Are you an expecting mother looking for the best shampoo to use during your pregnancy? As a new mom, it’s important to take extra care of your hair and scalp throughout your nine months. But with endless options out there – from natural shampoos to baby-safe varieties – finding the right fit can be tricky.
Our pick for best shampoo for pregnancy is Christina Moss Naturals Original Shampoo. It is made with nourishing organic ingredients like coconut oil, aloe vera, olive fruit oil, and shea butter. Plus, it’s hypoallergenic and free from parabens, sulfates, dyes, or synthetic fragrances.
When women become pregnant, on top of having another human growing inside of them, their bodies go through a lot of changes, including hair changes. In addition to these physical changes, many pursue the switch to safer and cleaner products.
In this post, we’ll provide helpful advice on what type of shampoo is great for pregnant women and what factors to consider when shopping for products, as well as easy tips on how to pamper yourself during this special time in your life.
Get ready to find the perfect shampoo to keep those locks healthy!
What Happens to Hair During Pregnancy?
Because pregnancy causes a major change and shift in women’s hormones, an expecting mother’s body also goes through a lot of changes. Some of these changes show through the hair.
During pregnancy, a woman can experience a spike and shift in terms of hair strength and texture. Pregnancy can cause hair growth and locks to become stronger and thicker, resulting in luscious strands. Because you develop stronger roots, your hair skips the natural shedding process and allows you to grow your locks longer and much faster. Your hair can also grow thicker and more voluminous than how it normally is.
Keep in mind though that because hormonal changes generally have different effects on pregnant women, not all can enjoy voluminous and luxurious locks during pregnancy. Some might experience hair loss and thinning during the first few months of their pregnancy. Another common thing among pregnant women is experiencing postpartum hair loss. Though it stops on its own shortly after giving birth, some women still prefer to switch to pregnancy-safe shampoos that can prepare their hair for these hormonal changes.
Depending on how your body reacts to pregnancy hormones, your hair can either be too dry or greasy. It can either be strong or prone to breakage and fallout.
As there can be different effects caused by pregnancy hormones, many seek out pregnancy-safe shampoos that can help them deal with these effects.
Should You Get Pregnancy-Safe Shampoo?
Switching to a pregnancy-safe shampoo is optional and all up to preference. Many expecting mothers are making the switch to make sure that they are only using safe, clean, and gentle formulas on their scalp and hair to ensure that there will be no effects on their pregnancy and future children they’re carrying.
None of the shampoos we’re about to show you are specifically advertised that they were formulated for pregnant women. But a quick look at its label and list of ingredients will give you an idea on whether or not they are. Making the switch from your usual daily shampoo to a pregnancy-safe one will promise you a gentle formula – something your scalp needs during pregnancy. This will also assure that they are free from harmful chemicals and ingredients that can irritate and aggravate your sensitive scalp.
When looking to switch to a pregnancy-safe shampoo from your usual one, make sure you read through the product’s description and ingredients list.
Shampoo Ingredients to Avoid During Pregnancy
When it comes to looking for pregnancy-safe shampoos to switch to during your pregnancy, it’s very important that you know ingredients you should avoid.
Sulfates
A common ingredient in many soaps and shampoos currently out in the market, this helps produce the foam associated with these products. While this helps in removing oil, dirt, and build-up on scalp and skin, this can often cause irritation and aggravate those with sensitive skin and scalp. For expecting mothers who have heightened scalp sensitivities, it is best if they can avoid sulfates in their shampoos.
Parabens
Parabens are preservatives used in hair care products like shampoos that help prolong their shelf life. This is another common ingredient in many shampoos currently out in the market. Research shows that pregnant women using parabens for a longer period of time can cause consequences on their unborn child’s development – specifically their weight. This can also cause an imbalance in your hormones during pregnancy.
Phthalates
Another common ingredient in everyday shampoos is phthalates. This ingredient helps lubricate and improve spreadability of the shampoo. Long exposure to this ingredient can increase the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, according to studies. It’s also been shown to affect children’s motor skills if their mothers were exposed to it during pregnancy.
Though these claims need more studies and research so as to be more certain, many mothers opt to completely avoid these ingredients. If you also feel the need to, you can always consult with your doctor first before using any new shampoo.
