The Best Safest Shampoo
Written by Irina Webb
Picking the best shampoo that would leave your hair shiny, manageable, smooth, and moist, but not too heavy is a tall order, isn’t it? You also want to make sure that there are no harsh chemicals that may irritate your scalp, cause dandruff, contact dermatitis, or, even worse, hair loss. Neither do you want any potentially toxic chemicals to get absorbed through your skin into the bloodstream and potentially increase the risks of long-term health effects. I take into consideration all these concerns when I look for the best and safest shampoo.
In this blog post, you will learn about a healthy shampoo whose ingredient list does not include any concerning ingredients. On the contrary, it contains certified organic ingredients, is cruelty-free, and is one of the best sulfate-free shampoos for any hair type. In addition, you will learn about its conditioner that also contains certified organic plant-based ingredients that I believe also work well for dry hair. So, today we are talking about Pure Haven Sweet Orange Shampoo and Sweet Orange Conditioner. Read on to find out whether the natural ingredients in this shampoo and conditioner are good for damaged hair!
Safest Shampoos
For starters, to identify a healthy shampoo and conditioner, one must look at their ingredients, specifically surfactants and preservatives. Let’s look at the ingredient lists of Pure Haven safest shampoo and conditioner (as of October 2023).
| Pure Haven Sweet Orange Shampoo | Surfactant: Coco-Glucoside Preservatives: Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus, Sodium Phytate Other beneficial ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Water, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Sinensis (Organic Sweet Orange) Oil, Glycerin (Organic, Non-GMO), Oriza Sativa (Organic Rice) Bran Oil, Panthenol, Mentha Piperita (Organic Peppermint) Extract, Equisetum Arvense (Organic Horsetail) Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica (Organic Nettle) Leaf Extract, Yucca Shidigera (Organic Yucca) Root Extract, Citric Acid. |
| Pure Haven Sweet Orange Conditioner | Preservative: Caprylhydroxamic Acid Main conditioning agents: Brassica Alcohol, Brassicyl Valinate Esylate, Heptyl Undecylate Other beneficial ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citrus Sinensis (Organic Sweet Orange) Oil, Glycerin (Organic, Non-GMO), Panthenol, Mentha Piperita (Organic Peppermint) Extract, Yucca Shidigera (Organic Yucca) Root Extract, Urtica Dioica (Organic Nettle) Leaf Extract, Equisetum Arvense (Organic Horsetail) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol (Non-GMO), Water, Calcium Gluconate. |
Let’s focus on the following ingredients of these cruelty-free natural products:
- plant-based ingredients
- surfactants
- preservatives, and
- conditioning agents.
Plant-Based Ingredients In Pure Haven Healthy Shampoo And Conditioner
First, both the safest shampoo and conditioner contain organic aloe vera. This natural ingredient is meant to provide healing and nutrition to your scalp and hair, particularly damaged hair.
Second, both ingredient lists feature panthenol which helps strengthen hair roots and restore shine to dull and dry hair.
Third, the plant extracts in these Pure Haven natural products have excellent anti-inflammatory properties. So they help sooth irritated and itchy skin. There is just one essential oil – Citrus Sinensis (Organic Sweet Orange) Oil, used for a nice mild scent as well as stress reduction and relaxation. Additionally, Oryza Sativa (Organic Rice) Bran Oil in this Pure Haven healthy shampoo helps restore luster in color treated hair.
Above all, I am happy that all the natural ingredients, such as extracts and oils, are certified organic ingredients. This means there should be no harmful pesticide or herbicide residues in these safest shampoo and conditioner products.
Surfactants In Pure Haven Healthy Shampoo
To begin with, there is one surfactant (aka “foaming agent”) in Pure Haven Sweet Orange Shampoo. It is coco glucoside which belongs to the glucoside family of surfactants. Gentle on color treated hair and the eyes, glucosides are common in shampoos, especially baby shampoos.
In a nutshell, glucosides are typically sourced from corn, palm, potato, wheat, or coconut. Since no harsh chemicals are used in the manufacture of coco glucoside, there should be no residues of toxic chemicals in the ingredient. Plus, according to the 2013 Cosmetic Ingredient Review report, glucoside surfactants are non-sensitizing, which is good news. It looks like they belong in the safest shampoo.
