14 best vegan shampoos 2024 UK; tried and tested for every hair type
GET ready to discover the best vegan shampoos of 2024, as we put some of the most coveted products to the test in our comprehensive guide.
Whether you live a plant-based lifestyle and are looking for a shampoo that doesn't contain animal-derived ingredients, or you simply want to embrace the benefits of more natural-based haircare, the beauty shelves are thankfully filled with amazing shampoo (and shampoo bar) options these days.
Of course, with so many contenders out there, it can be hard to decide which one to go for in your hair routine – but fear not, because we've tested a range of products that cater to various hair needs.
From volume enhancers to shampoos that boost shine or improve hair feel, our selection has something for everyone.
These are the best vegan shampoos for healthier hair and a happier planet.
Best vegan shampoos at a glance:
- Best overall vegan shampoo:
- Best hydrating shampoo:
- Best shampoo bar:
- Best budget shampoo:
- Best shampoo for curly hair:
Kevin Murphy MINI ANGEL.WASH
Kevin Murphy MINI ANGEL.WASH, £8
Pros: Hydrating, adds volume and shine, great for fine hair, doesn't feel heavy, mini size
Cons: Sweet smell might not be for everyone, larger costs £40
I love Kevin Murphy hair products: they're seriously good. And now the brand has products that are vegan friendly too.
Most read in Product Reviews
This includes its ANGEL.WASH, which is loved by global megastar Kylie Minogue – but if that's not enough to convince you, then perhaps its hydrating and protecting qualities might.
Made with green tea, lavender and tangerine extracts as well as hydrolysed oat protein, this shampoo encourages hair to retain water, adding to its overall volume and shine.
This is what makes it particularly good for fine hair that's been coloured because it gently encourages hydration.
Having said that, it never feels heavy and you don't need much - just a penny-sized amount - to get a really clean wash every time.
The smell might not be for everyone because it is quite sweet, reminiscent of actual sweets, but it's not too strong and isn't overpowering after using it.
And how cute is this mini version? For only £8, it's perfect for a weekend away, whether that's at home or abroad.
Size: 40ml, Key Ingredients: Wheat and oat proteins, vitamin C-rich rose canina fruit extract, tangerine peel oil, Hair Type: Fine, fragile or broken hair that’s coloured or damaged
Revlon Uniq One All In One Hair Treatment
Revlon Professional Uniq One All In One Hair Treatment, £18.80 £5
Pros: Multi-purpose leave-in treatment, can be used on wet or dry hair, heat protectant
Cons: No natural ingredients
This is a cult favourite because it does everything.
Is your hair dry and damaged, or weak and dull? Are you prone to split ends? This miracle spray can help remedy that.
Spritz this vegan formula on to hair – wet or dry – and comb through, before leaving it to dry naturally or styling with a hairdryer or styling tools. Oh, and it's also a heat protectant, so you don't need to rummage around for a separate product before styling.
And that's the best thing about this hair saviour — it's a real multitasker.
It's a watery consistency, more like a facial mist than an aerosol, so it really feels like it's absorbing into your hair.
Add in a scent that takes you straight to the salon and you've got a product that feels like it's working really hard to give you the best hair possible.
Size: 150ml, Key Ingredients: N/A (chemical heavy), Hair Type: All
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Coco & Eve Like A Virgin Conditioner
Coco & Eve Like A Virgin Conditioner, £22.75
Pros: Ultra-hydrating, smoothes hair, coconut scent, aesthetic bottle
Cons: Not for coloured hair
Although not a shampoo, conditioner is just as important in any hair routine. And this one's all about hydration.
Hyaluronic acid — the trusty molecule that's capable of holding 1000 times its own weight in water — is one of the key ingredients of Coco & Eve's Like a Virgin Cream Conditioner and it does its job beautifully.
Pea proteins reduce breakage which means less split ends, and the creamy (but not heavy) consistency means this conditioner acts like a hair mask, smoothing hair and giving thirsty strands a boost.
And when I say thirsty strands, I mean all thirsty strands as this is suitable for all hair types – whether you're trying to tame frizz or add some shine. However, it's worth noting this range has been developed for non-coloured hair.
You can smell the coconut in the product, the sweetness of the fragrance transporting you on holiday while washing your hair.
And it's very aesthetically pleasing. The pink bottle is a palatable millennial pastel pink that will sit nicely on any bathroom shelf, or in any shower.