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The Best Shampoo for Pregnancy
1. Christina Moss Naturals Original Shampoo – Our Pick!
Our number one pick for the best shampoo for pregnancy is the Christina Moss Naturals Original Shampoo! Having been formulated without any harmful chemicals like SLS, SLES, parabens, sulfates, dyes, and synthetic fragrances. This is formulated hypoallergenic and baby-safe as well for your peace of mind. If you’re looking to switch to a new pregnancy-safe shampoo, be sure to include this in your list of options to consider. This is especially great for those with sensitive skin and scalp as well.
Infused with powerful and nourishing plant extracts, this promises to free your hair and scalp from dirt, oil, impurities and build-up for a cleaner and clearer scalp. On top of giving a much cleaner scalp, this also helps bring a lot of moisture into your scalp for a hydrated feeling that is sure to last long. This leaves your hair looking and feeling full and soft without ever weighing down your locks. Having been formulated for dry hair and dry scalp, this helps restore and retain moisture so you don’t ever have to experience dryness again!
Formulated with coconut oil, aloe vera, olive fruit oil, and shea butter, you can rest assured you are getting only rich and nourishing ingredients for moisturizing, clarifying, and hydrating your hair and scalp. The coconut oil works to nourish your scalp and hair and helps maintain color-treated hair as well. The aloe vera is a powerful soothing and hydrating agent while the olive fruit oil offers its antioxidant properties every time you wash your hair. Add the shea butter in its pool of ingredients lightly moisturizes where your scalp and hair need it.
This Christina Moss shampoo boasts of a vegan and cruelty-free formula. If those are important things you consider in your personal care products, be sure to check this one out. The brand also promises that each tube is recyclable, putting maximum effort into it being environmentally-friendly. The brand wants you to remember that the brand name isn’t meant to suggest that all ingredients are natural. While many of their ingredients are naturally-derived, they do not claim to be 100% natural.
With this clean and safe shampoo in your hands every time you want to wash your hair, you are sure to wash your hair gently but thoroughly without ever stripping your scalp off of its natural oils and moisture. While this works to leave your hair and scalp cleaner without leaving any build-up, many users would agree that this is moisturizing enough so you can avoid dry scalp in the future. The soothing properties of this shampoo also helps your scalp to rarely itch and help you go longer in between your wash days.
Though often reported by many users to be moisturizing and hydrating, some still shared that they experienced dry scalp when this is in use. No worries though as it’s not something that can be solved with the brand’s accompanying conditioner. Some users also shared that some items can come with a faulty packaging and cup. They experienced product leaking and the cup not closing properly and securely. If you choose to go with this, just keep this one in mind. Some solved this by transferring the shampoo into another bottle.
Pros:
- No SLS, SLES, parabens, sulfates, dyes, or synthetic fragrance
- Hypoallergenic formula, pregnancy and baby-safe
- Ideal for sensitive scalp and skin
- Lifts dirt, impurities, oil, and build-up for cleaner and clearer scalp
- Helps bring moisture for hydrated and moisturized scalp
- Hair looks and feels soft and full without added weight
- Nourishes, soothes, and moisturizes scalp and hair
- Safe for color-treated hair
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Tube is recyclable for maximum environmental-friendliness
- Gently but thoroughly clarifies scalp
- Cleans without stripping off natural oils
- Scalps itches less and you can go longer days in between washes
Cons:
- Can be drying on some scalps
- Can come with a faulty packaging and cup
2. PURA D’OR Original Gold Label Anti-Hair Thinning Shampoo – Best for Thinning Hair!
The next item on our list of the best shampoos for pregnancy and our choice for the best for thinning hair is the PURA D’OR Original Gold Label Anti-Hair Thinning Shampoo! If you’re a mother-to-be and are experiencing thinning hair, you might want to check this one out. This works to promote hair strength, thickness, and far less breakage. This is sure to help you achieve thicker and better volume with every use. This also serves a great purpose for when you experience postpartum hair loss as many women who have given birth go through.