However, some dermatologists report that in very rare cases, there is potential for allergic contact dermatitis in some people. Yet, comparing glucosides with other surfactants, I believe that they are the safest and mildest. You are welcome to learn more about this in my blog post on the safety of glucosides.
Speaking of alternative surfactants, another popular surfactant in shampoos is cocamidopropyl betaine. The American Society of Contact Dermatitis lists cocamidopropyl betaine as one of the core allergens, even in concentrations as low as 1%, and even named it “Allergen of the Year 2004.” You can learn more about cocamidopropyl betaine (and coco betaine – are they the same?) in my blog post about its relative, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine.
Preservatives In Sweet Orange Shampoo And Conditioner
For starters, preservatives protect a water-based product from mold and bacteria contamination. It is critical for a product that contains water to have a sufficient preservation system. Indeed, bad bacteria can even be deadly for newborns or people with compromised immune systems. I describe my research into this subject in my blog post about WaterWipes Baby Wipes.
In the Pure Haven’s Sweet Orange safest shampoo and conditioner, the following preservatives are used:
- leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate (shampoo)
- lactobacillus (shampoo)
- cocos nucifera fruit extract (shampoo)
- sodium phytate (shampoo), and
- caprylhydroxamic acid (conditioner).
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
One of the safest preservatives, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate is a unique peptide with antimicrobial and conditioning properties derived from fermented leuconostoc kimchi radishes.
Besides, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate qualifies for EcoCert certification, which means it is truly a natural and plant-based ingredient. You can read more about radish root ferment filtrate here.
Lactobacillus
It is a probiotic that you may take orally.
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
This extract is made by fermenting cocos nucifera (coconut) fruit with lactobacillus to prevent yeast and mold from growing in this healthy shampoo. It also helps condition the scalp because it is rich in fatty acids, proteins, and complex B vitamins. This should be beneficial for all hair types, including color treated hair, damaged, dry hair, and oily hair.
Sodium Phytate
First, sodium phytate is a salt of phytic acid, which is found in many plants and foods we eat, including legumes and nuts. Phytic acid has many health benefits. In fact, animal studies show that phytic acid may have a role in both the prevention and treatment of many forms of cancer (source).
Further, according to clinical studies described in the 2018 Cosmetic Ingredient Review report, a cream with 0.49% sodium phytate tested on 22 subjects showed no irritation. Also, a product containing 50% sodium phytate was classified as a “minimal irritant” to “non-irritant.” Additionally, a product containing 1% sodium phytate did not cause skin sensitization in a test involving 25 subjects. And finally, in vitro tests showed no sensitization potential.
So, based on this, I believe that sodium phytate belongs in the ingredient list of this safest shampoo.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
To start with, caprylhydroxamic acid is a preservative in Pure Haven conditioner and is very common in “green,” “organic,” and “natural” products for personal care. The great news is that the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel concluded that it is neither an irritant nor an allergen. The Panel also believes that caprylhydroxamic acid is neither endocrine disrupting nor mutagenic.
At the same time, there are reports from Finland that some people with skin damage caused by eczema developed a reaction to caprylhydroxamic acid. In fact, for people with eczema, this may be true of many other ingredients: they must be extra careful about the products they use.
(By the way, when rating caprylhydroxamic acid, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) still states that there is no safety data, whereas the CIR report on caprylhydroxamic acid was released in 2020. Read my post to learn how to Use The Skin Deep Database The Right Way without being misled.)
In sum, the preservatives chosen by Pure Haven for their healthy shampoo and conditioner are some of the safest in the market, in my opinion. Hence, I consider Pure Haven Sweet Orange shampoo one of the safest shampoos. I also feel its conditioner is safe, too.
Conditioning Agents In Pure Haven Sweet Orange Conditioner
In its previous formulation, Pure Haven conditioner had one of the safest quaternary ammonium compounds – Behentrimonium Methosulfate.
On the one hand, quaternary ammonium compounds are effective at making the hair shiny, antistatic, free of frizz, and hydrated. But on the other hand, they are not good for aquatic life and some people may be sensitive to them. You can learn more about them in my post Are Quaternary Ammonium Compounds Safe?.
