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Looking for the best zero-waste shampoo and conditioner in 2024? Read on to find the most eco-friendly shampoo brands to help your strands gain back their lost shine and volume without harming the planet in the process.
The SKL team scoured the web to find the most environmentally friendly shampoo and conditioner formulas. In addition to being completely plastic-free, these bars and liquids are crafted with all-natural, scalp-loving ingredients that can treat even the driest of hair.
P.S. Many of the brands on this list were recommended by 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 The 11 Best Organic Drugstore Shampoo Brands In 2024!
Best Zero-Waste Shampoo and Conditioner Brands in 2024!
The vast majority of shampoo and conditioner bottles are made from plastic, which is derived from fossil fuels and takes centuries to decompose.
Shockingly, only a fraction of these plastic bottles are recycled, with the rest of the 550 million shampoo bottles ending up in landfills or polluting our oceans.
That’s enough to fill 1,164 football fields!
Now, on to the really bad part. Marine animals mistake plastic debris for food, leading to ingestion and entanglement, ultimately resulting in injury or death. Thus far, 914 megafaunal species, of which more than 100 are endangered have been impacted.
Microplastics – tiny plastic particles – have infiltrated even the most remote corners of our planet, from the depths of the ocean to the highest peaks.
And let’s not forget the carbon footprint of producing and transporting all that plastic packaging.
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably on a mission to reduce plastic waste and live a more sustainable lifestyle. And what better place to start than with your hair care routine?
How to choose the right plastic-free shampoo and conditioner?
Choosing the right plastic-free shampoo and conditioner can feel overwhelming with so many options out there, but no worries – I’ve got some tips to help you find the perfect match for your hair and lifestyle.
Choose Natural Ingredients:
Your haircare products should be good for your strands and the planet. So, make sure to look for liquid or bar shampoo and conditioner options made with certified organic, plant-based ingredients that are gentle on your hair and scalp.
Avoid harsh chemicals like sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances, which can strip your hair of its natural oils and contribute to environmental pollution.
Consider Your Hair Type:
Just like with traditional shampoos and conditioners, it’s essential to choose haircare formulas that are suited to your hair type. Many brands offer amazing zero-waste shampoo and conditioner for curly hair which I love. Whether you have dry, oily, curly, or color-treated hair, there’s a plastic-free option out there for you.
Zero-Waste Packaging:
Of course, you need to pay attention to the packaging of the shampoo and conditioner. Opt for refillable formulas or shampoo bar brands that use minimal or plastic-free packaging, such as compostable paper wrappers or aluminum bottles.
Trial & Error Is Unavoidable:
Finding the perfect plastic-free shampoo and conditioner may require some trial and error. Trust me, I get the frustration but it’s all for the best!
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different brands and formulations until you find the ones that work best for your hair.
Many companies offer sample sizes or travel kits, making it easier to test out multiple products without committing to a full-size bottle.
Luckily, in 2024, you can find zero-waste shampoo and conditioner for curly hair, straight hair, and wavy hair that are completely free from plastic!
The formulas are also packed with all-natural, scalp-loving ingredients that can treat even the driest of hair. You can find refillable, biodegradable bar shampoo and conditioner as well as many plastic-free shampoo liquids.
Best Zero-Waste Shampoo and Conditioner Brands:
1. EcoRoots
Aside from their coveted eco-friendly laundry detergents, EcoRoots also offers a wide range of plastic-free shampoo and conditioner options chock-full of vegan, cruelty-free & ethically sourced ingredients.
These USA-made shampoo bar options will last around 50+ washes.
From Moroccan oil and citrus to lavender and fresh mint, you’ll find an array of options packed with nourishing and heavenly-scented essential oils!
The end goal? To leave your hair soft, clean, and hydrated without stripping away your natural oils or hair color in the most organic way possible.
Price: $12.95 for the Shampoo/Conditioner Bars
Main Ingredients: Sodium coco-sulfate | Lemon juice | Powdered lemon peel | Cocoa butter | Coconut oil | Jojoba Oil | Provitamin B Complex & more!
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
Our Favorites from EcoRoots:
2. Etee
Etee is one of our favorite zero waste online shops for eco friendly cleaning products and natural haircare formulas.
Eco-living aficionados agree that the zero-waste shampoo bar cleanses and nourishes the scalp, and the conditioner bar gently detangles and moisturizes even the most demanding hair.
Instead of chemicals, the company opts for plant-based ingredients that are ideal for folks with sensitive skin.
