Natural is where it’s at these days. Everything from food to style has a natural emphasis, so why shouldn’t your haircare routine? Specifically, your shampoo. The answer is that it should. Using natural shampoo benefits your hair in many different ways.

While the history of washing hair goes back a very long time, the history of shampoo is rather recent. The modern liquid shampoo that we lather on our hair began in 1927, by inventor Hans Schwarzkopf. Prior to that, soap and shampoo were basically the same.

Over the following decades, shampoo evolved, and more chemicals were added for a variety of reasons. Some people liked the results of these added chemicals, others found them irritating and didn’t like the way they affected their hair.

Why you should use natural shampoo

If you’re thinking about switching from a more chemically-based shampoo to a natural shampoo, the following benefits can help you make your decision.

1. Positive results without damage

Harmful chemicals aren’t the only way to get the results you want with your hair. Today’s shampoos use proven blends of natural plant and herb extracts to give you soft, healthy, and moisturized hair.

2. New hair growth

Nourishing the hair and increasing blood circulation creates a healthy scalp and follicles. If your skin is healthy, your hair will have a healthy foundation from which to grow.

3. Soft, moisturized hair

Some of the chemicals in traditional shampoos dry the hair and cause the scalp to overreact, producing even more oil and giving you greasy, damaged hair. Natural oils don’t create these reactions, letting moisture reach deep into the hair shaft, without an oily finish.

4. Better for the environment

If you’re concerned about the environment, one of the best things you can do is start using natural ingredients that are organically grown and responsibly sourced. This does require a little research on your part to find products that are made in line with your ethical beliefs, but the results can be well worth it, for you and the environment.

Ingredients to look for in a natural shampoo

It’s hard to pick a natural shampoo because you’re not necessarily sure which ingredients do what. This is very important with natural products, as they tend not to be a one size fits all, or one shampoo fits all product.

Luckily there is a natural shampoo that does include all of the following ingredients, in one product. But it is important to understand how these ingredients work, and why they're beneficial for your hair.

Coconut oil: The essential fatty acids in coconut oil make it a must for hair, giving it a deep and thorough moisturizing that keeps hair soft and silky. But coconut oil has other hair benefits too. It’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, meaning it can help ward off dandruff, and other infections of the scalp.

Coconut oil reduces inflammation and irritation, which is very soothing. It also has natural lauric acid, which naturally strengthens and moisturizes your hair.

Silk amino acids: Sericin is a natural extract that comes from raw silk and is referred to as silk amino acids. It’s great for your hair because of the high levels of serine, which help preserve moisture. That means that not only does this ingredient add moisture to your hair, but it helps your hair retain the moisture you have.

Aloe vera: Aloe vera is known for its healing and moisturizing properties, which are great for the hair. In addition, it has a similar pH level to your hair’s natural pH, which makes it gentle on your hair. All of this and aloe vera nourishes your hair without leaving a build-up on the hair shaft.

Jojoba oil: The little jojoba plant has a lot of health benefits for hair and scalp. It can balance your skin’s pH level to offer protection from harmful bacteria while also acting as an anti-fungal agent. It also brings anti-inflammatory qualities that soothe your scalp and promote natural oil production.

Final thoughts

If you’re looking for a way to be more natural in your approach to living, then changing your shampoo can be a big first step. Not only does your decision to use natural shampoo help the environment, but it also gives your scalp, follicles, and hair shafts a lot of wonderful benefits.

One of the best things about using natural products is being able to try different things until you find a formula or combination of ingredients that work best for your unique hair needs.