Read over the ingredients label to avoid harmful ingredients, such as ammonium lauryl sulfate, but ensure the shampoo has safe ingredients, like coconut oil. Moreover, most shampoos are aimed at cleaning hair and keeping it healthy, but some shampoos are designed for a different purpose, like treating lice. We carefully considered the purpose, value, ingredients, and hair textures when reviewing products. We rounded up the best shampoos on the market for your kiddo’s hair and scalp to be clean and healthy. Price at time of publication: $14 The brand promises that your kid’s hair will be shiny, smooth, and healthy after using this shampoo. An extra bonus is that this delightfully sweet-smelling shampoo can double as a body wash. Price at time of publication: $8 Price at time of publication: $10 With ingredients like organic rosemary, citronella, tea tree oil, and geranium oil help repel lice and make your child’s head an unappealing landing pad. This shampoo is safe, and great, for everyday use and will leave most hair types hydrated, strong, and healthy. Price at time of publication: $22 Price at time of publication: $13 Price at time of publication: $16 This shampoo is hypoallergenic, non-toxic, works as a detangler, and is formulated to hydrate and protect dry scalps. Price at time of publication: $29 Their hair will feel smooth and soft and the shampoo can even help prevent acne breakouts along the hairline. It’s also free of toxic and harmful ingredients, works as a shampoo and conditioner in one, and smells delightful. Price at time of publication: $11 Price at time of publication: $6 You also want to ensure the ingredients in your child’s shampoo will clean their hair efficiently of any odor or buildup. Some shampoos contain more than a dozen ingredients, and while you may not have time to look them all up, you do want to ensure what you’re putting onto your child’s body is safe and effective.
Purpose
Before purchasing shampoo for your child, consider what the shampoo is needed for. While most shampoos are aimed at cleaning hair and keeping it healthy, there are also other shampoos that treat lice removal or cradle cap.
Hair Texture
It’s no secret that all hair types and textures are not the same, so finding the right shampoo for your child’s hair is key. There are four main hair types: curly, straight, wavy, and coils, with those then breaking down into fine, medium, or thick hair. Some kids are in between types and textures while others are simply one category. For example, if your child has curly hair, you will want a shampoo specifically designed for curly hair. These will contain ingredients that keep your child’s curls healthy and intact.
Why Trust Verywell Family?
Ashley Ziegler is a full-time parenting writer, mom to a 1 and a 4-year-old, and she has personal experience in researching kid’s shampoos and trying different brands out on her two daughters (both with very different hair textures). Key considerations she focused on when selecting these products include personal experience, ingredients, and user reviews. You also want to think about how shampoo for kids is designed tear-free, meaning if it gets in their eyes, it won’t cause any pain or tears. Adult shampoos may burn if it enters their eyes, so your best bet is to purchase kids shampoo if possible. After about a year old, a child’s skin becomes less irritable and you’re bathing them more often, so that’s a great time to transition. It really depends on your child and how much hair they have. If they have a lot of hair, consider transitioning to a kid’s shampoo to ensure their hair is getting the nutrients it needs.
