Karen is inquisitive…Can you kindly explain what makes Pureology shampoo feel so much different than anything else I’ve tried? I’m guessing it’s not the botanical infusion!
The Right Brain responds:
Good guess, Karen, the difference has nothing to do with green tea or sandalwood. It’s all about the cleansers and conditioners.
Pureology ingredients
Most shampoos are based on a blend of 1 or 2 primary surfactants with another 1 or two secondary surfactants. Pureology (at least the Anti-fade variant), has 7, count ‘em 7 different cleansing agents: Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauryl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, and Decyl Glucoside. (Actually the total number of surfactants is more like 9 or 10 if you count some of the minor ingredients.) This cleansing blend gives Pureology an extraordinarily rich lather for a sulfate-free shampoo.
On top of that, it’s formulated with three potent conditioning agents: amodimethicone, a organo-modified silicone that provides excellent conditioning effect; Polyquaternium-7 which also gives excellent wet slip; and a chemically modified guar gum that smooths hair.
Is Pureology perfect?
So what’s the downside, you ask? For one thing the claims about controlling color fading are over stated. Based on research we’ve seen, sulfate-free shampoos do not strip less color than their sulfate containing cousins. Plus, at $28 for 10 ounces, Pureology is not cheap! You might want to consider trying EverPure shampoo because it’s a similar formula that costs a lot less.
Would you spend $28 on a bottle of shampoo? Leave a comment and share your thoughts on shampoo spending with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.
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Love the rec for EverPure! As a licensed cosmetologist high-end shampoos are about the same price (or cheaper!) for me as drug store brands. I choose to buy EverPure because it’s a great product.
Um, yes, I would and do pay over $20/bottle. After spending my life using suave and dove – which I still like, the local stores don’t carry the ones I like any more, I traded up to Biolage. I think I paid $25ish for the liter and got the conditioner free. And I’m happy with the results. The one I use has a light scent and no soy protein, my 2 main concerns. Beyond that, I knew it would do the job. I just have to wait for another ‘liter sale’to replenish!
I was wondering how come EverPure is the best shampoo I have ever tried, even better than Biolage.
I would spend that much to get a shampoo that wasn’t as strongly scented as drugstore shampoos, but Everpure doesn’t overwhelm me fragrance-wise—I love the way it smells, and it doesn’t smell so overpowering.It also works well!
I spend $24 a month on my Lok Dry Shampoo and it is the best purchase I make all month. My stylist in Newport Beach California recommended it to me and I have been hooked ever since. Can’t say I would spend that kind of money on regular shampoo. http://www.LoKcolor.com is their website
MJ
Eh, in the end to me all shampoos are created the same. Just some have stuff I might be allergic to in it and most have stinky fruit scented perfumes. Why spend a ton of money when I can go to CostCo and get a bottle of Panteen for $14 that will last me a couple of months – even though I shampoo my hair every single day.
I used Ojon which I buy at Sephora. I get the shampoo/conditioner set for about 33 bucks and it last me for a few months or so. I think the stuff works great. I am willing to pay a little bit more for my hair products if they work effeciently. I have used the cheaper stuff (Suave, Panteen, Pert, etc) and always notice a huge difference in my hair compared to using more expensive stuff.
Are the surfactants in that shampoo leave soap scum??
No, the surfactants in the shampoo do not leave soap scum. What makes you think they might?
I wouldn’t spend so much on a shampoo. As a curly, conditioner is more important to me, but I wouldn’t spend 26 on one either – I did in the past, and found that they don’t work miracles either.
I agree most drugstore brands smell way too “fancy”
But these days even the drugstores have their own natural lines, at least in Europe, so you can get a 8 oz mild natural shampoo without any artificial fragrances for about €2.60 – that should be $4 or so.
I have been using L’Oreal’s knock-off Ever-Pure and it seems OK but not all that different than other anti-fade shampoos/conditioners.
