Question from Christina
I am chemically sensitive and have a few botanical allergies, and I have not been able to find a shampoo that I can use without side effects. Has anyone found a plain shampoo without fragrance, without the laureth and lauryl sulfate, and without such herbal additives as chamomile, patchouli, lavender, or marigold? Thanks.
-Christina
Debra’s Answer
Readers?
John Masters organic unscented Bare Shampoo. I have severe MCS and this has absolutely NO smell even though it says that there is lavender and chamomile in it. I use it with no reactions. Buy @ Vitaminshoppe . THERE IS NO SLS…in it.
I also used Granny’s in the 1980s until they went out of business. I now use Magick Botanicals Shampoo, Conditioner and Moisture Lotion. Fragrance Free and works fine but they do have parabens in it – which I am not thrilled about.
Magick botanicals gives me a headache.
Wild Willow PURE OLIVE ALL-IN-ONE FOAMING SOAP & SHAMPOO at http://www.NaturalJoyBeauty.comIngrdients: distilled water, saponified olive oil, borax. (Theborax is very minimal in this product.) There’s also a PURE OLIVE bar from the same company that can be used as a shampoo and it is simply distilled water and saponified olive oil.
This is not chemical-free, but meets most of your requirements. I’m extremely mcs and sensitive to herbs and essential oils. Philip Kinsley No Scent No Colour Shampoo is my go-to shampoo (and conditioner). They sell a travel size to try it out.
Hope it helps.
–Alonna
Here’s my post about it. http://www.alonnashaw.com/2013/02/how-to-go-fragrance-free-part-one.html
Thank you all for the helpful suggestions. I look forward to finding these and trying them. -Christina
Magick Botanicals Fragrance Free Shampoo and also conditioner
I used to use Granny’s shampoo and other products which I had found in Debra’s book back in 1985. Granny’s retired, I tried many differnt shampoos. I can tolerate Magick Botanicals and I get lots of compliments on the shine on my hair. Debra’s book nontoxic and natural gave homeade recipe alternatives using soap, or baking soda. You may have to go down to the very basics. Example. For laundry, I only use baking soda, or borax and or I hand grate some French kitchen soap ( from Janices catalogue ) because I have not found a premade laudry product that I can tolerate. Just like cooking from scratch some of us have to go back to ingridients we can identify and pronounce.
I’ve also used Granny’s and loved it. I currently use Magick Botanicals Conditioner after I used Neutrogena’s T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo. I’ve used this combination for years with great results.
I use Dakota Free Pure Praire Soap for my shampoo. It is a bar soap, and lathers very well. Rinses clean and leaves my hair nice and soft. I sometime use a little lemon juice or apple cider vinegar in water, as a rinse. The soap is free of fragrances, harsh chemicals, many allergens and other undesirable ingredients.
I use “Nature Clean”. It is made in Canada and made without parabens, sulphates, phthalates, propylene glycol, silicone, PEG, fragrances or dyes. I also use the conditioner.
I discovered a product that may agree with you. It’s Herbalix shampoo, and they have an unscented version. See http://www.herbalix.com Have not tried the product yet, but going to order soon. Hope this helps you.
I also use magik botanical fragrance free shampoo and conditioner. I have been using it for many years.
Hi Christina,
Me and my family simply use bar soap to wash our hair and it works fine for all of us. We use Kirk’s Natural Original Coco Castile Soap Fragrance Free. It cost about $1.70 per bar and doesn’t have any scent or additives. I hope this heps!
-Danielle
Free & Clear Shampoo (psico.com)
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
This is not chemical-free. It is of low-toxicity but many of the ingredients are made from petroleum.
check out CalBen 5 Star Soap Company. I don’t think their shampoo has botanicals.
http://www.calbenpuresoap.com
Ava Anderson non toxic- rated 0 and does not have any of the things you listed.
AFM “Safe Choice:Shampoo and Body Wash” is even milder than the Magick shampoo, can also be used by children.