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Looking for the best plastic free shampoo and zero waste conditioner to help your strands gain back their lost shine and volume without harming the planet in the process?
There are many zero waste shampoo and conditioner options that are completely free from plastic while also being packed with all-natural, scalp-loving ingredients that can treat even the dryest of hair. Read on to find the most raved-about, refillable, biodegradable shampoo bars and many plastic free shampoo liquids.
p.s. many of the brands on this list were recommended from our very own SKL community. Thank you for always being so engaging and willing to share your favorite brands with us!
Don’t forget to check out these 11 best refillable body wash swaps for an eco friendly bathroom!
This post is about the best plastic free shampoo and conditioner brands
Have you ever walked through the hair aisle at your local shop and instantly got pulled in to the way-too-flashy plastic packaging and too-good-to-be-true claims that are plastered across the most popular shampoo and conditioner bottles?
Next thing you know, these bottles are sitting comfortably on your shower caddy, ready to grace your hair with the oh-so-coveted lather and shiny finish we are promised in the ads. But instead of breathing new life into dry, damaged strands, these well-marketed formulas are actively contributing to climate change while drying out our hair. It’s a lose-lose.
Why switch to plastic free shampoo and conditioner?
In the United States alone, 550 million empty shampoo bottles are thrown away every year. This volume can easily fill 164 football fields! Once in the landfills, these bottles take an average of 450 years to decompose.
On average, one bottle lasts for 25 to 35 washes, which means we throw away around one plastic bottle per month. So it’s no surprise that each year, 409.3 million shampoo bottles are sold in the US alone. Even worse, only 50% of all plastic bottles are collected for recycling and only 7% of those bottles are actually recycled into new bottles.
To put it simply, without zero waste shampoo and conditioner, you’re surrendering to the wasteful ways of the pump or pour. And, it should go without saying, plastic is absolutely not needed in hair care.
Which shampoos are best for the environment?
Plastic free shampoo bars and conditioners are the most eco-friendly options. Each bar lasts a lot longer (up to three times longer than liquid shampoo because the bars are super concentrated and waterless!) which can save you so much money. Most importantly, zero-waste shampoo and conditioner brands use biodegradable, recyclable packaging that’s extremely friendly to the environment.
Even if you opt for plastic free shampoo liquid, the refillable bottles are made from aluminum which is one of the most recycled—and recyclable—materials in use today. Plaine Products, Etee, Ethique, and hiBar are all amazing options to consider.
Is eco shampoo good for your hair?
Eco-friendly shampoos and conditioners are completely free from all harmful ingredients. They are chock full of all-natural ingredients that clean and nourish the hair without stripping away too much oil. Because these formulas contain ingredients like oils from plants, shea butter, coconut oil, etc. they perform wonders on dry hair.
What is the most eco-friendly shampoo and conditioner?
The most eco-friendly shampoo and conditioner brands are going to be local to your area. While we have great recommendations for zero waste shampoo and conditioner bars, it is important for us to note that the most eco friendly options are going to be local to you.
Check out who is making shampoo and conditioner bars near you, if there are any amazing refill shops near your home (co-ops have amazing shampoo and conditioner refills!), and try a few out until you find the perfect one for you. A great eco-friendly shampoo and conditioner will not only be sourced locally to your home, but will also work well with your hair!
What shampoo and conditioners are biodegradable?
The best plastic free shampoo bars contain natural and good-for-you ingredients that can easily biodegrade and break down into non-toxic particles when disposed of. On top of that, they always come in zero waste packaging which can easily be recycled.
This post is about zero waste shampoo and conditioner
Best Zero Waste Shampoo and Conditioner Brands
Aside from their raved-about eco-friendly laundry detergents, Eco Roots also offers a wide range of plastic free shampoo and conditioner options chock full of vegan, cruelty-free & ethically sourced ingredients.
From moroccan oil and citrus to lavender and cocolime, the zero waste shampoo and conditioner options are endless.
The end goal? To leave your hair soft, clean, and nourished without stripping away your natural oils or hair color in the most organic way possible.
Price: $12.95 (over 3000 raving reviews!)
Main Ingredients: Sodium Coco-Sulfate (derived from coconut), Lemon Juice, Powdered Lemon Peel, Cocoa Butter, Jasmine Oil, Coconut Oil
Location/Shipping: USA
Plastic Free Shampoo Bars From Eco Roots:
Aside from being one of our favorite zero waste online shops for eco friendly cleaning products, Etee also offers many plastic free shampoo and conditioner bars.
Eco-living aficionados agree that the shampoo bar cleanses and nourishes the scalp and the conditioner bar gently detangles and moisturizes even the most demanding hair. You can opt for singles, or choose to buy a set.
Either way, they smell fantastic.
