If your hair isn’t as healthy as you’d like it to be, it could be a symptom of a bigger problem. Ayurvedic medicine works to treat the total health of the body instead of resolving only one symptom at a time. That’s why the best Ayurvedic shampoos are good for the hair as well as a person’s overall well-being.
Ayurvedic practitioners use naturopathy, homeopathy, and aromatherapy to overcome imbalances in the body’s systems. They treat the body, mind, and spirit by working with the earth, air, fire, water, and space elements of the universe which are divided up into three life forces. These forces, or doshas, control how the body functions and can be influenced with the right proportion of herbs, for example. Other influences include seasonal changes, emotions, and the aging process (1).
Developed believers say that since everything is interconnected, the simple choice of which shampoo you use could actually damage or improve your general health. If you think about it, they aren’t wrong. Science has shown that some common cosmetic ingredients can dehydrate the skin and hair, cause allergic reactions, and upset hormonal balance.
If you’re ready to enjoy a healthier scalp and glossy, thick hair, there is no harm in trying one of the best herbal shampoos. Check out the options below:
| The best Ayurvedic shampoos | Why we love them |
|---|---|
| Auromere Ayurvedic Shampoo Bar |
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| Auromere Ayurvedic Shampoo |
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| OM Botanical Sulfate-Free Organic Shampoo |
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| TheraNeem Scalp Therape Shampoo |
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| iHeart Nature Organic Shampoo Bar |
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| Indulekha Bringha Anti Hair Fall Shampoo |
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| Hesh Aritha Herbal Ayurveda Powder Shampoo |
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Best Ayurvedic Shampoos in 2024
Auromere Ayurvedic Shampoo Bar
Which is the best chemical-free shampoo? It’s a tough choice, but we’re betting on this Ayurvedic shampoo bar. It contains no sulfates, parabens, artificial colors, or fragrances. It’s vegan and gluten-free.
Moreover, this handmade bar is biodegradable with recyclable packaging. It can last as long as an eighteen-ounce bottle of liquid shampoo even if you use it for shaving, too.
We’ve used different types of bar shampoo before and weren’t as impressed as we were with this product. Not only does it make plenty of lather with little effort, but it rinses easily and doesn’t leave hair dry, flat, or tangled. Instead, the strands are squeaky clean and bouncy and the scalp comfortable.
The ingredients include neem oil and neem leaf which are excellent for controlling dandruff and promoting hair growth. Those who are familiar with Ayurvedic medicine may also recognize henna, amla (gooseberry), tulsi (holy basil), reetha (soapnut), methi (fenugreek), and shikakai, too.
Pros:
- Chemical-free shampoo packed with Ayurvedic herbs
- Features neem, henna, amla, and more
- Cleanses and conditions the hair and scalp
- May help clear up dandruff and stimulate hair growth
- Plenty of lather for shaving and bathing
- Free of sulfates, artificial fragrances, dyes, and parabens
- Vegan, biodegradable, and packaged in recyclable material
Cons:
- None
Auromere Ayurvedic Shampoo
Here’s one of the best Ayurvedic shampoos for dry hair. It’s made by the same brand that developed the shampoo bar reviewed above. It’s silicone-free, with no artificial fragrances, parabens, dyes, SLS, or SLES. The manufacturer recommends it for dry to normal hair, plus it balances the Vata/Pitta doshas.
The formula starts with purified water and neem extract alongside aloe and hibiscus. However, the light fragrance primarily comes from lavender oil.
Next, neem is a cleansing herb that can help get rid of dandruff and it’s an excellent conditioner. But it’s the aloe that moisturizes dry hair and soothes the scalp.
Reviewers say they like how just a little dab of shampoo makes a lot of lather. They say it smells nice and leaves their hair light and clean.
Pros:
- Sulfate-free shampoo with no artificial colors, perfumes, or parabens
- Addresses the Vata/Pitta doshas and is suitable for dry to normal hair
- Contains neem, hibiscus, and aloe
- Lightly scented with essential oils
Cons:
- Has cocamidopropyl betaine and phenoxyethanol which some potential users may wish to avoid
OM Botanical Sulfate-Free Organic Shampoo
What about the best Ayurvedic shampoos for daily use? We like this one as it’s “safe enough to eat”. No, seriously, this is the manufacturer’s claim. They warn that it doesn’t make a lot of foam because it relies on botanical ingredients that are unbleached and unprocessed for maximum bioavailability.
Not only is it sulfate-free, it doesn’t contain PEGs, parabens, or many of the ingredients we’ve come to expect in commercial shampoos. The majority of the formula is organic, plus it’s made in North Carolina where it’s held to high-quality standards. (At the very least, it also comes with a money-back guarantee).
The main cleansing ingredients are soap nuts, saponified olive oil, and a coconut and sugar-based detergent. No wonder that it’s so mild and recommended for strengthening fragile hair. In fact, it’s packed with DHT blockers like pumpkin seed oil and biotin that prevent follicle damage and hair thinning in women and men.
It stimulates hair growth while argan oil and panthenol strengthen and condition every strand. Meanwhile, willow bark and neem get rid of flaking and itching associated with dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.
Users say it smells like mint candy and makes their scalp tingle pleasantly (because of the wild peppermint oil).
