TreeHugger Asks: What's a Good, Green, Cheap Shampoo?

How about using Dr. Bronner's All-In-One soaps for shampooing? All natural, biodegradable, one less product/plastic bottle.

THe J/A/S/O/N shampoos aren't all the unreasonably priced at TJ or Whole Foods... and sometimes they are on special!

Another great site I like is :

http://www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep2/search.php?nperpage=10&main_cat=HAIR+CARE&category=Shampoo

GOOD LUCK!

Here's a second for the Dr. Bronner's, but don't use the almond scent. When you sweat you smell like parmesean cheese with that one. Peppermint would be good for oily scalp, tea tree would work for dandruff, and lavendar rocks for everything else. Follow with a cider vinegar rinse and you should be good to go.

Try J.R. Liggett's, the original formula may be a bit harsh for you, it was for me, but I only have to wash my hair twice a week with a different formula. I have extremely sensitive skin and lots of skin problems and this has been the best shampoo for me. I don't know if you can buy it locally, but if not it's really small to ship, and the packaging is very minimal. If you do have to ship it buy several bars at once, that way you don't have to ship as many times.

The website is: http://www.jrliggett.com/

P.S. I think I first got the link to their site from yours :).

There's always the bulk option at your local coop. I bought one bottle, then filled it up with Nature's Gate in the bulk section--it was cheaper than the shampoo aisle, since you're not paying for marketing and packaging. And you use less packaging.

There are a surprising number of folks out there who aren't using shampoo at all.

Recipes for "no-poo" living seem to include all kinds of things, from washing your hair with conditioner only to using raw eggs, or honey, baking soda, vinegar, and so on.

Your hair ends up feeling oilier, but it tends to look, smell, and behave just fine. For some folks with troublesome hair, it behaves better than if they use shampoo. A google search might turn up some possibilities. It doesn't get much cheaper or environmentally friendly than eliminating the product entirely.

Here is a good place to start looking for products:

http://www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep2/?key=nosign

They have looked at many, many cosmetic products and analyze the ingredients, etc.

I use the J/A/S/O/N Aloe Vera shampoo and find it to get the job done well. One good thing about JASON is that they divulge all ingredients in their shampoo.

Also, like the above comment said they are usually on sale at Whole Foods ( full disclosure: I work for Whole Foods ).

I used to use the Nature's Gate, which you can get a pretty good sized bottle for not much money and lots of conventional stores sell that, and as noted above finding it in bulk isn't out of the question.

Good Luck!

Lush (http://usa.lush.com/) makes solid shampoos that I really like. I bought a bar over six months ago, I've been using it regularly and have only used maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of the bar. So around $8 isn't too bad for a year or two worth of shampoo. Buy the tin too, it's a works well for keeping the shampoo from getting all over things when you're traveling. I'm not sure if they make a fragrance free bar.

http://usa.lush.com/cgi-bin/lushdb/catzoom.html?mv_arg=Solid%20Shampoos&expand=Haircare

Here's a great free online source for many non-toxic personal care and household products, compiled by the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia (Canada):

http://www.lesstoxicguide.ca/

It gives a lot of choices, surely one of those matches the criteria that you describe.

My mother is allergic to propylene glycol and fragrances. she uses MAGIC shampoo.

I, too, use Lush (http://usa.lush.com/) solid shampoos and conditioners. I started using them because I wanted to reduce my plastic garbage, but now I use them because I constantly receive compliments about how shiny my hair is and how good it smells.

All of their products are handmade and only use safe, green products. I really love the fact that I am not throwing away any plastics when I am done with my shampoo.

And it takes me two months to use an $8 bar so, I find it really cost effective.

I would only use the shampoo tin for traveling though, the bar will get mushy if it can't dry out.

try using a bar soap (one that works as shampoo). you can use it on your hair and body, plus no plastic bottle. i use soap from aroma bay, www.aromabay.com

i also occasionally rinse my hair with diluted apple cider vinegar which is like a clarifier for hair and makes it nice and shiny:D
hope that helps.

