The Best Natural Conditioner (49+ Products Ranked!)
Last Updated: August 12, 2023
Over the past two weeks, we audited 45+ of the most popular clean and organic hair conditioners on the market to see if their ingredients are as conscious as they claim.
Today we’ll be looking at…
- The issue of silicones in conventional conditioners.
- Other ingredients of concern in conditioners.
- The best, truly clean conditioners available and which ones to avoid.
Modern hair conditioner has been around for about 120 years. Over time, manufacturers have figured out a variety of chemical compounds they can add to the products to make them function better.
Some of these ingredients aren’t exactly great for the hair, though. Much like shampoo, conditioner is a product many people use several times per week. Because the scalp is a sensitive area, slathering chemicals on it regularly raises a few alarms.
On top of that, some conventional conditioners are just bad for the hair, period.
These days, there’s no need to use a chemical-filled conditioner. Many brands offer natural and safer alternatives, filled with nourishing and natural oils, instead of synthetic chemicals that do more damage over time.
Today, we’ll be looking at 45+ conditioners that claim to be safe, clean, and conscious to see just how accurate these claims are.
Silicones in Conditioner: The Good, the Bad, and the Alternatives
Silicones are a common ingredient in many conventional conditioners, providing a variety of benefits, such as detangling, smoothing, and adding shine to hair.
However, they also have drawbacks, including potential environmental and hair health harm. In this section, we’ll explore the pros and cons of silicones in conditioners and sustainable alternatives for those seeking a cleaner hair care option.
The Role of Silicones in Conditioners
Silicones are synthetic compounds derived from silicon, oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen. They are widely used in hair care products because they form a protective barrier around hair strands.
This barrier helps to:
- Detangle hair, making it easier to comb and style
- Smooth the hair cuticle, reducing frizz and providing a sleek appearance
- Add shine by reflecting light off the hair surface
- Protect hair from heat damage caused by styling tools
But all of these benefits come at a cost.
Over time, silicones can build up on hair strands, leading to various hair issues.
Silicone seals the hair and follicle, making it impervious to water. This can contribute in part to issues like:
- Weighing down hair: The protective barrier formed by silicones can make hair feel heavy and limp, especially for those with fine hair.
- Blocking moisture: The barrier can also prevent moisture from penetrating the hair shaft, leading to dryness and brittleness. On the other hand, the body might respond by expressing more sebum (oil) to combat the dryness, making the hair appear greasy.
- Dulling hair: Silicone buildup can cause hair to appear dull and lackluster, as the barrier prevents natural oils from nourishing the hair.
- Scalp irritation: Some individuals may experience scalp irritation, itching, or redness due to silicone sensitivity.
The Environmental Impact of Silicones in Conditioners
Despite their widespread use in hair care products, silicones are increasingly scrutinized due to their potential environmental impact.
These synthetic compounds in conditioners raise concerns about water pollution, harm to aquatic life, and depletion of non-renewable resources. In this section, we will delve deeper into the environmental consequences associated with the use of silicones in conditioners.
- Water Pollution: When conditioners containing silicones are washed down the drain, the silicones enter our water systems. Wastewater treatment plants often struggle to remove these compounds, releasing silicones into rivers, lakes, and oceans. As non-biodegradable substances, silicones persist in the environment, but silicones themselves are not harmful. BUT there are many types of silicone derivatives (silicones that have different chemical groups attached to them) that have been created for both industrial and consumer reasons, and more studies are still needed to understand their environmental impacts.
- Depletion of Non-Renewable Resources: The production of silicones is energy-intensive and relies on non-renewable resources, such as fossil fuels. These resources’ extraction, processing, and transportation contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change. Moreover, the depletion of non-renewable resources raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of silicone production.
Alternatives to Silicones in Conditioners
For those seeking a cleaner and more sustainable option, several natural alternatives can replace silicones in conditioners:
Silicone seals the hair and follicle, making it impervious to water. This can contribute in part to issues like:
- Plant-based oils: Oils such as coconut, argan, and jojoba can provide many of the same benefits as silicones, including smoothing, detangling, and adding shine without the negative impact on your hair and the environment.
- Plant-based butters: Butters like shea, cocoa, and mango butter, are excellent alternatives to silicones as they can provide deep hydration and nourishment to hair. These natural ingredients form a protective barrier on the hair, locking in moisture and preventing frizz. Although heavier than natural oils, plant-based butters are particularly beneficial for individuals with very dry or damaged hair.
