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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.