Top 10 Cruelty-Free and Vegan Shampoos and Conditioners

Switching over to cruelty-free beauty products is an important part of going vegan. Many products are tested on animals, which means they’re not cruelty-free. When you find a good vegan shampoo and conditioner set, you don’t feel like you’re giving up on your hair care routine. Vegans can have great hair, too!

When you go vegan, you make A LOT of changes to your lifestyle, especially in regard to the food you eat and products you buy.

Making sure products are (1) free of animal testing and (2) free of animal-derived ingredients is what makes them cruelty-free and vegan.

During my freshman year of college, I did a presentation on the importance of boycotting cosmetics that had been tested on animals. But I still continued to buy them. It was easier to stick to what I knew rather than change up my entire routine. I didn’t want to spend the time researching and making sure every product I bought was cruelty-free. I fell into the trap of doing what’s easy over what’s right.

It’s very easy to continue navigating through life without thinking about our impact on the world. When we take a step back and realize that our actions don’t agree with our morals, it can be a huge shock.

It wasn’t until my junior year of college that I actually went vegan and switched to all cruelty-free and vegan shampoo and conditioner. I realized that I would rather spend a few extra minutes researching brands’ animal testing policies and product ingredient lists than continue to contribute to animal cruelty.

At first, I had no idea what I was doing. I went to Ulta thinking the sales associate would point me to the “vegan section” of the store. Wouldn’t that be nice? No, there’s no dedicated vegan section at virtually any beauty store. Instead, you must do your own research or follow vegan product guides like this one.

Fortunately, there are a ton of cruelty-free and vegan hair care products out there. Regardless of your budget or hair type, there’s a cruelty-free hair care brand for you. These are the top 10 vegan shampoo and conditioners that I wish I knew about when I first went vegan.

Vegan-Friendly Hair Care Brands

Here is a condensed list of cruelty-free and vegan-friendly hair care brands. None of these brands test their products on animals and many of their products contain all-vegan ingredients. If you’re unsure if a product is vegan, check to see if it contains animal-derived ingredients.

Cruelty-Free and Vegan-Friendly Hair Care Brands

  • 100% PURE
  • Andalou Naturals
  • Beauty Without Cruelty
  • Giovanni
  • Mineral Fusion
  • ACURE Organics
  • Desert Essence
  • Pacifica
  • Paul Mitchell
  • Avalon Organics
  • SheaMoisture
  • Ethique
  • Hempz
  • LUSH
  • ArtNaturals
  • Jason
  • Nature’s Gate
  • Function of Beauty
  • Aveda
  • DevaCurl
  • Drybar
  • OUAI

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Top 5 Cruelty-Free Vegan Shampoos

1. SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Shampoo

 

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SheaMoisture is a widely accessible hair care brand that began as a minority-owned company but was acquired by Unilever in 2017. Though their parent company tests on animals, SheaMoisture itself is a cruelty-free brand. Many of their products are vegan-friendly, though you should double check the ingredients for honey, lanolin, etc.

My favorite collection by SheaMoisture is their Black Castor Oil line. Castor oil is amazing for hair growth and strength.

This shampoo made a huge difference in the overall health and texture of my hair. I have naturally thick, wavy hair that’s oily at the roots but dry at the tips. To make matters worse, my hair breaks extremely easily. I rarely use heat because my hair is fragile and prone to damage.

This shampoo has been a game changer for me. I’ve been using it for over a year now, and my hair has grown at least 10 inches. It’s also helped reduce frizz, minimize breakage, and control oiliness. My hair feels and looks so much healthier, but this was a long road for me. I started using these products several years ago, and I don’t see myself switching anytime soon.

If there is one product you should buy on this list, it’s this shampoo. Get the matching conditioner here.

2020 Update: I’ve been using this vegan shampoo and conditioner for 2 years now, and my hair has grown down to my butt. I actually have to keep trimming it! If you’re looking for a cruelty-free shampoo that encourages healthy hair growth, then I highly recommend this one.

2. ArtNaturals Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo

 

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When I went vegan, one of the first things I did was replace my shampoo with a cruelty-free one. That was long overdue. This shampoo was the first vegan hair product I bought because it came up first on Amazon.

ArtNaturals is an affordable, clean cosmetics brand with tons of products available on their Amazon shop. Their products are mainly sold online.

This shampoo is certified vegan and cruelty-free, and it’s also organic, ethically sourced, and free of harmful ingredients.

They have several vegan shampoo and conditioner sets formulated with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, tea tree oil, argan oil, and more. I like the Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo because it’s moisturizing and nourishing. I think it has a lot to offer for a variety of hair types, so it’s a great cruelty-free shampoo for new vegans.

Get the matching conditioner here to complete your set.

3. Ethique Zero-Waste Shampoo Bar

 

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I find that a lot of people who go vegan or shop cruelty-free eventually gravitate towards eco-friendly products.

I was thrilled when I heard about LUSH’s packaging-free shampoo bars because products are more environmentally friendly without all the plastic. Another brand that offers cruelty-free shampoo bars is Ethique.

Personally, I recommend this shampoo bar by Ethique, which is the world’s first zero-waste lifestyle brand. They have several shampoo bars to choose from depending on your hair concerns and fragrance preferences.

Reducing our waste is so important, but zero-waste products usually disappoint when it comes to the ingredients list. That’s why I prefer Ethique for zero-waste shampoo. They use high-quality vegan ingredients like coconut oil and cocoa butter to hydrate hair and control frizz.

