Every beauty store has a shampoo bonanza full of a variety of items to pick from. Some promise shine, others hydration, and all cleanse. These long ingredient lists make it difficult to tell what you’re actually applying to your hair.

So, what are some good ingredients in shampoo that you should be looking out for? Here’s a list of healthy shampoo ingredients to look for when you buy your next bottle.

Why is it important to look for good ingredients in shampoo?

Many drugstore shampoos contain harsh chemicals and preservatives that can chemically damage your hair in the long run, such as sulphates, formaldehyde, and parabens, to name just a few. 

It’s crucial to know the ingredients in your hair products, especially if some can cause irritation or build-up.

Good ingredients in shampoo to look out for

Whether you have curly, dyed, straight, or oily hair, here are some good ingredients in shampoo to keep your hair healthy.

• Aloe

Aloe vera is a succulent short-stemmed shrub that is frequently called a “wonder plant”. It’s an excellent healthy shampoo ingredient that helps untangle knots and kinks in frizzy, curly hair. 

Aloe vera is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins A, B, C, E, minerals, fatty acids, calcium, selenium, magnesium, and zinc, to mention a few, all of which help strengthen hair follicles while keeping them soft, shiny, and manageable.

The Aveda Be Curly Shampoo is made with a blend of wheat and aloe which expands when the hair is wet and retracts when the hair is dry. This helps tame frizz whilst increasing shine, so if you’re looking for an aloe shampoo, this one is unbeaten. 

• Essential oils

Essential oils are good ingredients in shampoo made from parts of certain plants, like leaves, seeds, barks, roots, and rinds. Among them are almond, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, cedarwood, lemongrass, and tea tree oils.

The oils penetrate the hair follicle and produce healthy, shiny hair, and encourage new hair growth. Some essential oils can help to restore, repair, or strengthen the hair, whilst others improve the condition of the scalp.

• Plant oils, including argan oil, jojoba oil

Jojoba oil is a waxy oil derived from jojoba seeds. It contains healthy hair shampoo ingredients like vitamins and minerals – vitamin C, B vitamins, E, copper, and zinc.

To prevent dryness, breakage, and split ends, add it to hair conditioners. It penetrates the scalp and hair shaft and loosens stubborn cells and residue that many commercial products build-up.

Argan oil has been a staple ingredient in Morocco for centuries — not just for its flavour but also for its possible health advantages. This naturally occurring plant oil comes from the argan tree’s fruit kernels.

The oleic and linoleic acids that make up most of argan oil’s fat content are vital nutrients for maintaining healthy hair, making it a good ingredient in shampoo.

• Sulphate-free cleansing ingredients

SLS (sodium laureth sulphate) is a popular ingredient in shampoos. These sulphated chemicals are commonly used as cleansing and foaming agents. However, often SLS can be harsh on the hair, as it strips its natural oils.

With that being said, some sulphate-based cleansers are not so bad. For example, ALS (ammonium lauryl sulphate) and sodium coco sulphate are both plant-derived from coconut, meaning they are much more gentle on the hair and have a history of safe usage.

All Aveda shampoos are free from SLS, and you can learn more about Aveda’s use of sulphates here.

• Fruit extracts

We all know that a healthy diet includes a variety of fruits. But did you know that fruit extracts are wonderful for your hair and healthy shampoo ingredients? Fruit extracts add a significant punch to beauty products because of their concentrated form. Coconut oil, for example, can help prevent protein loss from hair.

Most plants contain polyphenols—organic compounds with strong antioxidant properties. Fruits are naturally rich in antioxidants, especially berries. Blueberries, strawberries, and goji berries are jam-packed with antioxidant properties, along with papaya.

Fruits are a natural multivitamin. Vitamins are necessary for overall health, but some are particularly important for hair health.

• Glycerin 

Glycerin comes from plants like shea butter. Maybe you’ve wondered about good ingredients in shampoo that could draw moisture into the hair and keep it nourished from the inside out.

Glycerin is deeply moisturising for hair when used properly. The hydrating agent glycerin is especially beneficial to curly, thick, or frizzy hair. It repairs damaged hair and may condition well enough to prevent breakage. 

Many Aveda shampoos contain glycerin, however one of our favourites is the Aveda Pure Abundance Volumizing Shampoo. It is enriched with kaolin clay and acacia gum to build more body and volume in your hair.

• Black seed oil

Black seed oil comes from the Nigella sativa plant thriving in Eastern Europe, Western Asia, and the Middle East. Thymoquinone, a component of black seed oil, has antioxidant qualities that may help reduce inflammation.

This healthy shampoo ingredient can preserve scalp health by managing dandruff while moisturising the scalp and individual hair shafts because of its richness in fatty amino acids.

• Keratin

Keratin is a protein found in hair, skin, and nails. It is the structural building block of your hair, so it can strengthen your hair and make it look healthier.

Keratin makes hair smoother and easier to manage as a result, so it’s a good shampoo ingredient for straightening curly hair and making it less frizzy. This protein smooths the cells that overlap to generate hair strands.

The hair cuticle absorbs keratin, resulting in full, lustrous hair. 

• Vitamin C and E

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that protects against the oxidative stress caused by free radicals that can stunt growth and age hair. In addition, your body needs vitamin C to create a protein known as collagen — an important part of hair structure that prevents hair from ageing.

Strawberries, peppers, guavas, and citrus fruits are all excellent sources of vitamin C.

Like vitamin C, vitamin E is an antioxidant that can help prevent oxidative stress, making it a healthy shampoo ingredient for your hair.

In one study, taking vitamin E for 8 months increased hair growth by 34.5%. Vitamin E helps boost hair growth and is found in sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach, and avocados.

• Chamomile

Chamomile is part of the daisy plant family. When taken orally, it has various health benefits, but we can also use it topically on the hair and scalp. Hair treatments using chamomile can help eliminate dandruff, encourage hair growth, prevent split ends, and even lighten strands. Shampoo with chamomile oil for shine and smoothness.

A fantastic chamomile shampoo option is the Aveda Brilliant Shampoo. This product works to deep-clean the hair, removing product buildup and debris. Chamomile oils will help to soothe your scalp in the process.

Summary: Good ingredients in shampoo

• Aloe
• Essential oils
• Plant oils, including argan oil, jojoba oil
• Sulphate-free cleansing ingredients
• Fruit extracts
• Glycerin 
• Black seed oil
• Keratin
• Vitamin C and E
• Chamomile

Where to find shampoos with healthy, natural ingredients

It’s what’s inside that counts. Aveda not only creates naturally derived, plant-based shampoos packed with good ingredients, but has a whole range of hair products to help you have a healthy hair care routine.

Importantly to us, their products are also vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainable.

So, if you’re looking for good ingredients in shampoo, then Aveda is an excellent place to start your healthy hair journey. 

Aveda at Strand & Lock London Salon

Strand & Lock is an Aveda Lifestyle Salon in London, meaning we stock Aveda products and use them within our services.

Check out our services or get in touch if you have any questions about shampoo ingredients for hair care and health.