6 Palm Oil-Free Shampoo & Conditioner Brands for a More Sustainable Haircare Routine
The key is to only select from companies that are growing palm oil sustainably and are not cutting down more rainforest to expand. There are several apps, like palm oil scan by the Cheyenne mountain zoo that you can scan barcodes to tell you about which products are sustainably sourced.
Most big brand liquid Shampoo and Conditioners contain Palm Oil, ingredients containing such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). Frustratingly, it's not always obvious, as Palm Oil can be listed under a variety of different names.
We use palm oil and its derivatives thanks to their multiple benefits such as skin hydration, foaming, softening and texturising actions in products.
Do your products contain palm oil? Palm oil is a really important issue for us and our parent company, who've been at the forefront of driving industry-wide change for more than 15 years. This is why we choose to use sustainable palm oil in our products.
What's more, the L'Oréal Professionnel Xtenso Care Shampoo comes with a sulfate-free and paraben-free formula that takes care of your hair without causing any damage.
The "healthiest" shampoo is subjective but generally means natural shampoos without sulfates, parabens, or synthetic fragrances, focusing on nourishing ingredients like argan oil, tea tree oil, aloe vera, and shea butter for scalp and hair health, with popular brands including MooGoo, Sukin, Prose, and Sienna Naturals, but the best choice depends on your specific hair concerns (dry, oily, growth, etc.). Look for formulas that balance scalp pH and offer deep, gentle cleansing.
Palm oil and its derivatives can appear under many names, including: Vegetable Oil, Vegetable Fat, Palm Kernel, Palm Kernel Oil, Palm Fruit Oil, Palmate, Palmitate, Palmolein, Glyceryl, Stearate, Stearic Acid, Elaeis Guineensis, Palmitic Acid, Palm Stearine, Palmitoyl Oxostearamide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3, Sodium ...
Ingredients. Garnier has made some ingredient commitments to lower its environmental impact alongside its parent company's commitments, which together include avoiding parabens, phthalates, microplastics, other petrochemical-based ingredients, and uncertified palm oil or palm oil-derived ingredients.
Cadbury can make chocolate without palm oil — they do it in New Zealand and Australia — but here in the UK, Europe and South Africa they are using palm oil.
Colgate uses palm oil, palm kernel oil and palm oil derivatives in some of our soap products, toothpastes, antiperspirants, deodorants, and household cleaners.
Palm oil is in around 50% of supermarket foods, but Australian law does not require it to be labelled as an ingredient. You can choose any product made by the brands featured in this guide knowing they either use no palm oil at all or 100% Segregated Certified Sustainable Palm Oil, the choice is yours.
The "best" shampoo in Australia depends on your hair type (oily, dry, fine, frizzy) and budget, with top-rated Australian brands like Evo, Bondi Boost, O&M, and NAK popular, alongside international salon favorites such as Olaplex, Redken, Kérastase, and Pureology, available at places like Sephora or Adore Beauty, offering solutions for volume, hydration, or color protection. For drugstore options, look for ingredients like argan oil (Maui, Ogx) or consider affordable professional brands like Eleven.
Kate Middleton's widely reported favourite shampoo is from the Kérastase Nutritive range, specifically the Bain Satin Hydrating Shampoo, which she reportedly uses for deep hydration, alongside other salon-quality products like Kérastase Discipline Bain Oléo-Relax for frizz control and Redken Pillow Proof dry shampoo to extend styles.
Yes, 100% natural shampoos exist, often using plant-based ingredients like oils, herbs, and botanical extracts (aloe, coconut, argan) and are free from harsh synthetics (sulfates, parabens, silicones), but "natural" can vary; look for certified organic or ingredient lists focused on whole foods for truly pure options, with brands like Margaret River Made, 100% PURE Australia, and Ethique offering such products.
McDonald's leads in palm oil use but not in commitments
Despite signing on to the non-binding New York Declaration on Forests in September reiterating the global importance of forests, McDonald's palm oil policies do not protect forests.
All KitKat products containing Palm Oil contain RSPO responsibly sourced, sustainable palm oil.
Olive Oil: Olive oil comes from the pressing of, well you guessed it, olives! Extra Virgin Olive Oil (our personal fave) is made from the first pressing of the olives. Palm Oil: Derived from the fruit of oil palm trees, mostly grown in tropical regions.
What are the worst shampoos for hair loss?
There's no single "No. 1 Shampoo in the World" as it depends on hair type, concerns (like damage, dandruff, dryness), and budget, but top contenders often cited by experts and consumers include Olaplex No. 4 (for repair), Pureology Hydrate (for dryness/color-treated), L'Oréal Professionnel (for damage), and drugstore favorites like Dove for general care, with specialized brands like K18, Kerastase, and Philip Kingsley frequently praised in luxury categories.
The Best Salon Shampoos to recommend to and use on your clients
The best sulfate-free shampoo depends on your hair needs, with top-rated options including Andrew Fitzsimons Body Volume Boosting (overall), L'Oreal Paris EverPure (drugstore), Odele Clarifying, Pureology Hydrate (dandruff), and Ouai (curly/frizz), all praised for gentle cleansing, preserving color, and improving scalp health without harsh stripping, though results vary by hair type.
1. Read the label Pick up shampoos that say 'volumising', 'strengthening' or 'balancing' to deal with the excess oil. Avoid moisturizing, hydrating shampoos or shampoos for curly, frizzy hair. Non-moisturising formulations designed to remove excess oil works best for oily scalps.
Are there any side effects of L'Oréal Professionnel Scalp Advanced Anti-Dandruff Shampoo? Some users may experience mild scalp irritation or dryness. Discontinue use if severe reactions occur.