We like to think that veganism is more than just the technicalities on a label. To us, it means buying from brands that do not test on animals and constantly strive to do better to lessen their impact on the planet.
Buying less and better casts a vote; it is an eco-action to demand products that are not only efficient but safe for us and the planet.
Good – plant-based – hair care is one of the best things you can do for yourself. We all like feeling refreshed and clean after hair washing day—there’s no denying that.
Unfortunately, many well-known cosmetics companies don’t fit the bill if you are looking for cruelty-free and vegan shampoo. Most shampoos on shelves today are still tested on animals or contain questionable ingredients whose origins are not often displayed in all transparency.
With that in mind, we chose the below list of brands for their ethical practices just as much as we chose them for what they choose to put in their formulas.
However, bear in mind that the shampoo that will work best for you will not always be what we suggest. Never forget to factor in your individuality and buy hair products that are suited to your hair type and texture.
Superzero - USA
Superzero is not another half-hearted beauty solution. They are on a mission to provide excellent beauty products without compromising anything or causing harm.
All their formulas are not merely reiterations of old solutions; they start from scratch and build the best, harm-free options for their customers.
Our Vegan Shampoo Pick
This brand is all about bars. All their products are anhydrous, which means that none of them contain water. They have shampoos, conditioners, treatments, and more—and yup, they are all in bar format.
Our favorite from their whole collection is the all-over shampoo and body bar. It’s a multi-use beauty product for a truly no-fuss body and hair care routine.
It’s specially formulated to be gentle enough for use on the hair yet strong enough to wash away dirt and impurities for a thorough clean.
This cruelty-free shampoo has a natural freshwater breeze scent and forms a quick sudsy lather during application. It is soap-free and pH-balanced. Plus, it’s totally safe for use on color-treated hair.
Though this is marketed as a men’s vegan shampoo, we’d argue that it’s good for anyone. The light scent is gender-neutral, and the shampoo’s features will work well on all bodies.
This shampoo bar is perfect for traveling. Not only because it doesn’t have any water and is easier to transport, but also because it saves you the trouble of bringing both soap and shampoo.
On the topic of body cleansing, check out our article on soap savers to make your body bars last longer.
They also have vegan shampoos for oily, dry, and thin hair. Just choose according to your hair type. Both vegan shampoo and conditioner are available, so you can easily match them up.
Interested in zero waste shampoo and conditioner bars? You can also check out our guide on this topic where we also cover refillable options.
Ingredients & Packaging
The all-over shampoo and body bar is sulfate-free and does not have any silicone in the formula. Of course, it is a cruelty-free shampoo, and there are no animal-derived ingredients.
All Superzero formulas contain at least 98% plant-based ingredients. This one, in particular, has the following active ingredients:
- Panax Ginseng Root Oil
- Caffeine
- Biotin (vegan)
The ginseng will help stimulate your scalp, and biotin will promote hair growth. Meanwhile, caffeine also stimulates the scalp and helps with hair loss.
Some other ingredients we’d like to highlight are:
- Shea Butter
- Tapioca Starch
- Charcoal Powder
- Jojoba Oil
- Grapefruit Peel Oil
- Citrus Fruit Oil
The charcoal is particularly important for cleansing and will help wash away impurities from your body. You can view a full list of Superzero’s ingredients here. Remember to be wary of brands that do not disclose the entire composition (including the word ‘perfume’).
This shampoo bar is packaged completely plastic-free. Plastic is on the brand’s no-list, and they are adamant about not using it in any of their products or packaging.
Because they don’t use water in their vegan hair products, they are able to use no plastic at all and reduce their carbon footprint, especially with shipping their products.
Sustainability & Ethics
Sustainability is the backbone of this company. They focus their energy on creating sustainable solutions that will propel us into a much better future.
For starters, we already know that they don’t use plastic. And that they lessen their carbon footprint further (80-90% less than liquid shampoo) by not using water.
But they are also climate neutral certified by Climate Partners. They do this by investing in carbon offset projects all over the globe. Just like us at Puratium, They also help by being part of 1% for the Planet. This ensures that at least 1% of their sales will be donated to environmental causes.
Overall, we’d really recommend this brand. They’re a great place to buy your vegan shampoo and conditioner, especially from a sustainable standpoint.