Whether you have dry, damaged, thick curly hair, fine straight hair, or everything in between, they’ve got you covered.
You can opt for singles, or choose to buy a set. Either way, they smell fantastic.
Our Favorites from Etee:
Price: From $6+ for the Shampoo Bar
Main Ingredients: Sodium cocoyl isethionate | Sodium coco-sulfate | Hydrogenated vegetable oil | Coco-glucoside | Hydrolyzed soy protein | Jojoba seed oil & more!
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
3. Plaine Products
Lauded as one of the best organic skincare brands, Plaine Products offers some amazing plastic-free 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 to the box the refill arrived in to be cleaned, refilled, and reused!
Our Favorites from Plaine Products:
Price: $30 for one-time purchases | From $27+ for subscription
Discount Code: SKL20 for 20% off
Main Ingredients: Organic aloe barbadensis leaf juice | Vegetable glycerin | Saponified oils of coconut & safflower seed | Guar gum & Irish moss & more!
Location/Shipping: United States
4. Everist
It’s no secret that 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 environmentally friendly shampoo 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.
Our Favorites from Everist:
Price: From $28+ for the Shampoo/Conditioner Concentrate
Main Ingredients: Glycerin | Sodium lauroyl glutamate | Aloe vera | Orange peel oil | Peppermint oil | Rosemary leaf oil | Bergamot fruit oil & more!
Location/Shipping: United States, ships to Canada
5. Ethique
On Ethique’s virtual isles, you can find a slew of eco friendly travel products including the best bar 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 bars for normal, oily, and dry hair.
The end goal? To offer a soothing cleanse for dandruff-prone scalps.
They aim to promote overall hair and scalp health while 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.
Our Favorites from Ethique:
Price: From $16+ for the Shampoo Bars
Main Ingredients: Sodium coco-sulfate | Aqua | Coconut oil | Oat kernel meal | Lime oil | Neem seed oil | Karanja seed oil & more!
Location/Shipping: United States, ships to Canada & US Outlying Islands
6. Suds & Co
Sustainably sourced with all-natural ingredients, and teeming with organic nourishment that hair loves, Suds & Co best plastic-free shampoo bars and conditioners come in 12 natural scents.
They come in an array of colors and amazing scents – all thanks to the nutrient-rich botanicals.
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 bars are handmade in the USA.
Our Favorites from Suds & Co:
Price: From $15.99+ for the Shampoo/Conditioner Bars
Main Ingredients: Sodium coco sulfate | Lemon juice | Powdered lemon peel | Coconut oil | Jojoba oil | Cocoa butter | Hemp seed oil & more!
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
7. By Humankind
By Humankind’s line of cruelty-free, vegan, and eco-friendly 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.
Our Favorites from By Humankind:
Price: $15 for the Shampoo/Conditioner Bar
Main Ingredients: Saponified oils of sunflower seed | Coconut | Sustainable Palm | Safflower seed & castor | Water | Sodium hydroxide | Vitamin B5 & more!
Location/Shipping: United States
8. Public Goods
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.
Our Favorites from Public Goods:
Price: $6.95
Main Ingredients: Organic palm | Palm kernel oils | Organic olive | Coconut oil | Organic lavender essential oil blend including rosemary extract & aloe vera
Location/Shipping: United States
9. Chagrin Valley
Chagrin Valley takes pride in handcrafting its natural bar shampoos with the utmost care and ethics.
Because they choose the cold-processed method, each bar is sure to preserve its freshness and quality and deliver the same luxurious lather, leaving your skin feeling clean, soft, and beautifully healthy with each use.
What’s more, all products are created ethically in Chagrin Valley’s USA-based facility.
On their catalog, you’ll find over 20 organic and eco-friendly shampoo bars made with vegan, cruelty-free, non-GMO, USDA, and mostly Fair Trade Certified ingredients.
Some formulas feature bamboo charcoal while others harvest the power of adzuki bean powder.
The company also uses a variety of nourishing ingredients like kaolin clay, Castile, shea butter, chamomile, and calendula.
Whatever your hair type or concern, Chagrin Valley offers the perfect option to suit your needs.
Our Favorites from Chagrin Valley:
Price: From $10.95+ for the Shampoo Bars
Main Ingredients: Base oils & butter | Botanicals | Essential oils | Natural additives & more!
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
10. Anihana
The Anihana shampoo bar and zero-waste conditioner for curly hair and straight hair 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 shampoo and conditioner. It smells so heavenly!
