Before: I have dry, frizzy, fine, thinning, and coarse hair, and oily scalp. I have picked these products to nourish, repair, moisturize, and hopefully get my hair looking and feeling better.
Inkey List salicylic acid scalp treatment. Apply to scalp before shampooing. This helps with itchiness, oily scalp, and dry, flaky scalp. Exfoliates the scalp and helps irritation.
Redken acid bonding concentrate intensive treatment for moisture and repair. I do a quick shampoo before applying this, let it sit, then do a second shampoo.
OGX coconut miracle oil. I use this as a pre-shampoo protection treatment, after applying the Redken acid bonding concentrate.
Snobgirls Hydramend shampoo and Strong Force conditioner. The shampoo is particularly great for oily scalp and cleanses buildup very well. The conditioner makes hair moisturized and silky.
Pureology Color Fanatic leave-in conditioner moisturizes, nurtures, and smooths.
K18 Peptide Prep clarifying shampoo cleanses buildup and makes hair soft.
After washing my hair, I dry with the LUS brands cotton t-shirt towel. Absorbs water without causing frizz.
I got the Suprent big round brush on Amazon, which is great. It does not tug on the hair and helps with a nice blowout, but at my front hairline, I was brushing too hard and getting breakage at my bangs, so I either flat iron them or use the Conair hot rollers. For the breakage, I tried the Ibiza brush with the white bristles that is for fragile hair, which turned out to be one of the worse brushes I have used. It tangled my hair, caused more breakage, and got stuck. I use the Wet Brush to detangle my hair when wet and to distribute conditioner, hair styling products, and oils. The wooden comb I use on non-wash days to detangle. The hairdryer I use is the Babyliss Pro TT, which is fine, but I am disappointed in the cool shot. It is not very cool; the Conair hair dryer that is 20 years old has a cool shot button and the air is cold.
Color Wow Dream Coat blocks humidity, prevents frizz, smooths, and adds shine while blow drying.
Redken Big Blowout provides heat protection while providing volume when blow drying.
Redken thermal spray high hold provides heat protection and hold while flat ironing, curling, or using hot rollers.
My thin hair lacks volume, so I use a couple of the Conair hot rollers on the top of my head and at my bangs.
Shu Uemura Essence Absolue nourishing overnight serum softens, nourishes, and smooths overnight.
These are favorite hair oils that I rotate through; Olaplex bonding oil, Kerastase Eilixir Ultime hydrating oil serum, OGX argan oil, and Shu Uemura Essence Absolue nourishing protective hair oil.
Hairmetto topical serum for thinning hair is a non-greasy gel serum treatment formulated for daytime use that claims to soothe scalp inflammation and stimulate the hair follicle to promote new growth, where regrowth can be visible within 3 to 6 months.
Other ingredients: saw palmetto extract, stinging nettle extract, aqua (deionized), gelling agent, sodium polyacrylate, preservative (Germall Plus).
This hair serum is water-based and alcohol free. It is formulated with saw palmetto, a plant that contains essential fatty acids extracted from the berries, and blocks 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT, responsible for hair loss. Rosemary oil has antibacterial properties and there have been small studies that have shown rosemary can be effective in the treatment of hair loss. Cornmint essential oil, also known as Japanese peppermint, has a high concentration of menthol. Menthol increases blood circulation to the scalp, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles. It also has antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Stinging nettle extract, in combination with saw palmetto, works against the enzyme causing hair loss, along with anti-inflammatory properties and soothing of the scalp to combat hair loss.
Directions: Can be used day or night. Part the hair and apply to thinning areas. Massage in. Can be air dried or blow dried.
I first noticed thinning hair around age 35 I believe, around the front hairline and front and mids areas. I used The Ordinary’s multipeptide hair serum back in 2018 at age 37 for 6 months, where I did not really notice results. I also used the leave-in root treatment by Alterna Caviar in 2020, hoping for results. I am 42 now. Looking back at 2018, my thinning hair looks relatively the same to now, however, I have noticed, when getting a fringe again maybe about a year ago, the hair was significantly thinner around that area, and the fringe less full than it had been previously. I do not really have any scalp issues; dryness, dandruff, inflammation, etc., but my scalp is very often itchy. I have an oily scalp and dry hair.
