Hair products serve a variety of purposes for your hair. From cleansing the hair and scalp to hydrating, repairing, styling, and adding shine to the hair – all hair types can benefit from quality haircare products.
Hair products are not always vegan and can contain a number of different animal-derived products such as keratin, beeswax, or silk. To help you choose more animal-friendly hair care products, we’ve selected the best vegan hair products for 2024.
All hair products below are both vegan and cruelty-free, meaning they are free from animal ingredients and have not been tested on animals.
See also: Best Vegan Haircare Brands
Best Vegan Hair Products
These are the best vegan haircare products for 2024.
- Best shampoo: Drunk Elephant Cocomino Shampoo
- Best conditioner: BondiBoost HG Conditioner
- Best leave-in conditioner: OUAI Leave-In Conditioner
- Best hair serum: Olaplex No. 9 Nourishing Hair Serum
- Best hair mask: Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Hair Mask
- Best hair oil: Verb Ghost Weightless Hair Oil
- Best hair primer: Amika The Wizard Detangling Primer
- Best styling cream: JVN Complete Blowout Styling Milk
- Best curl cream: Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancer
- Best dry shampoo: Living Proof PHD Dry Shampoo
- Best purple shampoo: Dae Violet Hour Purple Shampoo
- Best heat protectant: Pureology Color Fanatic Heat Protectant
- Best scalp treatment: Coco & Eve Like A Virgin Scalp Scrub
- Best hair growth serum: VegAmour Gro Hair Serum
- Best texturizing spray: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
- Best hairspray: R & Co Outer Space Hairspray
- Best hair dye: Herbatint Permanent Haircolor Gel
- Best hair brush: Dae Vegan Detangle + Style Brush
- Best hair supplement: SugarBear Hair Vitamin Gummies
- Best haircare set: Fable & Mane HoliRoots Hair Set
Best Vegan Shampoo
1. Drunk Elephant Cocomino Glossing Shampoo
Drunk Elephant Cocomino is the best vegan shampoo. As our favorite vegan haircare product, this shampoo lathers like a dream and makes the hair soft, smooth, and shiny. It’s natural, chemical-free, non-drying, and made with healthy coconut amino acids.
Admittedly, some Drunk Elephant products are somewhat overhyped by beauty influencers. But this shampoo deserves all the praise. It smells great and makes the hair and scalp feel clean and fresh. Pair it with the Cocomino Marula Cream Conditioner which is also vegan.
- What we like: best vegan shampoo, leaves hair soft and smooth
- What we don’t like: it’s not as color safe as advertised
Key ingredients: coconut amino acids, panthenol, sacha inchi seed oil| Features: vegan, cruelty-free, natural, silicone-free, sulfate-free, fragrance-free, essential oil-free, alcohol-free, color-safe | Price: $27 (8 oz)
Best Vegan Conditioner
Australian brand BondiBoost offers the best vegan conditioner. Designed for fine hair, this natural vegan conditioner promotes hair growth and makes the hair fuller and stronger. The conditioner is paraben-free, sulfate-free, and made with aloe vera and rosemary extracts.
Even if you do not have thinning hair, this is an amazing vegan haircare product for making the hair smooth and manageable. It also helps repair split ends for damaged hair. Plus, it smells lovely. Just rinse well if you don’t want your hair to feel heavy or waxy.
- What we like: reduces hair loss and boosts growth
- What we don’t like: need to rinse well to avoid residue
Key ingredients: aloe vera, saw palmetto, rosemary, peppermint | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, natural, organic, paraben-free, phthalate-free, sulfate-free, silicone-free, mineral oil-free, palm oil-free, color-safe| Price: $29.95 (16.9 oz)
Best Vegan Leave-In Conditioner
3. OUAI Frizz Fighting Leave-In Conditioner
OUAI’s leave-in conditioner is another superb vegan haircare product, especially for curly and frizzy hair. It tames frizz, detangles, and gives nice lightweight hydration without weighing the hair down. It also protects the hair from thermal damage and reduces breakage.
