Shampoo brands that dont test on animals

Did you know that 80% of countries have no laws against animal testing? As a nation that does, it’s important that we stand up against it and do all we can to become a more conscious country. And that doesn’t just mean signing petitions − it means investing in good quality brands that never take part in animal testing.

We know it’s hard to keep tabs on everything that’s cruelty-free; there’s just so much to consider. So, just as we advise on finding the right cosmetics, we’ve also made it easier for you to shop cruelty-free hair care. From shampoo and conditioner to supplements and treatments, we’ve got all the best brands for taking care of your locks without compromise.

But first, let’s cover some basics.

What does cruelty-free really mean?

Put simply, cruelty-free means that the products and ingredients were not tested on animals before, during or after production. However, when it comes to finding cruelty-free brands, you want to make sure the brand’s suppliers and manufacturers adopt the same animal-friendly approach.

What’s the difference between cruelty-free and vegan?

So cruelty-free doesn’t test on animals – yay! But vegan means that there are also no animal products in the ingredients – this could vary from beeswax and honey to gelatine and tallow (animal fats).

Most beauty lines who stand against animal testing will also carry a range of vegan products, if not a full collection.

With that in mind, here are our top 20 cruelty-free products.

1. Virtue

Infusing nasty-free formulas with a chic aesthetic, Virtue is paving the way in the hair care industry with products that use innovative technology. The brand is committed to using their impressive alpha keratin 60ku to create shampoos, conditioners, treatments and masks that are ultra-luxurious and help strengthen your locks. With collections to tackle every hair type – whether it's dry, oily, frizzy or lifeless – Virtue cover all grounds, offering something for even the most stubborn strands. And though they never test on animals, total performance is never sacrificed.

Favorite product:

BLEACH LONDON Awkward Peach Super Cool Color

$9.00

Despite the name, there's nothing to feel awkward about with this peachy coloring formula. Subtle and semi-permanent, this is the perfect product to try without making a long-lasting commitment. Designed for bleached or very blonde hair, it adds a vibrant, playful touch to your tresses.

3. Shea Moisture

Shea Moisture is the embodiment of kind, ethical beauty. Their story begins in 1912 in Sierra Leone, where Sofi Tucker started selling homemade hair preparations enriched with shea butter and African black soap. Now, the brand is celebrated for using cruelty free ingredients that are also natural, organic and sustainably-produced. This paraben-free, sulfate-free and cruelty-free brand is leading the way with quality products for all hair types.

So whether you have compact curls or stubbornly straight hair, their friendly line is sure to have something to suit you. And because it’s all made from totally natural and nourishing ingredients, your hair will feel replenished and ready to tackle whatever elements that come at it; come rain or shine, you’ll always have sheer moisture. 100% natural, organic and loving, Shea Moisture is sustainable goodness in a bottle.

Favorite product:

Shea Moisture 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Leave-In Conditioner

$12.50 $15.20 (18% off)

Sea Moisture's 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Range, is cruelty-free, hydrating and perfect for all hair types. Our pick of the pack is their leave-in conditioner, which, with its moisture rich formula, makes it easy to detangle hair whilst leaving it weightless and frizz-free. And, as an added perk, it smells incredible!

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4. Bumble and bumble

Bumble and bumble have a rich history of hair care expertise and are famed for having created reliable and good-quality hair products. You may know them as a quality brand but they're also cruelty-free, refusing to sell their products where animal testing is required.

Favorite product:

5. IGK

As well as striving to help you look and feel your best, IGK is dedicated to providing formulas that are never tested on animals. Founded by professional stylists from around the world, they're the hair brand that caters to the needs of modern-day customers across the globe.

Favorite product:

Paul Mitchell The Cream

$22.00

This intensive leave-in conditioner-cum-styling cream is a miracle worker for dry hair and dead ends. It combats dullness and protects your hair from everyday damage while giving you lots of va-va-voom – a perfect primer before a night on the town.

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8. John Masters Organics

Well, the clue is in the name. John Masters Organics is all about feeding your hair with healthy, nutritious and clean products that not only make you look good but feel good about being kind to the planet. And, naturally, the brand never tests on animals. Partnered with local farmers, John harvests each wild ingredient as organically and sustainably as he can to bring his customers products that are as kind to your hair as they are to the earth. After all, we only have one body and one planet, so we must treat them both with the utmost care.

Favorite product:

John Masters Organics Lavender & Rosemary Shampoo For Normal Hair

$12.38 $19.40 (37% off)

One of our favorite shampoos, this luxurious formula can do everything: it promotes growth, slows hair loss, improves thickness and coats your locks with a radiant shine. It's a multi-purpose must-have, and that's not even the best bit - it's laced with gorgeous lavender and rosemary aromas to scent each strand.

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9. OUAI

From hair guru and celeb stylist Jen Atkin comes OUAI, which is luxurious and totally affordable. OUAI believes that looking good should be easy and that luxury should be accessible…not just for those who can afford a glam squad. OUAI is all about embracing natural beauty, natural products, and natural (cruelty-free) processes – creating real hair for real life no matter how many Instagram followers you have.

From the shampoos to the supplements, everything is designed to nourish your hair and make it the very best it can be. And the best part: not only are these products awesome enough to get the job done, but they’re extremely Instagrammable – I dare you to try not to take a photo.

Favorite product:

OUAI Wave Spray

$14.00

This multi-award-winning beauty buy is a great hack for when you want that ‘beach babe bed head’ look. Infused with rice proteins, it gives your hair an effortlessly cool wave which you can take from day to night.