Here is a good place for all kinds of soap and shampoo bases.From large to small sizes. Hope it helps.
http://www.glorybeefoods.com/gbf/Shop_List.cfm?PC=5&PSC=49&ProductCat_Name=Soap%20Bases&Token=68.55.195.131:{ts_2007-01-12_12:30:24}-292110

I 3rd Dr. Bronners soap- its really concentrated, so you only use a bit and i occasionally also use it as toothpaste and a body wash- man is that stuff useful, i bought it for a camping trip and now use it all the time. I like almond (i havent noticed any smell when sweating afterwords) and peppermint- although peppermint is my fav.
In the past i have used burt's bees rosemary shampoo bar, but if your hair isnt short its not really worth it. My mom swears by kiss my face products, but i find them too expensive.

Druide makes good shampoos that come in large packages.

Our whole family (3 of us) currently use Herbal Glo Dandruff/Dry Scalp Shampoo

Try Burt's Bees. They make a bar soap/shampoo as well and are inexpensive.

http://www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10751&storeId=10101&productId=10200&langId=-1&categoryId=&showSubCategory=yes

You can get Burt's Bees products all over the place as well.

I use only baking soda. That's it. I tried the "no poo" thing using apple cider vinegar, but that seemed to give me random results. The baking soda is the best treatment for my hair I've ever found. And obviously it's very environmentally friendly and cheap, and you don't need to use it every day. Comercial shampoos and soaps really strip your hair of it's protective oils and make it dirtier faster. The baking soda or vinegar hust balances out the PH levels of your hair, and leave the natural oils alone.

At least that's what I've heard. I don't really know the science of it, but I do know it works really well for me.

Hey John,

I use my homemade soap to wash all parts of me, including my hair. My hair is quite short, so it may not work for long, flowing locks.

Check out the old TH post on Easy Homemade Soap.

Ruben.

I also wash my hair with backing soda, with most excellent results ( I quit using shampoo 3 years ago). This article was really helpful when I transitioned to my backing soda + apple cider vinegar rinse routine:

http://babyslime.livejournal.com/174054.html

i use the whole foods store brand, you can get a really big bottle for like 4 bucks. it is scented, but in either a nice citrus scent, or peppermint. i dont kno if its as green as you want it to be, but its alot better than anything at your local drugstore or supermarket. and cheap, did i mention cheap?

how about good old fashion soap.
shampoo is a marketing gimmic

Personally, I use a bar of Ivory soap to wash my body and hair. It's 99.44% pure, right? So why not use it for my hair, too? I've been doing this for years without any adverse side effects.

I have gone one step further and shaved my head. Okay - not practical for lots of people... saves on product and the cost of haircuts! It was, well, departing anyway!

I'm going to post another vote for Dr. Bronner's--you can get it in massive bottles, too, which would probbly in the end cut down on the packaging you consume. If you try it, would you be interested in posting a review?

I agree with the Burt's Bees shampoo bar. The baby shampoo is very mild.. And it lasts a long, long time..

wouldn't vinegar leave a bad smell?

Try Dr Bronner's castille soap for hair, for skin and everything in between.
http://www.drbronner.com/soaps.html

acv works cause its acidic, you can use diluted lemon juice or anything acidic, and it will straighten the hair molecules and make the hair feel smooth... if you look at the ingredients for most conditioners youll notice lots of diff acids...

theres a nice essay called the the great shampoo scandal or somethin, google it if you want to read it

i went for about 6 months without using any hair products, people dont notice until you tell them, and then they get grossed out... strange

my hair got a nice protective layer of oil... pretty good for styling your hair, no gel necessary!

now i use the organic trader joes brand... its like 2-3 dollars a bottle... no sodium lauryl sulfates nor derivatives... pretty good stuff...

