While for some, pregnancy might bring about a streak of good hair days — courtesy of hormones making hair stronger, longer and less likely to shed — that doesn’t mean you have to stick with the status quo ahead of your due date. Hair and scalp concerns are common during this time, says Dr. Camila K. Janniger, a board-certified dermatologist in Wallington, NJ.
It’s possible to develop seborrheic dermatitis, for instance — a condition where the scalp is flaky and dry — as well as dandruff, or for an existing case to worsen. That can make it tricky to find a pregnancy-safe shampoo, as not all medicated options are recommended during pregnancy. Moreover, some people might want to avoid certain controversial ingredients, like phthalates (found in fragrances) and parabens (a common preservative) during this time.
That said, it’s critical to remember that there’s no firm evidence of any harm to your baby coming from these ingredients. “I’ve never counseled a pregnant women to change any over-the-counter shampoo based on pregnancy — so I feel comfortable saying if you love shampoo and you’re pregnant, keep using it,” says Dr. Deirdre Hooper, a board-certified dermatologist at Audubon Dermatology in New Orleans, LA. “The data’s just not there to have your physician recommending against any over-the-counter shampoo.” However, if you want to err on the side of utmost caution, here’s everything you need to consider.
SKIP AHEAD How we picked the best pregnancy-safe shampoo | The best pregnancy-safe shampoo in 2024 | How to shop for pregnancy-safe shampoo
How I picked the best pregnancy-safe shampoo
To determine the best pregnancy-safe shampoos, I spoke to dermatologists to get their expert recommendations, including products that target specific scalp conditions that might arise during pregnancy. We also included personal experience and top-rated picks, taking into consideration:
- Scalp concern: If you have or develop dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, you may need special active ingredients, like zinc pyrithione, to control it.
- Fragrance: Fragrance can be irritating to the scalp, and can be an umbrella term on an ingredient list for other ingredients, like phthalates.
- Other questionable ingredients: Parabens, a common preservative, have been linked to hormonal disruptions, while sulfates, a cleansing agent, can have a drying effect.
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The best pregnancy-safe shampoos in 2024
Nécessaire The Shampoo
- Fragrance free
- Looks nice
- Nothing to note at this time
Recommended by Seattle, Washington-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Heather Rogers, this shampoo has hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and panthenol, and has received the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association (meaning it’s been vetted by a panel of experts and is considered safe for those with eczema to use.) I also used this during my own pregnancy and found that my own scalp issues — flaking and itchiness — disappeared. While I’m not entirely sure whether this was the work of the shampoo, my hormones or both, I still loved the sleek design of the bottles and that it thoroughly cleansed my curly hair without stripping away moisture.
Biolage Scalp Sync Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
- Treats dandruff
- Moisturizing
- Has fragrance
Using a blend of glycolic acid, zinc pyrithione and fermented tea extract, “this shampoo is considered safe in pregnancy to help address the redness, flaking and itching that can be associated with seborrheic dermatitis,” says Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City. It’s free of parabens, and is gentle enough for sensitive scalps, according to the brand.
Community Goods Shampoo Bar
- Minimal waste
- Sulfate free
- Has essential oils
Designed for oily hair, this shampoo bar forgoes sulfates for coconut oil-derived surfactants.” It’s a great option because it’s free from harsh chemicals, making it safe for pregnancy — and it effectively cleanses while leaving the hair feeling fresh and invigorated,” says Garshick. You can choose from four formulations, each of which has its own scent (Citrus Squeeze, Coconut Vanilla, Lavender Rosemary, Peppermint Ice). Keep in mind: The scents are derived from essential oils, which can be irritating to some.
Vanicream Dandruff Shampoo
- Suits sensitive scalps
- Fights dandruff
- Fragrance free
- Nothing to note at this time
Vanicream is a favorite among derms for sensitive skin, so it’s little surprise that it’s a good option for a dry or itchy scalp. This shampoo uses zinc pyrithione to fight dandruff, and “is a great option for those who are pregnant and have sensitive skin,” says Garshick. Plus, she likes that “it’s free of sulfates, parabens, formaldehyde and fragrance.” In other words, it checks all the boxes of things you might not want in your shampoo.
Burt’s Bees Baby Shampoo
- Sulfate free
- Smells good
- Not very hydrating
Rogers recommends using baby shampoo since these are typically very gentle and free of potential irritants. One option we like is this mild formula from Burt’s Bees, which we include in our guide to the best shampoos for babies. It’s formulated without sulfates, parabens, fragrance and phthalates. Plus, you can also use it as a body wash.