I wouldn’t spend much money on a shampoo too, I’m just lucky to have a shiny hair. I just shampoo my hair every other day to prevent my hair dry. Thank you for the information though. I guess I’ll try that one net time..
I would not spend more than $2 on shampoo. So, by my standard this product is $26 overpriced.
I also wanted to say how much I like the new (…new to me at least) setup of the website. It looks much better.
Think I’ll the Ever Pure. Thanks for the information everyone.
Hey…. what’s up with thepicture of the chick smoking and drinking at the top of this page???? My guess is it’s suppose to be disgusting.
Bye
@Pam: The picture wasn’t necessarily supposed to be disgusting, it was intended to be ironic. The post was about Pureology and the picture is of an angel who’s supposed to be “pure” but who is actually smoking and drinking.
What I have always been really curious about is the placebo effect correlating to hair product! I have used a variety of shampoos in my life. The more expensive ones tended to work as good as, or better, than the average drugstore brand (typically similar) but some of the drugstore brands just RAPED my hair. I think that I would be willing to spend that much IF I could guarantee which product would work well for my hairtype. Does anyone have any information on which ingredients react to different hair types? Or is it more of a natural oil thing so every person is different? I have the most balanced hair ever so even when I go camping for a week and don’t shower I don’t grease up, but using pantene makes my hair greasy within HOURS. I’m a materials engineer but clearly I work more with steels and aluminums than cosmetics but I’d be interested to find out! I was appalled someone said they’d rather just use pantene–it must not do to their hair what it does to mine!!
I know this is an old entry but to be correct, loreal took over as a parent company for many of these hair care products, thus having ever pure which is technically quite a bit of the same ingredients as pureology’s. Ever pure doesn’t get the scent down and smells a little chemical like but is pretty much the same as pureology, if you don’t want to spend the money.
With all the take-overs in the beauty business, it is possible that every brand will be owned by someone different in a couple years.
I have used Pureology for over a year. I use it for the way my hair looks and feels more so than the anti fade. However, I noticed that there is more hair in the shower drain since using Pureology. I asked my hair stylist about it, and she didn’t know why that would be. It’s just a bit worrisome.
I switched back to Biolage for a few shampoos just to switch it up and noticed a huge difference in my hair. So I am back with Pureology. If I switch to Ever Pure, do they have a great conditioner as well?
Thanks!
@ Left Brain: I mean the sulfate-free surfactants, do they leave soap residue/soap scum? Because as far as I know myristic acid surfactants do leave a bulid-up.
My daughter bought the AntiFade shampoo and conditioner for me for Christmas 2009 and I am bummed. My hair – what’s left of it – is in GREAT shape but my scalp is a mess! Terribly itchy and my hair is falling out big time, with little sebaceous pebbles forming on my scalp that I can feel when I scratch it.
I am sure this is a wonderful product for most folks, but I am apparently allergic to it. Bummer! Maybe I will try another of their Shampoo/Conditioner combos and see if my biochemistry is OK with those.
10 mins later… well I just spoke with someone at Pureology who was not helpful at all. The company needs to put the ingredients of each product on their website so people can look at the ingredients and go through a process of elimination. The hydrate formula antifade is what I have now, but clearly I cannot use it. If I tried another formula I would definitely want my money back if it too were irritating. I would check the refund/exchange policy with the store before purchasing. Meanwhile, I’ve got to stop using the hydrate formula. (One would think a hydrate formula would have enough Essential Fatty Acids to keep from aggravating someone’s scalp.)
If anyone searches here for trouble with Pureology Hydrate Formula (extreme scalp itching and hair falling out), I was told to mix baking soda in water and let it soak my scalp to remove the chemicals and get the itching to subside. Then get a ph balanced shampoo or tea tree oil. This is what I was advised by a manager at my local Sally Beauty Supply and also a friend of mine who is a hair dresser. I am pretty steamed right now at Pureology for their expensive products and their slightly snotty, impatient and generally unhelpful phone people. I was told it will take a month for my hair follicles to heal and the lost hair to start growing back in.
