Humby Organics is a hair care company that also sells some personal care products like deodorant and soap. The company is best-known for its shampoo bars.
But does Humby Organics shampoo contain research-backed ingredients for hair quality? Does it contain any questionable additives? How do real users rate and describe the effects of Humby Organics? And is this really more eco-friendly than traditional shampoo?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in Humby Organics shampoo bars to give our take on whether or not they're likely to improve hair quality, and whether or not they're healthy.
We'll also feature real customer reviews, and share our thoughts on the brand's eco-friendliness (or lack thereof).
Ingredient Analysis
At the time of publishing this article, Humby Organics fails to publish the ingredient list on a majority of their individual shampoo bar product pages.
This is a consumer safety risk, and we urge consumers to avoid personal care products without a full ingredient list.
The ingredients in Purple Rain Shampoo Bar are shown below:
It's notable that the brand name is Humby Organics but none of the ingredients are listed as organic.
Some of the active ingredients in this blend have research backing for hair and scalp health.
Olive oil may support hair growth when applied topically, at least according to a 2015 animal study.
Coconut oil is clinically shown to protect hair from protein loss, as we documente in our review of hair care brand Cantu.
This suggests that coconut oil can protect hair from damage.
Shea butter has anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects, according to a 2018 medical review, which suggests it may support optimal scalp health.
Our main concern about this formulation is the use of a "natural fragrance blend."
Essential oils are listed separately, so we're unclear what's actually in this fragrance blend.
A 2016 meta-study examined the safety of fragranced consumer products, including personal care products, and concluded that “everyday fragranced products can impose serious risks to human health.”
Overall, we consider Humby Organics Purple Rain Shampoo Bar somewhat likely to improve hair quality and appearance, however we don't currently recommend this product or brand due to our concerns over ingredient disclosures.
Real People Try Humby Organics
A TikTok creator named "bev_haines" has a favorable review of Humby Organics:
@bev_haines @HumbyOrganics Taken from their website Our gray hair collection designed to make your silvers shine. - Tame the frizz - Prevent fall out - Reduce breakage - Restore shine Going natural is a process but it doesn’t have to be boring! I give this product 10 out of 10! #naturalprocess #naturalhaircare #organics #grayhairtransition #silverhairtransition #ageisjustanumber #over50 #womenempowerment #womenshealth #genx #review #fyp #foryoy #fullsend #trend #womenoftiktok #selfacceptance #selflove ♬ original sound - Beverly.Haines
A TikTok creator named "ZeroWasteCartel" compared the effects of Humby's deodorant with a traditional deodorant:
@zerowastecartel Ill be honest, I wasn’t expecting these results. Share this video with a natural deodorant skeptic. #sustainability #naturaldeodorant #holistic #holisticliving #naturalingredients #naturaldeodorantthatworks #naturaldeo #sustainabledeodrant ♬ original sound - ZeroWasteCartel
Is Humby Eco-Friendly?
One aspect where Humby Organics really shines is the eco-friendliness of both the products and the packaging.
Shampoo bars are significantly better for the environment than liquid shampoo packaged in plastic, because single-use plastic pollution is a "major concern" to natural ecosystems, according to a 2021 medical review.
Humby Organics bars appear to be packaged in plastic-free packaging.
We do not consider Humby Organics to be "greenwashing," and for consumers interested in eco-friendly products as their primary purchase consideration, we think Humby Organics is a good choice.
How to Use Shampoo Bars
A YouTube channel called "Life Before Plastic" has a video explaining what you may experience when switching from traditional shampoo to a shampoo bar, that also includes tips on how to use bars for the best results:
Our Clean Hair Care Picks
Acure Vivacious Volume Shampoo is our top shampoo pick.
It contains argan oil which is clinically shown to help protect hair from damage.
Happy Head Topical is our top premium hair growth solution.
This formulation uses FDA-approved hair loss ingredients like minoxidil which is clinically shown to increase hair count by 11%.
Ritual HyaCera is our top hair growth supplement.
This supplement contains wheat oil extract, and a 2024 clinical trial reported that a wheat lipid complex had "a reducing effect on hair shedding and a stimulating effect on hair reappearance and growth."
All of the products recommended in this section are entirely free of ingredients we consider to be unhealthy.
Humby Organics Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Humby Organics in our opinion:
Pros:
- Eco-friendly
- Plastic-free packaging
- May improve hair quality
- May improve scalp health
- Healthier than traditional drugstore shampoo
Cons:
- Brand fails to publish full ingredient lists
- "Fragrance blend" without disclosing ingredients in blend
- Relatively expensive