Price: From $13
Main Ingredients: Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate,Sodium Coco-Sulfate,Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil,Coco-Glucoside,Hydrolyzed Soy Protein,Lavandula angustifolia,
Location/Shipping: Canada, worldwide shipping available
Etee Plastic Free Hair Care:
Lauded as one of the best organic skincare brands, Plaine Products offers some amazing zero waste shampoo and conditioner options in 100% recyclable and aluminum bottles.
You’ll get an eco metal shampoo bottle and pump which you can then refill over and over through their amazing subscription program.
All you have to do is switch the pump over to the new bottle and use the (free) return label to send the empty bottles back in the box the refill arrived in to be cleaned, refilled, and reused!
Price: $30 one time purchase / $27 for subscription
Discount: SKL20 for 20% off
Main Ingredients: Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Vegetable Glycerin, Saponified Oils of Coconut and Safflower Seed, Guar Gum and Irish Moss
Location/Shipping: USA
Refillable Shampoo and Conditioner:
If you are looking for the best plastic free shampoo bars in Europe, Respire’s 94% natural, vegan formulas should be on your radar.
Every product is made in France using non-irritating ingredients such as vegetable oils and natural fragrances.
For example, the almond milk solid shampoo for all hair types is made of sweet almond oil for deeply nourished hair, organic camelina oil for soft and protected hair, and oat oil for hair full of vitality.
Price: $9+
Main Ingredients: Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Aqua (Water), Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Erythritol, Glycerin, Parfum (Fragrance), Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Oil
Location/Shipping: France, worldwide shipping available
Purifying Shampoo Bars by Respire:
Most shampoos are more than 70% water, made from petrochemicals and packed in single-use plastic – but Everist has a better idea!
Introducing the first waterless (100% plant based water activated) shampoo and conditioner!
Your new favorite plastic free shampoo liquid is 3x concentrated which means that you’ll receive a bottle chock full of sustainable conditioner or shampoo neatly packed in a 100% recycled aluminum tube.
Plus, the 10x award-winning brand makes sure to use only plant-based ingredients that won’t strip your scalp’s natural oils or cause any allergies.
Price: $28
Main Ingredients: Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Propanediol & more
Location/Shipping: USA, ships to Canada
Everist Plastic Free Shampoo and Conditioner:
By Humankind’s line of cruelty-free, vegan, and non-toxic plastic free shampoo and conditioner bars are what we have all been waiting for! “The shampoo lathers really well, which has been an issue with other shampoo bars I’ve tried in the past,” one reviewer noted.
Their formula includes hair-loving vitamins and natural amino acids, which make it ideal for all hair types.
On top of that, it’s available in lemongrass, citrus-lavender, and peppermint scents.
You can also opt for plastic free liquid shampoo and conditioners (grapefruit or lavender) that come in stunning recyclable aluminum bottles.
Price: From $15
Main Ingredients: Saponified oils of Sunflower, Coconut, Palm (sustainably sourced), and Safflower (with retained glycerin)
Location/Shipping: USA
Plastic free shampoo and conditioner from By Humankind:
Wild ONA is on a mission to help us replace liquid shampoo in a bottle with a solid bar that is pH-balanced, vegan, and 100% soap-free.
The brand’s best plastic free shampoo bars and conditioners are suitable for all hair types. The all-natural blend includes stellar ingredients like argan oil, shea butter & lavender to assist us in nourishing, detangling, and moisturizing our hair without weighing it down.
Just in case you have dry and touchy Scalp, there is a zero waste shampoo and conditioner for you too – “Pure”. What’s more, all bars are handmade, and sustainably packaged by Kristina, founder of Wild Ona.
Price: $10+
Main Ingredients: Sodium cocoyl isethionate (SCI Powder) & Cocamidropopyl, ehentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl alcohol
Location/Shipping: UK, worldwide shipping
Zero waste shampoo and conditioner by Wild Ona:
The Anihana shampoo bar and conditioner are not only affordable, but also crafted with safe ingredients to nourish and care for your hair.
Each formula is designed for a different hair type –including fine/oily hair, regular, and even kids. If you have dry/damaged hair (hey, who doesn’t), then you should probably go with the grapefruit and chamomile plastic free shampoo and conditioner. It smells so heavenly!
There is also the unisex hair care bar blue ocean that cleanses and conditions in one!
Price: $8+
Main Ingredients: Sodium Coco Sulfate (coconut derived), Water (infusion of lentils), Sweet Almond Oil, Citric Acid, Cocomidylpropyl Betaine, Manuka Honey,
Location/Shipping: New Zealand, worldwide shipping available
Eco friendly hair care by Anihana:
On Ethique’s virtual isles you can find a slew of eco friendly travel products including the best plastic free shampoo and conditioner options, body washes, and affordable clean skincare products for the hair and face.
This B-Corp focuses on vegan, and cruelty-free solid zero waste shampoo and conditioner bars for normal, oily, and dry hair.
