Going gluten-free because of celiac disease is never easy. Some people think that it is as simple as not eating bread or pasta however I know how careful one needs to be to avoid gluten. Especially since it seems to be in almost everything. Even in hair products.
Fortunately, there are a few brands who take celiac disease seriously and make good quality products without adding gluten.
Our Favorite Gluten-Free Hair Products
Below you will find some of our favorite gluten-free hair products including gluten-free shampoo, gluten-free conditioner, gluten-free hair gel and gluten-free hair spray.
1. Best Gluten-Free Shampoos
Pura d’or Premium Organic Shampoo
Pura d’or Premium Shampoo is one of the best shampoos on the market. In fact we personally think it’s the best hair shampoo. Not only is it free of harsh chemical that are the leading cause of many chronic hair conditions but it also helps prevent hair loss. It comes as no surprise that this shampoo has been the #1 Best Seller on Amazon since 2012. Additionally, the Shampoo is safe for daily use and for all hair types. So if you are still unsure about your hair type this is the shampoo for you.
NaturOli Extreme Hair Soap Nut Shampoo
The high quality oils in “Extreme Hair” are very gentle yet powerful in cleaning your hair. They rehydrate and restore dry and damaged hair and instead add volume and shine. We love NaturOli’s environmental approach. They do not test on animals and only use organic ingredients, free of sulfate, gluten, fragrance, parabens and other harsh chemicals unnecessary in shampoo.
Acure Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo
This Morocann Argan Oil Shampoo by Acure does an amazing job restoring dry and damaged hair to its original beauty. It cleans the hair very well and leaves it smelling like delicious almonds. It is by far on of the best smelling shampoos we have tried. The argan oil and pumpkin seed oil are high in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which add shine to your hair.
2. Best Gluten-Free Conditioners
Pura d’or Lavender & Vanillia Conditoner
Pura d’or makes not only awesome gluten-free shampoos but also conditioners and this conditioner is by far one of the best gluten-free conditioner out there. Not only does it smell amazing it also helps thinning hair to become thicker and stronger. Just like their shampoo, the conditioner does not contain any harmful chemicals and is very gentle on your hair and scalp. We recommend pairing it with their Pura d’or Premium Organic Shampoo for the best results.
Acure Organics Coconut Conditioner
This gluten-free shampoo and conditioner bundle does wonders for frizzy, dry and curly hair. The coconut water, marual oil and aloe vera juice extract in the shampoo and conditioner hydrate your hair and keep it from drying out, making it look fresh all day long. Another great conditioner of theirs is the Acure Organics Volume Conditioner, which focuses more on volume than hair straightening.
JASON All Natural Organic Conditioner
The Jason All Natural Organic Biotin Shampoo and Conditioner target biotin for hair growth, thickening hair and preventing thinning hair. The Vitamin B5, Vitamin E, Jojoba Seed Oil, and chamomile in the shampoo and conditioner thicken your hair, while the grapefruit extract help strengthen and repair weak, damaged hair.
For more gluten-free shampoos and conditioner recommendations, take a look at this article.
3. Best Gluten-Free Hair Gels
Andalou Naturals Healthy Shine Styling Gel
Andalou Naturals Styling Gel is chemical free and one of the best gluten-free hair gels on the market. It also improves hair follicle longevity and vitality for healthy hair from root to tip.
Nature’s Brands Mari Organic Hair Gel
Herbal Choice Mari Hair Gel does not only hold your hair in place, it also nourishes with organic plant ingredients without drying or damaging the hair. The hair gel is USDA Certified Organic, vegan and cruelty free.
4. Best Gluten-Free Hair Sprays
Loma Firm Hold Hair Spray
Loma Firm Hold Hair Spray is one of the best gluten-free hair spray out there. It is all natural and it will give your hair that really firm to extreme hold. What else can one ask for?
Andalou Naturals Thickening Spray
Add body, lift, and volume to your hair with the Andalou Naturals Thickening Spray. It leaves no residue and smells absolutely amazing.
Some other brands that sell gluten-free hair products are: Desert Essence, Jason Natural, Gluten-Free Savonnerie, Naturally Dah’ling, and Botanique.
Is Gluten Protein Absorbed Through Hair?
The short answer is no. However, if you have celiac disease we still recommend you to buy gluten-free hair products and here is why. Although gluten can not be absorbed through your skin or hair, the chance that you accidentally get shampoo or other hair products into your mouth is quite high.
Some people with celiac disease also develop a condition called dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), which causes an itchy rash. Usually removing gluten from your diet is enough to get rid of DH. However, some people report that their rash only cleared up after they had switched to gluten-free skin and hair products. If you are uncertain whether a product is gluten-free, check the ingredients on the label.
Gluten Ingredients in Hair Products
Below listed ingredients are gluten derived, so hair products that contain any of the following should be avoided.
