It's been years since micellar water first took the skincare world by storm, and it's obvious that its effects are greatly beneficial. So, it only makes sense that we apply those same principles when caring for our hair. Other hair products can leave our hair dry and damaged, but micellar shampoos use gentle cleansing techniques to remove toxins without compromising on protection.
Whether you're a city-dweller looking to rid your hair of those clinging pollutants, or you're looking for new ways to take care of your curly locks, micellar shampoo could be the one thing missing from your hair care routine. For the best results, it's important to choose the right product for you, so read on for some information on what you need to look out for, as well as a list of the top 10 nourishing micellar shampoos currently available in the UK.
Quick List - Top Micellar Shampoos
Charles Worthington
A Lightweight Formula With Hydrolyzed Lupine Seed Extract Perfect for Combating Oily Hair
Pantene
This Glycerin-Rich Formula Will Tackle Greasy Roots Without Drying Out Your Hair
Sukin
Soothe Your Sensitive Scalp With This Cruelty Free Blend of Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Chamomile Extract
Kristin Ess
This Keratin-Enriched Formula Utilises Antioxidants to Strengthen as it Hydrates
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Micellar shampoo uses surfactants that cling to the dirt and oil in your hair and wash them away. It's a great way to cleanse your hair and restore it to its natural beauty. But how well it works will depend on how well you match the shampoo to your hair type.
If you have curly or frizzy hair, it's important to opt for a product with detangling qualities. This ensures your hair remains damage free and holds its shape while it dries. If your curls are naturally quite dry and dense, however, it's recommended you only use micellar shampoo as a cleanser once a month. In between uses, keep up your hair's hydration with a moisturising shampoo.
If you have naturally oily hair, it's okay to use micellar shampoo more often. Depending on the condition of your hair, you could use it weekly or even daily tackle built up oils. Most micellar shampoos are naturally gentle, but for daily use, make sure to opt for a specially formulated product that won't tire out your hair.
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Sensitive skin is a common problem that causes discomfort and irritation as a reaction to harsh products. If your skin is sensitive, then your scalp is no different! Some common irritants in hair and beauty products include artificial perfumes and essential oils, which are unfortunately both present in a lot of micellar shampoos.
It's difficult to avoid irritants altogether, as micellar shampoo relies on its chemical compounds to cleanse your hair and scalp, so it can often come with many artificial ingredients.
However, if you do suffer from sensitive skin, limit yourself to the occasional use of micellar shampoo and opt for a product with the least amount of irritants. If you know which irritants are least impactful on your skin, look out for those ones in particular in our ratings!
If sulphates are tiring out your locks, try our Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos!
One of the main selling points of micellar shampoo is that its method of cleansing is much less harsh and intrusive than other types of shampoo. By trapping oils and impurities and washing them away when you rinse, it avoids damaging your hair's natural defences.
However, if you tend to wash your hair daily, you still need to ensure that your chosen shampoo is suitable for the frequency of use. Everyday products need to be extremely gentle to avoid causing more damage. If you're more of a sporadical washer, though, try a product with deep cleansing and hydrating qualities to really get the best out of your haircare routine.
Take a day off washing with our Best Dry Shampoos for Oily Hair!
If vegan and cruelty-free credentials are important to you, then beeswax and keratin are the two major ingredients that you'll want to avoid. Unfortunately, due to their cosmetic properties, they are rife within the market. There are also some companies that ethically source keratin, so it's not a sure sign that a product isn't suitable for a plant-based lifestyle.
There is some debate around glycerin as to whether it is vegan and cruelty-free. A lot of glycerin is plant-sourced, so if it's included in your favourite products, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll have to switch to new ones. The key with glycerin is to keep an eye out for vegan and cruelty-free labels to go along with it. If it doesn't have these, keep in mind that this ingredient could potentially be derived from animals!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Charles Worthington Everyday Gentle Micellar Shampoo | ![]() | A Lightweight Formula With Hydrolyzed Lupine Seed Extract Perfect for Combating Oily Hair | |
2 | Pantene Hair Biology | ![]() | This Glycerin-Rich Formula Will Tackle Greasy Roots Without Drying Out Your Hair | |
3 | Sukin Micellar Hair Shampoo | ![]() | Soothe Your Sensitive Scalp With This Cruelty Free Blend of Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Chamomile Extract | |
4 | Kristin Ess Scalp Purifying Micellar Shampoo | ![]() | This Keratin-Enriched Formula Utilises Antioxidants to Strengthen as it Hydrates | |
5 | Revlon Professional Hydration Moisture Micellar Shampoo | ![]() | Strip Back the Frills and Control the Frizz With Revlon's Alcohol, Fragrance, and Oil Free Detangling Foam | |
6 | Schwarzkopf Professional BC pH 4.5 Color Freeze | ![]() | Conserve Your Colour While Protecting From Sun Damage With Schwarzkopf's UV Filtering Technology | |
7 | L'OCCITANE Gentle & Balance Micellar Shampoo | ![]() | A French Favourite That Combines Rosemary, Lavender and Citrus Oils to Build Your Hair's Natural Defences | |
8 | Revlon Professional Equave Instant Detangling Micellar Shampoo | ![]() | Be Gentle on Your Skin and Tough on Frizz With Revlon's Irritant-Free Detangling Formula | |
9 | Pantene Micellar Cleanse & Nourish | ![]() | Return Your Tired Hair to its Former Glory With This Antioxidant-Rich Formula From a Trusted Brand | |
10 | AlfaParf Milano Semi di Lino | ![]() | A Cruelty-Free Formula That's Rich in Peptides to Heal Damage and Protect Against UV Rays |
This everyday use shampoo from Charles Worthington is perfect for frequent washers who suffer from oily or greasy hair. With its gentle sulphate-free formula, it allows you to wash regularly without damaging your locks or scalp.