The formula of this PURA D’OR shampoo has been tested and clinically-proven to help reduce hair thinning by promoting hair strength and thickness for reduced breakage as you normally would experience along with a spike in your hormones. Every drop of this shampoo promises you decreased thinning by helping your hair grow thicker with far less breakage. This has been formulated with herbal actives and natural preservatives without sulfates so you can keep your peace of mind by only using a safe and clean shampoo.
Formulated with the powerful extracts of biotin, tea tree, aloe vera, argan oil, and saw palmetto, you can trust this one to cleanse your scalp while also strengthening your hair and hair shaft for overall healthier hair. Biotin is an important hair nutrient that works to keep your hair healthy and thick while the saw palmetto works to reduce any hair thinning you’re experiencing. Both the argan oil and aloe vera work to moisturize your hair and scalp all day long. Having been infused with tea tree oil as well, this offers relief from scalp itching and irritation.
Many users have lauded this anti-hair thinning shampoo to help them achieve zero hair in the drain. Many have experienced hair that is stronger, shinier, and with far less hair fall than they normally would. This also allows your thinning hair to become thicker and fuller more than ever. Having been packed with essential ingredients and nutrients, this helps reduce scalp dryness, brittle hair strands, and also works to improve your hair’s manageability by allowing them to go strong, soft, and smooth all over.
Having been only formulated with quality and clean ingredients without the use of harmful chemicals, this is sure to be safe to use by pregnant women without much worries at all. The brand is also proud to be vegan and cruelty-free and is environmentally-responsible as much as possible. The only few drawbacks a few users have shared regarding this shampoo is that it takes a little more work to get a good lather. The bottle can also sometimes come with a pump that doesn’t work, so just keep that in mind.
Pros:
- Ideal for thin and thinning hair
- Promotes hair strength, thickness, and less hair breakage
- Helps reduce hair thinning by promoting reduced hair breakage
- Herbal actives and natural preservatives without sulfates
- Cleanses scalp while strengthening hair and scalp
- Keeps hair and scalp moisturized all day long
- Scalp is free from itching and irritation
- Hair is stronger, shinier, and with less hair fall
- Hair is thicker, fuller, and more volumized
- Works to reduce scalp dryness, brittle hair strands, and improved hair manageability
- Frere from harmful chemicals and is safe for pregnant women
- Vegan and cruelty-free formula
Cons:
- Takes some more work to get a good lather
- Can come with a faulty pump
3. Pure Nature Lux Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner – Best for Soft, Smooth, and Manageable Hair!
Our next favorite pregnancy-safe shampoo and our choice for soft, smooth, and manageable hair is the Pure Nature Lux Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner! If your main concern is to achieve soft, smooth, and ultra manageable hair during your pregnancy, you might want to include this in your list of options. Every time you wash with this shampoo and conditioner set, you are sure to achieve hair that is soft and manageable with a healthy shine to it that is sure to bring back your hair’s healthy life.
Infused with vitamin E, this penetrates deep into your hair and hair cuticles to leave you with hair looking and feeling stronger, thicker, and all-around younger-looking. This also works to help control and smooth out frizz on your hair for locks that are silky smooth and manageable more than ever. Also a great choice for those with curly hair, this promises to soften your hair and help your curls be and stay more defined. Every time you wash your hair with this one, you are sure to achieve moisturized, soft, and manageable locks.
Formulated with rich moroccan oil, this helps increase hair strength to give you thicker, fuller, and more luxurious hair. This also works to cleanse and clear your scalp and hair from roots to tips for scalp that is free from dirt, oil, and build-up. This has been formulated free from SLS, sulfates, parabens, and gluten for your peace of mind of its safety for use on pregnant women. This is also safe for color-treated and Keratin-treated hair and will not shorten their life on your hair. Every drop of this will nourish and repair your hair from daily damage.
This Pure Nature Lux shampoo and conditioner set has been infused with UV and thermal protectant to make sure your hair is well-protected from the sun’s harmful rays and daily styling heat. This is deeply nourishing to allow you to achieve softer, smoother, and manageable hair that will last you for days. This has been proudly formulated and manufactured without engaging in any form of animal testing and questinable ethical practices. If this is an important thing for you to consider, keep this in your list of options to consider.