The ingredient list of the current formulation features the following ingredients used instead of quaternary ammonium compounds:
- brassica alcohol
- brassicyl valinate esylate, and
- heptyl undecylenate.
They are all EcoCert/COSMOS compliant ingredients and have the same conditioning properties as quaternary ammonium compounds do, without potential to harm the environment. The European Chemicals Agency database does not list any environmental or human health concerns with these ingredients.
Conclusion About Pure Haven Safest Shampoo And Conditioner Ingredients
I Believe Pure Haven Shampoo And Conditioner Contain Some Of The Safest Ingredients Available In The Market.
In my opinion, there are no common irritants or sensitizers, and no known endocrine disruptors or carcinogens in Pure Haven healthy shampoo and conditioner. Plus, I like the fact that all the ingredients that can be organic are certified organic ingredients in these natural products. This makes them some of the safest sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner among those I have researched.
Actually, this also applies to the newer cruelty-free shampoo and conditioner by Pure Haven – Supergreens. Along with the same surfactants and preservatives, Supergreens shampoo and Supergreens conditioner have more plant-based ingredients that are beneficial for all hair types. Personally, I prefer to use Supergreens shampoo and conditioner because they make my hair clean and shiny and add much needed volume. They have become my go-to haircare products.
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Is there a detangler brand you recommend for kids?
Hi, Alexandra! Thank you for the question! We have found these options: https://shop.bydesign.com/PureHaven/#/shop/detail/95137/from/26715 and https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=QlXmbNTMCCs&mid=45362&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fpipettebaby.com%2Fproducts%2Fleave-in-detangler. We will appreciate it if you let us know how well they have worked for you. Thank you!
Hi Irina! I just discovered your blog a few days ago during one of my late-night sessions (yet another…lol) in hopes to find safe cosmetic products! I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 4 years ago and researching the disease opened my eyes to the vast number of nasty ingredients in many foods and cosmetics. I literally lose track of time as I research hours on end but love doing it and I can value your hard work and effort so… thank you.
I would appreciate your opinion concerning the ingredient “aloe barbadensis (organic aloe vera) leaf juice” due to the fact that I have read a couple articles about how controversial it is in cosmetics. I can’t find the first article I read but it stated that even if it’s organic, the way it’s processed can make it carcinogenic. I have not come across one product that provides information about the process so I added it to my personal list of ingredients to avoid but seeing that it is in the shampoo you highly reccommend, made me want to investigate it more in depth. I honestly have to continue doing my homework on the matter but would love your thoughts! Here is one of the articles I just started reading.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6349368/
Thanks again!
Hi, Jay: On this blog, we offer balanced and practical solutions. Have a had a chance to read the study you linked? What it says is that the aloe vera plant has many components including anthraquinones, which is what is linked to carcinogenicity when animals were fed big quantities of whole aloe vera extracts. However, when they removed it and used decolorized aloe vera leaf extract, it was non-toxic. ~Irina
Firstly, thank you for the guides! Appreciate all the information and work. You have other Alaffia products rated and was wondering what you thought of the African Black Soap Unscented by them? EWG gave it a 1 I believe.
The ingredients are: Ocimum canum (African Mint) Aqueous Extract, Saponified Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) Butter* and Elaeis guineensis (Palm Kernel) Oil*, Lauryl Glucoside. Fair for Life Fair Trade certified ingredient. †ORANGUTAN SAFE.
Hello Ty! We thank you for your kind comment! Irina will be happy to help you with your question in a private consultation: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/services/
Hi there: I’m looking for a shampoo that’s clear, gel like; has no coconut in it, fragrance free if possible no sodium chloride or SLS etc. could you recommend anything?
Hello, Rob! We appreciate your interest! Irina will be happy to help you with your question in a private consultation: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/services/
Hi! Thank you for all the valuable information! Are you able to recommend a substitute for dandruff shampoo like Head and Shoulders? Thanks so much!
Hi, Kay, There are different types of dandruff. So it all depends on what type you have. ~Irina
What’s beneficial for your hair is good for your skin also.