Sukin - USA
Sukin is an Australian-based cruelty-free and vegan personal care company. They make products for the hair, face, and body.
They firmly believe in using natural ingredients and leaving out harmful ones like parabens and sulfates(we also have a guide on natural ingredients for your skin you should take a look at).
Our Vegan Shampoo Pick
Our shampoo pick from this brand is their Oil Balancing shampoo. It helps balance excess sebum so your hair can stay fresh for longer.
Made with safe ingredients, this product will effectively cleanse your hair without stripping its natural oil. This shampoo will work best on oily hair as it helps counteract the greasiness.
If you don’t have oily hair, then check out their Hydrating shampoo. It will keep your hair strong and healthy, all while reducing frizz and adding shine.
They also have conditioner products, and you can match the shampoo and conditioner together.
Ingredients and Packaging
All Sukin products are sulfate-free, paraben-free, and do not contain any synthetic fragrances or mineral oils. You can check out their full no list here.
Meanwhile, here are some special ingredients in the Oil Balancing shampoo:
- Jojoba Oil
- Moringa Extract
- Wheat Protein
- Aloe Leaf Juice
- Orange Peel Oil
- Grapefruit Peel Oil
- Spearmint Leaf Oil
- Peppermint Leaf Oil
The jojoba oil is what helps keep balance the sebum out without drying the hair. Jojoba is actually pretty close to the oils that our body produces, so it’s very versatile and has numerous applications throughout cosmetics.
On the other hand, the wheat protein and moringa extract help nourish, cleanse, and purify the hair for the ultimate clean experience. All the essential oils in this shampoo give it a delightful zesty and minty smell that really helps evoke a fresh and light feeling.
Unfortunately, the bottles are made from conventional PET plastic – a material they claim is easily recyclable in Australia, however, this is not the case everywhere else. For the rest, Sukin develops their packaging based on their Sustainability Policy and uses recyclable packaging whenever possible in their supply chain.
Sustainability & Ethics
While sustainability in terms of packaging isn’t this brand’s forte, they do have a lot of environmental initiatives that they participate in.
To start, Sukin is completely carbon neutral. From manufacturing to admin work, all of their carbon emissions are offset by carbon credits. They have been carbon neutral ever since 2008 and continue to be so today. You can learn more about their carbon offsets here.
All their products are also grey water safe, which ensures that it won’t cause environmental damage as it gets washed away in the drain.
They are also working towards helping the Great Barrier Reef. You can read more about their conservation efforts here.
Moo & Yoo - UK
Moo & Yoo started because of the co-founder’s frustration with the state of commonly available haircare products. That is, most are irritating and are packaged unsustainably.
They are completely cruelty-free, and they only stock vegan products. They partner with laboratories in the UK, and their vegan beauty products are always made with the input of chemists and beauty experts alike.
Our Vegan Shampoo Pick
The Moo & Yoo collection is pretty simple and straightforward. They’ve only got one type of shampoo in stock; the Miracle shampoo is meant for all hair types, providing gentle cleansing and nourishing that’ll leave your hair soft and lush to the touch.
It is perfect for cleansing both natural and color-treated hair. So whether you have oily or damaged hair, this cruelty-free shampoo will be good for you. As it is predominantly made with naturally derived components, this shampoo will separate. Therefore, you will need to shake it before use.
If you’re a first-time buyer, you can also opt for buying a pump. The shampoo comes with an aluminum cap, but this may get slippery, and the glass could break, especially if you’re handling it in the shower.
If you’ve already got enough reusable pumps at home, then just go for the regular capped one. The earth does not need any more plastic in it!
If you are in the market for vegan shampoo and conditioner, you can also buy them as a set. If you’re feeling a bit extra, they also have hair masks for dry and damaged hair.
Ingredients & Packaging
Here are some of this gentle shampoo’s most notable components.
- Marula Oil
- Icelandic Moss
- Castor Oil
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate (a plant-based surfactant)
- Parfum
Though there is perfume in the ingredient list, they disclose exactly what it’s made of, so there’s no issue of ambiguity. Unfortunately, Parfums or fragrances can be a bit of a difficult topic since most brands don’t reveal what they actually use as scents.
