there are still too many ingredients…
Ha ha ha, you’re looking for a shampoo to clean off chemicals and it has too many chemicals. 
2 Likes
As a guy with presumably short hair, if you want ultra simple, you might want to consider something like dr bronners? Maybe their unscented baby option… and then use the rest to clean the shower
I probably wouldn’t choose that for longer hair
Something like this (possibly less plastic)
https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/products/1064322-Dr_Bronners_18in1_Hemp_PureCastile_Soap_Refill_Baby_Unscented/
Or the non baby
You could get this unscented
https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/products/1048210-Dr_Bronners_18in1_Hemp_PureCastile_Soap_Lavender/
yeah, i KNOW most shampoos (even ones marketed as organic] are FULL of sketch chemicals and it’s hard to trust any brand [I read into the nopoo movement and successfully went without shampoo for long periods of time w/o issue] but I recently had very oily/itchy/bumpy scalp that turned red when I scratched it hard and want something to get rid of all of it.
[though if I wait for a few weeks maybe it will go away]
im gonna dunk on some rapamycin+grapefruit today but i didn’t have those issues when I went on long rapa breaks over the past year [my guess is that rapa doesn’t affect it much]
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“Native” brand keeps ingredients to a minimum.
Alternatively, don’t use shampoo.
I haven’t used it for years and no one suggests my hair is dirty or oily or smelly.
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Water, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Salicylate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Polyquaternium-10, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Citric Acid, Fragrance
Native Shampoo | Jarritos Watermelon
Polyquaternium-10 Quaternized hydroxyethyl cellulose
[some of these sound sketch at first glance…]
https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/701520-COCAMIDOPROPYL_BETAINE/ [caution, limited data]
[EWG says moderate hazard, could be irritant]
====
12 days later (or really much earlier, I didn’t keep track), and the scalp itchiness self-resolved w/o need for shampoo even when I’m not on the best diet [too many unbelievabuns].
Itchy scalp again even after a nopoo shower. damnit.
2.Overview:* When dealing with an itchy scalp, choose a shampoo that is gentle, made from natural ingredients, and vetted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). EWG-Verified™ shampoos meet strict safety standards – they contain no harsh sulfates, parabens, or synthetic fragrances – and instead use naturally derived cleansers and soothing botanicals
. Look for ingredients like tea tree oil, peppermint, chamomile, aloe, or oat extracts, which have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties to calm irritation. Below are some highly rated, environmentally friendly shampoos (EWG-approved) formulated to relieve scalp itch, along with their key features and supporting sources:
Avalon Organics Scalp Treatment Tea Tree Shampoo
- EWG Verified & Gentle: This shampoo bears the EWG VERIFIED™ mark, meaning it meets EWG’s strictest health criteria and contains none of the ingredients on EWG’s unacceptable chemicals list
. It’s free from parabens, synthetic fragrance, and other harsh additives
.
- Soothing Natural Ingredients: Formulated specifically for scalp discomfort, it contains a medley of tea tree essential oil, peppermint oil, aloe vera, and beta-glucan to gently cleanse and support scalp comfort
. It also includes botanicals like chamomile and calendula to help calm irritation and itchiness
. These essential oils provide natural anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory effects to relieve an itchy scalp.
- Reputable Source: Avalon Organics is a well-known organic beauty brand, and this Tea Tree Scalp Treatment shampoo is certified organic (NSF/ANSI 305) and vegan. It’s even pH-balanced and biodegradable, aligning with environmental friendliness
. (See Avalon’s product page and EWG listing for details
.)
Attitude Sensitive Skin Shampoo (Chamomile & Oat)
- EWG Verified & Hypoallergenic: Attitude’s sensitive skin shampoo is EWG VERIFIED™, ensuring clean ingredients and full transparency
. It contains no sulfates (uses mild coconut-derived cleansers), no parabens, and no artificial fragrances. This makes it very gentle and suitable for those with easily irritated skin or scalps.
- Calming Botanicals: The formula is 98% naturally sourced, featuring colloidal oat extract and chamomile flower extract to soothe and moisturize a dry, itchy scalp
. Oat is known for its anti-irritant properties, and chamomile is a natural anti-inflammatory that can relieve redness or itching. The shampoo has a light chamomile-derived scent (with notes of jasmine and vanilla) instead of synthetic perfume
, so it won’t aggravate sensitive scalps.
- Reputable Source: Attitude is a reputable eco-conscious brand with many EWG-approved products. This particular Soothing & Volumizing Chamomile Shampoo is dermatologically tested and vegan
. It’s designed to improve hair softness and shine while caring for your scalp. (See Attitude’s official product page for ingredients and EWG verification status
.)
cleanjourney Clarify Refresh Detox Shampoo
- EWG Verified & Toxin-Free: cleanjourney’s Clarify Refresh Shampoo is EWG VERIFIED™, indicating it passes EWG’s strict health standards (no “suspect” chemicals and full ingredient transparency)
. It contains 97% naturally derived ingredients, with no parabens, phthalates, or synthetic dyes. The formula is also vegan and cruelty-free.
- Tea Tree & Mint for Scalp Care: This shampoo is enriched with tea tree essential oil – a natural antimicrobial that helps refresh and purify the scalp, combating itchiness caused by excess oil or dandruff
. It also has a fresh minty component (menthol and verbena herb blend) that provides a cooling sensation to soothe irritation while washing. The clarifying plant-based cleansers effectively remove buildup and excess oils without stripping or irritating the scalp.
- Reputable Source: cleanjourney is a newer clean beauty brand focused on affordable, non-toxic hair care
. Their Clarify Refresh Shampoo is marketed for oily or flaky scalp issues and to “detox” hair with safe ingredients. It’s sold through reputable retailers (and the brand’s official site) with the EWG Verified seal displayed
. (Refer to the EWG database entry and cleanjourney product page for the ingredient list and verification
.)
Each of these shampoos is environmentally friendly and formulated to relieve itchiness using natural soothing agents. They avoid harsh sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances in favor of gentle, plant-based ingredients, as reflected in their EWG safety ratings
. When choosing a shampoo for an itchy scalp, products like these – with EWG’s stamp of approval and ingredients like tea tree oil, peppermint, or chamomile – can provide relief while ensuring peace of mind about safety and sustainability. Always check the product pages or EWG Skin Deep® for the most up-to-date ratings and ingredient info before purchasing
.
I still have my 2015 blue avalon organics bottle (meh, I feel like time has frozen since 2015), but it doesn’t say EWG-safe.