18 Best Gluten-Free Shampoos and Conditioners

Switching to a gluten-free shampoo and other hair care products is not strictly necessary since you're using these products on your hair as opposed to eating them.

But if you ever get shampoo foam in your mouth or touch your hair and put your fingers in your mouth, you risk getting glutened unless all your hair care products are gluten-free. Some people with eczema also find their skin feels better if they avoid gluten ingredients in their personal care products.

Buying only gluten-free shampoo and other hair care products could save you from accidental exposure, depending on how sensitive you are to trace gluten. 

Whether gluten-free shampoos or conditioners are better or worse for your hair is really a matter of personal experience and choice. But if even the tiniest trace of gluten causes you problems, then, without doubt, give the products a try.

Best Gluten-Free Hair Products

Fortunately, there's a nice mix of brands that now make gluten-free hair care products, including some budget brands and some more expensive lines. The following brands of hair care products offer gluten-free shampoos and conditioners:

• Acure: Acure's entire hair care line is gluten-free, including five shampoos and even a dry shampoo (plus the accompanying conditioners). Acure is also sulfate-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, and vegan. If you can't find it locally, it's available online at Amazon.
• Avalon Organics: This all-natural line of hair care products offers one shampoo that's certified gluten-free: Gluten-Free Cucumber Shampoo. They also offer Gluten-Free Cucumber Conditioner to pair with it. The hair care line is vegan and cruelty-free. It's readily available online if your stores don't carry it.
• Aveeno: Aveeno products are made with oats, which do not contain gluten, though some people may want to avoid all grain-containing products. The company also says it processes its oats on equipment that is exclusive for that purpose in order to avoid cross-contamination. It does, however, stop short of saying that cross-contamination will never occur.
• Desert Essence: The company makes six shampoos that are labeled gluten-free: Green Apple and Ginger, Fragrance-Free, Red Raspberry, Lemon Tea Tree, Italian Red Grape, and Coconut. It also makes conditioners to pair with each of those. The products are vegetarian, and they don't test on animals.
• Dove: Dove, which makes tons of personal care products, is a Unilever brand, which means it will clearly disclose any gluten-containing ingredients. Many of Dove's shampoos and conditioners are gluten-free. They're also reasonably priced and available everywhere.
• Hask: All of Hask's shampoos and conditioners are gluten-free, and they can be purchased at many online stores and major general merchandise retailers.
• Herbal Essences: Herbal Essence's bio:renew shampoos and conditioners are gluten-free. These products are also formulated according to the Cosmetics Directive of the European Union Commission, which means they do not contain gluten or any of 1,300 other ingredients that are excluded from compliant products. 
• Jason: Jason has seven products in their certified gluten-free line, including Gluten-Free Daily Shampoo and Gluten-Free Daily Conditioner meet the standard. Look for the bright green labels. It's available on Walmart if your local store doesn't carry it. Their products aren't tested on animals.
• Kirkland Signature: This Costco brand includes a Professional Salon Formula Moisture Shampoo that is labeled gluten-free and vegan.
• L'Oreal: Some of L'Oreal's shampoos such as EverPure do not contain gluten ingredients, but they are made in a facility that processes gluten for other products. 
• Maui Moisture: Maui Moisture shampoos and conditioners are sold at major general merchandise retailers and in popular online stores. Their products are not made with gluten-containing ingredients, but they are manufactured in a facility that processes other products that contain gluten.
• Pantene: Pantene's Advanced Care Shampoo and Conditioner products are gluten-free, but many of their other products are not.
• Paul Mitchell: Several of their products are considered gluten-free, including Forever Blonde shampoo (but not conditioner), Spring-Loaded Frizz-Fighting Shampoo and Conditioner, and Baby Don't Cry Shampoo. Visit their website to check product details. Paul Mitchell is cruelty-free.
• Pravana: All of Pravana's Nevo hair care products are labeled gluten-free (the line uses hydrolyzed quinoa and soy protein). They're also vegan. Look for Pravana at hair care salons (including Ulta stores).
• Purezero: Purezero products are made without gluten and are available at major online retailers, supermarkets, and general merchandise retailers.
• Suave: Like Dove, Suave is a Unilever brand, so any gluten-containing ingredients would be disclosed in the ingredients list, but most or all are gluten-free. Suave is available everywhere and offers some kid-friendly shampoo/conditioner/body wash combinations.
• TRESemmé: TRESemmé follows International Nomenclature for Cosmetics Ingredients guidelines and lists any wheat-derived products on its labels. Some TRESemmé shampoos, such as TRESemmé Botanique, are gluten-free, but the company says it can't guarantee that all its products are completely allergen-free.
• Vanicream: Vanicream products are considered gluten-free based on FDA guidelines. The company says it tests its products to make sure they are free of gluten and other allergens.
  

Products to Avoid

If you are concerned about gluten in hair care products, be sure to read the label before purchasing. If you see one or more of the following terms in the ingredients list, it means the shampoo or other hair care product contains ingredients made from wheat, barley, or rye. This includes ingredients that indicate oats since many of us need to avoid them as well.

• Triticum vulgare (wheat)
• Hordeum vulgare (barley)
• Secale cereale (rye)
• Avena sativa (oats)
• Wheat germ oil
• Hydrolyzed wheat protein
• Stearyl dimonium hydroxypropyl (hydrolyzed wheat protein)
• Laurdimonium hydroxypropyl (hydrolyzed wheat protein)
• Colloidal oatmeal
• Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (may contain wheat)
• Dextrin palmitate (starch, possibly gluten-based)
• Vitamin E (frequently derived from wheat germ oil)
• Malt extract (usually barley)
• Beta-glucan (frequently derived from wheat)
• Vegetable protein (may contain wheat, barley, rye, and/or oats)

A Word From Verywell

If your product is not on the list and you want to know if it's safe, call the manufacturer to ask if it's gluten-free. If in doubt, take no chances and only buy products certified gluten-free.

While many manufacturers do not submit their products for certification, the consumer demand for certified gluten-free personal care products is rising. Certifying bodies in North America include the National Celiac Association, Gluten Intolerance Group, and Beyond Celiac (formerly the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness).