I tried a shampoo full of actual tree leaves and it gave me the best hair of my life
THE PRODUCT
L’Oréal Professionnel Source Essentielle Sesame Oil Nourishing Balm, £22 Feel Unique
L’Oréal Professionnel Source Essentielle Daily Shampoo, £18, Feel Unique
THE HYPE:
With a shampoo at 80% natural origin ingredients and the nourishing sesame oil balm 99% natural, these new sulphate-free professional haircare products from L'Oréal are the latest natural products for earth-loving beauty lovers to get their hands on.
Don't be put off by the 80% natural status of that shampoo - these are carefully selected preservation ingredients to prevent those all-natural ingredients from going off while they sit on your shower shelf. With jellifying gum and hydrating ingredients sourced from aloe vera, it's an oil-busting treat of a formula intended to boost vitality.
And that balm? Sesame oil and coconut oil might be tasty kitchen additions, but they also have split end-smoothing properties, and provide the nutrition your hair needs.
REVIEWER:
Jen Garside, Engagement Executive
BEAUTY BIO:
Thick virgin (un-dyed) blonde hair, natural curls and waves currently quashed with a to-die-for keratin treatment that helps me handle the humidity hair with ease.
WHAT I USUALLY LOOK FOR IN A SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER:
I must admit, I'm not too precious about the shampoo that I use, as long as it doesn't contain sulphates that strip out my keratin and doesn't ruin the colour of my natural blonde. With a stupidly high amount of hair follicles on my head, I look for a product that can banish grease and thoroughly cleanse my scalp of dry shampoo (guilty) without damaging my hair.
BUT, because I style my hair so regularly and want to keep it in slick condition, I opt for thick and rejuvenating conditioners and masks to lock in that moisture.
L'OREAL PROFESSIONNEL SOURCE ESSENTIELLE REVIEW
For a nature enthusiast like myself, there is something peculiarly satisfying about being able to see literal pieces of tree shrub floating in your shampoo. The sweet aromas of acacia and aloe vera are refreshing, and yet not as overwhelming as products packed full of chemicals and scent. You know it’s all natural when it’s just understated goodness all the way.
I applied evenly and was pleased that the lather was thorough for a natural shampoo, and left me feeling squeaky clean despite the lack of sulphates. This product is mainly designed for normal to fine hair, so I added an extra rinse-repeat for good luck. The added gimmick is that occasionally there are actual leaves of acacia being rubbed against your scalp (sounds odd, reality is that you barely feel it and it probably adds a really lovely natural exfoliant).
The second step is the conditioning balm. Packed full of sesame oil, with a consistency like body butter and a divine smell (it honestly looks good enough to eat, beware), everything about this product says luxurious haircare - but at only £22.99 it’s a bargain compared to other options in the market. With 99% natural ingredients, this feels like someone has saved you the trouble of mixing up a hair mask in your kitchen, bottling up luxe goodness and serving it to you raw.
You apply to towel-dried shampooed hair and then wash out after five mins. Wait for five minutes - shave your legs, clean a makeup brush, browse a dating app - and then rinse the balm off, leaving your hair cuticles closed, gloriously conditioned with moisture locked in.
FINAL VERDICT
The worst criticisms I can come up with? (I'm stretching, here). The round tubs are a little awkwardly sized, which is thankfully counteracted by their generous 300ml offering, and for all their natural goodness, these still come in plastic bottles - not as green as a shampoo bar, but recyclable nonetheless.
As natural shampoos and conditioners go, the Professionnel Source Essentielle range offers a recognisable professional haircare brand take on chemical and sulphate-free haircare, with nourishing products that not only feel healthy but indulgent. If you're not a natural shampoo convert yet, definitely try giving your hair a break from those harsh cleansing chemicals and switching it up for an environmentally-friendly lather.
Best natural shampoo for added shine
Revitalising Orange Flower Shampoo, £11.50, Neal's Yard Remedies
Not only does this shampoo smell amazing, it's like superfood for your hair. Combining the properties of moringa, camellia, passion flower and neroli, it gently cleanses the scalp, while restoring the locks' brightness and bounce.