The marula oil, as well as the Icelandic moss, will help protect your hair from environmental damages such as UV exposure.
The shampoo comes packaged in glass, just like all of the brand’s other products. They’ve also made an effort to minimize the amount of necessary packaging, and products are transported in recycled cardboard boxes. They print on recycled paper using vegetable-based inks.
Sustainability & Ethics
Moo & Yoo believe in striking a balance between performance and ethical commitment. As such, they do not use any aggressive ingredients and instead focus on the quality of the component.
They are completely vegan and cruelty-free, and they also do not use any palm oil nor aerosols. They also plant one tree for every single order, which is a great benefit on the side.
The ingredients they use are sourced sustainably, and they are continuing to work on better solutions. Their Icelandic moss, for example, is only harvested from May to October. Their marula oil is fair trade and organic, sourced from a women’s co-op in Africa.
Their practices enable them to support small communities and create scalable livelihoods throughout their supply chain.
Faith in Nature - UK
This UK-based beauty and hair care brand has been around since the early 1970s. Faith in Nature really brings something to the table with the power of natural ingredients and beautiful graphics.
They believe that everyone should get to benefit from what nature offers, and their practices are built on that foundation.
Our Vegan Shampoo Pick
Faith in Nature has a large collection of vegan and cruelty-free shampoo. From fragrance-free ones to unique scents like dragonfruit, this brand has a lot to offer.
We personally love their shampoo in Lavander and Geranium. It gives a lovely scent that smells absolutely delightful, light, and fresh. It is an organic shampoo intended for normal to dry hair. It’s part of their natural shampoo collection, made with natural and organic ingredients.
It’s also available in a 5L refill if you love it and want to buy in bulk. However, they only ship this product within the UK and the EU.
They also have shampoo bars for many scents, including this one. Plus, if you want a vegan shampoo and conditioner pair, they also sell them together in a bundle.
Ingredients & Packaging
This shampoo is completely cruelty-free and vegan. There is no element of animal testing in any of the company’s products. It is also SLS-free and paraben-free.
The following are some ingredients we’d like to highlight:
- Sea Salt
- Lavender Oil
- Geranium Oil
- Tea Tree Oil
Nearly all of the components in this shampoo are plant-derived. Moreover, Faith in Nature only uses natural oils in its formulas to avoid using any harsh chemicals.
Lavender has calming benefits that’ll help soothe your scalp and promote hair growth while keeping your locks healthy and soft. It’ll also help you with dealing with a dry and itchy scalp.
The bottles are made of 100% recycled and recyclable plastic. You can also avoid plastic altogether with their shampoo bars.
Sustainability & Ethics
We admire the effort of using recycled plastic in their bottles. But if you want to go for the more sustainable option, you can easily go zero waste with a shampoo bar. Here are some basics on zero-waste and how you can begin your journey.
One of the best aspects of this brand is its commitment to making its products accessible. As a result, many vegan hair care products can fetch a higher price than regular non-vegan ones.
And here at Puratium, we’re always talking about how we need to make vegan products more accessible to different socioeconomic levels. And we’re glad to see a brand finally take it into consideration! They actively take steps to ensure their products are affordable and that they stay that way.
In fact, they say the only reason they don’t exclusively use organic components is to keep their products as affordable as possible.
They believe that the only way they can make a true difference is by making natural products widely available; without a high barrier to entry.
Acure - USA
Acure is a completely vegan and cruelty-free skin and hair care brand. They make their products without any pretense and prioritize pure ingredients in their formulations.
They make it their mission to make uplifting products that don’t come at the expense of our planet. Clean and clinical, this brand believes in the positive value their products bring.
Our Vegan Shampoo Pick
Acure has quite a collection of shampoo. They have ones for normal hair types, for volumizing, for clarifying, hydrating, and plenty more. If you’re looking for vegan conditioners, they also have them in just as many options.
Our pick is the Simply Smoothing shampoo. And as the name implies, it’s perfect for smoothing out hair and getting rid of frizziness. It has a lovely aroma, and of course, it is completely cruelty-free and vegan.
If you want a shampoo that’ll clean your hair without drying it out, then this one is for you.
We also really like the Daily Workout Watermelon & Blood Orange shampoo. It’s a very gentle formula for those who have to wash their hair every day due to daily activities that might result in a significant amount of sweating.