- Hydrolyzed proteins: Ingredients like hydrolyzed wheat, soy, or silk proteins can strengthen and moisturize hair while also providing some of the smoothing and shine-enhancing benefits of silicones.
Silicones have long been a go-to ingredient in hair conditioners, but as consumers and manufacturers become more environmentally conscious, the demand for alternative ingredients has grown. There have been many studies investigating home remedies for hair treatments that have been used in many different cultures which include many of the above, natural ingredients.
Mainstream conditioner products also include fragrances, unsafe preservatives, and other ingredients that you should avoid. In the next section, we’ll dive deeper into the ingredients you should be aware of.
Other Ingredients To Know About in Conditioners
Besides silicones, there are a few important ingredients to know about when researching conditioners. They include the following:
Synthetic Fragrances
Most conditioners are loaded with chemical fragrance because we love how it leaves our hair smelling fruity or flowery. This isn’t a good thing—these fragrances are made from a laundry list of unknown chemicals that can have unknown health effects.
A pair of laws in the USA protects the exact ingredient makeup of fragrances. These laws are why when you look at an ingredient label, you’ll almost always see “fragrance” or “parfum” — a long list of chemicals is hidden under that sneaky label.
Conscious conditioner brands might use essential oils or other naturally-derived fragrance ingredients, which are a better alternative. However, some people have sensitivities to these ingredients, so if you’re someone with sensitive skin, this is something you should know.
However, the concerns don’t end there. Certain fragrances in conditioners can lead to skin irritation, allergic reactions, and even migraines for some individuals.
Moreover, some fragrances include phthalates, a group of chemicals that can be absorbed through the scalp.
Known for their toxic plasticizing properties, phthalates have been associated with hormonal imbalances, birth defects, and are considered probable human carcinogens when exposed at high doses. Studies have detected phthalates in women’s urine following the use of products containing these chemicals.
Opting for fragrance-free or naturally-scented conditioners can help minimize exposure to these potentially harmful substances and support a safer hair care routine.
Parabens
Conditioners sometimes contain a group of chemical preservatives called parabens. This controversial ingredient has come under scrutiny for its possible link to endocrine disruption and breast cancer. For this reason, you almost certainly won’t find parabens in the ingredient list of conscious conditioner brands.
Parabens, often listed as methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, or propylparaben on product labels, are frequently used as preservatives. These chemicals can be absorbed through the scalp and have been associated with various health concerns, such as cancer, endocrine disruption, and reproductive toxicity.
Preservatives are a necessary part of beauty and personal care products. Preservation is critical with any product containing water, aloe, or essential oils because mold and bacterial growth are risky. This growth can sometimes be invisible to the naked eye.
Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives
Some conditioners contain preservatives that slowly release small amounts of formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen. Examples of these preservatives include DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, and quaternium-15.
Formaldehyde is known to cause irritation and respiratory reactions; it’s also been linked to cancer. For this reason, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives should be avoided in conditioners.
Harsh Sulfates (SLS and SLES)
Sulfates like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are used in shampoos, conditioners, detergents, and soaps for their ability to generate the thick lather you associate with cleaning.
SLS and SLES aren’t as common in conditioners as in shampoos, but they can still be found.
The jury is out on exactly how dangerous these sulfates might be, but since it’s easy to find conditioners without them, they’re easy to avoid.
SLS and SLES are harsh on the hair, causing it to dry out over time.
They’re also potentially irritating to the skin and eyes. Since all our conditioner goes down the drain into the water supply, it is important to think about the environmental impacts, but the good news is that most of it is biodegraded into nontoxic components quite quickly; the potentially bad news is that too much sulfate in the environment can cause increased algal growth that is harmful to aquatic life.
Methylisothiazolinone / Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Methylisothiazolinone, commonly known as MI, is a prevalent preservative found in a variety of consumer goods, such as laundry detergents. Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) is a similar chemical. Despite its widespread use, MI has been linked to numerous health concerns, ranging from allergic reactions and potential neurotoxicity.
People with sensitive skin may be particularly vulnerable to skin irritation and allergic contact dermatitis caused by MI. In March 2013, MI was called the “Allergen of the Year” and has been restricted to rinse-off applications. Additionally, laboratory studies involving mammalian brain cells have suggested that MI could have developmental neurotoxic effects when exposed to low levels for prolonged periods, potentially impacting the neurological development of infants and children.
MI has also been shown to harm ecosystems as it can be toxic to aquatic life, but particularly at high concentrations, and is considered an emerging contaminant among scientists. Since all conditioners wash down the drain and end up in rivers, lakes etc., it is important to remain aware.
