Recently, my 4 year old daughter developed a sensitivity to sulfates found in many shampoos, conditioners, and body washes. I have switched her to using only Castile Soap derived from coconut oil. Since she is unable to use these harsh detergents, I thought it might be a good idea to eliminate them for myself as well. I have tried a few sulfate-free shampoos in the past, but was unhappy with the results. They either did not leave my hair feeling clean or soft, or led to itchy, greasy roots within hours.
Then, a few weeks ago, I blogged about the incredible liquid gold oil, Argan Oil. In my research for that blog, I discovered the One 'n Only Argan Moisture Repair Shampoo and Conditioner and decided to give it a try. I did not have very high expectations, based on my previous experience with sulfate-free shampoos, but boy, did this shampoo surprise me!
Since it is sulfate-free, there is very little lather. While there is not much to back this up, we usually equate big, bubbly lather with shiny, squeaky clean! The lack of lather left me feeling a little....empty during my shower, but I figured I would roll with it. The shampoo is a pearly white and feels about the same consistency as most shampoos I have used previously. Nothing special there. The conditioner also felt like most other conditioners I have used. The one noteworthy feature of this duo is the scent - HEAVENLY! The warm, almost nutty aroma stays with you long after you have rinsed.
When I got out of the shower, my hair felt about the same as usual, heavy-wet, yet soft. I decided to allow it to air dry to see if the shampoo and conditioner had any noticeable effect on my thick, semi-wavy hair without any input from styling tools. When my hair was more than half dry, I ran my fingers through it to feel the progress it was making, and my heart nearly stopped. My hair felt dry, crackly, and sticky. OH NO - what happened? I figured I would allow it to finish drying before I made my final assessment.
Once my hair was completely dry, it looked smooth and shiny,
and felt nicely moisturized. Not sure why it feels so yucky while it is drying, but the final outcome is lovely. My hair feels strong, yet silky smooth, without feeling greasy - even after 2 days! I normally have to wash my hair daily or risk looking like I am wearing a grease helmet, but with this shampoo, I can go 2 days without a problem! I have received so many compliments on my hair since I started using this Argan Oil shampoo...perfect for the holiday season, when I want to look my best!
I definitely recommend checking this shampoo and conditioner out, for yourself, your salon, AND to retail to your clients!
What is your favorite shampoo?