*We have also included oats on this list, since most celiacs need to avoid them as well because of cross contamination.
- Avena sativa (oats)*
- Beta glucan (frequently derived from wheat)
- Barley extract
- Colloidal oatmeal*
- Dextrin palmitate (starch, possibly gluten-based)
- Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (may contain wheat)
- Hydrolyzed wheat protein
- Hordeum vulgare (barley)
- Laurdimonium hydroxypropyl (hydrolyzed wheat protein)
- Malt extract (barley)
- Stearyl dimonium hydroxypropy (hydrolyzed wheat protein)
- Secale cereale (rye)
- Triticum vulgare (wheat)
- Oat Extract*
- Oat Amino Acids*
- Vitamin E (frequently derived from wheat)
- Vegetable protein (may contain gluten)
- Wheat germ oil
Not Sure About Your Favorite Hair Product?
If you are uncertain whether your favorite hair product is gluten-free, you can either call the manufacture’s toll free hotline or search online (great resource: celiac.org). Some manufactures are more aware of celiac disease than others, so you might have mixed success.
Don’t feel discouraged if your favorite hair product contains gluten. There are many great brands out there that either identify gluten ingredients on their labels or label their product gluten-free altogether.
What is your favorite gluten-free hair product? We would love to hear from you.
Thank you very much! I’m getting tired of losing hair because it is hard to tell if hair products have gluten in them. I also hate paying a fortune special products that are solely gluten-free. Very helpful.
Glad we could help Charlaine. There is really no need to spend a fortune on gluten free hair products.
THANK YOU! I found your list and am thrilled to have new options, since my go-to, Bogavia, is hard to find (and always out of stock online) now that I’ve moved away from New York.
The Jason product you have listed contains Vitamin E, and the list of gluten containing ingredients below lists Vitamin E as possibly wheat derived. Poor information for celiacs that do need to avoid them in shampoo and hair conditioner because of contact dermatitis.
Hey Cindy, Vitamin E is often (but not always) derived from wheat. Jason lists the shampoo and conditioner as gluten free, so they probably derive their Vitamin E from another non-gluten source. Hope that helps Cindy.
As I dig deeper into gluten free beauty products I find that manufacturers do not necessarily know if the ingredients they use are not derived from wheat. I have used makeup that is labeled gluten free only to find out they didn’t find out if the ingredients are actually gluten free. This leads to dermatitis, eyelash loss, and skin irritation. I have found if a website claims that each and every ingredient used in their product is gluten free by naming its source, I will make a purchase. Learning the hard way is expensive, and sometimes takes moths to recover.
@Cindy, How did the test go? I’m really interested. Altho hair falling could also be caused by my natural thyroid company who possibly changed ingredients or suppliers 6+ months ago .Today I found website about this and lots of people are complaining of same thing. However I need the gluten free shampoos etc as I too react to it in cosmetics.
I am on a very solid budget, now that I have another person in the household it is getting very difficult to figure what I can afford and can’t, any suggestions?
Does anyone have any recommendations for gluten free products for curly hair?
@Jenn, MONAT is certified gluten free and has a new system that is amazing for curly hair.
Full disclosure, I’m a rep, but we’ve grown so fast, I would not be surprised if you have a friend in your circle that sells the products. So feel free to work with them.
All of our products are plant based, vegan certified as well as leaping bunny certified.
We have over a million happy customers and growing. :).
I highly recommend that you give our products a try…and if you want to shop with me, awesome…if not, no pressure either.
Good luck and happy new year.
@Joanna, The ingredient list shows wheat amino acids.
I started using the Briogeo line of hair care products. My hair stopped falling out and actually is noticeably thicker. I believe all or most of their products are certified GF. The line is expensive but don’t need to wash my hair nearly as often once I started using them so feel it’s worth it.
I need gluten free hair products and am losing my hair. Does anyone know if Redken’s Cerafill Retaliate is gluten free?
I have the DH of Celiac myself due to a Prevnair 13 pneumonia shot messing up my immune system and threw me into this for the rest of my life. It took many Drs. a year to finally figure out what was going on. My hair falls out and my biggest problem is finding lipstick, eyeliner,blush in peachy colors that are GF. I used to use Estee Lauder but they won’t say if they are GF. Some brands say they are but use ingredients from other sources and can’t say if they are made in a GF environment so just say no they’re not GF. Everything that is marked GF is soooo expensive compared to the norm. I find the UDI’s bread in Walmart for $7.?? a loaf of the soft white and the very same bread in Publix is $10.??? something. I do like Publix because they have a purple dot on their price tag if it’s GF and that makes shopping sooo much easier to just look at tags till you see a purple dot then you look up to see if it’s something you would like to buy. I wish all food chains would go to that. Walmart has a little section that has mostly off brands that is their GF section but you still have to pick up every can & package and read and look till your convinced they haven’t hidden it somewhere. Shampoo & Hairspray …Well I go back and forth using different brands. Hair Essentials has GF products but only if it say (bio) on the bottle. I went to a Vitamin Store and they have a shampoo I like a lot that has all natural minerals and etc in it. I’m not at home right now and can’t remember the name. I also use MAUI that has aloe in it that’s good. It seems to make my hair feel thicker. I use conditioners like crazy because my hair feels like straw sometimes. If anyone needs to know more or can add to my comments, please do.
