People who don’t suffer from celiac disease can never understand how scary gluten can be for people who do. Celiac disease can be best described as the body’s rejection of gluten that is inherent in various grains such as wheat, barley, and rye.
The rejection typically occurs in the small intestine resulting in problems such as indigestion, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and issues with nutrition absorption. While the symptoms, themselves, are troublesome, what makes celiac disease such a problem is that even trace amounts of gluten can cause these issues.
What’s worse is that even people who haven’t been diagnosed with celiac disease can have a gluten intolerance. These people will experience anything ranging from skin irritation and inflammation to severe rashes. Since you’re already looking for gluten-free, you already know how challenging celiac disease and gluten sensitivity can be.
We’ve created this guide especially for people like you i.e., people who are aware of what they need to do to keep themselves safe from gluten. On this page, you’ll find in-depth reviews of the best gluten-free conditioners available in the market, spanning the full price range.
| Budget |
|---|
 |
| HASK COCONUT MONOI Shampoo and Conditioner Set |
| 4.75/5.0 |
| Volume: 2 x 12 ounces |
| Cost per ounce: $0.62 |
| A pocket-friendly shampoo and conditioner combo that gives the most bang for the buck especially since it is available in multiple variants. |
| Check Amazon |
| Best Value |
|---|
 |
| Herbal Essences Volumizing Conditioner |
| 4.75/5.0 |
| Volume: 2 x 20 ounces |
| Cost per ounce: $0.80 |
| An excellent conditioner from the UK that not only hydrates the hair but also volumizes it through the use of exotic and rare botanicals. |
| Check Amazon |
| Top Pick |
|---|
 |
| PURA D’OR Healing Argan Oil Conditioner |
| 4.5/5.0 |
| Volume: 16 ounces |
| Cost per ounce: $0.93 |
| A conditioner specifically designed to repair damaged hair without using silicones that has a very soothing and relaxing scent. |
| Check Amazon |
If you’ve only recently realized that your hair products are causing gluten-related issues in your life and want to learn more about how this works, we have explained the basics in this guide too.
We’ve laid out everything included in this guide in a neat and easy-to-use navigation panel below. It is clickable so feel free to jump around the page as per your preferences.
- Why Do You Need Gluten-Free Conditioners?
- Which Ingredients Should You Look to Avoid?
- 10 Best Gluten-Free Conditioners Comparison Table
- Top 4 Budget Gluten-Free Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Value Gluten-Free Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Premium Gluten-Free Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
Why Do You Need Gluten-Free Conditioners?
Hair products such as shampoos and conditioners are based on gluten-containing ingredients because gluten can strengthen the hair while giving it volume and thickness. Further, gluten is also known for its ability to help hair strands hold their natural shape and structure. Since so many hair products contain gluten, there is always the risk of accidental gluten intake.
While many people say that you don’t need to worry about gluten in hair products because you’re not exactly eating them, the risk of accidental gluten intake makes even inedible products problematic.
For instance, when you wash off shampoo or conditioner in the shower, the runoff may get into your mouth. Similarly, trace amounts of gluten can get in your system if you rinse off your hair and later bring your fingers to your mouth without washing them thoroughly.
Also, anecdotal evidence suggests that people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity can often react to gluten on their skin too. While this has led to the myth that gluten can be absorbed through the skin, this isn’t true because gluten molecules are too big to be absorbed by the skin as per a study conducted by Tricia Thompson of the Gluten Free Watchdog.
At the same time, stories of real people who have broken out or developed rashes on their skin because of hair and skin care products containing gluten are far too prevalent to be taken lightly.
Accidental gluten ingestion and the possible risk of skin-related problems caused by gluten exposure are the two reasons why it is better to give up mainstream haircare products in favor of gluten-free shampoos and conditioners.
Which Ingredients Should You Look to Avoid?
If you are looking to only use gluten-free hair products, then the next challenge is to identify which products are gluten-free and which are not.
While products that openly state that they are gluten-free will make your life easier to a certain extent, the best way to be sure is to know which ingredients contain gluten. If you can identify these ingredients, you can simply go through the ingredients list of any hair product and decide for yourself if it contains gluten or not.
Here’s a list of ingredients you should be looking to avoid.