- What we like: smooths out frizz and hydrates
- What we don’t like: using too much leaves residue
Key ingredients: tamarind seed extract, hydrolyzed proteins, panthenol, vitamin E | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, gluten-free, SLS-free, SLES-free | Price: $30 (4.7 oz)
Best Vegan Hair Serum
4. Olaplex No. 9 Nourishing Hair Serum
Vegan haircare brand Olaplex is loved for its patented bond-building technology. And this technology works best in this vegan hair serum. It’s an amazing silky serum that makes the hair instantly stronger and smoother. It also reduces static and detangles.
- What we like: repairs the hair without feeling oily
- What we don’t like: contains perfume
Key ingredients: Olapex bond-building technology (bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate), betaine, panthenol, algae extract | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, silicone-free, nut-free, gluten-free, pH-balanced, phosphate-free, heat protection | Price: $30 (3 oz)
Best Vegan Hair Mask
5. Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Hair Mask
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair is the best vegan hair mask. It’s best for restoring healthy hydration levels to dry and damaged hair. It’s silicone-free and packed with natural oils such as rosehip, almond, and argan oil. It also works as a conditioner.
- What we like: restores hydration and nourishes with oils
- What we don’t like: can accentuate dryness for some hair types
Key ingredients: rosehip oil, argan oil, almond oil, algae, biotin| Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, silicone-free, natural, color-safe | Price: $39 (8 oz)
Best Vegan Hair Oil
6. Verb Ghost Weightless Hair Oil
Verb Ghost Oil is our favorite vegan hair oil. It nourishes the hair while feeling light as a feather. It doesn’t make the hair oily or greasy at all. Instead, this oil makes the hair so shiny and smooth. It also helps repair split ends. We only wish it were silicone-free.
- What we like: best shine, weightless as promised
- What we don’t like: contains silicones
Key ingredients: moringa seed oil, argan oil, bamboo extract | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, SLS-free, SLES-free | Price: $20 (2 oz)
Best Vegan Hair Primer
7. Amika The Wizard Silicone-Free Detangling Primer
Amika The Wizard is by far the best vegan hair primer. Just a few spritzes make the hair smooth and manageable. It has effective heat protection and it’s great for detangling thick and curly hair. Made with avocado oil and sea buckthorn, it leaves hair shiny and healthy.
- What we like: quick untangler and primer
- What we don’t like: can make fine hair oily
Key ingredients: avocado oil, sea buckthorn | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, sulfate-free, mineral oil-free, petrolatum-free, silicone-free, color-safe, keratin-safe | Price: $29 (5 oz)
Best Vegan Styling Cream
8. JVN Complete Blowout Styling Milk
JVN Complete Blowout Milk is the best vegan hair styling product. Created by celebrity hairstylist Jonathan Van Ness, this lightweight cream gives a gorgeous smooth blowout. It also protects the hair from heat and humidity and strengthens it with vegan hemisqualane and peptides.
- What we like: professional styling result, smells amazing
- What we don’t like: doesn’t tame frizz for very curly hair
Key ingredients: vegan hemisqualane (natural silicone alternative), ionic peptides, cassia bark polymer, orchid milk | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, sulfate-free, silicone-free, color-safe | Price: $29 (3 oz)
Best Vegan Curl Cream
9. Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancer
Aveda Be Curly is an amazing vegan curl cream. It gives a beautiful definition to natural curls and boosts their bounce and shine. The cream is also great for smoothing out frizz. The hair stays soft but manageable. It’s a fantastic haircare product for curly, wavy, and curly hair.
- What we like: best for bouncy curls, a little goes a long way
- What we don’t like: it’s not a strong-hold product
Key ingredients: linseed extract, marshmallow root extract, wheat protein, panthenol | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, mineral oil-free, petrolatum-free, formaldehyde-free, synthetic fragrance-free | Price: $34 (6.7 oz)
Best Vegan Dry Shampoo
10. Living Proof PHD Dry Shampoo
Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day (PHD) is the best vegan dry shampoo. It instantly absorbs all sebum, dirt, and sweat from the scalp and roots. Without any white residue. The hair looks like it’s been just washed and blowdried. It also leaves the best fresh scent.