Hairmetto topical serum is a lightweight, gel serum that smells strongly of mint. I applied the serum daily in the evening to the hairline and crown, massaging in to the scalp for a minute, then putting on a plastic shower cap, trapping the heat from the scalp, hoping to get a bit longer cooling, tingling sensation from the mint. Without the shower cap, the sensation lasts a few minutes while it dries, maybe a couple more minutes with the shower cap. This is non-greasy, leaving no residue on the hair (I wash my hair every 3 days in the evening). I used this product for 1 year.
In the photos above, I see no results after 1 year of use. I did not notice any difference with scalp itchiness. While Hairmetto Topical Saw Palmetto Serum stimulated the scalp, felt nice with a cooling, tingling sensation, and seems to have the “right” ingredients for hair regrowth, this did not improve my thinning hair. I will not repurchase, and plan to start Rogaine (minoxidil). Rogaine remains the only FDA approved topical ingredient to regrow hair.
K18 Peptide Prep Detox is a clarifying shampoo for all hair types and textures, color safe and pH optimized. This shampoo claims to effectively cleanse product buildup, oils, and minerals found in hard water. With a pH of 3.8 to 4.2, this is said to minimize swelling of the cuticle during washing and protects hair’s natural moisture levels. If pH is too high, a shampoo can increase friction, causing frizz and breakage (an interesting read on shampoo, hair and scalp pH from the NCBI).
Salicylic acid clears sebum, activated charcoal targets dirt and oils, and this is formulated with the K18 peptide to reduce protein loss for overall hair strength.
Directions: Use weekly or as needed for a heavy-duty cleanse. Massage into hair and scalp to remove excess buildup. Rinse thoroughly. Repeat as needed. Follow with conditioner or the K18 hair mask.
This shampoo is grey in color, has a light citrus scent, and is a little more liquid/runny than other shampoos.
The shampoo creates a big, soft lather that rinses well. The last photo is a blow dry with a round brush after using only the Peptide Prep Detox shampoo and the K18 mask (albeit frizzy, my hair never turns out this nice (by my hair’s usual standards anyway) after blow drying). I would follow with a hair oil or Shu Uemura’s overnight hair serum for the frizz and easy styling.
I have oily scalp and dry, frizzy hair. My hair is not colored. I use about every 1 to 2 weeks (I have used it for about 2 months), followed by the K18 hair mask or my regular conditioner from Snobgirls.
I have used the shampoo on 3-day hair with no product in it and 6-day hair with a buildup of oils and Redken Dry Shampoo Paste. My hair is well cleansed in both scenarios, however, Peptide Prep Detox does not give the hair the extra squeaky-clean feeling of other clarifying shampoos or even the Snobgirls shampoos (which are so good for oily scalp). I would assume this is because of the added K18 peptide, the pH of the shampoo, and the salicylic acid to break down oils, so the hair is not stripped of moisture. As an aside, a great AHA/BHA product for dead skin cells and oil buildup on the scalp is Drunk Elephant’s Happi Scalp. For extra-clean squeaky hair, a long-time favorite is the Living Proof Triple Detox shampoo. What is immediate and very noticeable with Peptide Prep Detox shampoo (which is surprising and I did not expect from a clarifying shampoo) is the softness of the hair, even while damp, and after a blow dry. My hair has body, movement and softness, whether using the K18 mask or my regular conditioner. I also got soft hair using Redken’s All Soft shampoo and conditioner, though the softness is aided by oils and silicone.
The evening before getting a hair cut about a month ago, I used the K18 detox shampoo and mask, and my hairdresser said my hair felt very soft and healthy and asked what I had been using.
K18 Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo cleanses well while maintaining moisture, prepares the hair for the K18 peptide mask, and makes the hair very soft and manageable. I would repurchase.
K18 also has a daily shampoo, Peptide Prep pH Maintenance Shampoo, with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. I have not tried it yet, but eventually will for sure, hoping that it gives my hair the same softness as the detox shampoo.
