I tried this no-shampoo cleanser and it's changed how I wash my hair
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If you can't go more than a day without washing your hair with shampoo, our Hairstory New Wash review may change your mind. When Hairstory was created in New York City in 2015 by a team of beauty, pharmaceutical and hairdressing professionals, it raised a few eyebrows as the entire range is based on the idea of skipping the daily lather in favour of a gentler alternative.
According to Eli Halliwell, hair entrepreneur and CEO of Hairstory, shampoo isn't actually the best way to wash our hair. He claims that traditional shampoos weaken hair by stripping them of the vital oils they need for protection against environmental aggressors and heated styling tools like straighteners and curlers.
“Shampoo relies on detergent, an amphiphilic substance, which means having an attraction to both oil and water equally,” says Eli. “When you wash your hair, detergent firmly grabs onto the debris and impurities embedded in the hair and scalp but it also attaches to all kinds of oil, even the good ones that your scalp cleverly produces for protection.”
Without these oils, your hair is exposed to potential damage from heat, chemicals and friction. “Your scalp is left vulnerable to irritation,” Eli adds. "When rinsed, detergent also firmly attaches to water, and everything goes down the drain."
The result of over-washing your hair is a less-than-stellar combination of drier strands but also oily roots as your scalp overcompensates for the lack of hydration. “Your glands respond by going into overdrive, and they produce more oil,” says Eli. "This leads to complaints of ‘greasy’ hair, which most people respond to by more washing, and it becomes a vicious cycle."
Read on for our full Hairstory New Wash review as one writer decides to sacrifice her favourite shampoo for a two-in-one cleanser and conditioner.
THE PRODUCT
THE HYPE
Packed with amphiphilic substances of a different kind to those you'll find in traditional shampoos, this detergent-free cleanser claims to only attach itself to the oil that shouldn't be on your hair. “It has a proprietary blend of essential oils and naturally-derived, saturated cleansers that firmly grab anything oily, but, unlike detergent, they have a weaker attraction to water,” Eli explains. “So, when you rinse, the oils and debris loosely attached to hair are rinsed away, but the good ones stay where they belong.” Some of the cleanser's molecules remain attached as they're so moisturising, which is why the brand claims you won't need to add conditioner to your routine. Sounds promising, but will the one-step New Wash really create swish-able locks?
REVIEWER
Sophie Cockett, Commerce Editor.
BEAUTY BIO
I've always had a love/hate relationship with my hair. It's very thick, so is prone to being frizzy and uncontrollable. I only really love my hair after every wash, when I straighten it with my trusty Remington Hair Straighteners to restore it to its pre-wash sleek and smooth state.
That said, excessive hair straightening has been known to leave my hair a little dry, so I tend to slather on conditioner and hair masks like there's no tomorrow. Another complaint is that I suffer with an itchy scalp from time to time. So all in all, I was excited to find out whether Hairstory's New Wash could moisturise my hair enough that I didn't need conditioner while also leaving my scalp feeling less irritated.
THE REVIEW
I signed up to use this 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner for two weeks, in place of my normal shampoo. What arrived in the post was the brand's New Wash Original Starter Kit, which comes with the New Wash Original cleanser and a brush, which promises to massage your scalp as you wash.
My first thoughts? I was pleasantly surprised at how jumbo the New Wash pouch was. Seriously - you get a lot of bang for your buck, given a little goes a long way. Yes, the packaging is very simple, but it's also all-importantly sustainable (more on that later). Plus, it's what's on the inside that counts, right?
I hopped straight in the shower to try the New Wash cleanser out, and I was quickly hit by the first quirk: this stuff doesn't foam. No bubbles. None at all. It was kind of disorientating, but I referred back to my box for instructions. It says that, due to the no-foam formula, you need to coat your entire head in the product and massage it in thoroughly "like crazy" then "massage some more". So I did.
I found it difficult to gauge how much product to use, but the scalp brush proved seriously handy with the whole massaging thing and was so relaxing, it felt like a mini at-home spa experience. I'm not sure I'd be confident using the shampoo without it, to be honest, as I'd worry that I wasn't massaging the product into my hair enough. And just as you need to massage this product in thoroughly, you also need to really rinse it out, so I spent much longer than I usually would under the shower.
Afterwards, I dried my hair as usual and, to be honest, I didn't notice much of a difference. My hair smelt fresh with a hint of peppermint but in terms of how my hair felt, it was just a little dryer without my usual daily dose of conditioner.
By the second day, though, my hair was also greasy. Usually, I can go three days without getting oily roots but I didn't let this put me off. Apparently I was going through the "transition period". The team - and a quick check through the reviews on the site - reminded me that the dryness and grease was simply because my hair was getting used to a new way of washing. So I continued with my new-found routine for my allocated two weeks, with the Powder product (essentially, a glorified dry shampoo), making the greasiness a whole lot easier to manage.
THE VERDICT
After two weeks, the dryness and greasiness had pretty much subsided, and my hair actually looked shiny in photos - something I've never experienced before. I genuinely felt as though I was doing my tresses a good deed. It didn't take me longer than the first wash to figure out how much product I needed to avoid any greasy residue and using the massage brush has become a key part of my daily routine now as it leaves me feeling so Zen.
New Wash is also more affordable than you might first think! You can use the hair cleanser as regularly as you like (daily, once every three days etc.), but it's possible to save up to £294 a year due to the hefty pouches and adhering to a simplified routine.
One of the best things about Hairstory, though, is its sustainable, refillable offering. All of the New Wash cleansers - Original, Deep and Rich - come in pouches, and once you've finished your first lot, you can pick up refill subscriptions for £98 to save on single-use plastic. That's a big bonus for me. Oh, and I'm a huge fan of the starter kits in the range. They make for a great and affordable way to test the waters or if want to use the products as a bit of a hair detox for a shorter time period.
I viewed my New Wash routine as something similar to skin-fasting or abstaining from foundation for two weeks: maybe not a forever choice but something that needed to be done to reverse damage and restore my locks to a healthy state.
The ultimate natural hairstyle for summer.
As mentioned, I used the New Wash Original, but there are three varieties, each good for different hair types. If you're not sure which one to buy, there's a handy interactive quiz on the site.
NEW WASH (RICH): EXTRA CONDITIONING
Super thirsty strands need superior moisture. Looking for some serious conditioning? This is the formula for you.
NEW WASH: THE ORIGINAL
Cleanse, condition, detangle and restore your hair and scalp with our original formula. Colour stays longer, curls take better shape and the fight against frizz is won.
NEW WASH (DEEP): OIL BE GONE!
Great for scalps prone to oil over-production. Apple cider vinegar and argan oil help deep clean strands.
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Apparently we've been using it all wrong.
