try.

The bottle is hot pink, with pictures of watermelon and hibiscus flowers on the label—cute, but it definitely made me feel like I’d borrowed it from a 12-year-old. Once again, it lathered well, which is always a toss-up with “healthy” shampoos, but I again did not like the scent. It was just too much and verified my thought that this would appeal to the tweens.

While it cleaned my hair just fine, it just wasn’t for me.

Stop #3: Vanicream Free and Clear Shampoo

I bought this one at Walgreen’s for $8.70 for a 12 oz bottle, so the price was a bit more, but the minimalist packaging caught my eye, and its “Excellent” 93/100 score on Yuka gave me high hopes.

I was excited because unless the products contain only water, it’s hard to get close to that 100/100 score and this one was close. But, OMG! I did not like this one at all. It barely lathered, and I had to keep applying more product to feel like it was cleaning.

It felt almost sticky and not the slightest bit silky. I could barely drag a comb through my hair after this one. This was a big loser to me. Let’s move on.

Stop #4: Native Strengthening Shampoo Almond and Shea

Now, we’re getting somewhere! This one was good!

Priced at $9.97 for 16.5 oz at Walmart, this shampoo had a subtle, high-end scent, a satisfying lather, and my hair felt soft and clean—exactly what I had been looking for. It scored a “Good” 69/100 on Yuka, edging out Maui and Pantene.

I would have stopped here and crowned this one my winner, but I just wanted to see if I could find a shampoo with a higher health rating.

Stop #5: OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo

And then I found it! OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo checked every box.

Where has this been all my life?? I absolutely loved everything about this option. The scent was so good—a perfect mix of coconut and vanilla that was luxurious and long-lasting. It lathered beautifully, left my hair soft and smooth, and didn’t leave me feeling greasy by Day 2.

It was all so good that had I not just purchased it for only $6.97 for 13 oz (on Amazon), I would have thought I had stumbled upon a high-end salon product. With an “Excellent” 79/100 rating on Yuka, it confirmed my decision that this was the one. It combined health-conscious ingredients with great performance at a great price.

Conclusion

Switching to a healthier shampoo was a journey, but it was worth it. After some trial and error, I found a product that stood out for its performance, scent, and value.

It’s proof that you don’t have to sacrifice quality or effectiveness when switching to healthier products. OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo, welcome to my shower shelf!