- Wheat derived ingredients such as hydrolyzed wheat protein and wheat germ oil
- Dextrin or maltodextrin since they can be derived from wheat and barley both
- Rye
- Oats, whether colloidal or in other forms
- Hydrolyzed vegetable protein when it is derived from wheat instead of other sources.
- Vitamin E is usually safe except when it is derived from wheat germ oil, barley, or rye instead of vegetable or soybean oil.
10 Best Gluten-Free Conditioners Comparison Table
| Product Name | Volume | Cost per ounce (*Approx.) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renpure Coconut Cream Nourishing Conditioner | 32 ounces | $0.22 per ounce | Check Price |
| Suave Professionals Smoothing Conditioner | 2 x 12.6 ounces | $0.39 per ounce | Check Price |
| L’Oreal Paris EverPure Purple Conditioner | 33.8 ounces | $0.59 per ounce | Check Price |
| HASK COCONUT MONOI Shampoo and Conditioner Set | 2 x 12 ounces | $0.62 per ounce | Check Price |
| Pure Nature Lux Spa Argan Oil Deep Moisture Repair Conditioner | 16.9 ounces | $0.77 per ounce | Check Price |
| Herbal Essences Volumizing Conditioner | 2 x 20 ounces | $0.80 per ounce | Check Price |
| Loma Hair Care Moisturizing Shampoo & Treatment Duo | 2 x 33.8 ounces | $0.81 per ounce | Check Price |
| PURA D’OR Healing Argan Oil Conditioner | 16 ounces | $0.93 per ounce | Check Price |
| Desert Essence Coconut Shampoo & Conditioner Bundle | 2 x 8 ounces | $1.06 per ounce | Check Price |
| LuxeOrganix Rejuvenating Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner Set | 2 x 16 ounces | $1.56 per ounce | Check Price |
Top 4 Budget Gluten-Free Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
1. Renpure Coconut Cream Nourishing Conditioner
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
The main reason why so many hair products feature gluten-containing ingredients is that they offer numerous benefits for hair without costing a lot of money. In other words, gluten-containing ingredients are a favorite of manufacturers because of how they balance effectiveness and cost.
In fact, ingredients that benefit hair but don’t contain gluten typically tend to be expensive. The best examples of such ingredients are argan oil and avocado oil. This is why, as you search for gluten-free conditioners, you’ll find that the most pocket-friendly options tend to have very simple formulae.
The Coconut Cream Nourishing Conditioner from Renpure is typical of these types of hair care products. It is based on coconut oil which is one of the best and cheapest gluten-free ingredients that are also known for their ability to boost hair health.
Coconut oil is rich in a wide variety of nutrients including essential fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins. Further, it is exceptional when it comes to hydrating hair strands and coating them to create shine and vibrancy. This conditioner boasts of all these qualities too but only if you don’t have excessively dry or fine hair.
If you have very dry hair, then this conditioner may not be able to provide enough hydration because it isn’t very heavy. At the same time, it isn’t super light either because it can weigh down very fine hair and make it seem greasy.
All this means that this conditioner is best suited to people with normal or medium hair types. You can also use this product if you have curly or processed hair because it doesn’t contain any harmful substances like parabens and sulfates.
As is natural, the smell of this conditioner comes from coconut oil. The scent will appeal to most of you unless you have an aversion to strong smells. This conditioner’s smell is not only too strong but also a little artificial, which could bother some of you.
The bottle this product comes in is equipped with a dispensing pump. Unfortunately, the pump isn’t of the best quality and fails very easily. This could be due to the creamy consistency of the product but the pump is difficult to open too.
As we mentioned at the beginning of this review, this product is one of the cheapest in the market.
Who’s it for: If you have normal hair, like the smell of coconuts, and are looking to save money on your gluten-free conditioner, get this one from Renpure.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 32 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Coconut oil, argan oil, wild crape myrtle fruit extract, and silicones |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Uses coconut oil as the base |
| Shines hair well |
| Has a distinct coconut scent |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Comes with a dispensing pump |
| Boasts of a creamy consistency |
| An incredibly cheap product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Its scent may be a bit too strong and artificial |
| Can end up making hair greasy |
| Not enough hydration for extremely dry hair |
| The provided dispensing pump is problematic |
2. Suave Professionals Smoothing Conditioner
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
The Professionals Smoothing Conditioner from Suave is another prime example of how the easiest way to make gluten-free conditioners pocket-friendly is to base them on a simplistic formula.