The end goal? To offer a soothing cleanse for dandruff-prone scalps, promoting overall hair and scalp health while also treating hair that has been through endless hours of heat-styling and coloring, steamy hot showers, and exposure to natural elements such as wind and the sun.
Price: $7.95
Main Ingredients: Cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behentrimonium methosulfate, Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, Theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter,
Location/Shipping: USA
Nourishing shampoo and conditioner bars from Ethique:
As the name suggests, the Zero Waste Store is the mecca of plastic free shampoo bars and conditionairs made with salon-grade, vegan ingredients that cleanse, nourish, and replenish hair with shine, body, and bounce.
Luckily for us, the brand has a special brand for ALL hair types including curly, dull, colored, and greasy.
On top of that, you can choose from a list of 13 scents – from lotus and blossom to peppermint. Also, keep in mind that all bars are 100% handmade in small batches in the USA!
Price: $14.99
Main Ingredients: Sodium Coco Sulfate, Lemon Juice, Powdered Lemon Peel, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Cocoa Butter, Hemp Seed Oil, Essential Oil Blend, Rapeseed Oil, Abyssinian Oil, Natural Coloring
Location/Shipping: USA
Zero waste shampoo and conditioner from ZWS:
Kinkind’s zero waste shampoo and conditioner bars are designed for specific hair types such as damaged/frizzy, dry ends/greasy roots, colored & highlighted, curly, etc.
In fact, this is by far the most inclusive line we mentioned so far. The earth-friendly bars are gently cleansing, fabulously foaming and freshly fragranced. You can thank both coconut oil & argan oil for that.
Most importantly, each palm-sized bar lasts up to 50 washes, that’s saving 2 (250ml) plastic bottles from becoming plastic pollution in our oceans every time!
Price: $12+
Main Ingredients: Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Aqua, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol.
Location/Shipping: UK, worldwide shipping available
Consider Public Goods as one of the best alternatives to amazon for eco friendly online shopping – and that includes haircare too.
You can either opt for plastic free shampoo bars or go with a fantastic best plastic free shampoo liquid. Either way, both are crafted to deeply hydrate and protect your hair from environmental damage and over-washing.
As soon as you run out, you can go ahead and refill your reusable bottles or opt for another bar.
Price: From $6.95
Main Ingredients: Essential Oils Of Orange, Geranium, Cinnamon, Mandarin, Nutmeg, Petitgrain, Rosewood, Celery Seed, Grapefruit, And Vetiver
Location/Shipping: USA
Sustainably sourced with all-natural ingredients, and teeming with organic nourishment that hair loves, Suds & Co’s best plastic free shampoo bars and conditioner come in 12 natural scents.
The zero-waste formulas gently cleanse as they remove oil, sweat, dirt, product buildup, and environmental pollutants from your hair and scalp.
Also, they are perfectly safe to use on color-treated hair! Oh and all of the shampoo bars are handmade in the USA.
Price: $14.99
Main Ingredients: Sodium Coco Sulfate, Lemon Juice, Powdered Lemon Peel, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Cocoa Butter, Hemp Seed Oil
Location/Shipping: USA
Whether you have thinning, thick hair, freezy, curly, or dry hair, hiBar’s plastic free shampoo, and conditioner bars are for you!
Some formulas are specifically designed to add volume while others are here to smooth, moisturize or just maintain the health of your hair.
All you have to do is pick the one that suits your needs. And just in case you aren’t yet sure, there is always the option of ordering a “sampler” set to try out.
Price: $13.95+
Main Ingredients: Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (Coconut Oil*), Vegetable Glycerin (Soy Based*), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey (Honeyquat),
Location/Shipping: USA
If you are living in the UK, Battle Green is up and ready to ship the best plastic free shampoo and conditioner right to your doorstep.
Aside from being infused with natural and nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, grapeseed oil, and olive oil, these biodegradable shampoo bars are available in citrus, mint, and lavender tea tree scents.
The PETA-certified vegan, cruelty-free formula was created to ensure your scalp maintains its own natural oils as well as add an uplifting scent, smoothness, and shine to hair. Plus, the bars are minimally packaged in zero waste compostable wraps!
Price: €13+ (we are in love with the kit!)
Main Ingredients: Cocoa butter*; Behentrimonium methosulfate (vegetable derived conditioning agent); Cetyl alcohol (derived from coconut oil); Simmondsia chinensis seed (jojoba) oil; Vitis vinifera seed
Location/Shipping: UK, worldwide shipping available
This post was all about the best plastic free shampoo and conditioner brands
The best zero waste shampoo and conditioner brands above are ready to help you upgrade your haircare routine with non-toxic, ultra-nourishing products that are kind to your strands and to the environment. From all-natural soap bars to cruelty-free refillable conditioners that last almost twist as long as your regular bottle, the sustainable options are seemingly endless.
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