LUS (Love Ur Self) Brands is a Canadian hair care company that offers a 3-step system (shampoo, conditioner and an all-in-one leave-in cream) for wavy, curly and coiled/kinky hair that claims to soften, hydrate and enhance all curl types.
The 3-step system consists of a shampoo and conditioner for all curl types and an all-in-one cream leave-in customized to wavy, curly and kinky/coiled hair. I received this set as a gift from a family member including the shampoo and conditioner for all curl types, the all-in-one for curly hair, an infinity spray bottle to re-wet and refresh hair and a cotton t-shirt type hair turban that is very comfortable and helps reduce frizz as the hair dries.
Directions: Apply to wet hair and massage gently. Rinse well.
This shampoo claims to cleanse hair and scalp without stripping them of moisture, leaving the hair feeling clean and moisturized. The shampoo comes in a squeeze bottle where to open, one side is pressed down and the other pops up. The shampoo is thick and quite difficult to squeeze out of the bottle, particularly when the shampoo is about halfway down. The scent is not fruity or flowery; it is a nice smell, a little overpowering in the bottle, but not on the hair. A fragrance-free option is also offered.
The shampoo has a concentrated formula to give the scalp and curls a “clean slate.” As usual, I shampoo my hair twice, once to clean surface oils and a second to deep clean oils and build up. The shampoo creates a big soft lather and is moisturizing, and cleans relatively well. Having an oily scalp, I needed to clarify after about 5 washes of the LUS shampoo.
Directions: Apply to wet, clean hair from root to tip. Leave in for 3 to 5 minutes. Add more water. Comb gently with a wide tooth comb. Rinse well with cool water.
The conditioner claims to repair dry and damaged hair, moisturize the curl cuticle and leave hair soft without weighing it down. The conditioner is a thick lotion. It is easier to get out of the bottle than the shampoo. The scent is the same as the shampoo. The first time I used the conditioner, I applied too much and my hair felt quite heavy. Using the right amount, the hair detangles well, is moisturized, soft, bouncy and not weighed down.
Directions: This product is activated by wet hair and must by applied to wet, clean hair. Section hair. Wet thoroughly, add product, rake through and smooth. Squeeze out excess water and scrunch. Air dry or diffuse.
This product is an all-in-one leave-in that claims to repair, hydrate and style in one step, giving soft, bouncy, hydrated curls.
This all-in-one is a light-weight thin lotion that is not sticky. It has a sort of similar scent to the shampoo and conditioner, but much lighter. The first time I used this product, I applied to damp, towel dried hair and was very disappointed as my hair was sticky and heavy and I did not really have any enhanced waves. I have since been using this in the shower after rinsing the conditioner. I scrunch the product in, squeeze out the excess water and then use a diffuser. As an aside, previous to using this 3-step system, I had never used a diffuser. My hair is generally a bit flat at the roots and a diffuser is excellent for gaining and retaining volume.
The all-in-one definitely enhances frizz-free curls and waves. There is a bit of residue; touching my hair, I can tell there is product in it, but it is not sticky or crunchy and the hair is still relatively soft, though not as soft as using the shampoo and conditioner alone. Interestingly, the residue is felt more the next day and if the hair needs a touch up, I spray with water using the infinity bottle and do a quick diffuse.
I have fine, dry, wavy hair and oily scalp. I usually blow dry my hair straight with a round brush and if I air dry, I put my hair back in a bun. For reference, above, the first photo is air dried after using my regular Snobgirls shampoo, conditioner and bio oil (I do not remember if I maybe combed my hair out a bit and/or had it in a bun; my hair is usually more frizzy and more wavy than in the photo), and the second photo is blow dried with a round brush.
Above, the top photo is diffused after using my regular Snobgirls shampoo and conditioner on its own and the bottom photo is using the LUS shampoo and conditioner on its own (no all-in-one). The diffuser works well to enhance waves, curls and volume in both cases. I did not know my hair could look like this. The LUS shampoo and conditioner made my hair feel moisturized and soft (and less frizzy), where the Snobgirls shampoo and conditioner made my hair feel hydrated and silky. In both cases, my waves fell a bit after about 20 minutes and by the end of the day the more curly pieces were waves and the waves were straighter, but I still had a lot of volume and body. My hair generally has trouble holding a curl.