As its name suggests, this is a smoothing conditioner. This means that it is incredibly effective at nullifying frizzy and flyaway hair. In fact, the company says that when this conditioner is used with its companion shampoo, it can provide frizz control for up to two days.
While there are a few different ingredients in this conditioner, the ones that stand out are only two, namely silicones and keratin. Suave says that it has incorporated keratin into this formula through its Keralock Technology.
The keratin and silicones in this conditioner work very well together by repairing, coating, and protecting hair. The hair ends up being smooth, sleek, shiny, and considerably more manageable than before.
These two ingredients also work very well with styling tools that depend on heat such as curling rods, flat irons, and blow-dryers. These tools help hair strands absorb and incorporate keratin into their structures at a much deeper level. However, if you don’t have very dry or heavily processed hair, then this conditioner could end up weighing your hair down.
The scent of this conditioner is similar to salon-grade products. This means that it is strong, perfume-like, and tends to linger in the hair well after your hair has dried up.
While we’re reviewing the smoothing conditioner in this guide, you can consider this product’s other variants too, especially if you don’t like strong perfume scents. Six other versions of this product are available. These are almond + shea butter, biotin infusion, black raspberry + white tea, coconut milk, Moroccan infusion, and rosemary + mint.
You’ll also get to pick from various pack sizes of 12.6-ounce bottles. The biggest one is a six-pack, the smallest one is a single pack, and the medium one contains two bottles. While the biggest pack will be the cheapest, this shouldn’t be a consideration because this product, in general, is very cheap.
You should also know that this product doesn’t come with a dispensing pump. Instead, you are supposed to squeeze the bottles to get the product out.
Who’s it for: If you have very dry hair or tend to use a lot of hot tools, this smoothing conditioner from Suave will be perfect for you.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 2 x 12.6 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Silicones and hydrolyzed keratin |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Has a very simple formula |
| Utilizes keratin to smooth hair and prevent frizz |
| Works well with hot tools |
| Smells like a premium-grade salon product |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Multiple variants available |
| Available in three sizes |
| An incredibly cheap product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Its scent may be a bit too strong |
| Can end up weighing the hair down |
| Doesn’t come with a dispensing pump |
3. L’Oreal Paris EverPure Purple Conditioner
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
People with celiac disease or even gluten sensitivities often go through their lives trying to avoid gluten accidents. They rarely get the time for something as simple as styling. However, one thing that they can go for is coloring their hair because hair products for colored or chemically-treated hair don’t need many gluten-containing ingredients to be effective.
Even so, purple hair conditioners that are also gluten-free aren’t very common. Toners or purple hair products are designed for two things. The first is that they protect the color in the hair and try to keep its appearance vibrant. The other is that they nullify brassiness and discoloration.
This is why the EverPure Purple Conditioner from L’Oreal Paris is so good. While being marketed as a purple conditioner, this product is closer to blue in color. If you know your color theory, then this means that this conditioner is better suited to handle orange tones in blonde hair than yellow tones. However, this doesn’t mean that it can’t handle brassiness. It just means that it is less effective on yellowing blonde hair.
Like most products designed for colored hair, this one also has a simplistic formula, especially since it is also gluten-free and pocket-friendly to boot. There are a few chemicals, compounds, and ingredients in this conditioner but the two most prominent ones are silicones and hibiscus. It doesn’t contain any parabens and boasts of a completely vegan formula.
The silicones in this product do a great job of protecting the color dye in the hair and even prevent moisture loss. However, they don’t do well when it comes to hydrating the hair which can result in it becoming too dry over time.
The hibiscus in this product is responsible for its scent too. Its hibiscus smell, though, can come off as a bit too masculine especially since it is extremely strong. Fortunately, it doesn’t linger in the hair.
You can get this product in three different-sized containers. The smallest option will be 6.8 ounces, the medium one will contain 11 ounces, and the largest one will have a capacity of 33.8 ounces. None of the bottles will come with a dispensing pump. In fact, the two smaller containers are tubes instead of bottles.
The biggest size is the cheapest but the smaller tubes aren’t very expensive either. Therefore, if you want to test this conditioner before committing to it, we suggest going for the smaller tube instead of the larger options.