Awesome website! I was wondering, which Pure Haven shampoo and conditioner do you use and recommend? How often do you shampoo? One lather or two? I am 54 years old with very thick wavy long hair and seborrheic dermatitis on my scalp. My scalp is very sensitive, has always been oily, and I used to have to shampoo every other day. Now if I shampoo too often, my scalp starts to get very itchy and bothers me so I suspect due to my age, I not only have SD but dry scalp too. I also made my scalp worse, by trying and using too many different shampoos and shampoo soaps in the past. I need to stick to one product and have been trying to do that. Do you think Pure Haven would help me? Also, do you brush your hair? What kind of brush do you use? Thank you so much! Hope to hear from you!
Hi, Maria: I’m sorry to hear that you have to deal with seborrheic dermatitis. Have you seen a dermatologist for it? What do they suggest? Pure Haven hair products are not designed to treat seborrheic dermatitis; however, I believe shampoos with allergens may cause or contribute to dermatitis, and thus switching to a safer shampoo may help. I shampoo my hair twice a week. ~Irina
I have an overproduction of sebum on my scalp and curly hair. What shampoo do your recommend?
H, Peter: You are right, a lot of non-toxic shampoos are too gentle to get the job done. My husband started using this shampoo and you might like it too: https://us.nyrorganic.com/shop/irinawebb/area/shop-online/category/shampoos/product/0830/invigorating-seaweed-shampoo-6-76-fl-oz/ What do you think? Have you visited my Shop? https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/shop/ ~Irina
Hello,
I am interested in buying this shampoo and conditioner, but there are 2 types. Sweet Orange and Supergreens. Which one are you recommending? If both are good, what are the differences? The website doesn’t explain much.
Thanks!
Hi, June: thank you for asking. It depends on what kinds of hair you have. If you have healthy hair, Sweet Orange products are fine. But if you have dry and especially chemically processed hair, you might want to go for Supergreens. Does it make sense? ~Irina
Thank you for the quick response. I will take that in consideration. 🙂
Can’t wait to use it! Thank you for all your information on the website. It is very educating.
Hello, I decided to buy both and tried both. Both are very stripping to my hair. I tried each shampoo/conditioner set for 2 weeks each to make sure that my hair gets accustomed to it, but both results are the same and did not improve. At least the conditioner really fix that by moisturizing my scalp. So I know you said the soap didn’t work for you, is it similar for me that these shampoos are too harsh for me?
Hi, June: thank you for your honest feedback. Everyone’s hair is so different. May I ask what shampoo and conditioner did you switch from? Could you please describe your hair also? By the way, you can return the products within 60 days of the purchase. Shampoo-based shampoos leave greasy residue in my hair. ~Irina
Hi Irina,
I bought purehaven earlier this year and it was about $30 for both shampoo and conditioner (16oz bottles), now its over $40 for 8oz. Do you know what happened to their pricing?
Hi, Ilknur, I don’t. It is $34, not $40. ~Irina
I have been a loyal Pure Haven shampoo and conditioner user for 10 years but they did recently decreased their bottle size By half but kept the price almost the same :/. They told me the reason was because a smaller size allows the ingredients to maintain their integrity in a humid environment of a shower/bath. I refuse to pay that much for it and I’m struggling to find something comparable that is more affordable. Any suggestions ?
Hi Irina, thank you for this fantastic website. it’s truly a treasure chest of information and I keep on finding little gems every time I look!
I was wondering if the Pure Haven products were safe for the environment? I hate to think that the products I am using might be poisoning the oceans and our soils! I’d rather have ugly hair than harm our beautiful earth which keeps us alive.
Thanks in advance. I appreciate you so much!
Pure Haven Shampoo is safe for the environment. Thank you, Tamy. ~Irina
Is Pure Haven shampoo/conditioner safe for those of us with a fragrance allergy?
