Baby Shampoos Without Harmful Chemicals

Choose fragrance-free. Look for products that are fragrance-free or that disclose all fragrance ingredients. Companies aren’t required to disclose the ingredients in their product fragrances—instead, you’ll often see terms like “fragrance” or “parfum” on the label. But some fragrances can contain concerning ingredients such as allergens, or chemicals that can pose potential harm to the reproductive or endocrine systems. So for babies, it’s safest to stick to fragrance-free shampoos.

Go natural. Shop for products that prioritize natural ingredients. “Parents and caregivers should seek hair products with natural ingredients and try to avoid synthetic ingredients as much as possible,” recommends Surlina Asamoa, RN, a nurse educator at Nationwide Children’s Hospital who co-created the initiative “More than Just Hair: Improving Hair Care Equity in Healthcare” with her colleague Lauren Watson to help educate other healthcare professionals about the varied hair care needs of diverse hair types.

In our review of baby shampoos, we analyzed 17 products marketed towards Black infants, or that were marketed to be inclusive of diverse hair types. Of those 17, only one (Cristina’s Curls Nourishing Baby Shampoo and Body Wash) made our list of Top Choices, while only two (Alaffia Babies & Kids Detangling Shampoo in Coconut Strawberry and Cara B Naturally Baby Shampoo and Body Wash in One) made our list of Good Choices. All others reviewed, though not included in the final story because of space constraints, were considered Worse Choices in our analysis.

Identifying these 17 products was a challenge in itself, as the market is seemingly dominated by baby shampoos that are not specifically inclusive of diverse hair types. While our review is not representative of the entire market landscape, we found that baby shampoos marketed toward Black consumers and/or diverse hair types seemed both less available and were more likely to land in the Worse Choices category of our analysis than their counterparts.

This is but one symptom of a larger systemic issue. Research has shown that products marketed toward Black consumers have been found to contain some of the most problematic ingredients. Some of these worst offenders are found in hair products, which can include products like dye, braiding hair, and relaxers. But everyday products like shampoo and hair oils aren’t off the hook; these products are known to contain preservatives like parabens, undisclosed fragrance, and other problematic chemicals like those linked to potential endocrine disruption and cancer.

In studies, Black women have been found to have higher levels of some chemicals used in personal care products than white women. For example, Black women had higher concentrations of both parabens and phthalates, two chemical groups commonly used in personal care associated with potential endocrine disruption. While there aren’t robust studies of this nature on babies and children, it’s possible that Black babies and children may have higher concentrations of toxic chemicals, too, especially considering use of hair products is reported to begin at an early age. 

Black women also face higher inequities of health concerns including uterine fibroids, breast cancer mortality, cardiovascular disease, and more. Research has found that Black girls tend to show signs of puberty and menstruation at younger ages than white girls. While many factors are at play with any given individual, some research has suggested that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals from hair products used by Black girls may be linked to earlier menstruation. 

To address this complex, intersectional issue, changes are needed on a mass scale. But if you want to make changes now on a smaller, but still important, scale, you can consider the products that you bring into your home and use on your family and children every day. 

Hair needs are unique to each individual, and your child might benefit from a bathtime routine tailored to their specific hair type, whether wavy, curly, coily, or straight.

To start, use only water to wash your baby’s hair for the first few baths before introducing a gentle shampoo, says Asamoa. If your baby’s hair becomes oily quickly, you might consider washing more frequently. If your baby’s hair is fragile, wash gently and less frequently. Regardless of hair type, Asamoa says it’s not recommended to wash an infant’s hair more than two or three times per week. 

The tips below can help you find the right wash routine for your baby based on their hair’s moisture needs, fragility, and oil production. Don’t be afraid to experiment and make adjustments over time—your child’s hair (and their hair care routine) will change as they grow. 

Caring for coily, kinky, and curly hair: Coily, kinky, and curly hair tends to be on the drier side, especially for individuals of African descent. “As a nurse educator and clinical leader for a pediatric clinic, I always stress the importance of clean and moisturized hair and skin,” Asamoa says. “Children with melanated skin may become dry and flaky after washing.” She recommends using a natural moisturizer to prevent itching and scaling. You may also consider fewer baths each week, as overwashing can dry out the skin and hair. To maintain moisture, wash hair once per week. If baby needs a bath between hair washes, you can always skip the hair wash.

If your baby’s curly or coily hair is dry after washing, consider adding additional moisture. According to Asamoa, you may moisturize once or twice a week using a light oil or gentle detangler. Finer hair might be weighed down by oil, so you can try a light cream moisturizer with simple, natural ingredients instead. These hair types can also be fragile, particularly hair of individuals with African descent, so make sure to wash carefully and gently, and gently pat dry with a soft (or microfiber) towel to decrease the chance of breakage. 

Consider a product formulated specifically for coily, kinky, and curly hair. You can also look for products that offer moisturizing or detangling benefits. Three products from our review—Cristina’s Curls Nourishing Baby Shampoo and Body Wash, Alaffia Babies & Kids Detangling Shampoo in Coconut Strawberry, and Cara B Naturally Baby Shampoo and Body Wash—are all good places to start. Other Top Choice and Good Choice products in our review labeled as “moisturizing” and “gentle” may also be helpful for these hair types.

Coily, kinky, and curly hair can easily become tangled. Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to untangle. Approaching this process when the hair is wet with the help of a baby-safe detangling shampoo or spray can make it easier. 

Caring for wavy hair: Start by washing once per week and increase to twice per week if your baby’s hair gets oily quickly. To avoid breakage, avoid rubbing wavy hair dry with a towel.

All babies with wavy hair can benefit from shampoos that offer moisturizing properties, though those that are too moisture-rich may weigh down fine hair. Parents with wavy-haired babies of African descent might find that some products don’t offer enough moisture—look for products listed as moisturizing and gentle.

Caring for straight hair: Start with one to two hair washes a week and increase (to a max of three) or decrease, based on how quickly your baby’s hair gets oily. Babies with fine hair may get weighed down by products with too many moisturizing ingredients, so consider a foaming shampoo. Avoid rubbing fine hair dry with a towel to avoid breakage.

Care tips for all hair types: According to Asamoa, infant hair is fragile and should be brushed, combed and handled lightly to avoid scalp damage. Asamoa also recommends avoiding beads, tight bows, or rubber bands in infant hair. “These items can be swallowing hazards if the child pulls them,” Asamoa says. Stick to only the occasional use of soft hair bands and headbands that don’t pull or present a choking hazard. Better yet, avoid styling altogether and keep hair in its natural state as much as possible. “Let the curls flow,” Asamoa says.

We requested comment from all companies with products containing ingredients identified as possible risks and/or probable risks. 

The company told Consumer Reports that guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride is naturally derived and “widely considered safe.” The company cited the Environmental Working Group, which rates the ingredient a score of 1, its best score. “At Pipette, we are committed to using only safe, high quality ingredients that meet the highest standard for both human and environmental health,” the company stated.

The Honest Company responded to our inquiry, stating guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride and trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate “are rated Low Hazard by several third-party agencies specializing in chemical hazard assessment and cosmetic product safety advocacy.” The company told Consumer Reports, “Based on this third-party scientific research and findings by our toxicology team, we stand by our assessment that these ingredients have a strong safety profile at our use levels in our products for both human health and the environment.”

No other companies responded to our request for comment.