Size: 250ml, Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, coconut, argan, camelia, almond, avocado and pineapple, Hair Type: Normal to dry hair
Green People Eucalyptus & Mint Shampoo Bar
Green People Eucalyptus & Mint Shampoo Bar, £16.50
Pros: Fragrance, rich lather
Cons: Expensive, small bar
Rating: 4/5
I'm obsessed with the refreshing minty scent of this shampoo bar; it’s almost tempting enough to eat. Designed for itchy, flaky scalps, it caught my interest since I've been dealing with menopausal symptoms like scalp itchiness lately.
The bar quickly created a rich, lasting lather when rubbed into my scalp, and applying it directly to my hair made it feel like it really penetrated to the roots.
It gave my scalp a pleasant tingle without being overpowering, unlike some other minty products I’ve tried. Whether it will help reduce the itching remains to be seen, but I’ll certainly keep using it.
In addition to mint and eucalyptus, it includes celery seed extract which is known for its soothing, anti-itch and anti-flake benefits, as well as macadamia and avocado seed oils to strengthen hair.
Plus if mint isn't your thing, there are also and versions to try.
Review by Lisa Burn
Size: 50g, Key Ingredients: Eucalyptus globulus, celery, macadamia, avocado oil, Hair Type: Itchy scalp, flaky scalp, all hair types
Bouclème Hydrating Hair Cleanser
Bouclème Hydrating Hair Cleanser, £17 £12.75
Pros: Lovely scent, curls were conditioned and stayed fresh for days
Cons: None
Bouclème focuses on curly hair, so it has a diverse range of curl creams, shampoos, stylers, and gels.
Its Hydrating Hair Cleanser is designed for those with fine hair and loose waves and features a blend of coconut, mongongo and camellia oils, along with vitamins C and E to nourish and moisturize – all for under £20.
My hair is a perfect match for this product since I have frizzy, dry waves rather than tight curls, so I was eager to try it.
Initially, I was sceptical about its effectiveness due to its thin texture, which felt less creamy than other shampoos, though the herbal scent was delightful.
To my surprise, my curls have never looked better. My waves appeared conditioned and fresh, staying clean for several days before needing another wash.
I can confidently say this is the best vegan shampoo I've found for wavy hair.
Review by Jennifer Barton
Size: 300ml, Key Ingredients: Coconut, Mongongo and Camellia Oils, Hair Type: Fine hair and loose waves
CENTRED Daily Calma Shampoo
CENTRED Daily Calma Shampoo, £22
Pros: Ideal for dry and damaged hair, gently cleanses, doesn't strip hair of natural oils, sulphate and silicone-free
Cons: None
Husband and wife duo Laura and Kieran Tudor created CENTRED when Laura suffered severe hair loss following a number of stressful years working in the fashion industry.
Using hair stylist Kieran's professional knowledge plus their own research, they found a blend of ingredients that solved Laura's problems. Creating the brand gave them the platform to share what they'd discovered.
Their ethos is all about finding moments of calm to prevent burnout, so that others don't have to go through the same ordeal as the founder.
The shampoo itself has been made for dry and damaged hair and uses aloe vera, chamomile and orange blossom water to gently cleanse.
But it won't strip hair of its natural oils and goodness because it's sulphate and silicone-free, on top of having the vegan seal of approval.
It has a subtle but fresh scent, and lathers nicely, giving a really clean feeling and leaving hair looking shiny, soft and healthy.
Size: 250ml, Key Ingredients: Chamomile, aloe vera, amino acids, Hair Type: Dry & damaged hair
JVN Hair Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo
JVN Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo, £18
Pros: Thickening, leaves hair shiny and healthy, hydrating, silicone and sulphate-free
Cons: None
If you've seen Queer Eye, then you'll know that Jonathan Van Ness is a hair wizard.
And back in 2022, he launched his very first haircare brand after over 15 years in the industry, to general delight.
There are four collections in the line with three shampoos on offer, but I love the Embody shampoo which is all about taking up space.
A key aspect of JVN Hair is inclusivity, and each collection has been curated to work for every hair type.
Embody is a thickening shampoo that hydrates and cleanses the scalp and hair, leaving it shiny and healthy.
But the real crowning glory is an ingredient that only JVN Hair uses in haircare: hemisqualane.
A natural alternative to silicone, it is derived from sugarcane and penetrates the hair strand to improve health, shine, texture and quality. I don't see any downsides to that.
The whole line is Leaping Bunny certified as vegan and cruelty-free, plus sustainability is at the centre of all its products.
Not bad for a debut range.
