Beautifully shiny and coifed hair can take a lot of work, and a lot of hair products. But have you ever stopped to consider if your hair care products are safe? Do you really know what’s in them? I don’t know about you, but I see no reason to add harmful chemicals to my daily routine if I can find non-toxic alternatives. Good news! Mamavation has identified 50+ non-toxic hair styling products that you can’t live without! You’ve trusted Mamavation to cover topics like safest shampoo, safest sunscreens and safest cookware, now join us as we cover styling products like gels, mousse, foam, styling creams, etc.
We know you don’t have the time needed to investigate the hairstyling industry, so Mamavation has done it for you! Scroll down to the very bottom for our product recommendations and if you would like to say thank you, you can donate here.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links and was fact-checked by Rebecca Elizabeth Sherrick Harks, Registered Nurse.
Table of Contents
Top 17 Chemicals To Avoid in Hair Products
In our research, we discovered that a lot of products do have some “chemical” aid – and some a lot more than others. Here are some of the worst offenders you might find in that bottle of styling gel:
- Aminomethyl Propanol: While this is less toxic at low levels, Simple Organic Beauty claims that products like straighteners have high concentrates of this chemical. It can cause irritation or be contaminated with nitrosamines.
- Butylphenyl Methylpropional (Lilial): Toxic allergen that may bioaccumulate and possible endocrine disruptor.
- Butylated Compounds: Compounds such as BHT are also very common in styling products. They are known endocrine disruptors and are also toxic to other systems in humans. They are also a likely human carcinogen.
- Coumarin: This common chemical can cause allergies, and contact dermatitis. It’s a suspected carcinogen too but more research is needed.
- Diethylhexyl Adipate: This chemical is toxic for organs, and is also a possible endocrine disruptor and carcinogen.
- Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (Octinoxate): This is a probably endocrine disruptor and also carries other allergen and toxic effects.
- Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate: This possible allergen that may be toxic to humans.
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone: These irritants can cause allergies, and are possible neurotoxins. They may also be toxic to organs.
- Octinoxate: This is a likely endocrine disruptor, with numerous toxic effects for humans. It also bioaccumulates in the body.
- PEGs/Polysorbates: These ingredients are extremely common in hair styling products, which often contain a number of different PEGs. The danger of PEGs is that they can be contaminated with carcinogens and may easily penetrate the skin.
- Petrolatum & Paraffin: These petroleum-derived products are often carcinogenic.
- Poloxamer 184: This may be toxic to organs and reproductive systems. It may also be contaminated with carcinogens.
- Propylene Glycol: These compounds are often contaminated with carcinogens.
- Quats: Another common ingredient in hair products. Linked to reproductive issue and possible endocrine disruptors.
- Retinyl Palmitate: These may lead to an increased risk of skin cancer, and many of these “vitamin A” compounds may be linked to other cancers as well.
- Triethanolamine (TEA): This hair styling ingredient is a possible carcinogen and toxic to organs.
- Undisclosed Fragrance: Because fragrances can be composed of thousands of chemicals, the possibility of allergies or toxicity is unknown. Commonly found in “fragrance” are phthalates, which are a plasticizer that keeps the fragrance lasting longer. Phthalates are linked to infertility, obesity & hyperactivity in children.
Mamavation’s Investigation on Hair Products: Hairspray, Gels, Mousse, & Oils
Here are Mamavation’s recommendations for worst, better and best hairstyling brands. Feel free to choose from whatever brand fits your lifestyle.
The Bad Hair Products
These products contained 5 or more of the ingredients mentioned above. Many of these had multiple PEGs and/or quats as well.
Gels
- DevaCurl Ultra Defining Gel: 5 bad ingredients
- Ouidad Advanced Climate Control: 6-10 bad ingredients
- John Paul Mitchell Soft Sculpting Gel: 6 bad ingredients
- Number 4 Firm Hold Gel: 5 bad ingredients
- Sebastian Gel Forte: 5 bad ingredients
- Surface Reflect Styling Gel: 5 bad ingredients
- Tresemme Flawless Curls Bouncy Curls Defining, Tres Two Ultra Firm Alcohol-Free Hair and Tres Two Strong Hold Hair Gels: 5 bad ingredients
Hairspray
- AG Hair: Aerodynamics Lightweight Finishing Spray: 8 bad ingredients
- Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Volumizing AND Intense Hairspray: 7 bad ingredients or more
- Chi Hairspray: 5 bad ingredients
- John Paul Mitchell Sculpting Spray: 6 bad ingredients
- L’ange Hair Rival and Salt+Sea: 6 bad ingredients or more
- Marc Anthony: 7 bad ingredients or more
- Moroccanoil Hair Care Curl Re-Energizing Spray: 9 bad ingredients
- Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Detangling Spray: 7 bad ingredients
- Number 4 Ethylhexyl Might Hair Spray: 5 bad ingredients
- Sebastion Volupt Spray: 8 bad ingredients
- Suave Natural Hold Non-Aerosol and Micro Mist Hairsprays: 7 bad ingredients
- Surface Impulse Finishing Spray: 5 bad ingredients
- Surface Swirl Sea Salt Spray: 5 bad ingredients
- Surface Theory Finishing Spray: 5 bad ingredients
Mousse, Foam and Styling Lotions/Creams
- AG Hair Mousse Gel Extra-Firm Curl Retention-5
- Arbonne Mousse Air-Turbo Charged: 6 bad ingredients
- Biosilk Silk Therapy Beach Texture Spray: 5 bad ingredients
- Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Volumizing Spray Mousse: 6 bad ingredients
- DevaCurl Super Stretch: 5 bad ingredients
- DevaCurl SuperCream: 6 bad ingredients
- Dry Bar Souther Belle Mousse: 5 bad ingredients
- Giovanni (EcoChic) Styling Glue Custom Hair Modeler: 8 bad ingredients
- Hask Biotin Boost Thickening Cream: 5 bad ingredients
- L’ange Whip Volumizing Mousse: 5 bad ingredients
- Living Proof Full Thickening Cream: 5 bad ingredients
- Kerastase Densimorphose® Hair Mousse: 5 bad ingredients
- Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Product Line: 7 bad ingredients or more
- Moroccanoil Hair Care Volumizing Mousse and Beach Wave Mousse: 6 bad ingredients or more
- Number 4 Fluoro5 Elixer Restore & Repair Oil: 6 bad ingredients
- Oribe Supershine Light Moisturizing Crème: 8 bad ingredients
- Surface Jump Volume Mousse: 8 bad ingredients
- Tresemme TRES Mousse, Extra Firm Control, and Flawless Curl Mousse Products: 8 bad ingredients
- Tresemme 24 Hour Body Amplifying Mousse: 7 bad ingredients
Oils and Serums
- L’ange Remedy Argon Oil: 5 bad ingredients
- L’Oreal Eversleek Frizz Finish Oil-In-Serum: 5 bad ingredients
Better Hair Products
These products contain between 3-4 ingredients mentioned above.
Gels
- Moroccanoil Hair Care Styling Gel: 4 bad ingredients
- Tresemme Tres Two Mega Firm Hold Sculpting Gel: 4 bad ingredients
Hairspray
- Andalou Naturals Lavender & Biotin Full Volume Style Spray, Exotic Marula Oil Silky Smooth Detangling Spray, Argan Stem Cell Age Defying Hair Spray, and Thickening Spray: 3 bad ingredients-5
- AG Hair Ultradynamics Extra-Firm Finishing Spray: 4 bad ingredients
- Dry Bar Money Maker Hairspray and The Sheriff Hairspray: 4 bad ingredients
- Hask Biotin Boost 5-in-1 Leave-In Spray: 4 bad ingredients
- Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast: 3 bad ingredients
- L’Oreal LOCK IT Clean Style Gel: 4 bad ingredients
- L’Oreal Clean Gel: 3 bad ingredients
- Love Beauty and Planet Hair Hair Spray: 3 bad ingredients
- Lush Sea Spray: 3 bad ingredients
- Number 4 Non-Aerosol Hair Spray: 4 bad ingredients
- Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray: 4 bad ingredients
- Oribe Superfine Strong Hair Spray: 4 bad ingredients
- Sebastion Mousse Forte: 4 bad ingredients
Mousse, Foam and Styling Lotions/Creams
- Aveda Be Curly Prep: 4 bad ingredients
- Kerastace Curl Idéal Hair Mousse: 3 bad ingredients
- L’oreal Advanced Hairstyle Blow Dry It Thermal Smoother Cream: 4 bad ingredients
- Living Proof Full Thickening Mousse: 4 bad ingredients
- Lush Dirty Hair Cream: 4 bad ingredients
- Lush Hair Custard: 3 bad ingredients
- Oribe Curl Control Silkening Crème: 4 bad ingredients
- Sun Bum Curls & Waves Styling Cream: 4 bad ingredients
- Suave Firm Control Boosting Mousse: 4 bad ingredients
Oils and Serums
- Kerastase Hair Serum: 4 bad ingredients
- Sebastion Dark Oil: 4 bad ingredients
- Suave Split End Rescue Serum: 3 bad ingredients
Best Hair Products
We were happy to find a lot of products that had between 0-2 problematic ingredients. We found 50+ non-toxic hair styling products and are proud to present them here.