Yes, yes yes - Dr. Bronners! I've been using it consistently now for the past 15 years almost. It is soap and shampoo all in one, all natural, organic & fair trade. (Use the normal blue-label peppermint flavor - the peppermint oils really give you a zing after the shower!)

As soap it is perfect, as shampoo, it might take you a week or so to get used to it, but once you do, you'll never go back!

Trader Joes does sell it, as do cheaper outdoor goods stores as well. Some places you can get cheap refills from a 5-gallon drum. It runs about $6 a bottle, but is condensed - just a little bit and you can wash your whole body.

I echo the praise of Burt's Bees Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar. It's a little expensive, but mine lasted for about three months, and that's using it on a very long beard, too. Now that I have gone beardless, I still use it on my medium-length hair with good results. The package is only a box made of recycled paper, so there's little trash involved.

A few months back, I went through my shampoo ingredients and after some research, was rather stunned too by what it contained.

After searching high and low for a product that was relatively earth-friendly, economical, easy to source and compatible with our blackwater treatment system, I settled on a simple vegetarian bar soap that my partner found in our local supermarket. The one I use (Priya) costs about 50% less than the same product in Dr Bronner's range, with pretty much the same ingredients. It's only available in Australia as far as I know, but a hunt around your supermarket soap section might turn up something comparable.

I use it every day and my hair hasn't suffered in any way that I've noticed, plus it looks and feels clean after use.

Not sure if Lush is so green. Admittedly, I don't know much about toxicology but I have heard sodium lauryl sulfate is a potentially nasty synthetic ingredient.

The Journal of the American College of Toxicology recently published a report on it (http://www.healthy-communications.com/journal_of_the_american_college_.html), noting its "degenerative effect on the cell membranes because of its protein denaturing properties," and that "high levels of skin penetration may occur at even low use concentration." Apparently, sodium lauryl sulfate "is used around the world in clinical studies as a skin irritant," and "carcinogenic nitrosamines can form in the manufacturing of sodium lauryl sulfate or by its inter-reaction with other nitrogen-bearing ingredients."

To boot, while looking through the ingredients lists of a few Lush shampoo bars, I found "propylene glycol" and "perfume." The following are excerpts from "10 synthetic cosmetic ingredients to avoid" at the Organic Consumers Association (http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/toxic_cosmetics.cfm)

Propylene Glycol — Ideally this is a vegetable glycerin mixed with grain alcohol, both of which are natural. Usually it is a synthetic petrochemical mix used as a humectant. Has been known to cause allergic and toxic reactions

Synthetic Fragrances — The synthetic fragrances used in cosmetics can have as many as 200 ingredients. There is no way to know what the chemicals are, since on the label it will simply say "Fragrance." Some of the problems caused by these chemicals are headaches, dizziness, rash, hyperpigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting, skin irritation by a cosmetic that has the word "Fragrance" on the ingredients label.

I actually used Lush shampoo and conditioner for years, and while they are quite effective (and lasted a long time), I'm no longer comfortable using the toxicity-disputed ingredients. I have just switched to Aubrey Organics (from which I have heard a lot of good things), and am waiting to see the results.

Another vote for Dr. Bronners Peppermint. It's great for shampoo, body wash, etc. You can even brush your teeth with it (use sparingly). And the peppermint leaves your skin feeling all tingly.

If you want something free of all the bad stuff, don't use Burt's Bees, JASON, or many other "organic" products. Try Aubrey Organics- it works without the bad chemicals. Buy it through Vitamin Shoppe online and it's cheaper.

although it is a super cheap shampoo - Suave is fairly eco-friendly. My friend went on a trip to the rainforest and they all used Suave because it was safe to wash out

My wife and I use two types of "earth friendly" shampoo from Trader Joes. A good sized bottle costs $1.99. I think it is pretty reasonable.

It's so hard to find personal care products like shampoo - everyone's body seems to react just a little differently. For example, I tried Dr. Bronner's as a shampoo and just couldn't get used to the odor and the residue it left in my hair.