If your pregnancy hormones have caused your hair to change textures for the worse, you can rest assured that this can help improve your hair texture as well. You also get thicker and fuller hair without every feeling the weight of it dangling from your head. This one has a great clean smell though not everyone is a huge fan of it as some may find it a bit too strong. This promises to work gently on your scalp so you can achieve clearer scalp and help repair damaged hair faster as well.
Pros:
- Ideal for soft, smooth, and manageable hair
- Gives hair healthy shine to bring back life to your strands
- Vitamin E deeply penetrates into hair for stronger, thicker, and healthy-looking hair
- Controls and smooths out frizzy hair
- Great for curly hair – keeps them soft and curls defined
- Hair is soft, moisturized, and manageable
- Helps improve hair’s strength for thicker, fuller, and luxurious hair without added weight
- Clears scalp from dirt, oil, and build-up
- Free from SLS, sulfates, parabens, and gluten
- Safe for color and Keratin-treated hair
- With UV and thermal protectant for maximum hair protection
- Cruelty-free
- Helps improve hair texture
Cons:
- Scent may be too strong for some
4. SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Shampoo
The next item on our list of the best shampoos for pregnancy is the SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Shampoo! Specially formulated for dry and damaged hair, this offers hair and scalp intensive hydration while cleansing your scalp from dirt, oil, build-up, and impurities. Having been free from sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, and petrolatum, you can rest your mind that this is safe to use by pregnant women. The brand also assures you that that do not engage in animal testing, so if this is of importance to you, be sure to check this one out.
You can trust this SheaMoisture shampoo to deeply hydrate, revitalize, and replenish dry and damaged hair for softer and much healthier hair all over. This allows you to restore your hair to a shiny, smooth, and healthy texture. With much smoother hair thanks to including this in your hair care routine, your hair will be much much easier to manage and comb through without the usual tangle you may know too well. This is another great option for those with naturally dry hair as this is sure to provide you with adequate moisture and hydration throughout the day.
Infused with the goodness of manuka honey, fig extract, baobab, and mafura oil, you can rest assured that you’re getting nothing but the best with this shampoo. The manuka honey in its pool of ingredients works to bring much-needed moisture to your scalp and hair while the fig extract keeps your locks looking healthy and vibrant as ever. The baobab as part of its formula strengthens your hair and the mafura oil acts as a natural damage control for healthier and stronger strands all over.
This shampoo is another great option for those with curly hair as this works to keep your curls well-defined and well-hydrated. Its pool of natural and non-toxic ingredients keeps your mind at ease that this is safe for pregnant women. This has a thick consistency that lathers well. Because of this, you wouldn’t need much of the product every time you shampoo and this is sure to last you for quite some time as well. Some users have also shared that they experienced less itchy scalps when including this in their shower routines.
Thanks to its formula full of natural nutrients and moisturizers, this has been a favorite choice among those who suffer with coarse, dry, and damaged hair. Though many have commented that it comes with a great scent and leaves hair smelling wonderful, some can still find the scent to be a bit strong for their liking. If you choose to go with this one, just keep that detail in mind.
Pros:
- Formulated for dry and damaged hair
- Deeply cleans scalp from dirt, oil, build-up, and impurities
- Formulated without sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, and petrolatum
- Cruelty-free brand and formula
- Restores hair to a shiny, smooth and healthy texture
- Hair is much more tangle-free and manageable
- Provides hair with hydration and moisture throughout the day
- Offers strength and damage control for healthier and stronger hair
- Ideal for curly hair as well – keeps curls defined and hydrated
- Thick consistency lathers well and doesn’t need much amount
- Less itchy scalp
Cons:
- Scent is not for everyone – might be too strong
5. Love Beauty And Planet Volume and Bounty Shampoo
The Love Beauty And Planet Volume and Bounty Shampoo is the last item to make into our list of our favorite pregnancy-safe shampoos! Formulated and designed for fine hair, this works to give your hair more healthy volume while strengthening your hair from roots to tips. Having been formulated without sulfates, silicones, parabens, and dyes, this is sure to be safe to use by pregnant women. This is also a vegan and cruelty-free shampoo and if those are important things you always consider, make sure to check this one out as well.