For the photos above, I used the LUS 3-step system – the shampoo, conditioner and all-in-one leave-in, and then diffused the hair. Right after diffusing, my hair felt soft, albeit with a bit of product residue. There is no frizz and the waves are certainly enhanced.
After 8 hours, particularly the hair at the back, there is less volume and body, and reduced waves. Overnight, I slept with my hair in a silk bonnet (I use one from LilySilk). The next day, my hair still looked pretty good. There are still waves and no frizz, however, less volume and I can feel residue from the all-in-one.
Where the LUS Brands shampoo and conditioner adds moisture and softness to the hair, the all-in-one is great for bringing out curls and waves, adding moisture and reducing frizz, and I expect does most of the work. I do not often wear my hair wavy/curly, but when I do, I would use the all-in-one. I could take or leave the shampoo (I prefer a really cleansing shampoo for oily scalp) and would use the conditioner when I need added moisture and softness.
My teenager has coiled hair and used the 3-step system and it worked so well (much better than for my hair) for very soft, more coiled, frizz-free, bouncy curls, with no residue. The all-in-one for wavy hair might work better for me, though the curly all-in-one worked quite well.
This is a first impression rather than a full review of The Ordinary shampoo and conditioner, as I have only used once thus far, and I will update below in a couple months (update now available; see end of post).
The Ordinary has very recently released a new hair care line with a 4% sulphate cleanser for hair and body, a 2% behentrimonium chloride conditioner, and a hydrating serum for the scalp (they also have the previously released Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density). As with other products from The Ordinary, these new products are formulated with minimal ingredients and no added fragrance.
Sulphate 4% Cleanser for Hair and Body:
Deciem created this product with a scientific approach rather than following “clean beauty” trends that label sulphates as harsh for hair and skin, these harsh sulphates being sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, that can irritate the scalp and and strip the hair and scalp of moisture. I had not really linked sulphates to clean beauty, rather started using sulphate-free shampoo when I started getting my hair colored again a few years ago as sulphates can fade hair color faster. Before using sulphate-free shampoos, I just used drug store brand shampoo and conditioner like Revlon and Tresemme; I do not recall my hair or scalp being worse for it.
Interestingly, two shampoos I was browsing that include SLS is the blond shampoo from Kerastase and the shampoo for damaged hair from Shu Uemura.
Deciem says that their shampoo is strong enough to remove buildup, oils and dirt, and soft enough to be gentle on the skin and scalp. This can be used as a body wash and a shampoo.
The sodium laureth sulfate here is SLES-2 at 4% (where other sulphate shampoos typically contain around 10-20%), which Deciem says is a milder sulphate that cleanses the hair well, is non-drying, gentle on the skin, does not fade color, and is for use on all hair types and textures.
Directions: This is a “daily use” cleanser. For hair, work into a lather and rinse thoroughly. For body, apply generously and lather.
I have an oily scalp and fine, dry hair that is not colored or otherwise treated.
The shampoo has no scent. This cleanser is clear and very thin, which was unexpected, and has very minimal lather (pictured in the hair photo above). This was a day 2 wash for me, so my hair was not overly oily, and when working it into my hair, I thought I maybe had some buildup or oil (though I had clarified four days prior) because there was not much lather, so shampooed my hair three times (I always shampoo twice); turns out it is not supposed to lather much (I expected lather because of the sulphate). On rinsing my hair, this cleansed the hair okay. By the end of the day (10 hours after washing), my roots and bangs were a little more soft and limp than with other shampoos, indicating some oils already (this does not usually happen until the middle or end of the second-day hair. The shampoo is very gentle. Before using this shampoo, I would have been reluctant to use on colored hair, however, I think it might be gentle enough for colored hair. I wonder if it would cleanse really thick or coiled hair well because the formula is gentle and the texture is so thin, and I imagine if the hair has a lot of product or oil buildup, a clarifying shampoo would have to be used the wash prior.
