What to Expect When You Switch to Natural Shampoo

Switching to natural shampoo is good for your hair and the planet – fewer chemicals down the drain and in your precious tresses can only be positive. But as with any change, there are some things it’s useful to be aware of before you begin. Here’s everything you need to know about why natural shampoo’s a winner – and what to expect when switching up your haircare habits.

Benefits of natural shampoo

Natural shampoos are free of the chemicals that are often found in regular shampoo – and for most people who use them, this means healthier, shinier hair. They’re free of things like parabens, a form of preservative that is known to cause sensitivity in some people. And silicones, which are thought to weigh down hair, make it dull and cause build-up on the scalp (fans of the Curly Girl Method in particular like to avoid silicones).

Our cruelty-free, vegan shampoo is all formulated with 99% naturally-derived ingredients, and our zero waste shampoo bars are handmade with 100% naturally-derived ingredients. Plus, all are made with essential oils and 100% natural origin aroma, meaning you can enjoy a blast of beautiful natural scent when you wash your hair. 

What to look for in a natural shampoo

Most natural shampoos will let you know they’re natural on the front of the bottle, but it’s wise to flip over to the back and read what’s on the ingredients list. See a lot of long, confusing names of things there? Here’s a hand knowing what they mean…

Silicones: Unsurprisingly, anything that ends in ‘-cone’ is a silicone. But if you want to avoid the dull, weighed-down feeling of silicones, you’ll also need to avoid ingredients that end in ‘-conol’, ‘-xane’ and ‘-silane’.

Parabens: Most parabens are easy to spot because they include the word ‘paraben’ in their name, for example methylparaben and propylparaben. But many other preservatives that don’t have the word ‘paraben’ in their name are also classed as parabens; you can find extensive lists online, but look for shampoos that clearly state they’re paraben-free. Keep in mind that some artificial fragrances contain parabens within them, so pick shampoos that are made with essential oils and natural origin aroma.

SLS & SLES: These ingredients, officially called sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium laureth sulphate respectively, are anionic surfactants. Their job is to make shampoos foam, but they’re also associated with skin irritation. We know that people still like get that lovely lathery feeling when they’re washing their hair, so we formulate our shampoos with naturally-derived ALS (ammonium lauryl sulphate). ALS molecules are much larger than SLS & SLES molecules, meaning they can’t penetrate the skin and are far less likely to cause irritation.

What to expect when switching to natural shampoo

Sometimes people use natural shampoo once, then relegate it to the back of the shelf in favour of their old shampoo. But it’s definitely worth sticking with it to see results! When you change your haircare habit, there are a few things to be aware of.

Even with foaming agents like ALS, natural shampoos tend not to be as sudsy as those that contain SLS and SLES. People often notice the difference the first time they wash their hair with a natural shampoo, but soon get used to it. Not a fan of fragrance shampoo? No problem. There are plenty of fragrance free options available.

When you’re combing through damp hair that’s just been washed with a natural shampoo, you might notice a ‘squeaky clean’ sensation. This is often due to hair no longer being coated in silicones.

Some people report that their hair seems greasy when they first wash it with natural shampoo. This is often because their old product was stripping away their hair’s natural oils and potentially giving them a sensitive scalp. Others feel like they got dry hair, again this is because it’s no longer coated in silicones (a natural conditioner or natural hair mask can help with this).

Generally, all these issues are temporary. Don’t ditch your new shampoo; give your hair and scalp a few weeks to adjust and you should soon be enjoying lighter, healthier, glossier locks.

Who should use natural shampoo?

Regardless of your hair type, switching to a natural shampoo can be beneficial for most people. It can be hydrating, nourishing and really give your tresses that gorgeous shine you’ve been looking for, all while being kinder to the planet. Natural shampoos are also great for those with damaged hair or dry hair, and can leave your hair feeling nourished for longer.

How do natural shampoos differ from regular shampoos?

Healthy hair begins with good, natural haircare. A natural, repair shampoo, as the name suggests, contains only natural ingredients or naturally derived ingredients, meaning that you’re not putting any nasty silicones or parabens onto your scalp. Particularly good if you suffer from an itchy scalp or you need an anti-dandruff product. (Make sure you take extra care and consult a dermatologist if you’re making a switch to natural shampoo and suffer from conditions like eczema and psoriasis.)

Depending on the ingredients, natural, organic shampoos can be super hydrating for your tresses. For example… Our Rosemary Shampoo helps to stimulate the scalp for healthy hair growth, while our Coconut Shampoo contains organic coconut oil, known to help hydrate and condition your hair. Our Aloe Vera Shampoo is great for normal hair and contains organic aloe vera, known to promote healthy hair and scalp. The best part? They’re all free from sulfates and are plant-based (and super moisturising).

How do natural shampoos benefit hair and scalp health?

Our scalp microbiomes are precious – it’s where we need a good combination of the perfect nutrients for healthy, long hair. So, they’re definitely worth protecting. Natural scalp shampoo can help restore your scalp's balance without leaving any nasty residue behind (especially if you have a dry scalp).  If you have damaged hair, curly hair or fine hair, you may be more susceptible to a flaky scalp or an itchy scalp. It’s best to focus on moisturising shampoos that add nutrients back to your scalp for healthy hair. Going for a natural shampoo that contains chamomile extract or argan oil can be mutually beneficial – it’ll help give your tresses a healthy, nourished look, whilst adding essential nutrients to your scalp. Hair shampoo that contains geranium or jojoba oil is also great, as they have therapeutic aromatherapy properties that can potentially help with stress, so it’s a win for your hair and your overall wellness.

Top tip: Our Jojoba Shampoo & Conditioner Gift Set is perfect for the haircare-obsessed in your life. The best part? Our bottles are 100% recycled and recyclable.

What conditioner is best to use with natural shampoos?

There are so many conditioners on the market – it might be hard to choose which one is best for your individual hair type. Sticking with natural ingredients is always a good start, especially if you have particularly oily hair (Eucalyptus is also a great natural ingredient for oily hair). Shea butter is not only great for skincare and as a body wash, but makes an ideal hair mask and conditioner. Organic shea butter is known to be moisturising, whilst certified organic argan oil is known to increase shine and reduce frizz, particularly for curly hair types. If you’re a fan of shea, we’ve got you covered. Our Shea & Argan Conditioner 5L refill is great to have on hand to give your hair a moisture boost whenever you need.