There is also the unisex hair care bar blue ocean that cleanses and conditions in one!
Price: $8.19 for the Shampoo/Conditioner Bars
Main Ingredients: Sodium coco sulfate | Water | Rice bran oil | Citric acid | Sodium benzoate | Potassium sorbate & more!
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
11. HiBAR
Whether you have thin, thick hair, freezy, curly, or dry hair, HiBar’s most eco-friendly 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: From $13.95+ for the Shampoo/Conditioner Bars
Main Ingredients: Coconut oil | Shea butter | Honeyquat | Kukui nut oil | Vitamin B5 | Olive oil & more!
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
12. Wild ONA UK
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 bar shampoo and conditioner options 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 a 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: From £10+ for the Conditioner Bars
Main Ingredients: Sodium cocoyl isethionate | Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate | Cocamidopropyl betaine | Cetearyl alcohol | Aqua | Cetyl alcohol & more!
Location/Shipping: United Kingdom, ships to the United States
13. KinKind UK
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 formulas 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: From £6.95+ for the Shampoo Bars
Main Ingredients: Sodium coco-sulfate | Aqua | Glycerin | Triticum vulgare bran extract | Citronellol & more!
Location/Shipping: United Kingdom, ships to Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey
14. Battle Green UK
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: From £5.35+ for the Shampoo Bars
Main Ingredients: Coconut oil | Grapeseed oil | Olive oil | Essential oils & more!
Location/Shipping: United Kingdom, ships worldwide
15. Respire
If you are looking for the best shampoo bar brands 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: From €10.90+ for the Shampoo Bars
Main Ingredients: Hydrogenated vegetable oil | Sodium cocoyl isethionate | Aqua | Oat kernel oil | Organic sweet almond oil | Organic camelina oil & more!
Location/Shipping: France, ships worldwide
Are zero-waste shampoos and conditioners biodegradable?
Yes, most zero-waste shampoo brands use biodegradable or compostable materials, such as paper, cardboard, or even plant-based plastics made from materials like corn or sugarcane.
These materials are designed to break down naturally over time, reducing their environmental impact compared to traditional plastic packaging.
If they aren’t biodegradable, the eco-friendly shampoo and conditioner options in our list are certainly recyclable.
Are eco-friendly shampoos and conditioners effective?
Yes, eco-friendly shampoos and conditioners are extremely effective at cleansing, nourishing, and moisturizing your hair, while also being gentle on the environment.
Many bar shampoo and conditioner options are formulated with high-quality, natural ingredients such as botanical extracts, essential oils, and plant-based surfactants.
Plus, they are completely free from sulfates, parabens, silicones, and other synthetic ingredients that can strip your hair of its natural oils and cause damage over time.
Instead, they use gentle, non-toxic formulations that cleanse and nourish your hair without causing irritation or harm.
What are the best brands for zero-waste shampoo and conditioner for curly hair?
The best brands for zero-waste shampoo and conditioner for curly hair are Plaine Products, HiBAR, and Ethique.
Plain Products uses sleek aluminum bottles that can be returned, refilled, and reused, reducing plastic waste. Their formulas are also free from sulfates and harsh chemicals, making them gentle on curls while still providing effective cleansing and hydration.
HiBAR’s products are plastic-free, long-lasting, and travel-friendly for curly-haired gals on the go. The nourishing formulations are packed with natural ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil, which help nourish and define curls without weighing them down.
Ethique’s zero-waste shampoo bars are packaged in compostable materials. The ingredients list is completely free from sulfate-free and contains natural extracts like cocoa butter and coconut oil to hydrate and define curls while minimizing frizz.
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 as long as your regular bottle, the sustainable options are seemingly endless.
If you enjoyed this article, check out these other community favorites below!
- 11 Best Natural & Lightweight Hair Oils For All Day Shine Without The Frizz
- The 15 Best Natural & Non Toxic Hairspray | Tested & Reviewed
- 12 Best Non-Toxic Natural Hair Dye Brands For Healthy Hair
The list missed out powder-to-foam shampoo options too which in my opinion is easier to use and travel with. And 1 bottle last SO MUCH longer than soap bars.
I use *THE POWDER SHAMPOO* from the http://www.thepowdershampoo.com
there are others out there which are great eco options.
A great curated listing Danielle! I’d also recommend the great award winning shampoo bars from The Solid Bar Company. They’re manufactured in the UK, all-natural, plastic-free & palm oil-free, eco-friendly and cost-effective. So well worth a try. Best wishes for 2024!