Pros:
- Promotes hair growth and protects follicles with DHT blockers like pumpkin seed oil and biotin
- Stops itching and flaking caused by dandruff, psoriasis, eczema, and seborrheic dermatitis
- Strengthens fragile hair with argan oil and panthenol
- Free of sulfates, parabens, perfumes, silicone, and PEGs
Cons:
- None unless you are allergic to any of the ingredients
TheraNeem Scalp Therape Shampoo
Is your hair dull, limp, and weighed down? Perhaps you need this clarifying shampoo enriched with Ayurvedic ingredients. It purifies and balances the scalp while soothing sensitive skin. Happily, it’s appropriate for all hair types.
To get the most from it, let it sit for up to five minutes before rinsing. Although it has a thin texture, that’s by design. It’s made to penetrate the scalp as effectively as possible. Then, it will leave the hair soft, shiny, and manageable, with visibly less frizz.
Not only is it a vegan product, but the primary ingredient, organic neem, is lab-verified for purity. The shampoo has both neem leaf and neem oil for extra potency. But the delicious natural fragrance comes from lavender and lemon peel (as neem itself has an earthy scent).
The cooling tingle comes from peppermint and rosemary, both of which are proven to stimulate hair growth. In other words, this is the ideal all-in-one shampoo for rejuvenating the hair.
Reviewers say it’s solved a variety of problems for them, from itchy scalp and bumps to thinning hair. They recommend following up with the matching conditioner if using the shampoo daily.
Pros:
- Vegan and organic, with lab-verified pure ingredients
- Clarifying shampoo that rejuvenates the hair and scalp
- Strengthens fragile hair and encourages growth
- Cooling tingle and pleasant natural fragrance
- No sulfates, parabens, or harsh chemicals
Cons:
- Needs conditioner if the shampoo is used daily
iHeart Nature Organic Shampoo Bar
Which is the best Ayurvedic shampoo for hair growth? It’s hard to say as so many of them offer this benefit. However, we’re fans of this artisanal shampoo bar that’s suitable for all hair types. One bar can last as long as three eight-ounce bottles of liquid shampoo.
Shampoo bars like this one are convenient for travel, camping, and the gym. Moreover, they are kinder to the environment in multiple ways. Even the packaging is eco-friendly.
What’s in it? Like a bar of soap, it has saponified plant oils to help it make a pleasing lather. But these oils are also crucial for conditioning the hair and scalp. For example, this shampoo contains coconut, sunflower, safflower, and castor oil.
Next, Ayurvedic herbs like amla, neem, hibiscus, and shikakai empower the shampoo to revitalize the scalp and hair. They protect follicles and promote growth while strengthening each individual hair and even delaying graying. Reviewers say the shampoo feels very nourishing and leaves the hair shiny and soft.
Lastly, the shampoo offers aromatherapy with essential oils like Ylang Ylang, geranium, lavender, and orange. It’s an uplifting blend that’s likely to bring a smile to your face every time you wash your hair.
Obviously, this is a sulfate-free shampoo with no harsh chemicals. It’s handcrafted in small batches in the USA and cured for eight weeks before sale.
Pros:
- Ayurvedic shampoo bar for hair growth suitable for all hair types
- Features neem, amla, shikakai, and hibiscus
- Mild enough for daily use, lasts as long as three bottles of liquid shampoo
- No sulfates or harsh chemicals
- Aromatic blend of essential oils uplifts the mind
- Handcrafted in small batches in the USA
Cons:
- None
Indulekha Bringha Anti Hair Fall Shampoo
Have you heard about Ayurvedic shampoos for hair fall? That’s a British English way of referring to balding and that’s how these products are described in India.
We like this one because it’s safe to use on chemically-processed and color-treated hair. It’s a medicinal formula featuring nine Bringha plant extracts. The first and foremost is Bringharaj, rich in minerals and antioxidants to halt hair loss and stimulate growth.
Next, there’s amla, also known as Indian Gooseberry, with plenty of vitamin C to protect follicles and increase blood circulation in the scalp. It works hand-in-hand with rosemary oil, a natural anti-inflammatory that helps with itching and thickens hair.
But don’t forget the shikakai, packed with micronutrients to make hair shiny. It’s also good for cleansing as it has antifungal properties, just like the neem that’s also in the formula.
This gentle shampoo can be used daily. Happily, it contains no artificial colors, fragrances, or parabens.
Pros:
- Daily shampoo that prevents hair loss and promotes growth
- Safe for color-treated and permed hair
- Medicinal formula with neem, amla, shikakai, and Bringharaj
- No perfumes, parabens, artificial colors
Cons:
- It was difficult to find the full list of ingredients in English without purchasing a bottle
Hesh Aritha Herbal Ayurveda Powder Shampoo
Pause here if you really want to get back to nature and use the simplest shampoo you can imagine. It’s a powdered product consisting of one single ingredient – soap nut powder.
Not only is it shampoo, but it also works as a detergent for clothing as well as dish soap.
What’s interesting is that it’s non-drying. It actually leaves hair glossy and soft. All you have to do is mix it with water and massage the paste into your scalp. Wait a few minutes then rinse and you’re done.
The only downside is that it must be rinsed. Otherwise, it would make a great dry shampoo.
Pros:
- Straightforward natural shampoo made out of soap nut powder
- Also works for cleaning clothing and dishes
- Non-drying, leaves hair glossy and manageable
Cons:
- None
Conclusion
If neither drugstore shampoos nor expensive hair care products aren’t meeting your needs, maybe it’s time to try Ayurvedic shampoos instead. Check out the reviews above to see the best herbal shampoos to revitalize your hair.
Source:
1. https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/ayurvedic-treatments What is Ayurveda? by Kelli Miller, published March 20, 2021, accessed December 2, 2021