Who’s it for: If you’re a natural blond or color your hair blond and hate that horrible orange shade that blond hair develops over time, get this purple conditioner from L’Oreal.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 33.8 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Silicones and roselle flower extract |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Designed specifically for protecting colored hair and dealing with brassiness |
| Has a very simple formula |
| Has a hibiscus scent |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| A vegan product |
| Available in three sizes |
| A fairly cheap product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Its scent may be a bit too masculine |
| Not enough hydration for extremely dry hair |
| Doesn’t come with a dispensing pump |
4. HASK COCONUT MONOI Shampoo and Conditioner Set (Best Budget)
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
While this shampoo and conditioner set falls in the budget market segment as per our assessment, it isn’t the cheapest of the budget gluten-free options that we’ve reviewed in this guide. However, the fact that it is slightly more expensive shows in various ways including its formula and performance.
This set from Hask is based on monoi oil. Monoi oil is traditionally used in Tahiti and is a blend of coconut oil and gardenia flowers. The blend is considered to be special because it is very effective at hydrating and strengthening hair strands, resulting in smoothed and softened hair strands.
The shampoo and conditioner in this set both boast fairly clean formulae even though the latter has silicones. The two products are free of other synthetic ingredients such as sulfates and parabens. In fact, the shampoo, despite not containing sulfates, still lathers well.
This product has a unique scent too. It smells of coconut, honey, and orange, which is typical of monoi oil. While most people like this scent, the sense of smell will always be subjective. If you think you won’t like this scent, you can try other variants from this company too. There are a few to choose from as well.
These include argan oil, biotin, cactus water, charcoal, chia seed, coconut milk + honey, curl care, chamomile, Hawaiian sea salt, hemp, keratin, macadamia, orchid + white truffle, rose oil + peach, shea butter, and tea tree. Since their active ingredients are different, these variants will also offer different benefits.
The biggest issue with this shampoo and conditioner pair is that it is intended for normal hair types. You’ll find the shampoo to be a bit too drying and the conditioner not moisturizing enough. As a result, if you don’t have oily hair, to begin with, your hair will start feeling too dry over time.
There are two solutions to this. The obvious one will be to choose another variant. Another would be to buy only the conditioner. Hask offers double-packs of its conditioners for those who don’t want the shampoo. Whether you buy a shampoo and conditioner set or conditioner double-packs, you should know that none of the bottles will come with dispensing pumps.
While more expensive than other budget offerings we’ve reviewed in this guide, it is still fairly pocket-friendly.
Who’s it for: If you have slightly oily hair and are looking for a product with a unique scent, try this pair from Hask.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 2 x 12 ounces |
| Active ingredients (shampoo): Coconut based cleansers, monoi flower extract, coconut oil, argan oil, linseed seed oil, bilberry fruit extract, provitamin B5, hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed corn protein, and radish root ferment filtrate |
| Active ingredients (Conditioner): Silicones, monoi flower extract, coconut oil, argan oil, linseed seed oil, bilberry fruit extract, olive fruit oil, shea butter, provitamin B5, hydrolyzed corn protein, hydrolyzed soy protein, and radish root ferment filtrate |
| The Pros |
|---|
| A shampoo and conditioner set |
| Features Tahitian monoi oil |
| Hydrates and strengthens hair well |
| Smells of honey, coconut, and oranges |
| Shampoo lathers well |
| Doesn’t contain sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Multiple variants available |
| Double conditioner packs also available |
| A fairly cheap product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| The shampoo can be a bit too drying |
| The conditioner doesn’t provide enough hydration for extremely dry hair |
| Doesn’t come with a dispensing pump |
Top 3 Value Gluten-Free Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
5. Pure Nature Lux Spa Argan Oil Deep Moisture Repair Conditioner
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
Having extremely dry hair while trying to cope with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease can be particularly challenging. The reason for this is that, when it comes to making moisturizing hair products, most mainstream manufacturers tend to rely on ingredients that contain a lot of gluten.
The few products that can moisturize and hydrate hair without depending on gluten-containing ingredients make use of natural oils. This conditioner from Pure Nature Lux Spa is one such product. It makes use of argan oil to ensure that the hair gets sufficient hydration.
Since argan oil is widely recognized for its ability to moisturize and nourish hair, this product delivers excellent results. Its argan oil content also helps detangle, de-frizz, and protect the hair from adverse external influences.