You might want to try California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo. It doesn't fit all of your criteria (price point, etc.), but you can buy it in bulk, and it's relatively low impact.

http://www.californiababy.com/super-sensitive-shampoo-bodywash-8-5-oz.html

Although shampoo is more brainwash than hair wash, if you must use it or any other personal products, please check the product or its ingredients in the Environmental Working Group product safety database! Superb resource:

http://www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep2/?key=nosign

Have you considered buzzing your hair very short? That eliminates any need for hair care products, assuming the skin cleaning product you use is a good quality mild soap. Plus it would be an improvement over John's current hair style.

I'll chime in for the Dr. Bronner's soaps. They're great for hair and you can use them in a fairly dilute solution (Dilute! Dilute! OK!). Peppermint and Tea Tree work best.

I also use them as a body wash, which is convenient. One soap to rule them all! (I don't recommend using it for toothpaste though. Yuk.)

Some say about the odor and feel of Dr. Bronner's as shampoo. This trick helped. 1 T Dr. Bronner's (Liquid castille soap: no scent baby style :) with 2-3 T. baking soda, 1 c. water. This lasts for more than 3 washes, Your mileage may vary. Dr. Bronner's comes in 100% recycled plastic bottles that may be refilled from the large pump bottles. A big quart of dr. bronner's lasts a LONG time.

Or some just take baking soda (bought from bulk bins) and add enough water to form a paste and rub that into the scalp as a shampoo.

Rinse with either lemon juice (blonde hair) or vinegar (yeah apple cider smells better but costs a pretty penny more but does the same job for brown hair): some sources say can dilute it 50:50. Oily hair use 1 part vodka, 1 part vinegar, 1 part water. Vodka is challenging so...might want to find a different recipe.

I use Vermont Soap's bar shampoo which I can't recommend highly enough. The only area where it falls down is that it is lightly scented with organic essential oil of lavender. Other than that it's organic and contains no rubbish at all.

it's also very cheap. You can buy a 12-bar brick for $36, which is $3 a bar. Now, you don't need conditioner with this stuff so that saves you money and each bar lasts about as long as a 24oz bottle of shampoo if not longer. So it's excellent value as well as being just about the most environmentally friendly option you can find.

I like Ombra shampoo, myself- it's pretty cheap, and a drug store in town often has clearance specials on it, so bottles are $1. I don't know if it's completely organic, but it doesn't have many chemicals, I know that.

Once I washed my hair in the rain with their chamomile shampoo, and I had the softest hair ever.

Burts Bees Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar
Six Dollars a Bar and 99% Natural. Also in Bar form less transportation fuel and you are not paying for the transportation of water. So far it is the best solution to the problem you described. cheers.

i don't kno if its as crunchy as you're looking for, but i use the whole foods store brand, it comes in a pretty big bottle for like 4 bucks, and both scents (mint, and some sort of citrus) smell good, not all nasty chemical fake. i use their conditioner with the shikai shampoo for brunettes (cos im high maintenance like that) and my overstyled overprocessed hair becomes silky smooth. and again, big, and cheap, erm, the bottles, not my hair.

ive also noticed with all the natural shampoo and conditioners ive used, that it takes alot less to get clean and smooth than regular drug store stuff.

As others have already mentioned, I too would recommend a combined soap and shampoo bar. (No left-over plastic bottles to contend with either!). You're basically looking for what's known as a cold-process soap (often advertised as 'hand-made' or 'traditionally produced').

I can't recommend a specific brand since I'm in the UK and what I use isn't available in the US. But basically, when looking for something, just make sure it doesn't contain synthetic ingredients (it's perfectly possible to produce soap without artificial preservatives) and that it has only a few ingredients (the fewer the better in my opinion). Good luck, and let us know how you get on in your search!

FYI, according to the Tom's of Maine Web site they are discontinuing their shampoos. Too bad, I wanted to give them a try.