I'm a yoga teacher with damaged hair, and here's why Herbal Essences worked for me
Words by Bambi dela Cruz / Product Photography by Perkin Gohio
This story is brought to you by Herbal Essences
I’m the type of person who has to wash her hair every single day. As a yoga teacher who practices and teaches yoga practically every morning, I need to be able to cleanse my hair of all the workout gunk! Also, the new normal has me washing my hair twice a day on days when I have to do essential runs.
This is why I need shampoo that cleanses my hair really well without drying it out. It has to be nourishing enough not to strip my hair of its natural oils as well as not be too heavy to leave me with sticky, greasy, limp hair. I’m also a conditioner user, which is why I need a conditioner that brings life to my hair without weighing my hair down or causing breakouts on my back and hairline.
I’ve tried Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner in the past (remember their pink and yellow variants in the 90s?) so I’m pretty familiar with them growing up. I’m happy to report that they have a new line crafted with bio:renew, which helps purify and protect against the abuse our hair goes through over time. In my case, that’s mechanical and chemical damage! Herbal Essences bio:renew shampoos and conditioners use botanical ingredients sourced from real plants finger-printed and identified by experts at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. I’m glad that with each use, I get ingredients I can trust from real, actual plant sources. So in every bottle of Herbal Essences bio:renew shampoo and conditioner, I am sure that there is real Argan Oil in every bottle.
There are several variants in this line: White Strawberry and Sweet Mint (for lusciously thick and shiny hair), Golden Moringa Oil (for naturally smooth and sleek hair), Blue Ginger and Micellar (for naturally radiant hair), Coconut Milk (to keep hair hydrated and protected), and Argan Oil of Morocco (to repair damaged hair). These are available in your local drugstores and supermarkets, but you can also shop for the Herbal Essences bio:renew line in Lazada Mall. They can be purchased individually (if you prefer just the shampoo or conditioner) for Php 399 each or as bundles (P798 for two bottles and Php 1,197 for three).
I went ahead and tested the Argan Oil of Morocco variant because it seems perfect for my hair situation. Argan oil(Argania spinosa), is sometimes referred to as liquid gold. It is rich in vitamins and nutrients believed to have nourishing and conditioning properties for the hair. That is why it has been used by women for centuries in hair care. This is natural care with every plant-powered wash.
Here’s a rundown of my experience!
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT
The shampoo left my hair feeling fresh and clean without feeling dry! I used this after a super sweaty ashtanga practice where you could feel the sweat bead from the scalp and see sweat pouring on my mat. Sweat mixes with dirt when I do my laying down sequences and inversions so I definitely need a thorough wash after. This was quite effective in cleansing!
The conditioner does its job without weighing my hair down. It left my hair feeling silky and looking less frizzy when I run my fingers through it.
I love the mild scent. There is a slight fragrance that reminds me of Christmas with a sweet-woodsy scent. It’s an exotic blend of creamy vanilla followed by a burst of fizzy citrus and a lingering blend of exotic spices. I think the citrus notes give that lift, so the scent doesn’t seem so heavy or overpowering. The scent lingers quite a bit on the hair but it doesn’t overpower the senses. If you wear fragrance, the scent of your shampoo won’t interfere with your fragrance.
It is safe for color-treated hair. I can use this when I color my hair again!
I appreciate that I didn’t get adverse reactions or breakouts on my skin after.
This line is free of parabens and colorants.
NEUTRAL FEELINGS ON…
It’s gluten-free. I usually associate gluten-free with food or anything ingested. Gluten is used as a protein in shampoo for its elastic property. Since we don’t ingest shampoo and shampoo is a rinse-off product, it really has no effect on those who are sensitive to gluten.
WHAT SOME MAY NOT LIKE ABOUT IT
The bottles are quite bulky. A 400-mL bottle can be quite bulky for gym/travel in the future but this can be resolved by transferring some product in travel-sized containers.
The shampoo and conditioner may be too rich for those with very fine hair. I have thick hair so I get a great smoothing effect, but my editor Liz finds it to be a bit heavy for her hair. For finer, thinner, hair, White Strawberry and Sweet Mint is recommended.
It can be a bit pricey at Php 399 each. A bottle does go a long way, though and I can finish one bottle in maybe three months since my hair isn’t really that long.
L: Before
R: After 7 Days of Herbal Essences Argan oil of Morocco Shampoo & Conditioner
VERDICT
This is something I’d put in my hair cleansing routine! I usually rotate different products depending on my mood and what my hair needs at the moment, but this is a keeper for me. I love how it leaves my hair feeling silky yet gently clean my hair thoroughly. It’s really ideal for my day-to-day requirements, since I wash my hair so often. Try it out too, and let me know what you think!
Herbal Essences is available in leading supermarkets, drugstores, and department stores. It is also available in Shopee and Lazada.