As a result, this conditioner delivers strong, soft, and frizz-free hair. As an extension, it also ends up enhancing curl patterns. It is helped in this regard greatly by the fact that it contains silicones too.
Other than these two ingredients, this conditioner also contains hydrolyzed collagen. Collagen is naturally found in hair strands and is responsible for their elasticity. Elastic hair doesn’t break easily which is how this conditioner makes hair stronger and prevents breakage. Further, this product doesn’t contain any parabens and is even rated to be cruelty-free.
The smell of this conditioner is a little divisive, though. It has a perfume scent that comes off as very masculine and artificial, which can put many of the ladies off from using it. It is also quite strong and difficult to ignore which makes it very difficult for other products to mask the scent.
Another flaw of this conditioner is usability. The dispensing pump that it comes equipped with is very difficult to use because it is inconsistent. We think this is because of the extremely thick consistency of the product instead of the quality of the pump, though. Essentially, the pump is unable to overcome the viscosity of the product to pull it out of the bottle.
The conditioner is neither too expensive nor cheap. However, the company does back its product with a 100 percent money-back guarantee that you can use to get a full refund if you’re not happy with your purchase.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a gluten-free conditioner that specializes in moisturization, try this argan oil product from Pure Nature Lux Spa.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 16.9 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Silicones, argan oil, and hydrolyzed collagen |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Very effective at providing hydration |
| Has a very simple formula |
| Utilizes argan oil and collagen to smooth hair and prevent frizz |
| Has a strong perfume-like scent |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| A cruelty-free rated product |
| An affordably priced product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Its scent may be a bit too strong, masculine, and artificial |
| The provided dispensing pump is problematic |
6. Herbal Essences Volumizing Conditioner (Best Value)
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
The majority of mainstream conditioners rely on silicones for various things such as smoothing the cuticles, shining the hair, and sealing moisture in. This is especially true with gluten-free conditioners. This is evident by the fact that the vast majority of products we’ve reviewed in this guide are based on silicones. This Volumizing Conditioner from Herbal Essences, however, is different.
It contains very little silicones and instead is based on alcohol. In fact, the manufacturer even claims that this conditioner is 90 percent natural since it is made with botanicals and natural ingredients. They even specify that these botanicals are “endorsed” by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, a governmental body in the UK.
The botanicals this conditioner’s formula is based on are diverse and uncommon as well. Some of the botanicals you’ll find in this conditioner are grapefruit fruit extract, bergamot fruit extract, peppermint oil, menthol, wild mint leaf oil, common verbena, and sea kelp extract along with the more common aloe vera leaf juice.
The most impressive aspect of this product’s formula is that all these ingredients are present in larger quantities than silicones which are listed right at the end of the ingredients list. The formula doesn’t even contain other synthetic substances such as parabens. Further, it is also designed to be pH-balanced, making it one of the best options for people with sensitive scalps and skin.
As its name says, this conditioner is designed to thicken and volumize hair. It does this well too by softening the hair and adding body to it. However, you need to be very careful about how much of it you use. If you use too much, the conditioner can just as well end up weighing your hair down.
The scent of this conditioner makes it truly exceptional. It boasts of a complex and multilayered scent comprising of citrus, mint, and fruity notes. Even though it is incredibly evolved and complicated, the scent isn’t too strong and is quite subtle.
There are various options to choose from too. You can buy a double-pack of conditioners or a shampoo and conditioner set. Double-packs are also available for standard and dry shampoo products. All the bottles will come equipped with a dispensing pump.
This product is also very affordable, neither costing too much or being very pocket-friendly.
Who’s it for: If you want a gluten-free conditioner but also want to minimize exposure to silicones, try this product from Herbal Essences.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 2 x 20 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Grapefruit fruit extract, bergamot fruit extract, peppermint oil, menthol, wild mint leaf oil, common verbena, aloe vera leaf juice, sea kelp extract, and silicones |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Contains silicones in very little quantity |
| Softens and hydrates hair well |
| Based on botanicals endorsed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |
| Has a complex but natural scent with mint and citrus notes |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| A pH-balanced product |
| Comes with a dispensing pump |
| An affordably priced product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Can end up weighing the hair down |
7. Loma Hair Care Moisturizing Shampoo & Treatment Duo
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
Aloe vera is an ingredient that is known for its antimicrobial properties. What many of you may not know is that aloe vera is very impressive when it comes to moisturization too. However, this is only possible if aloe vera is used in large quantities.