Hi, Mary: It depends on whether you are allergic to essential oils. It is scented with essential oils. The scent is very mild. ~Irina
Hi Irina,
This is so perfect! Just this morning I was going to write letting you and all of our list serve friends how much I LOVE Pure Haven Shampoo. Its the only one I have ever tried that did not strip the color of my hair at all. Due to allergies to hair chemicals years ago I switched to very natural, soft color that I apply at home, and only lasts about 2-3 weeks. I will be going gray now that just I finally retired- but meanwhile I’ve had to use colors that are very temporary. Pure Haven to the rescue! No color stripping. It lets me go longer between times I color and even a week or two makes a great difference. I do use the conditioner too, because I find the shampoo a little drying but with the conditioner its a perfect combination. Thanks again for telling us about this great combination. Val
Hi, Val! Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to provide your positive feedback. I’m so glad I was able to help you find safe products that you enjoy! It’s so rewarding to hear! ~Irina
Excellent research and information. I’m giving them a try now! Thank you for all your work
This is so nice to hear, Carla! Thank you so much for appreciating my hard work. ~Irina
Hi Irina,
Have you tried or heard about Whamisa’s Organic Seeds Hair Shampoo for Oily or Dry Scalp (pH 4.5)? If so, could provide your thoughts on this product?
Where would you buy it? Are you in the UK? Thank you, Crystal. ~Irina
Hi Irina,
I live in Austin, TX (USA). I ordered it off of Amazon via CreditThink which is the only way that I can get it since it’s made in Korea. It is EWG certified, here is an Amazon link for you.
Whamisa Organic Seeds Hair Shampoo for Oily Scalp (pH 4.5) 500ml, 16.91 fl. oz., Sulfate-Free, -Naturally fermented, EWG Verified | Safe Shampoo for Pregnant Women https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XYBM32G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LW5KCbY3A771Q
Hi, Crystal: Thank you so much! I also found two websites in the UK that sell these products and ship to the US. I noticed that the ingredients in the EWG Skin Deep database are a bit different from what is displayed on the websites. Could you do me a favor? Could you take a picture of the bottle and email it to me? Thank you a lot! ~Irina
Thanks for the great review. Have you tried Griffin Remedy Restorative shampoo? My grocery coop sells it in bulk so no plastic waste!
Hi, Maria: I am glad there are shampoos that you can buy in bulk. I looked into Griffin long time ago. They do not disclose ingredients on their website. ~Irina
I would LOVE for you to check out Kogi Naturals of Canada and also Rocky Mountain Soap Company. Both product lines have almost identical ingredients (and a little birdie told me that RMSC buys their shampoo base from Kogi). Anyways, they appear to be natural and certainly claim to be so but I have a hard time believing/understanding their ingredient list as I don’t see surfactants (and they both foam very well for “natural” shampoos). I’d be SO curious (and happy!!) if they are legit!
Hi, Sarah: Are you in Canada? I hope you are staying warm. Yes, these soap-based shampoos are pretty safe. Unfortunately, I can’t use soap to wash my hair. It makes my hair greasy. You are read more about that here: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/all-natural-shampoo-bars-good/ I am glad that you are okay with soap. Which formulation would you like me to include in the Shampoo Rating List? Do you use a conditioner or rinse with vinegar? ~Irina
Hi
Iden, Neuma, Original Sprout. You’re thoughts??. Could you include volumizing sprays or mousses for straight hair and days with a much need for extra volume suggestions the brands above contain them and they work but safe?
Thank you, Emelia, for your suggestions! I will do my best to include the safest one out of the three you suggested. Do you know what you can also evaluate a product’s safety? You can learn more about the method here: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/ebooks/savvy-consumer-superpower/
Have a wonderful weekend! I hope you are away from cold temperatures. ~Irina
Have you tried Innersense? I have both the Shampoo and Conditioner and really like them!
Hi, Netty: I know many people use it and like it. I have tried Innersense it and found it stripping/drying for my hair. I will definitely include it in the Shampoo Rating List. ~Irina
Deli Body Living Hair product line appears to contain ingredients that would, overtime, darken or yellow light blonde hair.
Which ones are they, Jaclyn? Thank you for letting us know! ~Irina
Can this shampoo be used on a baby? I don’t want to use essential oils on a baby but want to use a safe effective shampoo. Thank you
Cynthia, may I suggest that Pure Haven makes a Baby shampoo!! And a Kids Shampoo! For their kids, baby and pet products, they use only Essential oils, in the proper rates, proven safe for babies and kids (and pets). I hope this helps.