- What we like: hair looks clean and smells fresh
- What we don’t like: overusing can dry out the hair
Key ingredients: starch, microporous mineral | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, SLS-free, SLES-free, talc-free, formaldehyde-free, silicone-free, benzene-free, color-safe, keratin-safe | Price: $30 (5.5 oz)
Best Vegan Purple Shampoo
11. Dae Violet Hour Purple Shampoo
Dae Violet Hour is the best vegan purple shampoo for neutralizing yellow and brass tones. It gives a beautiful cool-hued tone to the hair. Unlike many other purple shampoos, it smells so fresh and citrusy. The shampoo also helps repair the hair with quinoa protein.
- What we like: cancels brassiness, mess-free pump application
- What we don’t like: somewhat drying
Key ingredients: cactus flower extract, moringa leaf extract, quinoa protein| Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, SLS-free, SLES-free | Price: $30 (10 oz)
Shop on: Sephora, Official site
Best Vegan Heat Protectant
12. Pureology Color Fanatic Heat Protectant
Pureology Color Fanatic is the best vegan heat protectant. It protects the hair from heat damage for up to 450° F. It’s a must-try for dry, bleached, and treated hair. This spray is color-safe and adds a nice shine and smoothness to the hair. It’s a great product for colored hair.
- What we like: effective heat protectant
- What we don’t like: can weigh down fine hair
Key ingredients: coconut oil, camellia seed oil, olive oil, xylose | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, mineral oil-free, sulfate-free, pH-balanced, color-safe| Price: $34 (6.7 oz)
Best Vegan Scalp Treatment
13. Coco & Eve Like A Virgin Deep Clean Scalp Scrub
This vegan scalp scrub from Coco & Eve is excellent for removing oil, buildup, and dandruff from the scalp. It uses natural AHA and BHA acids, peppermint oil, and caffeine to simultaneously cleanse, soothe, and invigorate the scalp. It’s especially good for oily, thick, and curly hair.
- What we like: scalp feels so refreshed, best for oily hair
- What we don’t like: can make brittle and dry hair too dry
Key ingredients: volcanic ash, coconut oil, pineapple extract, salicylic acid, coffee extract, peppermint oil| Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, gluten-free| Price: $29 (5 oz)
Best Vegan Hair Growth Serum
14. VegAmour Gro Hair Growth Serum
VegAmour Gro is the best vegan hair growth serum. It’s plant-based and it actually works. We’ve already raved about the results of the Gro Shampoo. This serum works double-shift to reduce breakage and shedding and boost hair density. It’s lightweight but mighty.
- What we like: visibly boosts hair growth
- What we don’t like: it’s expensive
Key ingredients: mung bean, curcumin, red clover | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, sulfate-free, silicone-free, mineral oil-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, synthetic fragrance-free| Price: $64 (1 oz)
Best Vegan Texturizing Spray
15. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
Oribe Dry Texturising Spray is the most luxurious vegan haircare product. It’s made with microporous zeolite crystallines which give the hair incredible texture with some added volume. It mops up the oil from the roots and keeps the hair clean, lush, and perfectly styled.
- What we like: great for texture, amazing scent
- What we don’t like: not a long-lasting hold
Key ingredients: Oribe signature complex (watermelon, lychee, edelweiss flower), zeolite crystallines, mango, aloe | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, formaldehyde-free, mineral oil-free, SLS-free, SLES-free, gluten-free, color-safe, UV protection | Price: $49 (8.5 oz)
Are you instead looking for a vegan sea salt spray for adding texture? The best vegan sea salt sprays are Sun Bum Texturizing Sea Spray, Rahua Enchanted Island Salt Spray, and Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray. For men, we recommend Murdock Sea Salt Spray.