Gels
- Advanced Botanical Strong Hold Style Gel: 1 bad ingredient
- Alaffia Repair & Restore Curl Defining Cream Gels: 0 bad ingredients
- Andalou Brilliant Shine Styling Gel: 0 bad ingredients
- Aveda Speed Of Light™ Blow Dry Accelerator Spray: 1 bad ingredient
- Carina Organic Sweet Pea Alcohol-Free Styling Gel & Unscented Alcohol-Free Styling Gel: 0 bad ingredients
- Essante Organic Captivate Hair Gel: 0 bad ingredients
- Giovanni LA Hold Styling Gel: 1 bad ingredient
- Shea Moisture Red Palm Oil & Cocoa Butter Styling Gelee: 2 bad ingredients
- Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Heatless Curl Stretch Gel: 0 bad ingredients
Hairspray & Other Sprays
- Alaffia Coconut Texturizing Spray: 2 bad ingredients
- Alba Botanica Hawaiian Leave-In Conditioning Mist: 1 bad ingredient
- Arbonne Colorlast Hair Spray: 1 bad ingredient
- Aveda Air Control™ Light Hold Hair Spray: 2 bad ingredients
- Dry Bar Mai Tai Spritzer: 2 bad ingredients
- Carina Organic Sweet Pea Fast Drying Hairspray, Unscented Fast Drying Hairspray, and Botanical Therapeutic: 0 bad ingredients
- Essante Organic USDA Organic Hairspray: 0 bad ingredients
- Giovanni LA Hold Hair Spritz: 1 bad ingredient
- John Masters Organic Hair Spray: 0 bad ingredients
- L’oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray Extra Strong Hold: 2 bad ingredients
- Moroccan Oil Hair Care Dry Texture Spray: 2 bad ingredients
- Pacifica Salty Waves Texture Spray: 0 bad ingredients
- Pacifica Ginger Root 10 In 1 Volumizing Spray: 1 bad ingredient
- Pure Haven Regular Hold: 0 bad ingredients
- Pure Haven Supergreens Thermal Protection Hair Mist: 0 bad ingredients
- Pure Haven Supergreens Detangler: 0 bad ingredients
- Sun Bum Anti-Frizz Oil Mist: 1 bad ingredient
- Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Hold & Shine Moisture Mist: 0 bad ingredients
- Shea Moisture Coconut & Cactus Water Pump Me Up Volumizing Spray: 1 bad ingredient
- Suave Flexible Control Non-Aerosol Hairspray: 2 bad ingredients
- Tresemmé TRES Two Aerosol and Non-Aerosol Extra Hold Hair Sprays: 1 bad ingredient
Mousse, Foam and Styling Lotions/Creams
- Alaffia Repair & Restore Curl Maker: 0 bad ingredients
- Andalou Argan Oil & Shea Moisture Rich Styling Cream: 0 bad ingredients
- Desert Essence Coconut Shine & Refine Hair Lotion: 1 bad ingredient
- Desert Essence Soft Curl Hair Cream: 1 bad ingredient
- Desert Essence Coconut Hair Defrizzer And Heat Protector: 2 bad ingredients
- Giovanni Mousse Air-Turbo Charged Styling Foam: 2 bad ingredients
- John Masters Volumizing Foam: 0 bad ingredients
- Monat Curl Cream: 3 bad ingredients
- Pacifica Pineapple Swirl Curl Defining Cream: 1 bad ingredient
- Pacifica Salty Waves Beach Balm: 1 bad ingredient
- Pure Haven Styling Cream: 0 bad ingredients bad ingredients
- Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Frizz-Free Curl Mousse: 1 bad ingredient
Oils and Serums
- Alba Botanica Hawaiian Anti-Frizz Serum: 0 bad ingredients
- Bare Republic UV Protecting Thermal Hair Serum: 2 bad ingredients
- Kerastase LHuile Original Hair Oil: 2 bad ingredients
- Monat Rejuveniqe Oil Intensive: 0 bad ingredients
- Moroccanoil Treatment Original: 1 bad ingredient
- Pacifica Coconut Pro Strong & Long Creamy Oil Mask Mini: 2 bad ingredients
- Pure Haven Supergreen Scalp Treatment: 0 bad ingredients
- Pure Haven Argan Oil: 0 bad ingredients
- Suave Flexible Control Non-Aerosol Hairspray: 2 bad ingredients
- Surface Bassu Gold and Bassu Hydrating Oils: 2 bad ingredients
- Surface Curls Serum: 2 bad ingredients
- Urtekram Organic Coconut Hair Oil: 0 bad ingredients
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Cheerleaders For Monsanto’s Roundup & the Pesticide Industry
Can you please investigate the Redkin line of products? Thank you!
Hey, You can add Diva Divine Hair products collection too. They are just amazing.
Thanks for sharing hair styling products for long hair.
Looking to see a list for heat protectants?
I am a professional cosmetologist. Can you please rate professional products? I am currently using Pure Haven, Nutragin, and Natulique on my clients. I know the zero Natulique color is one of the cleanest. What about their hair products? I want to make sure I offer the best solutions.
Thank you for all that you do.
I have noticed that Pure Haven products are often on the “best” lists on this website.
Pay attention to celebrities: not all of them can boast a thick shock of hair. However, good care products, salon and home treatments, proper nutrition and vitamin complexes solve this problem. Even thick and naturally strong hair needs high-quality daily care. And if your hair is weak, thin, dry or, conversely, oily, hair care products should be chosen especially carefully.
Did you check redkin?