Ingredients & Packaging
All Acure hair products are sulfate-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, formaldehyde-free, mineral oil-free, petrolatum-free, and 100% vegan.
The smoothing shampoo has a lot of hair nourishing ingredients such as:
- Marula Oil
- Coconut Water
- Aloe Leaf Juice
- Shea Butter
- Blackberry Fruit Extract
- Coconut Oil
- Orange Peel Oil
- Sweet Almond Oil
You may view the full list of ingredients on the website listing, but the most updated list will be on the product packaging.
All these components add value to this vegan-friendly shampoo. The marula oil and coconut water are the star ingredients, and both have a hand in transforming your frizzy hair into lusciously smooth locks.
We couldn’t find info in their packaging, but it is available for recycling through Terracycle.
Sustainability & Ethics
We didn’t find a dedicated webpage for sustainability, nor does the brand detail how sustainable their ingredients are.
However, the good news is that they’re very transparent about where their products are made. They only work with U.S factories, and all manufacturing facilities are audited under SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit).
Since Acure is a Sedex member, they are required to disclose manufacturing data with their retail partners. A win for transparency!
Simply Smoothing shampoo and conditioner is made in an ISO 27716-certified and USDA certified organic manufacturing facility in Miami, Florida.
Acure also has several charitable partners. They donate to causes such as breast cancer nonprofits and spreading environmental awareness and eco-consciousness. Check out this page for more details.
Bkind - Canada
Bkind is a Montreal-based brand with a passion for effective and high-quality natural care products. Their brand is founded on respect and thoughtfulness for all that’s around us.
Founded by a microbiologist in 2018, Bkind was started in pursuit of skincare that would suit sensitive and highly reactive skin.
Our Vegan Shampoo Pick
Bkind’s Monoi shampoo is meant to moisturize, brighten, and soften your locks, making it perfect if your hair type is dry or frizzy. The monoi aroma smells lovely and is great for those who love sweet scents. It is natural, vegan, and completely cruelty-free.
Plus, you can also buy it in bulk at their store in Montreal. Buying from the store allows you to buy zero-waste as you can just refill your empty bottles every time. Sadly, this option is only for those who buy from their boutique.
But, they also have vegan shampoo and conditioner in bar form, which is more sustainable. Their shampoo and conditioner bar is great for all hair types and will bring lasting moisturization and deep cleaning.
Ingredients & Packaging
This cruelty-free shampoo has the following key ingredients:
- Aloe Vera
- Monoi Flower Extract
- Hydrolized Rice Protein
- Flaxseed Extract
- Amaranth Extract
- Honeysuckle Flower Extract
Bkind only uses high-quality natural ingredients optimized for fine results. You can view the full ingredient list on the product listing.
The Aloe works great for keeping your hair well hydrated and strong, resulting in supple locks. Meanwhile, the rice protein works to brighten and volumize your hair. Many of the other components actively help moisturize and protect the hair while keeping it soft to the touch.
The shampoo is packaged in a recyclable bottle. But, as mentioned, you can get it without any packaging if you buy in-store.
Sustainability & Ethics
One of the best things about this brand is that they offer products in bulk, a much more sustainable practice than chucking each container after you use it up. But we’re glad to hear that they’ve also taken steps to improve their individual packaging. For example, they’ve begun to integrate ocean-bound plastic into their tubes.
Recycled plastic is still plastic, but at least they’ve lessened their use of virgin materials and are contributing to cleaning the oceans. And, all skin and body products are designed and made in Quebec.
They have also just recently launched the option to make orders carbon neutral. Read about it here to find out more.
Aura - USA
Aura offers something different from the other brands on this list. Instead of premade formulas, they create specific ones that cater to an individual customer’s needs.
One of the biggest challenges to picking the perfect hair care product is that we all have different hair types. Aura has found a way to combat that by making hair care that is especially for you and your hair type.
Our Vegan Shampoo Pick
There’s only one vegan, cruelty-free shampoo on their list, but it is likely that it encompasses your needs. Whether you’ve got dry hair or an oily scalp, their shampoo will work because it is tailor-suited to you. All hair types are welcome.