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10. Aveda

Aveda is committed to making beautiful, naturally derived products that are always cruelty-free. They never test on animals or ask others to do so for them. They're also invested in the environment by supporting the development of renewable energy, in fact, all of their products are made with 100% wind power. Pretty nifty!

Favorite product:

Aveda Damage Remedy Restructuring Shampoo

$30.59

The Damage Remedy Restructuring Shampoo is the perfect way to get your hair in ship shape. Made from plant proteins and oils, it helps strengthen your locks and is a great way to get your hair looking full of life. Not only this, but it's a great gift to give your hair care obsessed friends and loved ones who are trying to use more cruelty-free products.

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11. Amika

Amika are undoubtedly cool. Their product names are daring, their bottles are decorated in chic, colorful designs and they know how to deliver in-vogue looks for every style. They're also almost entirely cruelty-free, which we think is pretty cool too.

They stand for five core principles, each centered around a philosophy of self-expression and hair rebellion. Instead of traditional formulas, they readily create bold new remedies that are powered by their special ingredient: Sea Buckthorn Berry.

Favorite product:

Amika Brooklyn Bombshell Blowout Spray

$28.00

The streets of Brooklyn are laced with bombshells, and you can replicate that fearless look with this dynamic hair spray. Lightweight and strong-holding, the luscious spray injects moisture into your for big, bouncy and beautiful locks.

Spritz it onto your hair to enjoy added texture and volume for truly Insta-worthy locks.

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12. Boucleme

Boucleme have two outstanding USP's: they cater all of their products to curly hair and they strive to use natural, organic and cruelty-free products where possible. Wholesome and ethical, they always choose a plant-based ingredient over a synthetic chemical, harnessing the power of nature for their enriching remedies.

Favorite product:

Mane 'n Tail Color Protect Shampoo

$4.90 $9.70 (50% off)

Get vibrant hair for longer. Gentle yet potent, this supreme color protection remedy softly cleanses each strand without stripping away its essential oils. Lightweight and volumizing, it gives colored hair an extra boost and layer of body, perfect for anyone who's frequently fed up at how quickly their vivid color begins to fade.

14. Philip Kingsley

Philip Kingsley is a firm favorite name in the world of hair care and it's not hard to see why. With cruelty-free formulas for every hair concern and hair type, everyone can find a suitable product to implement into their daily hair care routine. From conditioning treatments to anti-drandruff solutions, there's a product for every one under this one brand.

Favorite product:

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Deep Conditioning Treatment

$41.25 $50.00 (18% off)

Give some charisma to those luscious locks. Philip Kingsley's best-selling Elasticizer Deep Conditioning Treatment is loved by celebs and influencers alike. It brings out unparalleled shine and hydration in every strand, utilizing the potency of hydrolyzed elastin, castor oil, olive oil and glycerin to leave your locks looking and feeling healthier.

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15. Hairtamin

Offering something a little bit different, Hairtamin produce cruelty-free supplements to complement your hair care routine. Easy-to-use and incorporate into your daily routine, their potent supplements are powered by the strengthening power of biotin. They also deliver enriching shampoos and conditioners alongside the range of supplements.

Favorite product:

Hairtamin Essentials Bundle

$48.00

We're so impressed with Hairtamin's range that we decided to offer all of it to you. This deluxe bundle has everything you need to keep your lustrous locks full of health, strength and moisture. Cleanse your hair with the shampoo, soften if with the conditioner and keep it thick and full with the supplements. We've thought of everything.

16. Olaplex

Olaplex are the rising brand in the beauty industry. Their worldwide appeal, global recognition and passionate fan base belie they relative inexperience: they were only founded in 2016, creating revolutionary products that hair care had never seen before. Now, they stand near the top of the pillar in everything hair related, backed by precise science and unmatched results.

Favorite product:

Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector

$28.00

Applying Olaplex's much-loved No.3 Hair Perfector is like wiping all the paint off a piece of art and starting again with a blank canvass. Utilizing their patented Bond's Multiplying System, the replenishing remedy reconstructs the hair from within to rebuild weak and brittle locks. In a nutshell, it continuously repairs and regenerates your hair to keep it in optimum health.

17. Le Labo

Perhaps not a brand you'd associate with cruelty-free hair care, yet the beauty of Le Labo is that they keep on surprising us (in a good way, of course). They've expanded from a luxury fragrance brand, becoming a fan favorite for their chic packaging and innovative body care and hair formulas.

Favorite product:

19. Moroccanoil

Moroccanoil are one of the most iconic brands, and for good reason: they center their range around the nourishing qualities of argan oil, a central ingredient that is complemented by a myriad of cruelty-free materials. The luscious lotions deliver silky-smooth locks that you can run your hands through with a clean conscience.

Favorite product:

Moroccanoil Treatment Original

$16.00

The jewel in their crown, Treatment Original revitalizes hair that is limp, lifeless and in need of some love. Inject streams of moisture into your locks, soften each strand and nourish each cuticle from the follicle to the top with this enriching formula.

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20. Sachajuan

Stemming from the innovation of Stockholm, Sachajuan have created a straight-to-the-point selection that is authentic, honest and effective. They ignore the temptation for tacky marketing gimmicks and outlandish claims, instead they focus their efforts on producing cutting-edge hair products full of enriching ingredients.

Sachajuan Overnight Hair Repair

$55.20

Gorgeous hair has never been easier to achieve. Why bother with an arduous hair care routine when you can get smooth, sleek and softened hair whilst you sleep? Apply this nourishing remedy before bed and wake up with Insta-worthy locks.

If you're interested in cruelty-free products and would like to add some to your routine, check out our edit of cruelty free cosmetics.

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