@Lois Lynch, Try going on vitacost.com they have deals and many of their products are gluten-free. I use everyone soap the lemon and coconut kind as well as the lotion and deodorant they are a good company . I have celiac but I also have other allergies and have to watch labels closely. I’m allergic to lavender and rosemary my skin get so itchy if I use anything with them in it.
I am allergic to V-E, Wheat germ oil, Tocopherol. I have very thin curly hair. I need products for black people.
Please help.
Is there a website that lists an alternative to your favorite hair products that are gluten free? I love BB Thickening Spray & just found out there is wheat in it. What is gluten free that works the same?
I only use gluten free shampoo. On Maple Holistics about page they say that and I wish every company had a page like that.
Hi does anyone know if Herbal Essences shampoos and conditioners are gluten free and safe for celiacs. Thanks.
Herbal Essences shampoos and conditioners are gluten-free. For a full list of gluten-free shampoos and conditioners take a look at this article: https://www.happyceliac.com/best-gluten-free-shampoos-and-conditioners/
Gluten can be absorbed through the skin. I hate hearing people say that it cannot be absorbed through the skin when it can be. People with Celiac and bad gluten allergies know this use an oatmeal wash on your face and it’s broke out by the end of the day vitamin E oils Jason expecially has wheat germ in it I could barely walk after using this for a week.
@Kelly, Totally agree! Baking bread with my hands… bad reaction! Gluten’s can be absorbed through the skin. I am looking for a natural hair relaxer that is gluten free. Is there one available?
@Evelyn, You were probably breathing in the flour as well when you were baking. I have to stay far away from the baking section of stores. Flour can drift up to 12 hours and you can’t see it. It’s like dust floating. When you bake with wheat flour it leaves a flour dust on everything that you can’t see and will definitely make you sick.
When you state that gluten cannot be absorbed through the skin you are completely wrong. Your skin is your largest organ and if you rub lotion with gluten on your skin, that gluten is in your bloodstream within 26 seconds. Why do you think they make all these medicines in topical creams ?
As a person with a gluten allergy I can personally testify to poisoning myself with lotions.
@David, You are absolutely correct. I have to be so careful. I cannot even touch something that someone else has touched with gluten on their hands. Gluten sensitivities and celiac are a world apart.
I feel that while our hair might not absorb the gluten protien, our skin obviously does. Our skin is one vig cell so i would worry about gluten entering through pores or follicles
Gluten absolutely does absorb into the skin. I kept getting a rash using Aveeno and feeling like I was run over by a mack truck. This was before I knew I was allergic to gluten. Even though I washed it off after the rash started, I still felt miserable. Please stop spreading that lie. Our skin is our largest organ and acts just like other organs when something you’re allergic to causes them to react.
@Theresa, Omg This happens to me too! Everyone thinks I’m crazy and making it up, but it’s true!
Anything such as food or products containing gluten is creams, lotions, spray’s, deodorant etc a whole list, I suffer too with dermatitis and feel like I’ve been hit by a truck too.
I have trouble finding a lot of face products gluten free as main ingredients are vitamin E which can be derived by wheat:(
If you need and advice or want to know what I use I’m happy to share vice versa 🥰🌸💕
Belinda
@Theresa, You are correct, wheat can be absorbed through skin. It takes longer snd most of the time after repeated use. I had used a product that had Hydrolyzed Wheat protein (not knowingly) and develop blisters.
I’m looking for a root gel or pompade do they make anything gluten free?
I had a bad reaction to hair dye recently that was not gluten free. I should know better but I believed the scientists who say as long as we don’t eat the product it will be ok. For a while I couldn’t figure out what happened and concluded that even if I just get gluten on my body my immune system still kits into inflammation mode as a protection against a perceived enemy. But now that I read others have had symptoms from lotion, which I have also had then maybe the scientists are wrong.
@Katherine Baker, I agree with you. Trusting that I couldn’t absorb gluten from my scalp was a lie. I got so sick from it. It’s gluten-free everything now for me. Thank God that there are manufacturers out there that are hearing us.
@Katherine Baker, Hydrolyzed wheat protein – shampoo with this made my head itch and hurt immediately. Basically flared dermatitis to the point I wanted to cry. I am no longer using this product. I read all labels now.
Absolutely gluten is absorbed through the skin!! My mother and I are case and point!! She passed away from various issues associated with Celiacs, inclusive of skin conditions!! Please, Please do your research!