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Updated: 5/31/2022 to add video review.
Let’s face it dandruff isn’t fun for anyone. But many of the major haircare brands have products that are loaded with sulfates and other ingredients that people may not always want.
I was surprised to see that Head and Shoulders jumped on the sulfate-free bandwagon recently.
I don’t currently suffer from dandruff but do occasionally have an itchy scalp so I figured the sample products I was sent as a sample might be worth trying.
I was sent a shampoo and conditioner set in a Pinchme box back in February.
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the products
I was sent two samples of Head and Shoulders NOURISH & SMOOTH shampoo and conditioner. The products are sulfate, parabens, dyes, phosphates, phthalates, and silicones.
The set is a bit different because the conditioner comes in a tube and the shampoo comes in a standard plastic flip-top bottle.
The shampoo
The shampoo is a standard white shade. it’s a bit of a medium consistency. it’s thin but not very runny. The product has a light scent. It includes Argan and Jojoba oils to help nourish the hair.
As with any new shampoo, your hair may need time to adjust. Overall for me, I noticed it was a bit drying to my hair at first. But I also think I may have left the shampoo on a bit too long or applied too much. The shampoo lathers well for being sulfate-free. You do feel a tingle at the scalp. I didn’t have any real adverse reactions.
Ingredients (source head and shoulders product page)
- Pyrithione Zinc 1%
- Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
- Water
- Acrylates Copolymer
- Lauramidopropyl Betaine
- Fragrance
- Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
- Polyquaternium-10
- Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
- Dimethiconol
- Sodium Citrate
- Citric Acid
- Sodium Chloride
- Sodium Benzoate
- Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
- Sodium Salicylate
The conditioner
The conditioner is similar to the shampoo it’s a white shade. It also has a light scent. It’s sulfate-free, parabens, dyes, phosphates, phthalates, and silicones.
It’s a bit thicker and clings to the hair. It rinses well and did nourish my hair.
ingredients (source Head and shoulders product page)
- Pyrithione Zinc 0.5%
- Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
- Water
- Dimethicone
- Stearyl Alcohol
- Fragrance
- Behentrimonium Chloride
- Phenoxyethanol
- Cetyl Alcohol
- Benzyl Alcohol
- Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone
- Methylisothiazolinone
User experience
Overall the product worked well. It did help with my itchy scalp. I also liked that it softened my hair. I will add that was the effect once i figured out the ratio of shampoo to conditioner and the ideal water temperature for rinsing my hair.
I also found that at first it did tend to dry out my hair but I think as with any new shampoo and conditioner your hair has to adjust.
I noticed that it also enhanced my natural wave pattern as well.
The major difference is that it didn’t leave my hair feeling oily like other argan shampoos and conditioner sets can. For being sulfate-free the shampoo had a nice lather.
final thoughts
I can’t find any real cons with these products. These are just a few options in Head and Shoulders sulfate-free line.
I can say that I liked the products overall. The only issue I had was I’m not fond of the conditioner being in a tube. I would have liked it to be in a plastic flip-top bottle.
These can be purchased separately or in a set. They are sold at a variety of retailers I found them on Amazon and at Target.