Do Natural Shampoos Really Work?

DO NATURAL SHAMPOOS REALLY WORK?

Along with the rise of interest for organic and natural products come the increasingly abundant and often confusing options for beauty products. Many of our users want to know what products we can use to enhance our physical beauty without subjecting our bodies to chemicals and synthetics that may cause harm to ourselves or our environment. To this end, we decided to put several natural shampoos to the test and find out if these products are worth the hype.

WHAT WE TESTED

We selected the following three shampoos as they are commonly found in local and larger chain stores:

Avalon Organic Lavender Moisturizing Shampoo
EO Chamomile & Honey Shampoo
Giovanni Honey Wheat Shampoo

HOW WE TESTED

To gather a broad spectrum of experience and feedback, we asked our friend and Hair Dresser Extraordinaire, Norma Blatt of Omega Ten Salon in San Mateo, to test the products on some of her clients for one week. Both men and women were included as well as different hair types including straight, curly, fine, coarse, untreated and treated hair.

INGREDIENTS

The main difference between natural and conventional shampoos is what goes into the bottle (and the bottle itself). We looked for harsh chemicals like SDL, synthetic dyes, and fragrance, which none of the products contained. Each of the products used a different combination of natural and herbal ingredients to achieve maximum benefit on hair. Here are some of the main ingredients used in these shampoos and their impact on hair.

Chamomile: known for its soothing effect on skin, hair and irritated scalp; good for light hair and popular choice for natural hair coloring/lightening for blonds

Honey: popular ingredient in both shampoo and moisturizers known for strengthening hair, alleviating dry scalp through moisturizing properties and adding extra shine in hair

Lavender: known for its soothing properties on skin and scalp as well as ability to stimulate circulation; lavender oil has even been shown to be effective in alopecia areata (significant hair loss coming out in patches)

Wheat (and wheat protein): popular as the amino acids are quickly absorbed in hair and the protein coats the outer hair shaft to give hair moisture and shine

In addition, the shampoos also have other interesting herbal ingredients that compliment the main ingredients:

Avalon Organic Lavender Moisturizing Shampoo: Infusion of certified organic calenula, chamomile and gingko biloba, yucca, organic sea kelp, certified organic Aloe Vera, panthenol, soy protein, jojoba Oil, vegetable glycerine, exracts of certified organic sage, rosemary, nettle, horsetail, clover blossom

EO Chamomile & Honey Shampoo: Organic Aloe Vera, organic calendula, organic white tea, organic licorice root, organic comfrey, organic marshmallow, organic dandelion, witch hazel

Giovanni Honey Wheat Shampoo: Extracts of rosemary oil, chamomile, nettle oil, thyme oil, birch leaf oil, menthol, clary, lavender, eucalyptus oil, yarrow (achillea millefolium) oil, mallow, horsetail oil, soybean protein

OVERALL FEEDBACK

All products work fine in cleansing and rinsing on hair that is washed every day or every other day. However, if hair is not frequently washed, multiple shampooing is needed to achieve the cleansing effect.

These products should be used with complementary conditioner for maximum impact; when used with other branded conditioners, the shine and smoothing effect is dulled or counteracted.

All products worked well on normal, untreated or grown out treated (old perms or color) hair; if recently colored or permed, a different formulation of the brand is needed to counter the damaging impacts of the treatment.

SPECIFIC PRODUCT FEEDBACK

Avalon Organic Lavender Moisturizing: The differentiating effect of this shampoo is its ability to give hair shine. The panthenol, along with the herbal infusion, appear particularly effective in creating luster and shine on hair, particularly on chemically untreated hair. The scent is noticeable and is appealing to lavender fans but may be a bit strong for those who are looking a gentler scent.

EO Chamomile & Honey: All of the users noted the strong scent from the chamomile and likely the blend of white tea and licorice root. In addition, the witch hazel provides an invigorating shampoo experience. This product is likely suited for those who want a "Wake Me Up" shampoo and not for those looking for a more soothing experience.

Giovanni Honey Wheat: This product appears to be the overall favorite: the scent is mild enough to not overwhelm even the most discerning scent hounds and the herbal blend appears to provide a "gentle but pleasant" experience. This shampoo was popular with both the female and male users.

Our original intent was to cross compare and rate these three products on similar attributes and scale. However, through the testing process, we realized that each product offers unique advantages and is suited for a specific user experience. This realization underscores the importance of understanding product ingredients and purpose and soliciting both professional opinion and user experience: Avalon Organics Shampoos, Giovanni Shampoos, and a few conditioners

If you have enjoyed our shampoo challenge and would like to see more challenges, please submit your suggestions to feedback@organicpicks.com.

We'd like to thank Norma Blatt, owner of Omega Ten Salon, for her help in completing this product challenge. Norma is a professional hair dresser specializing in hair styling, coloring and highlights and perms. She is available for consultations and to answer any other hairy questions. Norma's passion, outside of her family, is all things to do with hair. You can find Norma at Omega Ten Salon, located at 31 N. Ellesworth in San Mateo or at 650-340-1070. You can also send your questions to Norma via feedback@organicpicks.com.with the subject title of "Hairy Question for Norma".

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