Loma Hair Care seems to have leveraged the potential of aloe vera by basing this shampoo and conditioner combo on this ingredient. This means that aloe vera is the first ingredient in both these products and present in the highest concentrations possible.
Aloe vera is present in a form that the company calls the Aloemoist Complex. This Complex, according to Loma, is created by mixing highly concentrated aloe vera powder in “purest water”. As a result, this pair is exceptional when it comes to moisturizing extremely thirsty and dry hair. This means heavily processed and chemically treated hair too.
However, the downside of this is that this shampoo and conditioner set isn’t suitable for oily hair. In fact, the combo is so good at hydrating hair that it can even leave slightly oily hair greasy. Several other extremely beneficial and moisturizing ingredients are present in these products too.
For instance, it contains vitamin E, provitamin B5, castor oil, olive oil, hydrolyzed quinoa, and avocado oil. All of these ingredients work together to provide nourishment and repair damaged hair too. Further, these two products are free of artificial ingredients.
The shampoo doesn’t contain sulfates which means that it can be used on colored and chemically treated hair too. However, the shampoo still lathers well because it contains coconut-based cleansers. While the conditioner contains silicones, both the shampoo and conditioner are without parabens.
The presence of multiple highly-moisturizing ingredients has also resulted in these products being incredibly viscous. Their thick consistency means that it can be difficult to get them out of the bottle, especially since they don’t come with dispensing pumps. You should prepare to do a lot of shaking and squeezing if you’re going to buy this set.
Both the products are also rated to be cruelty-free and vegan. In terms of their scent, they have a fairly fresh and clean smell that most people end up liking.
This set isn’t very expensive either. It is priced competitively irrespective of whether you buy the smaller or the larger set. The smaller set consists of 12-ounce bottles while the larger one contains two 33.8-ounce bottles.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for gluten-free hair products that offer immense moisturizing potential, get this pair from Loma Hair Care.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 2 x 33.8 ounces |
| Active ingredients (shampoo): Aloe vera leaf juice, coconut-based cleansers, provitamin B5, hydrolyzed quinoa, vitamin E, avocado oil, olive fruit oil, hydrolyzed African baobab seed extract, lavender extract, fennel seed extract, sunflower seed extract, and silicones |
| Active ingredients (Conditioner): Aloe vera leaf juice, castor oil, silicones, hydrolyzed quinoa, lavender extract, fennel seed extract, sunflower seed extract, safflower seed oil, castor seed oil, shea butter, vitamin E, provitamin B5, and avocado seed oil |
| The Pros |
|---|
| A shampoo and conditioner set designed specifically for very dry hair |
| Uses aloe vera and avocado to hydrate hair well |
| Repairs hair well too |
| Has a fresh and clean scent |
| Shampoo lathers well |
| Doesn’t contain sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| A cruelty-free and vegan rated product |
| Available in two sizes |
| A fairly affordable set |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Very thick consistency |
| Doesn’t come with a dispensing pump |
| Can end up making hair greasy |
Top 3 Premium Gluten-Free Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
8. PURA D’OR Healing Argan Oil Conditioner (Top Pick)
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
You can find conditioners with low amounts of silicone but finding a conditioner that doesn’t contain silicones is incredibly rare. The industry just doesn’t work that way. Even so, there are exceptions like this Healing Argan Oil Conditioner from Pura D’Or.
In fact, Pura D’Or has not only created a conditioner without silicones, but the company has also created a conditioner that repairs hair without their help. To do this, they’ve leaned on the greatest naturally occurring ingredients when it comes to hair health – aloe vera and argan oil.
The base of this conditioner is aloe vera juice instead of silicones or alcohol. Aloe vera’s inherent moisturizing qualities are exponentially increased because it is mixed with argan oil. The solution even contains proteins derived from coconuts which help compensate for the natural protein loss that hair strands go through.
While excellent at repairing damaged hair and more than accomplished at detangling and de-frizzing hair, the absence of silicones does limit this conditioner in some ways. For instance, the smooth finish that silicones provide is absent from this conditioner.