Size: 295ml, Key Ingredients: Caffeine, aloe leaf juice, hemisqualane,Hair Type: All (ideal for fine, thinning, limp or flat hair)
Larry King City Life Shampoo
Larry King Hair Care City Life Shampoo, from £18
Pros: Refillable bottle, rebalances scalp and hair affected by hard water and pollution
Cons: Larger 300ml size costs £40
Larry King is a big name in the world of hair. He's worked with megastars like Niall Horan, Gigi Hadid and Karlie Kloss to name just a few.
So it's no surprise that his haircare range is seriously good.
The City Life shampoo is part of the brand's fully vegan wash cycle which was developed to work like a skincare routine, regardless of hair type.
It's packaged in 300ml glass bottles that are designed to be refilled using the 180ml refillable tubes, although you can just buy the tube separately if you'd prefer.
I love the City Life shampoo because it's focused on rebalancing scalps and hair affected by hard water and pollution.
It uses vitamin E and zinc PCA to gently cleanse the scalp, and centella asiatica which is said to have antibacterial qualities to clear away heavy minerals that can be left by using hard water.
Size: 100ml or 300ml, Key Ingredients: Vitamin E and Zinc PCA, Centella Asiatica, green tea extract, Biotin, Vitamin B5, Hair Type: All hair types
Arkive All Day Everyday Shampoo
Arkive All Day Everyday Shampoo, £8
Pros: Focuses on hair and scalp, locks in moisure, sulphate-free, cheap
Cons: None
Another giant in the hair world, this is Adam Reed's first 'headcare' line as he prefers it to be called.
The hairstylist and one of the two founders of Percy and Reed salons created the brand during lockdown when he realised wash day was more than just cleaning hair, but a moment of calm and a time to centre himself.
As with most other products on this list, the All Day Everyday shampoo doesn't just focus on the strands of hair but also on the health of the scalp. The scalp is an essential part of hair health because an unbalanced scalp can affect hair growth and the condition of the strands.
Using baobab oil and baobab protein, the product locks in moisture, improves the texture of the hair and makes strands stronger.
The hair guru isn't resting on his laurels though. One 200ml bottle costs only £8, striking the balance between high quality and widely accessible.
It's also vegan, sulphate-free and cruelty-free. Tick, tick and tick.
Size: 250ml, Key Ingredients: Baobab protein and oil, Hair Type: All
Elemental Herbology Shiny Lock Shampoo
Elemental Herbology Shiny Locks Shampoo, £16.85 £14.32
Pros: Hydrating, soothes scalp, adds shine, strengthens
Cons: None
This natural brand was founded on the basis of the Five Elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine; hence Elemental Herbology.
This means each product is formulated with one of the five elements in mind – wood, fire, earth, metal and water – and which element you should opt for depends on your personal skin and hair type.
The Shiny Locks shampoo is placed firmly in the water element because it's all about hydration. And most hair types always need an extra boost of moisture for that extra shine.
Lavender soothes the scalp while wheat protein adds volume and shine to the hair. For strong hair follicles and better hair growth, this shampoo harnesses the vitamin C that's found in grapefruit.
Natural, vegan and reasonably priced, this is one to add to your basket.
Size: 290ml, Key Ingredients: Lavender, Wheat Proteins, Grapefruit, Hair Type: All
Klorane
Klorane Cupuaca Repairing Shampoo for Very Dry Hair, £11
Pros: Decently priced, great for dry brittle hair, 86% natural ingredients
Cons: None
Vegan shampoo can be a bit pricey, but not this offering from Klorane.
Especially good for very dry and brittle hair, this 200ml bottle will set you back £11 – not bad considering lots retail for £15 and upwards.
It's made up of 86% natural ingredients including cupuaca, which is 1.4 times more nourishing than shea butter. It contains fatty acids like omega-6 and omega-9 in its seeds, which are pressed and used to maintain moisture in the hair.
This vegan shampoo is a really good option for curly, coily and textured hair because it's so gentle and hydrating.
All Klorane ingredients are organically farmed in the Amazon to support local communities and create a balanced ecosystem.
Size: 200ml, Key Ingredients: Cupuacu, omega-6 and 9, Hair Type: Very dry, damaged hair with waves, frizz, curls and coiled curls
Foamie Dry Shampoo
Foamie Dry Shampoo, £5.99
Pros: Refreshes in between washes, not an aerosol, subtle raspberry blossom scent, also available in
Cons: Brunette product looks a bit like sawdust, but don't let that put you off
For most of us, dry shampoos are a staple, but they're not the best for the environment. Some aerosols contain greenhouse gases so it might be time to switch to a powder.
Foamie is a great option because not only is it vegan and not an aerosol, but it's also cruelty and plastic-free.