It will leave your hair feeling moisturised without the breakouts of grease, and promises not to weigh you down, so you can keep that extra volume and hold your head high!
Pantene's Hair Biology formula is designed to target impurities and rejuvenate your hair. From oily roots to damaged lengths, this shampoo will leave your hair feeling hydrated and refreshed.
It uses a combination of rose water and pro-vitamins to enhance the protective effects of the micellar water. And with 0% parabens it's also great for those with sensitive skin!
If you're looking for a product that's kind to your skin, this shampoo from Sukin could be perfect for you! It combines chamomile extract and aloe vera to soothe your scalp and essential oils to retain moisture.
The brand is cruelty-free, too, so it's perfect if you want a product that protects your hair and your conscience! The product is paraben and silicone free, so it's sure to be beneficial to a drying scalp. Plus, comes in 500 ml bottles, so just a little will go a long way!
If you're looking for a cruelty-free option that's sure to protect your coloured hair, this option from Kristin Ess is the best we can find. Its keratin-enriched formula will strengthen your hair and reduce washing out your dye.
It is free of sulphates, paragons, phthalates and silicones, so it avoids as many irritants as possible, which makes it perfect for those with sensitive skin! The only drawback is it's a little more expensive than other products on the list, but with all those benefits, the extra price could be worth it.
This shampoo from Revlon uses a foaming texture to ease out tangles and control frizz. It will ensure your hair retains moisture without weighing it down, so you don't have to worry about ruining your voluminous curls.
Revlon advertises the product as unisex, as it avoids all perfumes and stays fragrance free. It's true that the lack of heavy scents can be great for those who prefer to avoid florals or fruits, but it's also a huge benefit when catering to sensitive skin!
Schwarzkopf's Color Freeze shampoo is designed to retain colour in dyed hair. It is pH balanced so it won't upset your body's natural defences, allowing hair to continue producing beneficial oils and painting a healthy pH balance.
It's ideal if you want to protect agains sun-damage and colour loss. However, it does come with a relatively extensive list of irritants when compared with other products on the list, so if you're not sure what triggers your skin irritation, this one might be best avoided!
L'OCCITANE's micellar shampoo is packed with multiple essential oils, conditioning while it cleans. It uses lemon oil to promote circulation and chamomile oil to regenerate and repair.
However, with multiple oils, and added artificial perfumes and citronellol, it's important to consider which ingredients might irritate your scalp and avoid this brand if you think it could cause a reaction.
This keratin-rich shampoo from Revlon is suitable for all types of hair, but with its powerful detangling properties, we think it gets the best results from curls and frizz!
It's also low on major irritants, meaning it could be great for those who are worried about the harmful effects of the other products on the skin. However, it is one of the more expensive options on the list, so it may not be a great starting point if you're just looking to test the waters.
With this product, Pantene promise to tackle greasy hair and nourish the scalp. The formula is silicone free, but does contain a couple of irritants, so be sure to check if it will be suitable for your needs.
After all, once you buy it, this product will last a long time! At 400 ml, it's now of the largest on the list, and although it is more expensive than the others, it will certainly be worth it for how long it lasts.
Milano Semi di Lino by AlfaParf includes UV filters to protect against sun damage throughout the day without weighing down hair. Its musky floral scent also promises a calming effect on top of its luxurious fragrance.
It's gentle on the scalp and sulphate free, plus it helps dyed hair to retain its colour for much longer! However, as the brand isn't a household name like some of the others on the list, some people may be hesitant to take a gamble on this product.
Written and researched by Alicia Byrne
No. 1: Charles Worthington |Everyday Gentle Micellar Shampoo
No. 2: Pantene|Hair Biology
No. 3: Sukin|Micellar Hair Shampoo
No. 4: Kristin Ess|Scalp Purifying Micellar Shampoo
No. 5: Revlon Professional |Hydration Moisture Micellar Shampoo
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