Synthetic Dyes
Synthetic dyes are a controversial topic in the world of beauty and personal care. Synthetic dyes were—in the past—produced from coal tar, but today most are made from petroleum.
It’s unclear whether dyes in wash-off products are as risky as when used in food. When analyzing these conditioners, a standout ingredient was FD&C Yellow #6.
This colorant can be contaminated with benzidine, a cancer-causing agent. A 2018 in-vitro study found that Yellow #6 (along with other dyes) had an impact on inflammation.
At Better Goods, we recommend avoiding products with artificial dyes.
Behentrimonium Chloride
This is a controversial ingredient that can be found in many of the conditioners we analyzed. Some consider this ingredient to be unsafe.
The European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has stated that rinse-off hair products can use this ingredient in concentrations up to 5.0% without concern, while leave-on hair and facial products can contain up to 3.0%. In contrast to certain other quaternary compounds, this substance does not result in immediate skin irritation or delayed sensitization when used in concentrations greater than 5%.
For this reason, we consider this ingredient to be safe in conditioners. However, if you prefer to avoid it, you will find it identified in our conditioner analyses.
Ethoxylated Ingredients
Ethoxylated ingredients, such as PEGs (polyethylene glycols) and some polysorbates, are used as conditioners’ emulsifiers, solvents, and stabilizers. The ethoxylation process can lead to contamination with 1,4-dioxane, a potential human carcinogen. While 1,4-dioxane is often present in trace amounts, long-term exposure may pose health risks.
Our Methodology
We researched the internet, online stores, and social media for the most popular clean and natural conditioners.
Each ingredient in every product was researched and analyzed for safety based on available public research. Where possible, we include sources for all information.
Products are ranked from best to worst with an internal score based on the ingredient rankings.
Products are rated as follows…
This ranking is for the best of the best. Only exemplary brands will receive a ranking of best for any category.
This ranking is for brands that are typically quite good, but don’t go above and beyond like our best choices.
This ranking is for when we find something we find iffy. Not a good sign.
This ranking is reserved for the worst of the worst.
Non-Toxic Conditioners Rated: Best
These conditioners are the best of the best in the world of natural and organic conditioners. They’re free of harsh chemicals, contain organic ingredients, and any of them are a great choice.
Puracy
Puracy’s conditioner boasts a meticulously selected array of ingredients and a fully transparent fragrance blend. Its delightful scent is derived from essential oils, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin.
Additionally, the brand provides refills, contributing to a more environmentally friendly option. Overall, this is an outstanding clean conditioner that we’re pleased to endorse.
Ingredients
EVOLVh
This conditioner from EVOLVh has a long list of organic and clean ingredients. None stand out as ingredients of concern, and for this reason, it deserves our best rating.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 1*
Avalon Organics
Avalon Organics offers an affordable and clean hair conditioner full of organic and natural ingredients. Organic aloe, coconut oil, water and fatty alcohols make up the base of this natural conditioner.
For all of these reasons, we give it our top rating.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 7*
Acure
This conditioner from Acure strikes the perfect balance of natural and safe ingredients with an affordable price point. With a pleasant scent, great price, and clean ingredients, we give this conditioner our top rating.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 11*
Josh Rosebrook
This is an excellent organic conditioner based on its ingredients. Orgnaic aloe, water, organic coconut oil and several other natural oils make up the base of this product. The only downside is that this was the second most expensive conditioner we reviewed. However, it is a great product based on its ingredients.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 2*
Non-Toxic Conditioners Rated: Good
These conditioners didn’t quote reach a “best” rating, but are still a safe choice and contain good, natural and safe ingredients.
Odele
Odele’s volumizing conditioner contains a good, clean list of ingredients. It’s scented with natural fragrance, and although the ingredients aren’t 100% natural, it’s still full of safe synthetics.
The mild scent of the conditioner is great for users with sensitivities to strong fragrances. This conditioner will rinse cleanly without leaving any residue, allowing for a longer time between washes. This is particularly beneficial for those who prefer a low-maintenance hair care routine.
Ingredients
L’Oréal Paris
We were truly surprised to find a list of safe ingredients in L’Oreal’s Simply Clean conditioner. Although the ingredients aren’t natural and there are better conditioners to be found, in a pinch, this one is okay.
Ingredients
Love Beauty and Planet
Although the label of this conditioner features the generic term “fragrance,” we were pleasantly surprised to discover that the brand goes the extra mile to provide a comprehensive ingredient breakdown of the fragrance used in their formulation. For this reason, we feel confident in giving this conditioner a Good rating.
