Best Non-Toxic, Silicone-Free Shampoo

How many silicone-free shampoos are actually non-toxic?

We analyzed 826 shampoos and 552 were silicone-free. Only 30 of those, around 5%, met the Welpr Standard, compared with 31 of 826 shampoos overall, around 4%.

Silicone-free shampoos were slightly more likely to meet the Welpr Standard than shampoos overall. But most still fell short, so choosing this option alone isn't a reliable shortcut to a shampoo that meets it.

When we say a shampoo is “non-toxic,” we mean it meets the Welpr Standard, our precautionary consumer standard; the shampoo guide explains what that means.

Why most silicone-free shampoos still don't meet the Welpr Standard

Of the 552 silicone-free shampoos, 522 didn't meet the Welpr Standard. The main reasons were undisclosed blends, almost always fragrance, and potential contamination by 1,4-dioxane. Flagged ingredients were much less common.

Flagged ingredients in silicone-free shampoo

31 of the 552 silicone-free shampoos listed at least one ingredient flagged by the Welpr Standard; the table below shows how often each appeared, which organization identified the concern, and why it was flagged.

Transparency issues in silicone-free shampoo

520 of the 552 silicone-free shampoos had at least one disclosure gap or potential-contaminant flag.

Going silicone-free doesn't remove the 1,4-dioxane question. The most common carrier of this flag was Polyquaternium-10, a conditioning ingredient. Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Polysorbate 20, PEG-150 Distearate, and Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate also carried it. See the shampoo guide's 1,4-dioxane entry.

Fragrance remains the most common disclosure gap because choosing silicone-free doesn't change how scent ingredients are disclosed. The shampoo guide's undisclosed blend entry explains how we handle that gap.

How often “free from” shampoos meet the Standard

Does avoiding another ingredient change the picture? This table compares how often shampoos without each ingredient or ingredient family met the Welpr Standard.

Fragrance-free shampoos met the Welpr Standard far more often than silicone-free shampoos. Undisclosed blends, mostly fragrance, were the most common transparency issue in the silicone-free group, so avoiding undisclosed fragrance addresses a major disclosure gap. See our fragrance-free shampoo guide for those picks.

What does silicone-free mean?

Silicones help shampoo leave hair smoother and easier to detangle. Here, silicone-free means no silicone appears on the analyzed ingredient list, including dimethicone, dimethiconol, amodimethicone, or cyclopentasiloxane. The claim has no specific legal definition for U.S. cosmetics, so we check disclosed ingredients rather than relying on the bottle.

Silicone-free doesn't mean free of every conditioning or film-forming polymer. Labels may list other conditioning ingredients, such as polyquaternium-10; polyquaterniums aren't silicones, and neither is silica. This ingredient-list check doesn't establish that undisclosed constituents or trace contaminants contain no silicone.

The table below shows the silicones we found on ingredient labels and how many of the 826 shampoos contained each.

Amodimethicone was the only silicone in any shampoo that met the Welpr Standard. Shampoos containing it aren't included on this silicone-free page.

Dimethicone-free vs. silicone-free shampoo

Dimethicone-free names just one silicone, not the whole group. A shampoo with that claim could still contain amodimethicone or dimethiconol. Likewise, amodimethicone-free doesn't rule out dimethicone or other silicones, so neither claim means the same as silicone-free.

Is silicone-free shampoo better?

Silicone-free shampoo can be a useful preference, especially if your fine hair feels weighed down or your curls lose bounce with richer formulas. People often choose it to avoid the coated feeling that some silicones can leave. For more on the term, see what silicone-free means.

The trade-off can be less slip and smoothing: silicones help reduce friction and make detangling easier. Other conditioning ingredients can provide those benefits too. How your hair feels depends on the whole formula, and silicone-free shampoo can still leave buildup.

A shampoo never fails the Welpr Standard just for containing a silicone. A silicone can carry another finding, though, such as a PEG silicone's potential 1,4-dioxane question. The shampoo guide's silicone entry covers that distinction.

Best non-toxic, silicone-free shampoo overall

Our overall pick is the highest-ranked silicone-free shampoo that met the Welpr Standard.

Choosing the best non-toxic, silicone-free shampoo for your hair type and need

Here are our picks for non-toxic, silicone-free shampoo by hair type and need:

Best for fine hair

Fine hair needs cleansing without enough added weight to leave it flat. Look for a lightweight or volumizing silicone-free shampoo, and avoid rich oils and butters if they leave your strands feeling coated.

Best for dry hair

Dry hair needs cleansing that removes dirt and excess oil without leaving the lengths feeling stripped. Look for a moisturizing silicone-free shampoo with mild cleansers and ingredients such as glycerin, and follow with conditioner for easier detangling.

Best for curly and wavy hair

The scalp's oils don't travel as readily along curls, so curly hair often needs extra conditioning, while waves can lose their shape under too much weight. Look for a silicone-free shampoo with mild cleansers and enough conditioning to keep lengths manageable. Lightweight formulas are a useful starting point for waves; richer ones may suit coarse or dry curls better.

Best for frizzy hair

Dryness and damage to the hair's outer layer can make frizz more noticeable, especially in humid air. Look for a moisturizing or smoothing silicone-free shampoo that leaves hair feeling supple rather than rough, and follow with conditioner.

Best for men

Choose a silicone-free shampoo for your hair texture and scalp needs rather than the word men on the bottle. A lightweight formula can suit short hair with oily roots, while dry or coarse lengths may benefit from a moisturizing shampoo.

Best for oily hair

Oily roots need enough cleansing to remove excess sebum without adding unnecessary weight. Look for a silicone-free shampoo aimed at oily hair or oil control, and choose a clarifying formula when product buildup is also a concern.

Best for sensitive scalp

For a sensitive scalp, look for a silicone-free shampoo explicitly intended for that audience, with mild cleansing and ingredients you already tolerate. If scent ingredients bother you, prioritize fragrance-free options; the shampoo guide covers fragrance allergens in more detail.

Best for locs

Locs need cleansing that reaches the scalp and rinses thoroughly through the hair without leaving residue. Look for a clean-rinsing silicone-free shampoo, and avoid rich oils or butters if they tend to build up inside your locs.

Types of non-toxic, silicone-free shampoo

We cover silicone-free shampoo bars and liquid shampoo.

Non-toxic, silicone-free liquid shampoo

For more on the liquid format, see the shampoo guide’s liquid shampoo section.

Non-toxic, silicone-free shampoo bars

For help choosing between soap-based and syndet bars, see the shampoo guide’s shampoo bar comparison.