Best Vegan Hairspray
16. R & Co Outer Space Hairspray
R+Co Outer Space is the best vegan hairspray. It gives the most flexible hold that lasts all day. It’s very easy to work with and it doesn’t make the hair crunchy. Loved by Hollywood stylists, this spray allows you to style and restyle the hair any way you want to.
- What we like: flexible all-day hold
- What we don’t like: nozzle can malfunction
Key ingredients: amphomer polymer, provitamin B5 | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, petrolatum-free, mineral oil-free, gluten-free, color-safe, heat protection | Price: $36 (9.5 oz)
Shop on: Amazon, Official site
Best Vegan Hair Dye
17. Herbatint Permanent Haircolor Gel
Herbatint Permanent Haircolor Gel is the best vegan hair dye. This dye is ammonia-free and made with 8 organic plant extracts. While natural, it’s excellent for covering gray hair. This color lasts a long time and looks surprisingly natural. Like your own hair but shinier.
- What we like: natural result, doesn’t burn the scalp
- What we don’t like: doesn’t come in bold colors
Key ingredients: organic herbal extracts | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, ammonia-free, resorcinol-free, alcohol-free, fragrance-free, organic, gluten-free, dermatologically tested, safe for sensitive skin| Price: $15.99 (4.56 oz)
Best Vegan Hair Brush
18. Dae Vegan Detangle + Style Hair Brush
If you are looking for a great vegan hair brush with boar hair-like bristles, we love Dae’s Vegan Brush. It gently untangles hair and massages the scalp. It’s soft but effective. The brush is also great for styling wet hair and defining curls. Plus, we love the beautiful minimalist design.
- What we like: detangles softly, feels nice
- What we don’t like: not easy to clean
Key ingredients: synthetic vegan fibers | Features: vegan, cruelty-free | Price: $28
Shop on: Sephora, Official site
Best Vegan Hair Supplement
19. SugarBear Hair Vitamin Gummies
SugarBear Hair Gummies are the best vegan hair vitamins. They taste great and include the most crucial vitamins the hair needs: biotin, B12, D, C, zinc, and folic acid. We also like that the vitamins are naturally flavored and made from organic tapioca starch and coconut oil.
- What we like: nice fruity taste, great vitamin blend
- What we don’t like: biotin can cause breakouts
Key ingredients: biotin, vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc, iodine, folic acid, organic tapioca, coconut oil| Features: vegan, cruelty-free, natural flavoring, halal, kosher, lab-tested, suitable for all genders | Price: $34.99 (60 gummies)
Shop on: Amazon, Official site
Best Vegan Haircare Set
20. Fable & Mane HoliRoots Good Karma Hair Set
Fable & Mane offers the best vegan haircare set. It’s so nourishing and rich in natural herbs. The set contains the brand’s bestselling pre-wash hair oil, shampoo, conditioner, and repairing hair mask. The products are PETA-certified vegan and inspired by Indian beauty rituals.
- What we like: relaxing experience, hair is left shiny and soft
- What we don’t like: can weigh fine hair down
Key ingredients: coconut, tiger herb, turmeric, ashwagandha, dashmool | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, sulfate-free, silicone-free, color-safe | Price: $36
Shop on: Sephora, Official site
What Makes A Hair Product Vegan?
A hair product is vegan if it’s free from all animal-derived ingredients, most commonly beeswax, honey, or keratin. In addition, vegan hair products cannot be tested on animals or contain ingredients that have been tested on animals.
The most typical ingredients that make a hair product not vegan are beeswax, honey, keratin, silk, lanolin, and different animal-based extracts such as caviar extract or collagen.
- Beeswax – Beeswax is a waxy substance produced by honeybees. It’s the most popular animal ingredient in hair products, especially styling products (waxes, pomades, etc)
- Honey – Also made by bees, honey is a vitamin-rich ingredient often added to nourishing hair conditioners and treatment masks.