The powder is made from Moroccan clay and rice powder, giving it a brown colour which admittedly looks a bit like sawdust, but don't let that put you off.
You can shake it directly onto your hairline or, for more control over the distribution of the product, pour it into your hand first.
Then gently massage it in and give your hair a brush through before styling to make sure any surplus powder has been removed, in the same way as you would a spray dry shampoo.
The powder sucks up excess sebum on your scalp, giving hair a refresh in between wash days.
The scent is raspberry blossom, which sounds quite sweet, but it's very subtle so will just give hair a light fragrance rather than anything too overpowering.
Size: 40g, Key Ingredients: Moroccan clay and rice powder, Hair Type: Brunette & dark hair ( also available)
Typology Racines 1001 Nourishing Shampoo
Typology Racines 1001 Nourishing Shampoo, £18.90
Pros: Skincare for your hair, 95% naturally-derived ingredients, repairs hair fibres and hydrates, smoothes cuticle, stylish bottle, sulfate and silicone free
Cons: Fragrance-free might not suit everyone
You may have heard of Typology for skincare, but last year it launched its very first haircare range: and just like with all of its products, it's vegan.
The French brand has recently added this Nourishing Shampoo to the collection, with a real focus on active ingredients.
Camellia oil repairs the hair fibres and aloe vera hydrates without stripping away any of the good stuff.
You might be surprised to see squalane on the ingredients list because, although it is a widely used ingredient in skincare, it's not one we often see in haircare.
But that's what Typology is all about - skincare for your hair.
Whilst squalane is forming a protective film over the hair to protect it from dehydration, the biolipid complex smoothes the cuticle for a shinier, healthier finish.
That may sound like a lot of jargon, but the long and short of it is: although this shampoo is completely vegan, that doesn't stop it from being as science-based as your skincare.
Plus it looks great in the bottle – what more could you want?
Size: 200ml, Key Ingredients: Biolipid complex, Camellia oil, Squalane, Aloe vera, Ho wood essential oils, Yellow mandarin essential oil, Hair Type: All – particularly recommended for dry and damaged hair, as well as curly and frizzy hair
Monat Scalp Purifying Scrub
Monat Scalp Purifying Scrub, £48 (VIP Customer Price)
Pros: Exfoliates the scalp, clears product buildup, leaves hair healthier and shinier
Cons: Expensive
Scalp scrubs have come to the fore in the last couple of years because of their exfoliating properties and ability to clear out product buildup – which ultimately leaves hair healthier, shinier and potentially able to grow faster. Sounds good, doesn't it?
Enter Monat Scalp Purifying Scrub. Monat is known for its vegan hair and skincare products and it really has got it down to a science.
The best way to describe the consistency is to compare it to sugar wax, and if you've understandably never tried sugar wax (it is a niche reference) then imagine a gloopy pot of sugar.
Take a penny-sized amount — a good rule of thumb for most hair products including shampoo and conditioner — and massage it into the scalp once a week before shampooing.
It feels exfoliating as the sugar-like granules clear away any residue product and sebum, but make sure to thoroughly rinse because you don't want to find granules in your hair the next day.
Size: 134ml, Key Ingredients: Superfruit AHAs, Apple Cider Vinegar B6, Vitamin B6, Pink Clay, REJUVENIQE®, Hair Type: All
Where can I buy vegan shampoo in the UK?
Looking for vegan shampoo in the UK? Many beauty fans are making the switch due to the numerous benefits they offer – and the good news is, you can buy a wide range of products from various retailers, both online and in-store.
Vegan shampoos are free from animal-derived ingredients, making them a cruelty-free choice. They're often formulated with plant-based ingredients, which can be gentler on the scalp and hair, helping to reduce the risk of irritation and promote healthier locks.
Plus, they're typically more environmentally friendly, with biodegradable ingredients and eco-conscious packaging. Whether you’re committed to a vegan lifestyle or simply seeking a more natural hair care routine, here are some recommended places you can find them for sale:
How do you know if a shampoo is vegan?
To determine if a shampoo is vegan, check for a 'vegan' label or certification on the packaging, which indicates the product is free from animal-derived ingredients and has not been tested on animals.
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You can also review the ingredient list for common animal by-products such as keratin, collagen, lanolin, and glycerin – none of which are vegan.
Another way is to research the brand's cruelty-free ethos, to see if they pledge not to conduct animal testing. Trustworthy certifications from organizations like the Vegan Society, Leaping Bunny, or PETA can also provide assurance that the shampoo meets vegan and cruelty-free standards.