This Love Beauty And Planet shampoo promises to gently cleanse your scalp from dirt, oil, and impurities for clear scalp and hair. This one also lightly moisturized scalp and hair while also giving your hair volume and strength for healthier hair all over. Having been infused with coconut water, mimosa flower, and coconut oil, this one promises to deeply moisturize and hydrate your hair. This is sure to leave your hair feeling nourished, strong, and volumized that can last throughout the day.
Many users have lauded this shampoo as it leaves hair soft, shiny, and frizz-free. Many of our curly-haired friends have also turned to use this as it also provides great curl definition without the usual frizz. Though you can achieve hair and scalp that are deeply-cleaned, this doesn’t weigh your hair down at all and doesn’t make them look limp and lifeless. Every time you wash with shampoo in your hands, you can rest assured that you are able to lock in moisture for strands that flow, beautiful, and healthy.
On top of being cruelty-free, the brand also makes the bottles 100% recyclable to make sure you are doing maximum economical and earth-friendly efforts. This has a scent to it that leaves your locks smelling good – and it actually lingers on your hair! Though a benefit for some, other users might find the scent a bit too strong for their liking so just keep that in mind. And unfortunately, other users have also reported experiencing spilling bottles and products during shipping.
Pros:
- Ideal for fine hair for thicker and voluminous hair
- Strengthens hair from roots to tips
- Lightly moisturizes and gently cleans
- Vegan and cruelty-free shampoo
- Deeply moisturizes and hydrates hair all day
- Hair is nourished, strong, and voluminous
- Soft, shiny, and frizz-free hair
- Great for curly hair – keeps curls hydrated and defined
- Doesn’t weigh down hair
- Bottles are 100% recyclable
- Great scent that lingers long on hair
Cons:
- Scent may be too strong for some
- Others might experience product spillage during shipping
How to Choose the Best Shampoo for Pregnancy
With so many shampoo options available to you and me both with just a single clock, it can sure get quite confusing to determine which ones are really safe for pregnancy.
Ingredients
When looking for pregnancy-safe shampoos, the first thing you should be looking at is its list of ingredients. Shampoos don’t explicitly tell you whether or not they’re pregnancy-safe, but a quick read through their ingredients list shall tell you what you need to know. When you’re pregnant, you’d want to make sure you’re only using safe and clean shampoos. Make sure to avoid potentially-harmful ingredients like parables, sulfates, and phthalates. If you want to find out how these ingredients can potentially be harmful for you, we have them all discussed early on in this article.
When trying to be safe while being pregnant, the best course of action would be to go for clean and safe products.
What your hair needs
When looking to switch to a pregnancy-safe shampoo, you should also be considering what your hair needs. As we’ve mentioned above, pregnancy hormones affect your hair in different ways. What happens to other pregnant women doesn’t necessarily apply the same way to you as well. You might experience thicker hair or thinner hair. Some might get dry hair or greasy hair. Ask yourself what your hair needs right now and make sure to get a shampoo that will help solve your issue and concern.
Effective and gentle
When you’re pregnant, your scalp can be more sensitive than when you were not. Because of this, you might want to get your hands on a shampoo that offers effective cleaning yet works gently. You don’t want to aggravate your sensitive scalp as this can lead to other problems as well. Make sure to get a gentle shampoo formula for your hair washing needs.
Conclusion
When you’re pregnant, your body undergoes a lot of hormonal changes. And some of these changes show themselves through your hair. Whether you want to counter these hair changes or simply would want to get something safer for you, we got you covered.
Our number one pick for the best shampoo for pregnancy is the Christina Moss Naturals Original Shampoo thanks to its hypoallergenic formula that is pregnancy and baby-safe! The formula is ideal for sensitive scalp and skin as it works to gently lift away dirt, oil, build-up, and impurities off of your scalp.
Our choice for the best pregnancy-safe shampoo for thinning hair is the PURA D’OR Original Gold Label Anti-Hair Thinning Shampoo! This helps you achieve hair strength and volume by lessening and reducing hair breakage.
Here’s to your healthier hair and a much healthier pregnancy journey! We hope our list and guide above led you to your new favorite shampoo!