You can take their quiz to help you determine which ingredients are best for your hair. They even consider if you’ve got curly or straight hair.
It comes with a formula based that is patterned after your needs and an optional scent that you can fully customize. If you have trouble finding the perfect hair products, this cruelty-free brand is the way to go. They have vegan shampoo and conditioner as well as hair masks.
They even offer hair products with pigments if you want a little bit of color. This company is one where you can truly explore your options and customize them to your heart’s content.
Ingredients & Packaging
Every shampoo has different ingredients, so we’ll just talk about some notable components in their ingredient list.
- Murumuru Butter
- Chia Seed Oil
- Caffeine
- Barley Protein
- Coconut Oil
- Tea Tree Oil
- Rice Bran Oil
Each of these components has its own uses, and they are all considered vegan. Plus, being cruelty-free, none of these undergo animal testing. Each one is also optimized to deliver excellent hair products that give you brilliant results.
Murumuru butter, for example, is great at keeping hair shiny and nourished. On the other hand, chia seed oil helps with volume and color retention for color-treated hair. There are tons of other benefits from the items on this list, and you can view all their features here.
Regardless of hair types or needs, you’ll always find a formula that is just right.
All bottles and jars are made from 100% recycled plastic, which you can recycle further. However, the caps are not recyclable, so you may want to take that into consideration.
Some of you might not like using plastic (we know we don’t), but you might still want to give this a try since personalized hair products aren’t exactly commonplace. The inner packaging is fully biodegradable.
Sustainability & Ethics
Aura’s entire system is rooted in the value of possibility, and its patented personalization strategy is an excellent way to achieve this goal. Plus, they only use thoughtfully sourced, cruelty-free, and vegan ingredients to make their shampoos and other hair products.
We would have loved to see more details on how they source their ingredients, but we couldn’t find any readily available. Still, Aura is a great brand to go for, especially when you find that nothing seems to be working well for you.
Their advantage over every other brand in this list is clear: they can appeal to all hair types and specifications. And that might just be what you need.
What Is The Deal With Cruelty-free Vegan Shampoo?
Many nonvegans don’t even know that there are animal components in shampoo, although most are aware of the issue of animal testing.
And while awareness of making products cruelty-free and vegan have increased over the years, several big-name brands still continue to do it. In other circumstances, brands test on animals where they are required by law (like in China).
All these practices are harmful to animals, which are undeserving of such treatment. Choosing cruelty-free vegan shampoo will help you make a better eco-impact and choose your products more consciously.
Even if you aren’t vegan, it’s always great to rethink our consumption practices and try to change them for the better.
Are All Vegan Hair Products Good?
Many, if not most, of us value efficiency. We want our products to work, and we want them to do it well. So when you’re first trying out vegan-friendly items, it’s only natural to ask yourself whether they work just as well as what you’re used to.
In truth, animal products or animal by-products aren’t even at all necessary in caring for your hair. Of course, certain components like beeswax or honey might have desired effects, but there are plenty of vegan alternatives that deliver the same quality and results.
Opting for a sustainable slow beauty routine is a first important in the right direction – one that cast a vote demanding better products for ourselves and the planet. You can start with shampoo, and why not eco friendly vegan body wash and vegan lotions?
Another possible issue is that vegan hair products are frequently touted as natural or organic; not always, but it happens often enough for a connection to exist. Natural and organic products are another niche that people have criticized for efficacy.
However, it is important to remember that not all companies produce the same results. Many companies cannot strike a balance between using components that align with their values and making their products effective for their customers.
So, in essence, vegan hair products can be good. There’s no reason they shouldn’t be, just because they are animal-free. However, you should still be prudent in choosing brands and make sure to go for one that is as effective as it is kind.
Read through our list of vegan hair care products for more information and suggestions, and this one in case you’re searching for original gift ideas that are tailored-made for vegans!
Final Thoughts
Vegan shampoos aren’t very difficult to find today. It’s highly likely you’ll find vegan shampoo and conditioner at your local drugstore at a reasonable price, ideally low waste and even better if containing organic, compostable ingredients that will not further damage our ecosystem.
In choosing these brands, we kept in mind the environmental impact of the products just as much as we considered the cruelty-free and vegan component. We hope we have inspired you to do the same!
