For years now I have struggled to find shampoos and conditioners that work for my ultra-sensitive hair and skin, but also leave my hair soft and shiny. When I was a teenager I realized that my scalp wasn’t able to handle my applying the same shampoos and conditioners for extended periods of time – if I did, I always ended up with weird red bumps and and itchy scalp – no fun! Because of this condition (which I never bothered to really research), I started using organic and all natural hair care products in college and have never looked back.

Over the years the selection of organic shampoos and conditioners has grown significantly – which is great since after using all of the shampoo from a bottle, I HAVE to switch brands! I can remember when there were only 3 or 4 options on the market, and I would rotate between them, hoping that my scalp wouldn’t break out while doing so.

With so many new choices cropping up all the time, I thought I would point out a few of my favorite brands and help others of you who are looking for organic hair care products that are affordable, don’t contain petrochemicals and toxic fragrances, and aren’t tested on animals.

My favorite brand currently has to be Alba Botanicals. Made with papaya, jojoba, sunflower seed, macadamia and kukui nut oils, the Alba Hair Care line leaves your hair silky smooth and also smelling like a tropical rain forest. I especially like the Mango Moisturizing Hair Wash and Conditioner (both of which are infused with vitamin-rich pineapple and papaya extracts), and love the way my hair feels when it’s clean and dry. Alba Botanicals is one of the primary product lines of Avalon Natural Products – a company with a long-standing commitment to creating environmentally sustainable products.

I am also partial to Avalon Organics hair care products, which happen to also be a part of the Avalon Natural Products product line. Oddly, I had no idea that the shampoos were made by the same company until I started researching the brands just now. I’ve been using Avalon Organics for a few years now, and have tried their Lavender Nourishing, Lemon Clarifying, Rosemary Volumizing and Peppermint Revitalizing products – and I love them all. The Peppermint shampoo and conditioner are especially pungent and help wake me up when I step into the shower still half in dreamland.

If you’re looking for a great company that makes eco-sensitive products for your hair (and skin), Avalon Natural Products might be the company you’ve been waiting to find. Not only are their products affordable (about $8 per bottle for both shampoo and conditioner), but they also have a commitment to the environment which they take the time to spell out on their corporate website. The company is reducing their carbon footprint at every level of their business, and is also dedicated to investing in their local community.

Another love of mine are the shampoos and conditioners made by the good people at Burt’s Bees. While I have been a fan of Burt’s Bees skincare products (specifically their Coconut Foot Cream, Beeswax Moisturizing Day Cream and Radiance Eye Cream) for years, I only recently discovered their shampoos and conditioners. I must admit that I’m partial to the Color Keeper Green Tea & Fennel Seed Shampoo and Conditioner – the products have an aroma that arouses nostalgic feelings in me, and I always smile when I smell it on my hair! The company also carries several other shampoos and conditioners with flavors such as Grapefruit & Sugar beet, and Raspberry & Brazil Nut. Almost good enough to eat!

I am relatively certain that Burt’s Bees does a lot of good work when it comes to the environment, but was unable to confirm so when researching this post. For whatever reason the website would not allow me to access the company’s “About Us” page or their Media/News pages…

Other brands you might consider checking out include: Nature’s Gate, Kiss My Face, Jason Natural Products, Aveda, Lush, and The Body Shop. I’ve used shampoo and conditioner from each company – except for Lush – and highly recommend them all. Lush is next on my list, so stayed tuned for an update about the handmade organic skin and hair care products from them. Here’s to the never-ending search for the perfect eco-friendly hair care products!