Let’s start with an interesting fact – your scalp is some of the thickest skin in your body and has more follicles and sebaceous glands than any other part of your skin. What this means is that these glands secrete high amounts of sweat and if you don’t wash your hair well, you can be susceptible to skin disorders like dandruff which can affect the health of your hair.
Just like your face, the scalp can also be sensitive to harsh ingredients like sulphates, parabens and added fragrances, which are normally found in shampoos. Enter, hypoallergenic shampoos.
These gifts of science were created for consumers who needed a gentle product that will clean your hair of oil, sweat and dead skin cells without stripping the follicles off its nourishment.
The 5 Best Selling Hypoallergenic Shampoos:
Looking for the best hypoallergenic shampoos? We’ve got you covered with our top 5 list of the best hypoallergenic shampoos currently for sale online. Scroll further down for our full hypoallergenic shampoo buyers guide.
The 5 Best Hypoallergenic Shampoos:
1. Free & Clear Hair Shampoo – Fragrance, Gluten and Sulfate Free
Best Overall Hypoallergenic Shampoo
Free & Clear Shampoo is ideal for people facing alcohol sensitivities, aloe allergies, gluten intolerance, and eczema-prone skin because it doesn’t contain harsh chemicals.
The shampoo cleanses hair gently without causing irritation to sensitive skin and scalp. It’s dermatologist tested, pH balanced and doesn’t contain any dye, fragrance, gluten, sulfate, paraben, or preservatives. Hence, it’s safe for colored-treated hair too.
It’s specially extracted from coconut to help clean the build-up from hair products, oil, grease, and dirt. The shampoo also rids your scalp of scaling and flaking (dandruff). The results? A clean scalp and hair that is easy to manage.
This organic shampoo is suitable for all hair types.
2. Theorie: PURE Ultra Gentle Hypoallergenic Shampoo
Best Moisturizing Hypoallergenic Shampoo
Theorie Pure Ultra Gentle Hypoallergenic Shampoo is purely vegan and aloe-based. Created for sensitive skin and scalp, this shampoo uplifts and hydrates your hair. It nourishes different hair types while protecting color-treated hair.
The shampoo is hypoallergenic because it’s free of allergens, paraben, gluten, sulfate, alcohol, artificial dyes, phthalates, and fragrance.
It’s blended from sesame oil, grape seed oil, argan oil, marula oil which are full of vitamins and antioxidants. The argan and marula oil moisturize your hair to restore lost sheen.
This shampoo also repairs split ends, reduces breakage, and helps to detangle hair. It’s great with curly hair.
3. Biotera Hypoallergenic Ultra Gentle Shampoo
Best Calming Shampoo
This mild and gentle shampoo is formulated with calming ingredients to soothe your sensitive scalp and skin while nourishing your hair. The shampoo is dermatologist tested to provide care for highly sensitive skin and scalp.
It cleanses hair gently but removes grease and hair product residue. Although it’s a mild shampoo, it lathers well with warm water and rinses out well.
It’s extracted from organic non-allergic ingredients such as chamomile that calms the skin and soothing botanicals. The formula is free from gluten, dyes, paraben, and sulfate.
The shampoo is suitable for both natural and relaxed hair. However, it has a mild fragrance to it.
4. Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Gentle Bath Wash & Shampoo
Best for Itchy Scalp
Although Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo was initially created for babies, it works well with adults too. It is hypoallergenic, so it doesn’t cause allergic reactions, dryness, or an itchy scalp.
The formula contains natural oat kernel extract, famous for its soothing and nourishing effect. It doesn’t contain phthalates, parabens, dye, sulfates, or other harsh chemicals though it has a light scent.
The shampoo is pH balanced and is listed on the pediatrician and dermatologist list for safe shampoos.
The gentle ingredients help to reduce dandruff and promote healthy hair growth. The shampoo may be mild, but it lathers up nicely, so a little goes a long way.
5. ATTITUDE Shampoo for Sensitive Skin
Best fragrance-free
This unscented shampoo is extracted from oat kernel and grape seed oil which is calming for sensitive skin. The oat extract soothes the itchy scalp and reduces dandruff.
It also penetrates hair shafts to deeply nourish and hydrate hair while the grapeseed oil seals in the moisture to restore dry, damaged hair.
The shampoo reduces hair breakage, falling out, and adds volume. Using this shampoo cleanses hair well without leaving it greasy. Paired with a conditioner, it leaves your hair smooth, shiny, and very easy to manage.
Dermatologists recommend this shampoo because it is vegan, cruelty-free, dye-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and eco-friendly.
What To Consider When Purchasing Hypoallergenic Shampoo:
Hypoallergenic shampoos are one of the most recommended by doctors and dermatologists as they are not only toxin-free but are the go-to choice for people with eczema. The secret to their success is not the fact that they are loaded with natural ingredients such as aloe vera, argan oil, olive, chamomile, etc., but rather the pH levels. According to experts, shampoos at a lower pH level preserve the natural oils of the hair and scalp and the right levels are at a surprising 4 to 4.5 range.
Many popular brands of shampoos in the market promise to moisture, smoothen, condition and nourish your hair from root to tip. Often times, it is these properties that will help us make a choice while we stand in front of the shampoo aisle lined with numerous choices.
But did you know, according to a dermatology study published in 2010, more than a third of over 900 study participants had at least one allergic reaction to cosmetic ingredients?
1. Price
There are several brands of hypoallergenic products in the market. Do your research and choose one that will give you the results you’re looking for without breaking the bank.
2. Hair Type
Just like regular shampoos, these are also available depending on if you have curly, dry, normal, oily or chemically-treated hair.
3. Ingredients
We generally don’t turn over our shampoos and read the ingredient list. Also because we don’t understand many of the ingredients that are mentioned and how they contribute to the final result. However, hypoallergenic shampoos are created with natural and known products so select one that suits your needs.
4. Consumer Reviews
Explore your options by reading consumer reviews online so you have a clear idea of what the most popular, tried and tested products available are.
5. Desired Results
As with selecting any product for yourself, it is important to know what final result are you looking to achieve. Do you want to restore the shine in your hair? Replenish thinning hair? Moisturize and reduce frizz? Understanding this will help you narrow your choices and ensure you pick the right shampoo.
As mentioned previously, shampoos are filled with harmful ingredients that may be causing more damage to your hair than you realize. To understand why leading haircare experts are vouching for hypoallergenic shampoos, it is essential to learn how exactly these toxins can wreck your hair and scalp health:
- Parabens: Parabens can absorb into your body through your skin and are said to disturb the normal hormones of the body, increasing risks of cancer.
- Sulfates: Powerful detergents meant to cleanse the hair but oftentimes, sulfates strip the hair of its natural oils and cause frizz and weakness.
- Sodium Chloride: Commonly known as salt, these are found in shampoos and conditioners to create a thicker formula. However, salt can irritate an already sensitive scalp causing eventual hair loss.
- Fragrances: We all like fresh, fragrant smelling hair after a shower but with the addition of synthetic fragrances, shampoos enter a dangerous category as they could cause asthma or cancer.
- Triclosan: The FDA banned the use of triclosan in soaps in 2016 due to the possibility of developing asthma.
Conclusion
Regardless of your hair type, there are multiple hypoallergenic shampoos in the market today that will suit your needs and budget. Harsh external conditions such as pollution, UV rays and dust are also contributors to the deterioration of hair health and it is, therefore, essential to invest in a shampoo that will not only nourish and protect but will also repair your hair in the long run.
This article was last updated on January 4, 2022 .