Ingredients
Shea Moisture
With a base of organic shea butter, coconut oil and fatty alcohols, this is a natural conditioner with a clean list of ingredients. It also is one of the least expensive conditioners we looked at, making it a good budget purchase.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 4*
Andalou Naturals
Organic aloe makes up the main ingredient of this coinditioner, which also contains organic sunflower oil, shea butter, jojoba seed oil, and other natural ingredients. With no ingredients of concern and a great price, we can recommend this conditioner.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 5*
Sukin
This conditioner from Sukin has a clean and simple list of ingredients and is scented with essential oils. It also comes in at an affordable pricing, making it a brand we can recommend.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 7*
Ethique
This solid and waste-free conditioner bar gets a good rating for its clean list of ingredients and eco-friendly packaging. Solid hair care products can be somewhat of a challenge for new users and might not be for everyone, but it’s worth giving this one a try.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 5*
Captain Blankenship
Like the shampoo we audited from Captain Blankenship, their conditioner is also full of clean and safe ingredients. Organic aloe and coconut oil make up the base of this conditioner, making it a a product we can recommend.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 3*
Desert Essence
The only problem we have with this conditioner is that the brand doesn’t disclose what the ingredients are in their fragrance. Other than that, the ingredients are clean and the price is affordable. For this reason, we give it a good rating.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 6*
Rahua
Rahua unfortunately doesn’t disclose the ingredients in their fragrance, but they do label it as natural. That issue aside, the rest of the ingredients are good, and we give it a good rating.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 3*
Reverie
Reverie’s conditioner has a clean list of ingredients and the only downside is the high price—this was the most expensive conditioner we reviewed. We give it a good rating, but would recommend other products with more affordable price tags.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 7*
Giovanni
This conditioner from Giovanni has a great list of organic and natural ingredients. The brand isn’t transparent regarding the ingredient makeup of their fragrance, but they do claim it’s all-natural. All in all, this is a good conditioner based on its ingredients.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 3*
Innersense
This conditioner is made for chemically-treated or dyed hair, and contains a clean list of ingredients. The scent is from essential oils, and has a pleasant citrus aroma.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 8*
John Masters Organics
The ingredients list of this conditioner is relatively clean and natural, with organic aloe and sunflower oil making up the base. With this conditioner, the only concern is a seemingly large number of potential irritants. However, this shouldn’t be a concern for those that don’t have sensitive skin.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 13*
Non-Toxic Conditioners Rated: Iffy
The conditioners that received a rating of “Iffy” either contained unknown fragrance or silicone.
Herbal Essences
Herbal Essences doesn’t quite meet clean standards with their “bio:renew” conditioner, which falls into the greenwashing category. Their formulation includes an undisclosed fragrance mixture and Polysorbate 20, which carries the risk of contamination with 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide—both potential human carcinogens. Consequently, we can’t recommend this conditioner.
Ingredients
Native
Although we gave a good rating to Internet-popular brand Native’s fragrance-free deodorant, the same can’t be said for their conditioner. Containing undisclosed synthetic fragrances, we have to recommend skipping it for one of the better options on our list.
Ingredients
Not Your Mother's
Not Your Mother’s conditioner contains undisclosed chemical fragrance, so we can’t recommend it.
Ingredients
MONDAY
Odele’s conditioner may have an appealing appearance, but the use of undisclosed fragrances in its formulation prevents us from endorsing it wholeheartedly.
Ingredients
Maui Moisture
Maui Moisture’s Coconut Milk Conditioner contains undisclosed chemical fragrance, so we can’t recommend it.
Ingredients
Rhyme & Reason
Rhyme & Reason’s conditioner contains a few ingredients that we’d advise against using. With a couple of PEG components and an unspecified fragrance, we recommend opting for a different conditioner from the better choices available on our list.
Ingredients
Dove
As suspected, Dove’s “RE+AL Bio-Mimetic Repair Conditioner” in the green bottle contains chemical fragrance. For this reason, we don’t recommend it.
Ingredients
Michiru
Michuru’s conditioner has undisclosed chemical fragrance, making us unable to recommend it.
Ingredients
Sun Bum
Although Sun Bum is mainly known for their chemical sunscreens, they also sell shampoo and conditioner. Much like those products in their lineup, their conditioner is full of ingredients we recommend avoiding.
Ingredients
Renpure
Although this conditioner is packaged in an appealing green bottle and Renpure promotes itself as a clean brand, a few ingredients in this conditioner raise concerns.
