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The 5 Best Pregnancy-Safe Shampoos

What's actually concerning in shampoo

Most pregnancy shampoo advice focuses on sulfates — but sulfates aren't a pregnancy safety issue. They're a comfort choice (sulfate-free is gentler on color-treated hair and sensitive scalps). The actual safety concern is a class of preservatives called formaldehyde-releasers:

• DMDM hydantoin
• Quaternium-15
• Imidazolidinyl urea
• Diazolidinyl urea

These slowly release small amounts of formaldehyde into the formula over time. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen. The amounts are very low — but during pregnancy, when you'd happily skip carcinogenic exposures, swapping shampoo is one of the easiest substitutions you can make.

The other concern: "fragrance" as an ingredient. It can hide dozens of undisclosed compounds, including phthalates that help scent stick.

What to look for

• EWG-verified ingredients or EWG hazard score 1–3.
• No formaldehyde-releasers — read the label.
• Fragrance-free or essential-oil scented instead of "fragrance" / "parfum."
• Sulfate-free if your scalp is sensitive (optional, not a safety issue).

What to avoid

• DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, imidazolidinyl/diazolidinyl urea.
• Synthetic "fragrance" / "parfum" without disclosure.
• Parabens (propylparaben, butylparaben).
• Phthalates — usually hidden in fragrance.

Our top picks

1. ATTITUDE Pregnancy Shampoo — Score: 82/100

EWG Verified, formulated specifically for pregnancy. 97% natural origin, no SLES, no formaldehyde-releasers, no silicones. Best pregnancy-specific pick.

2. The Honest Company Purely Simple Hair + Body Wash — Score: 81/100

Tear-free 2-in-1 — buy one bottle for you and the eventually-arrived baby. Fragrance-free, no sulfates, no phthalates. Best for family use and convenience.

3. Earth Mama Sweet Orange Shampoo & Body Wash — Score: 78/100

NSF/ANSI 305 certified organic. Marketed for pregnancy + babies + kids. Light citrus scent from sweet orange essential oil. Best for organic-priority shoppers.

4. ATTITUDE Quinoa & Jojoba Shampoo — Score: 77/100

Same brand as #1 but in a non-pregnancy SKU — both pass the safety screen. Different scent. Best for those who want ATTITUDE's profile in a non-pregnancy-marketed bottle.

5. John Masters Organics Bare Unscented Shampoo — Score: 72/100

Truly unscented — a lifesaver if morning sickness has made you sensitive to smells. USDA organic ingredients. Best for scent-averse pregnancies.

What about conditioner?

The same rules apply. Most brands above offer matching conditioners that pass the same screen. As a general rule, avoid leave-in conditioners with retinyl palmitate (rare in hair products but does appear in some anti-aging hair treatments) and keratin treatments containing formaldehyde (these are not pregnancy-safe and should be skipped entirely).

A note on hair dye

Most OBs say semi-permanent hair dye after the first trimester is fine; permanent dye that touches the scalp gets a more cautious "wait if you can." If you must color, highlights/foils that don't touch the scalp are the safest path. Choose a salon that uses ammonia-free and PPD-free color.

How we ranked

Composite scoring rubric — see methodology.

Medical disclaimer: Not medical advice.