Thanks to its softness and formula that respects the skin and the planet, organic shampoo has quickly found its way into eco-responsible bathrooms. Here’s everything you need to know about this natural beauty must-have. Each year, around 174 million shampoos are sold in France, including an increasing percentage of products labeled organic. Gentler on the skin and the environment, they are popular with consumers concerned about their ecological impact but also about what they apply to their bodies. But what are the characteristics of an organic shampoo, and what differentiates it from a conventional shampoo? We take stock.
What Is Organic Shampoo?
To be able to display the “organic” label, a shampoo (like any other cosmetic product) must have been validated by a label or a public or private certification body. All have their specifications, but their requirements are essentially the same: a minimum percentage of natural and organic ingredients, formulas (among others) without GMOs, artificial preservatives, synthetic perfumes, and mineral oils, raw materials whose collection requires no animal suffering, an eco-responsible manufacturing process, recyclable packaging, etc. There are different organic labels, but some are stricter than others. This is particularly the case of Nature & Progrès, BDIH, and NaTrue, which are committed to solid points such as the total ban on synthetic chemical substances or even palm oil, even organic.
What Differentiates An Organic Shampoo From A Non-Organic Shampoo?
Besides the small logo on the bottle, the real difference between an organic shampoo and a non-labeled shampoo lies in its list of ingredients, the famous INCI list. Indeed, a large number (among others) of preservatives, emollient agents, and surfactants regularly used in conventional cosmetics are banned by organic labels because of their potential danger to health, their allergenic effects, or even their polluting manufacturing methods. (when it is not for all three reasons at once).
In an organic shampoo, depending on the label, the suffocating silicones for the scalp and lengths are replaced by esterified oils from coconut oil or castor oil (synthetic but irreproachable from a point of view). Environmental), with broccoli vegetable oil or even with a red algae extract. Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), which makes conventional shampoos lather and gives the impression of clean hair, is for its part discarded in favor of milder surfactants such as ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), cocamidopropyl betaine or even coco glucoside, lauryl glucoside or decyl glucoside, obtained from sugars and vegetable oils.
Concerning preservatives, of which the famous parabens are one, only a handful are authorized organically due to their safety: these are synthetic derivatives of organic acids existing in the natural state, such as benzoic acid, acid salicylic, or sorbic acid.
Organic Shampoo, For What Type Of Hair?
Whether dry, damaged, colored, fine, curly, or frizzy, all hair types can benefit from the softness of organic shampoo. Nature is full of ingredients with nourishing, purifying, or protective properties, so you need to choose a formula adapted to your hair problems. Avocado, banana, or even shea butter are particularly comforting for dehydrated and brittle hair. Thanks to their cleansing and balancing properties, peppermint, green clay, and rosemary are very appreciated by scalps, which regrease too quickly. As for colored hair, they can count on pomegranate, cranberry, or even buried oil to revive their shine.
Where To Find Organic Shampoo?
Organic shampoo is now a very easy-to-find consumer product, and that’s good because it is an essential part of a large number of beauty routines! Whether you like to do your weekly shopping in organic stores or supermarkets, the hygiene-beauty sections very often offer several references of shampoos from labeled brands such as SO BIO étic, Love Beauty and Planet, NAE, or even Lavera.
In pharmacies and para pharmacies, the offer is also essential: Cattier, Weleda, Melvita, Florame… There is something for all needs and desires. Same thing in specialized stores: at Oh My Cream, you can find John Masters Organics and Rudolph Care organic shampoos; at Mademoiselle Bio, you can leave with a Logona, Coslys, or even Secrets de Provence treatment. For fans of online shopping, the Botimyst e-shop offers Savon Stories shampoo bars, and the Mon Corner B e-shop offers organic hair products from Madara and Evolve Beauty.
Also Read: Solid Shampoo: The Beauty Of Hair Rediscovered Naturally