- Keratin – Keratin is a protein made from animal horns, hooves, nails, claws, beaks, and other structural parts. It’s a popular hair-repairing and strengthening ingredient.
- Silk – Silk is a fiber produced by silkworms. For its ability to repair and smoothen hair strands, it’s added to many conditioning and styling products.
- Lanolin – Derived from sheep’s wool, lanolin, and lanolin wax are often used in hair products for their emollient properties.
- Caviar – Rich in protein and amino acids, caviar (fish eggs) is used in repairing and hydrating hair treatments. Caviar is especially popular in luxury hair care.
- Collagen – Collagen is an animal-derived protein that can be found in different anti-aging hair products.
Hair products today can be easily made without the help of animal-derived ingredients. Plant extracts and oils are packed with nutrients that are able to nourish the hair as well as animal-derived extracts.
Instead of beeswax, vegan haircare brands use different plant waxes (carnauba wax, candelilla wax, soy wax) or synthetic beeswax. Instead of keratin or silk, vegan brands use innovative vegan silk or vegan keratin (karmatin) made from fermented plants or yeast.
What To Look For In Vegan Hair Products?
When choosing vegan hair products, always pick products that are made for your hair. Is your hair oily or dry? Straight or curly? Is it chemically treated or dyed? Do you have problems with hair loss or dandruff? In 2024, you can find the right vegan hair products for every hair type.
We also suggest steering clear of parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, and other potentially endocrine-disrupting chemicals in your vegan haircare products. The more natural your hair care is, the better it is for your health and the environment.
With dyed hair, choose vegan hair products that are clearly marked color safe and preferably sulfate-free. Sulfates can contribute to hair color fading faster. Sulfates can also dry your hair out which is another reason bleached, dyed, and treated hair should avoid them.
With dry or brittle hair, you may also want to go for silicone-free vegan hair products. Silicones are not dangerous per se but they might weaken the hair strands, cause excess buildup on the scalp and make the hair drier.
How We Review Vegan Hair Products
At Vegan Avenue, we review vegan hair products by conducting independent product trials. We also browse through hundreds of online reviews and listen to the opinions of hair stylists and other beauty experts.
Here are our main criteria for reviewing vegan haircare products:
- Ingredients: Our research always starts with ingredients. We prefer vegan hair products that use vitamin-rich botanical extracts, plant oils, and science-backed vegan ingredients. We also expect the companies to avoid harsh chemicals.
- Benefit: For the vegan hair product to be put on our top list, it needs to serve one function exceptionally well. Whether it’s cleansing, nourishing, styling, or treating a specific problem, the product should be the best at something.
- Price: Most of the hair products we list are at a price point that is accessible to everyone. We also include more affordable and luxury options for balance. We generally believe vegan hair care should not cost a fortune.
FAQ About Vegan Hair Products
Haircare products are not all vegan. Many hair products include animal-derived ingredients (e.g. beeswax, keratin) and/or are tested on animals.
The best selection of vegan hair products is available on Sephora, Ulta, and Amazon.
The best vegan hair products are Drunk Elephant Cocomino Shampoo, BondiBoost HG Conditioner, OUAI Leave-In Conditioner, Olaplex No. 9 Nourishing Hair Serum, and Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Hair Mask.
It is unclear whether Moroccanoil Treatment Hair Oil is vegan. The oil is seemingly free of animal-derived ingredients but Moroccanoil has not given the vegan label to any of their products.
No. Kérastase hair products are not vegan. Most Kérastase products include keratin and beeswax from animals. The company also tests on animals.
Summary
Selecting the best vegan hair products was not easy. In 2024, there are so many wonderful haircare products out there that are vegan and cruelty-free. From Drunk Elephant to Oribe, so many quality brands offer haircare products that are free from animal ingredients.
We hope you found some new favorite vegan-friendly hair products from our list. We’ll keep on exploring the wide world of vegan haircare products and let you know if we find anything worth adding to this list. Thanks for choosing vegan haircare.
See also: Best Vegan Haircare Brands
Main image: courtesy of OUAI
