Natural Hair Care Brand Review

I’ve been using a naturally based shampoo for awhile now and recently I’ve had the opportunity to try out a couple of different naturally based shampoo brands.

I should note that my hair is naturally stick straight and I have medium to thick hair strands. My hair is pretty resilient and not too fussy so in general I don’t need to do much to it. I also have color treated hair due to my balayage.

Why Switch to A Natural Shampoo and Conditioner?

I think the biggest reason to switch to a naturally based shampoo is because conventional shampoos often strip your hair of natural oils. That’s because a lot of shampoos contain sulfates – specifically, Sodium Laurly Sulfate. Sulfates are cleaning agents and the reason why your shampoo lathers. BUT they are also harsh on the skin and can irritate it.

A lot of natural skin care brands also take care to remove other problematic ingredients like parabens, gluten, silicones and artificail fragrances, and usually aren’t tested on animals.

Natural Hair Care Brand Review

EVOLVh Shampoo and Conditioner

I was gifted the EVOLVh SmartColor Shampoo and Conditioner. In case you are wondering, the “h” is silent and stand for happy, healthy hair! EVOLVh takes into account science, health, and sustainability when creating their products. They believe in treating hair concerns at the core instead of covering up hair problems with cosmetic solutions. Their shampoo and conditioner is:

• Silicone free, sulfate free, paraben free, panthenol free, phthalate/musk free, gluten free, petroleum/mineral oil free and vegan!
• Made in the USA
• Not tested on animals.

I’ve used the shampoo and condition a handful of times now (I only wash my hair about twice a week and have had this combo for about a month).

Results

So far I LOVE how it makes my hair feel. Honestly, it doesn’t really feel like a natural shampoo. Usually, there’s not a lot of lather with natural shampoos but I’ve found this one still has a good lather. The conditioner though is by far my favorite. I feel like it really absorbs into my hair rather than sit on top. I work the conditioner into my hair in the shower and comb out all the knots. Then I let it work for a few minutes while I clean the rest of my body before I wash it out. My hair is super soft and tangle free after I use the EVOLVh shampoo and conditioner.

The only downside to the EVOLVh shampoo and conditioner is the price. It’s $34 for the 8.5oz Shampoo and $36 for the 8.5oz conditioner. I’m also not a fan of citrus scents (this one smells faintly of grapefruit) but that’s just a personal preference.

Seed Phytonutrients

I mentioned Seed Phytonutrients in my February Favorites blog post. I’m such a fan of this brand! They are based in my home state of Pennsylvania and are only a year old! I think their packaging is genius and I love that they have a free recycling program for when you finish your bottles. Seed oils form the basis of their ingredients because the seeds contain the highest concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, phytosterols, carotene and vitamins A, C, D and E – so basically all the good stuff! Their products are:

• paraben, sulfate, and gluten free and made with natural fragrances.
• Not tested on animals
• Made in the USA

I was gifted the Color Care Shampoo, Color Care Conditioner, Body Cleanser, and Hair protectant. I’ve used the shampoo and conditioner for about 3 washes so far. And I’ve been using the Body wash for about 2 weeks.

Results

I really like the products! The shampoo and conditioner get the job done. I noticed that the shampoo doesn’t lather as much as the EVOLVh shampoo. But that would be more in line with natural shampoos. Because it doesn’t lather I feel like I use a lot of the shampoo to try to get a good scrub.

I know this is more of a shampoo/conditioner review but my favorite product is actually the body wash. I love the Teakwood smell (it’s very earthy) and it has a nice lather. What can I say – I do like the lather in my body products. The body wash is also an Allure Beauty winner!

The Seed Phytonutrients shampoo and conditioner are more affordable than EVOLVh at $24 each for 8.5oz. I also like the scent of the shampoo and conditioner better. The Color Care line smells of basil and nectarine! The Body wash is $22 for 8.5oz.

Trader Joe’s Tee Tree Oil Shampoo and Conditioner

This is the first natural shampoo and conditioner that I ever used. I’ve actually used it for years before I started to color my hair. TJ shampoo + conditioner is:

• certified organic
• sulfate, paraben, and cruelty free

Review

If you look at the ingredient list it’s very easy to understand, which I love. It’s basically water with a lot of essential oils and a coconut derived cleansing agent. In my opinion, this shampoo is a good clarifying shampoo – which means it does a good job of removing buildup from other shampoos and hair products. For some people, this shampoo might be a little drying. But for me it works great! I love the tingly peppermint feel and it does a great job of getting rid of buildup without stripping my hair. However, since I started getting balayage done to my hair about a year ago I decided to switch to color safe shampoos to help keep my color from getting brassy. BUT I still use this shampoo every once in awhile to really cleanse it. I feel like I get more buildup after awhile from using the other shampoos so I like to “reset” my hair with the TJ shampoo.

I also use the Trader Joes Tea Tree Body Wash. I also love the tingly peppermint feel on my body and the simple ingredient list is a plus!

The Trader Joe’s Shampoo and Conditioner is the most affordable of three I’ve mentioned at only $3.99 each for 16oz! That’s double the amount of EVOLVh and Seed Phytonutrients. Unfortunately, you can only get it at a Trader Joe’s. I’ve seen it online on Amazon but the price is a little higher.

Love Beauty + Planet

Love Beauty + Planet technically isn’t an all natural line but they do use a lot of natural ingredients and they are cruelty free and care about sustainability issues so I thought they deserved a mention. Love Beauty + Planet is run by the Unilever company (they also run Dove, Suave, and a BUNCH of other brands). Love Beauty + Planet is their take on the natural body care market. I’ve been using the Murumuru Butter and Rose Shampoo and Conditioner for color treated hair.

• 93% naturally derived
• cruelty free, paraben free, silicone free, sulfate free, dye free, and formulated without phthalates.
• eco-conscious brand

I’ve been using this brand on and off for the past couple of months.

Review

I’m obsessed with rose scents which is the number one reason I like using this shampoo and conditioner! The smell is my favorite out of all the brands I mentioned. One of their biggest claims is that they have “fast rinse conditioner technology” which will help cut down on water use which is better for the environment. I have a lot of pretty thick hair and I didn’t really think there was anything different about the conditioner. It works fine but I still had to spend the same amount of time rinsing it out.

What I like about this brand is that there are a lot of product options. They also have hand washes, hand creams, body oils, and a bunch of other stuff! It’s a one-stop-shop for hair and body care. Plus, they have lavender and rose scents and I’m OBSESSED.

I think this is a good, affordable, easily accessible line to use which is why I’ll probably keep going back to it. You can find Love Beauty + Planet at Walmart and Target and it’s around $6.99.

In Summary

(my natural hair after using EVOLVh Shampoo + Conditioner) 

I’m kind of torn between which shampoo and conditioner is my favorite! They all have positives and negatives. But right now I think my routine will be to use the Seed Phytonutrients Shampoo or Love Beauty + Planet Shampoo because they are more affordable and the EVOLVh conditioner because it’s so effective. I’ll also use the Seed Phytonutrients body wash because I love the brand or the Love Beauty + Planet Body wash because I love the rose scent. I’ll also continue to use the Trader Joe’s shampoo to clarify my hair every once in awhile.