Firstly, it contains undisclosed fragrance. Their website features a FAQ section addressing “What are the fragrances composed of?”, but it essentially responds by stating they won’t reveal the information.
Due to the presence of Polysorbate 20 and a PEG ingredient, we cannot recommend this greenwashing conditioner.
Ingredients
Garnier
Garnier’s “Pure Clean” conditioner doesn’t quite live up to its name. With chemical fragrance and BHT, we recommend avoiding it—an unfortunate greenwashing product from a large brand.
Ingredients
OGX
OGX, formerly known as “Organix” until a 2013 class-action lawsuit prompted a name change, has a conditioner that contains several ingredients we advise against. As a result, we cannot recommend this product.
Ingredients
Pantene
With several ingredients on our list of ingredients to avoid, we recommend avoiding this conditioner.
Ingredients
Carol's Daughter
With both chemical fragrance and a few other ingredients on our iffy list, we can’t recommend this conditioner.
Ingredients
Zotos Professional
This conditioner has several ingredients we recommend avoiding, therefore we recommend avoiding the product altogether.
Ingredients
Eva NYC
We cannot recommend Eva NYC’s shampoo due to the presence of various undesirable ingredients, including undisclosed chemical fragrances.
Ingredients
Function of Beauty
Function of Beauty offers custom haircare and is available at both Target and online. Unfortunately, their products leave a lot to be desired regarding ingredient safety. Because their conditioners have chemical fragrance, we cannot recommend the brand.
Ingredients
Saltair
Saltair is a trendy TikTok brand that claims to be clean, but the products are hit-and-miss in the ingredient safety department.
Their conditioner contains undisclosed fragrance and dimethicone, so we analyzed many other conditioners with better ingredients. We recommend skipping this one.
Ingredients
Derma E
The main reason that we give this product an iffy rating is because it contains silicone. In conditioner, silicone coats the hair and follicle, making the hair feel softer and moisturized. However, silicone builds up in the hair over time, ultimately causing it to be more damaged and dry. At Better Goods, we do not recommend conditioners with silicone.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 7*
Earth Science
This product contains “fragrance” and it’s unclear what the ingredient makeup of it is. We reached out to the brand to ask about their fragrance, but as of November 2021, we haven’t heard anything back.
For this reason, we must give it a rating of “iffy”.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 4*
Live Clean
The main issue we have with this conditioner from Live Clean is the inclusion of “fragrance” on the ingredient label. It’s unclear what the makeup of this fragrance is, and for this reason, we give it a negative rating.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 8*
Yes To
This conditioner contains fragrance, and it’s unclear whether this is a natural or synthetic. Regardless, we do not give top ratings to products that are not transparent with their fragrance ingredients.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 9*
Non-Toxic Conditioners Rated: Avoid
These conditioners received our recommendation of “avoid”. They contain several ingredients that we recommend avoiding, and therefore, we cannot recommend them.
Kristin Ess
We don’t recommend this Kristen Ess conditioner because it has quite a few ingredients that are best to avoid. The chemical fragrance is really strong (it’s even the 3rd ingredient on the list!) and it also contains methylisothiazolinone and BHT. We suggest looking for other options.
Ingredients
Garnier
Garnier’s Whole Blends conditioner falls squarely in the greenwashing pile. With unnecessary coal tar dyes and fragrance, much better conditioners are available on the market.
Ingredients
Suave
Suave’s conditioner contains several ingredients we recommend avoiding. Chemical fragrance, paired with methylisothiazolinone and silicones puts this ingredient solidly in the “avoid” column.
Ingredients
Purezero
Containing both cyclopentasiloxane and chemical fragrance, we can’t recommend Purezero’s conditioner.
Ingredients
Love Beauty and Planet
Like the shampoo from Love Beauty and Planet that we audited, this conditioner contains several ingredients that we’d strongly suggest avoiding. There is chemical fragrance, along with methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone. For this reasons, we don’t recommend it.
Ingredients
Potential irritants: 3*
Conclusion: Which Natural Conditioner Should I Buy?
Two products stood out from the crowd during our audit:
- Thickening Biotin B-Complex Conditioner from Avalon Organics ($0.79 per oz)
- Juice Cleanse Supergreens & Adaptogens Conditioner from Acure ($1.25 per oz)
Both of these natural conditioners strike the perfect balance between clean ingredients and price, and are our recommended products. If you prefer a specific brand, any of the products rated “Good” or “Best” are a safe bet, too.