What’s shocking is that one shampoo bar is equivalent to three liquid shampoo bottles! Save money, the environment, and your hair all at the same time.

Get one of their conditioner bars here.

4. Giovanni Tea Tree Shampoo

 

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Giovanni Cosmetics is a 100% cruelty-free brand. However, they’re not 100% vegan—more like 90%.

This is what they say on their website: “All our products are vegan except our Magnetic shampoo, conditioner, power treatment, styling gel and styling wax which contains lactoferrin, and our Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub which contains honey.”

I’m not a huge essential oils user, but I love when cosmetics are infused with them. This shampoo is infused with tea tree oil, which nourishes the root of the hair and even encourages growth. I also love that it’s anti-microbial.

It’s also organic, biodegradable, and accessible.

Get the matching conditioner here.

5. Hempz Triple Moisture Shampoo

 

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You should eat hemp seeds, as they’re an amazing vegan protein source, but you should also incorporate it into your beauty routine!

This shampoo contains hemp seeds oil, which is high in healthy omegas to nourish your hair.

It’s also herbal and smells amazing. If your hair needs some serious hydration, this is the vegan shampoo for you.

You can find this shampoo at Ulta and Walmart and online at Amazon.

Get the matching conditioner here.

Top 5 Cruelty-Free Vegan Conditioners

1. Pacifica Beauty Super Kale Juiced Up Conditioner

 

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Listen, Linda. I’m extremely picky about conditioners. Because my hair is thick and wavy, I usually need to use a significant amount in one sitting.

With this conditioner, I only have to use a normal amount because a little goes a long way.

Plus it’s got kale in it, so it has to be healthy, right?

Pacifica is an amazing vegan beauty brand, so it’s no surprise that their vegan conditioners are spot on.

Seriously, give this conditioner a try if you haven’t already.

2. Desert Essence Coconut Conditioner

 

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Coconut is a mega hydrator, which is why it’s often used in hair and body products.

This conditioner is one of the thickest formulas I’ve ever tried. It’s like doing a hair mask every night.

It’s specifically made for dry hair, but I have oily roots and have had amazing results with it.

The SheaMoisture shampoo mentioned previously plus this coconut conditioner is a recipe for hair growth, strength, and hydration.

3. Ethique Zero-Waste Conditioner Bar

 

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I have to mention Ethique once again, specifically for their Wonderbar.

Like the shampoo bar, it’s completely zero-waste. The shampoo bar is equivalent to three bottles of traditional shampoo, but this conditioner bar is equivalent to five bottles of conditioner!

The ingredients are natural, and it’s definitely a unique experience. It feels very creamy on the hair, and it’s very satisfying. Despite it being zero-waste, there’s something luxurious about it.

This is definitely a product I would purchase again. It’s extremely cost-effective, travel-friendly, and overall an amazing experience.

This conditioner bar is one of my all-time favorite vegan hair products. I would have never expected that, but it’s true!

4. Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Conditioner

 

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I have a confession to make: This conditioner is designed for color-treated hair, but I still use it on my non-dyed hair because it smells THAT good! I mean, it’s called 1000 Roses, so it makes sense.

When products are specifically for dyed hair, it usually means they’re good for damaged hair that needs some TLC. I find that this conditioner makes my hair feel so much stronger and healthier.

I also struggle with really tangled hair, and I find that this softens my hair so it’s easier to brush.

If you want a vegan conditioner that will revitalize your hair, get this one.

Get the matching shampoo here.

5. Beauty Without Cruelty Conditioner

 

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Last but not least is a 100% vegan and cruelty-free hair brand, Beauty Without Cruelty.

I had to try this conditioner because it’s an aromatherapy product. It contains the following organic essential oils: tea tree, jojoba, sweet orange, rosemary, and peppermint.

It has clean ingredients, and you don’t have to worry about it being cruelty-free and vegan.

This conditioner always leaves my hair feeling soft, tangle-free, and healthy.

Get the matching shampoo here.

Where to Buy Vegan Shampoo and Conditioner

What’s your favorite store to buy cosmetics—Amazon, Target, Walmart, Ulta, Sephora, etc?

There are multiple cruelty-free and vegan hair products at each of those stores and all the major retailers. You can also buy vegan shampoo and conditioner directly from the brand you like.

I just order my SheaMoisture set every month on Amazon Prime.

Final Thoughts

Switching to cruelty-free and vegan beauty products is exciting and rewarding. It’s also really important for the animals who are used as test subjects so we can have cosmetics.

The good news is that you don’t have to contribute to cruel animal testing in order to have high-quality hair products.

There are TONS of cruelty-free and vegan hair products, but these are the ones I’ve personally tried, tested, and loved. Right now, SheaMoisture’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil collection is my holy grail.

There may be an adjustment period as your hair gets used to new products, but trust me, it’s worth it.

Want more vegan beauty product recommendations? Check out my guide to vegan skincare products!

Which vegan shampoo and conditioner brand are you eager to try? Let me know in the comments below.

Top 10 cruelty-free and vegan shampoos and conditioners
We’ve tried them all, and these are officially the best cruelty-free vegan shampoo and conditioner products. These are the top 10 vegan hair products.

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2 Comments

  1. Thank you for this post! I have long wavy/curly hair and I’m obsessed with trying new hair products (until I find my holy grail) and there’s many from your list that I’ve never tried… will definitely check them out

    1. Hi Francesca,

      It sounds like we have similar hair types! I found my holy grail vegan shampoo and conditioner set: Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil collection. Hope you find yours, too!

      xo,
      Lacey

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