Since the hair is not sealed properly, the moisture this conditioner provides slowly escapes from the hair strands. As a result, the hair becomes a little dry over time. This is a problem that many users have pointed out. The best way around this would be to use a leave-in conditioner after you’re done with this product.
This conditioner is completely natural and doesn’t contain any artificial substances such as parabens and sulfates. It is even rated to be vegan and cruelty-free. This conditioner smells great too. It has an incredibly soothing scent of lavender and vanilla that most users appreciate. There are floral notes to its scent as well.
There are no size options and the one bottle it comes in doesn’t even have a good pump. The dispensing pump equipped on the bottle breaks down frequently.
Manufactured completely in the US, this product is a little on the expensive side. Pura D’Or does offer a full guarantee on this conditioner, though. Therefore, if you’re not happy with the conditioner for any reason, you can contact the company and return it for a full refund.
Who’s it for: If you have damaged hair and don’t want to expose your hair to either gluten or silicones, get this healing conditioner from Pura D’Or.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 16 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Aloe vera leaf juice, coconut protein, meadowfoam seed oil, argan oil, lavender oil, vanilla fruit extract, vitamin A, provitamin B5, and vitamin E |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Designed specifically for repairing damaged hair |
| Uses aloe vera as the base |
| Has a light and soothing scent of lavender and vanilla |
| Doesn’t contain silicones |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| A cruelty-free and vegan rated product |
| Comes with a dispensing pump |
| Manufactured in the US |
| Backed by a 100 percent money-back guarantee |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Not enough hydration for extremely dry hair |
| The provided dispensing pump is problematic |
| A little on the expensive side of things |
9. Desert Essence Coconut Shampoo & Conditioner Bundle
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
While there are plenty of shampoos in the market that contain coconut-based cleansers in place of sulfates, there are very few conditioners that can claim to be silicones and gluten-free at the same time. However, the shampoo and conditioner in this set boast of those qualities.
Desert Essence products are known for their natural and organic nature and this shampoo and conditioner set is the same. Both the products are completely free of artificial ingredients such as sulfates, parabens, and silicones. Like all their products, this pair also happens to be completely vegan.
Not only this, the cleansers in the shampoo of this set are not abundant. They are fairly low in the ingredients list which means that they’re only present in smaller quantities. However, the shampoo still manages to lather quite well. In fact, it is a bit too strong because it leaves many people’s hair too dry, despite focusing heavily on moisturizing hair.
On the other hand, because the conditioner doesn’t contain silicones, it is a little lacking in the hydration department. A lot of users complain that to get proper moisturization from this conditioner, you need to use a lot of it.
This results in the conditioner finishing off well before the shampoo. When used in larger quantities, though, the conditioner performs very well. It detangles the hair and hydrates over-processed, excessively damaged, and incredibly parched hair superbly. It even counters frizz and flyaway hair along the way.
The conditioner is based on olive leaf extract but contains a series of very beneficial natural ingredients such as nettle leaf extract, matricaria flower extract, coconut oil, shea butter, sweet almond oil, sunflower seed oil, and jojoba seed oil.
Both these products draw their scent from their coconut oil content. They smell distinctly of coconut and many people are reminded of tropical vacations.
The biggest problem is this combo’s cost. It is very expensively priced but this is normal for products that boast of a completely natural formula. The cost can be especially problematic because you’ll run through the conditioner very fast.
Further, both these products only come in tubes. This means that you won’t get the ease of using dispensing pumps and might even drop the tubes multiple times in your shower or bathtub.
Who’s it for: If you want a gluten-free shampoo and conditioner set for your oily hair, try this unique pairing from Desert Essence.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 2 x 8 ounces |
| Active ingredients (shampoo): Rosemary leaf extract, burdock extract, yarrow extract, witch hazel leaf extract, fennel seed extract, black elderberry flower extract, coconut-based cleansers, aloe vera leaf extract, hemp seed oil, shea butter, coconut oil, and jojoba seed oil, olive fruit oil |
| Active ingredients (Conditioner): Olive leaf extract, nettle leaf extract, matricaria flower extract, coconut oil, shea butter, sweet almond oil, sunflower seed oil, and jojoba seed oil |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Shampoo and conditioner set designed for everyday use |
| Has a distinct coconut scent |
| Shampoo lathers well |
| Doesn’t contain sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain silicones |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| A vegan rated product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| An expensively priced product |
| The shampoo can be a bit too drying |
| The conditioner doesn’t provide enough hydration for extremely dry hair |
| Doesn’t come with a dispensing pump |
10. LuxeOrganix Rejuvenating Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner Set
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
LuxeOrganix positions itself as a company that aims to improve the appearance of hair without affecting its health in any way. They do this by using premium-grade natural ingredients in combinations that enhance their inherent benefits.
