10 Best Natural Hair Conditioners For Soft & Silky Hair

Long before acquiring hair care products involved a quick trip to the store, men and women cleaned their tresses with soaps made from plant or animal oils. Since these cleansers had the effect of drying out the hair, the conventional wisdom from the late 18^th century onwards was to shampoo only very rarely (every four to six weeks) to prevent damage.

The earliest known hair conditioners spanned dead lizards boiled in olive oil, oils pressed from the seeds of cedar trees, aloe vera soaked in water, oil mixed with eggs, and lard treatments that required wearing a cage or nightcap overnight to protect the hair from rats.

It wasn’t until the year 1900 that the first commercially available hair conditioner was invented, called Brilliantine, which was marketed towards men to soften beards and moustaches. Conditioning tonics of the early 20^th century were left in the hair and would leave behind grease marks on bedding and sofas.

In the 1970s, the first rinse out hair conditioners hit the market, changing how often we shampoo and condition. By the 1980s, conditioner products touted specialized formulations for thin, thick, dry, oily, curly, and color treated hair…

Chemicals Used In Modern Day Hair Conditioners

Of course, these new conditioner formulas incorporated new ingredients to hold moisture within the hair, acidifiers to lower pH, detanglers, anti-static agents, dyes, fragrance, preservatives, sunscreen, and even light reflecting chemicals to make hair shine.

Minimize your exposure to unnatural chemicals by carefully reading the hair conditioner label. Here are a few of the more worrisome ones we’ve found:

Methlisothiazolinone (MIT) & Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT) – A mouthful for sure, this pair of synthetic biocides are used in many liquid cosmetic products as a preservative. Both MIT and CMIT have received poor rankings by the EWG because studies have found they are contact allergens, may be toxic when inhaled, and have possible neurotoxic effects on the brain.

DMDM Hydantoin – Found mainly in shampoos, conditioners, and makeup foundation, DMDM Hydantoin is used as a preservative that kills off microorganisms because it releases formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

Phenoxyethanol – Another preservative, exposure to phenoxyethanol has been linked to allergic reactions such as eczema, hives, and anaphylaxis. It is particularly harmful for infants, causing depression of the central nervous system, vomiting, limpness, and changes to skin color.

PEG-150 Distearate – A surfactant, emulsifier, and thickening agent, the main concern with products using PEG-150 is the potential to be contaminated with dioxane and ethylene oxide, both of which are known human carcinogens.

10 Of The Best Natural Hair Conditioners

Check out this collection of conditioners that will deeply hydrate, smooth, shine, and strengthen your hair without the harsh chemicals. Be sure to pair these with our roundup of natural shampoos.

1. TOP PICK: Puracy Natural Hair Conditioner

All Puracy products are made by doctors, inspected by hair biologists, and tested on humans, not animals. This wholly plant-based conditioner is made with soapbark, black walnut, ginseng, matricaria, shea butter, sesame seed oil, ivy extract, aloe vera juice, vitamin E, and vitamin B5 to penetrate the hair follicle and deliver nutrients and deep moisturization for a healthier head of hair. The addition of organic detanglers and anti-static squalene (from olives, not sharks) will help prevent those bad hair days.