My scalp is always itchy. The itchiness comes and goes no matter what shampoo or product I use or how much or how little I wash my hair. I do not know why; I do not see any scalp issues, dryness or flakes. I was hoping this sulphate shampoo might help and thus far it has not, but perhaps with further use.
Not really an equal comparison I suppose, but I much prefer the Snobgirls shampoo I have been using lately, though The Ordinary shampoo is not too bad. That being said, I am not sure I would repurchase; maybe if I had a drier scalp, this would be more suitable for me.
I have not tried the cleanser as a body wash yet, but will update here soon.
Update (March 27, 2022): I have been using the sulphate cleanser as a body wash for a few weeks now. It feels nice while massaging on to the skin, like a soft gel cleanser, however, on rinsing, the skin is very squeaky and after a few uses feels a bit dry overall (though I follow with a body cream; a new favorite is this one by BIA Skin). The sulphate cleanser cleanses and rinses well and while it is okay as a body wash, I do not prefer it.
Again, this conditioner has minimal ingredients, using behentrimonium chloride as the conditioning agent for softer, smoother hair. Unlike most other conditioners, there are no butters or oils that may weigh the hair down. This is lightweight and suitable for all hair types and textures.
Directions: Work conditioner into wet hair. Rinse.
This is a thick, almost semi-translucent conditioner, like a thick lotion. My hair has dry mid-lengths and ends. Using this in the shower, detangling was good. My hair did feel not very silky while rinsing. I dried my hair in the LUS Brands hair towel for about 15 minutes. When I shook my hair out of the hair towel, it was a bit tangled in the back and looked a little drier than with other conditioners. After blow drying my hair, the bottom 3 or so inches looked a bit dry; there was not really a smooth feeling. The hair was not weighed down, however, did not seem to have as much movement, perhaps because it was a little dehydrated. I would for sure follow with a leave-in conditioner (and generally do anyway). I am not sure I would repurchase the conditioner.
I also bought the Natural Moisturizing Factors + Hyaluronic Acid Scalp Serum formulated to support scalp hydration that I have not used yet.
As far as first impressions, the shampoo cleanses relatively well and I do not find the conditioner very hydrating or smoothing. As of now, I do not think I would repurchase either product, but will update here in a couple months.
Update (May 1, 2022) – I have now used the shampoo and conditioner for 6 weeks two to three times a week. The first 3 weeks I just used the shampoo and conditioner, followed by a leave-in conditioner and a blow dry. The next 3 weeks I used the shampoo and conditioner followed by my regular routine of leave-in conditioner and a hair oil, either Olaplex No. 7 or a hair oil capsule from Snobgirls, followed by a blow dry and an overnight serum, either from Kerastase or Shu Uemera. The last 2 weeks, I used my regular Snobgirls shampoo and conditioner, the K18 hair mask a few times, and followed the routine above.
By the end of the first 3 weeks (and even after the first use), my hair was quite dry and frizzy and lacked movement. With the shampoo being so thin, spreading it throughout the hair for a wash was a bit difficult, so I sectioned my hair into four and applied that way. It cleanses okay, but my hair was quite flat and lacked volume. I do not think the cleanse was quite enough for my oily hair and the shampoo was quite drying. For the conditioner, my hair did not have that silky, detangled feeling, I think because the shampoo was drying and the conditioner not moisturizing enough. My hair started breaking at the back underside of the hair (I am not sure the shampoo/conditioner would cause this, perhaps because my hair was very dry; I have had this issue previously when coloring my hair blonde and when I did not get it cut for 2 years). Adding the oils and hair serum for the second 3 weeks helped a bit with softness and movement of the hair, but not quite where it was previous. I added in 2 or 3 uses of the K18 hair mask, which helped a lot with the softness, dryness, frizz and hair movement, and with using my regular shampoo and conditioner, my hair is nearly back to normal.
I have also continued using the shampoo as a body wash and it is also drying to the skin.
I would not have thought a shampoo and conditioner could make such a noticeable difference to the hair. I would not repurchase either of The Ordinary’s shampoo or conditioner.
Raiyne On Beauty 