This shampoo and conditioner set from the company is based on argan oil, which is so beneficial for hair that it is often called “liquid gold” by experts. Argan oil is one of the best naturally-occurring ingredients when it comes to nourishing and moisturizing the hair.
As a result, LuxeOrganix says that this shampoo and conditioner combo is best for highly-parched hair, including curly and heavily-processed hair. Argan oil’s inherent hydration capabilities also make this pair great for people trying to cope with excess frizz and tangles.
However, these benefits are only evident when you use these two products in conjunction. The reason why they cannot be used separately is how well they complement each other by compensating for each other’s flaws.
For instance, if you use this shampoo separately, you’ll find that it is a bit too cleansing. It will clean your hair but will also leave your hair very dry and straw-like. On the other hand, if you use the conditioner without the accompanying shampoo, you’ll find your hair weighed down and very greasy.
Effectively, the excess hydration offered by the conditioner in this pair compensates for the excess dryness that the shampoo creates.
The shampoo has strong cleansing capabilities even though it doesn’t contain sulfates. In place of sulfates, it makes use of coconut-based cleansers in large quantities. Unfortunately, despite the fact that it cleanses well, the absence of sulfates means that it doesn’t produce a lot of lather. Other ingredients in the shampoo are argan oil and provitamin B5.
While the shampoo’s formula is simplistic, the conditioner’s formula is the exact opposite. In fact, the ingredients list of the conditioner is one of the most impressive and exhaustive we have come across.
The conditioner contains a slew of highly beneficial natural ingredients headlined by argan oil and silicones. However, what is notable is that argan oil is present in greater quantities than silicones. Other ingredients worth noting are provitamin B5, Vitamin E, vitamin A, and matricaria flower extract along with some DHT blockers such as lemongrass extract, white oak bark extract, sage leaf extract, and witch hazel extract.
Both these products are also free of synthetic ingredients such as parabens and phthalates. Further, they’re free of alcohol and rated to be cruelty-free. In terms of scent, they smell of orange creamsicle. The scent can be best described as a blend of oranges and vanilla. While not overpowering or very strong, the scent is very sweet. Many users don’t like this excessive sweetness.
The consistency of these products is creamy. They are neither too thick nor too watery. The company offers these products in three different bottle sizes. The available sizes are two ounces, eight ounces, and 16 ounces.
We recommend choosing the biggest bottles because that will help you save some money. Saving money is important with this combo because it is quite expensive. For instance, the two-ounce set costs $4.74 per ounce while the 16-ounce pair costs $1.56 per ounce. This can be a big difference, especially if you plan on using these products regularly.
The reason for the high cost is that this company only uses premium-grade ingredients and complies with all American standards. The product is manufactured solely in the US. Despite the cost, though, none of the bottles come with a dispensing pump.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a gluten-free shampoo and conditioner combo and don’t plan on using them separately, try this pair from LuxeOrganix.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 2 x 16 ounces |
| Active ingredients (shampoo): Coconut based cleansers, argan oil, and provitamin B5 |
| Active ingredients (Conditioner): Argan oil, silicones, provitamin B5, Vitamin E, vitamin A, matricaria flower extract, yarrow extract, dog rose fruit extract, lemon balm leaf extract, lemongrass extract, white oak bark extract, spotted cranesbill extract, comfrey extract, sage leaf extract, aloe vera leaf juice, and witch hazel extract |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Designed specifically for curly, frizzy, and dry hair |
| Has a light scent of orange and vanilla |
| Doesn’t contain sulfates |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| A cruelty-free rated product |
| Available in three sizes |
| Manufactured in the US |
| The Cons |
|---|
| An incredibly expensive set |
| Shampoo can be a bit too drying |
| The shampoo doesn’t produce sufficient lather |
| Conditioner can weigh hair down |
| Doesn’t come with a dispensing pump |
| Its scent is a bit too sweet |
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