Hairitage Down to the Basics Fragrance Free Shampoo
- Fragrance free
- Works for curls
- Nothing to note at this time
One of the best drugstore shampoos, this fragrance-free formula skips the sulfates and instead cleanses hair with cocamidopropyl betaine (a surfactant that’s supposedly less drying). It’s infused with sunflower seed oil and chamomile to hydrate hair, and works for all hair types, including curls and coils, according to the brand. It has an average 4.1-star rating from 276 reviews at Walmart.
Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
- Very effective
- Suits color-treated hair
- Has fragrance
Dermatologists rave about this dandruff shampoo, which uses ketoconazole, an antifungal ingredient that tackles the Malassezia yeast — a buildup of which can contribute to dandruff. It’s gentle enough for color-treated hair and you can use it every few washes to control flakes, according to the brand. However, it does have fragrance and sulfates, which is worth factoring in.
Seen Shampoo, Fragrance-Free
- Fragrance free
- Moisturizing
- Too mild for oily hair
Designed by a dermatologist, this vegan formula is free of just about every concerning ingredient out there, including fragrances, sulfates, phthalates, parabens and even silicones (which some people don’t like, as they can build up on hair and leave a residue over time). It has the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association and is formulated to be noncomedogenic, meaning it doesn’t clog pores. It has hemisqualane to reduce frizz and bisabolol to soothe the scalp, according to the brand, and has a 4.4-star average rating from 588 reviews on Amazon.
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How to shop for pregnancy-safe shampoo
First, know that you don’t have to swap out your go-to shampoo when you’re pregnant due to safety concerns. Most ingredients aren’t tested on pregnant women for safety (due to ethical concerns), so experts usually make recommendations out of an abundance of caution. Plus, “shampoos are not in contact with your skin for very long, so the risk of absorption of unwanted chemicals is lower than with skin care products,” says Rogers.
However, if you do have a scalp issue like dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis — which can arise or come out of nowhere during pregnancy, possibly due to hormonal changes — you may want to use a medicated shampoo with active ingredients. Here, some common ingredients and how they might factor in:
- Zinc pyrithione: A very common ingredient used to treat dandruff, this is fine to use during pregnancy, according to multiple experts we interviewed.
- Selenium sulfide: This is considered safe during pregnancy. It works by “calming the inflammation that’s part of seborrheic dermatitis, which is really an inflammatory disease,” says Dr. Hooper.
- Salicylic acid: Some derms are on the fence about this ingredient, which helps get rid of the dead skin cells that cause plaque or flakes, but “in lower concentrations for seborrheic dermatitis, it should be safe,” says Janniger. (The max amount allowed over-the-counter by the FDA is 2%.)
- Ketoconazole: This antifungal ingredient is okay to use during pregnancy; it addresses the overgrowth of yeast that can lead to dandruff. “Research in Europe failed to show a risk to infants of mothers receiving ketoconazole,” says Janniger.
- Coal tar: Used to treat dandruff, this “is more controversial, with some saying it is safe to use and others recommending avoiding it,” says Rogers. “The EU Annex II Prohibited Substances, CA Prop 65 and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics consider it a carcinogen.” For that reason, she recommends avoiding it.
In addition to the active ingredients, skim the ingredient list for questionable ingredients — like phthalates and parabens — to minimize irritation and stay on the safe side. “Phthalates might have the potential of damaging endocrine bodily functions,” says Janniger. Parabens might also disrupt hormones at high levels — although clear evidence remains to be seen — so if you’re being extra-cautious, she recommends keeping an eye out for methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and ethylparaben in particular.
And finally, although you might love to suds up with a delicious-smelling shampoo, “some essential oils, particularly when used in high concentrations, may pose risks during pregnancy as skin irritants,” says Rogers, pointing out rosemary, basil, jasmine and sage oils in particular.
Ultimately, your best bet is a hypoallergenic, fragrance-free shampoo to keep irritation to a minimum, according to Garshick.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Marisa Garshick is a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York, New York.
- Dr. Camila Janniger is a board-certified dermatologist in Wallington, New Jersey and a clinical professor of dermatology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
- Dr. Deirdre Hooper is a board-certified dermatologist and the co-founder of Audubon Dermatology in New Orleans, Louisiana and a clinical assistant professor at Tulane University and Louisiana State University.
- Dr. Heather Rogers is a board-certified dermatologist at Modern Dermatology in Seattle, Washington and founder of skin care line Doctor Rogers.
Why trust NBC Select?
Deanna Pai is a freelance beauty writer and editor who has been covering beauty and health for more than a decade, including topics like curl types and travel diffusers. For this article, Pai spoke to four dermatologists to narrow down the best pregnancy-safe shampoos to shop, and highlighted their recommendations about what to consider when shopping.
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