Best natural shampoo for everyday
Green People Quinoa & Artichoke Shampoo, £14.95, Green People
Love organic beauty products? This one’s for you - a great everyday shampoo that doesn’t strip your hair of moisture and leaves it feeling soft and shiny.
Best natural shampoo for oily hair
Aveda Scalp Benefits Shampoo, £12.50, Look Fantastic
Enriched with burdock root, echinacea and sage, this shampoo removed excess sebum and buildup, lifts away dead skin, oils and product build-up from the roots and leaves irritated scalps feels soothed and balanced.
Save money on your organic shampoo order with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best for a hydration injection
Dr. Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo, £6.49, Holland & Barrett
Packed with exotic ingredients, such as baobab, patchouli and rosewood, this moisture-rich shampoo is a total bargain. With an oil base, this is best used as a treatment shampoo once or twice a week if you’re prone to oily roots. But if your scalp is dry, slather it on and don’t hold back – you’ll thank us later.
Best purifying natural shampoo
Klorane Aquatic Mint Shampoo, £8, Look Fantastic
Scientists discovered that the star ingredient in this formula, aquatic mint, has an incredible natural ability to depollute waterways and neutralise toxins. Its de-polluting properties extend to our hair too, where it neutralises damaging free radicals from pollution particles (which can cause hair to become dull and oily). Instead, this clever formula removes oil, restores shine, and leaves hair minty fresh. And, since it will depollute the sewers and rivers that it'll end up, you can be sure you're sending more than good vibes down the pipes.
Save money on your organic shampoo order with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best natural purple shampoo for blondes
Original & Mineral Conquer Blonde Shampoo, £34, Net-A-Porter
This contains violet pigments to counteract any yellow tones and eliminate brassiness. Nourishing natural ingredients such as aloe vera, organic desert lime, jojoba oil and vitamin B5 help to hydrate hair, protect against colour fade and offer antioxidant protection against UV rays.
Best strengthening natural shampoo
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo, £12.99, Look Fantastic
The reviews for this shampoo speak for themselves. Countless users have credited it with encouraging their hair to grow quicker and stronger. Organic Shea Butter and omega-rich Jamaican Black Castor Oil, deep-clean product build-up, whilst moisturising the hair and scalp to promote healthy hair growth. Apple Cider Vinegar helps regulate the scalp's pH levels and strengthen damaged or chemically-processed hair that is prone to breakage.
Save money on your organic shampoo order with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best natural shampoo for fine hair
We Are Paradoxx Volume Shampoo, £14.03, Amazon
Hops and nettle extract help to create volume and bounce, while Babassu oil, matcha green tea and carrageen moss extract nourish and provide that healthy looking shine. Even better, the packaging is 90% plastic free, reusable and recyclable.
Best smelling natural shampoo
Weleda Millet Nourishing Shampoo, £8.74, Amazon
Infused with macadamia nut oil, try this for a strong, glossy mane. Bonus points for the delicious grapefruit and peppermint scent.
Best natural shampoo for sensitive scalps
Green People Scent-Free Shampoo, £13, Green People
This contains 83% organic ingredients including green tea to strengthen hair and add shine, alongside pineapple extract to gently exfoliate any flakiness away. It's SLS-free, silicone-free, gluten-free and unscented to ensure it's super kind to sensitive scalps.
Best clarifying natural shampoo
Avalon Organics Clarifying Lemon Shampoo, £6.99, Holland & Barrett
Enriched with Lemon Essential Oil, Quinoa Protein, Aloe and Vitamin E, this shampoo gently clarifies, removes excess oils and shifts product build-up, grease and grime.
Best natural shampoo for dandruff
Dr Organic Ant-Dandruff Shampoo, £7.99, Holland & Barrett
Blended with organic coffee bean extract, purifying ginger, cool peppermint oil and a clinically proven anti-dandruff active, this helps to clear flakes and gently cleanse irritated scalps. Plus the coffee, patchouli and cedarwood scent will help put a pep in your step.
Best natural shampoo bar
Ethique Pinkalicious Shampoo Bar for Normal Hair, £12.99, Boots
Ethique's shampoo bars are made using biodegradable, renewable and naturally-derived ingredients with minimal chemical processing. This means their bars are safe for the environment when they exit our plugholes. And, because they're 100% plastic free, the brand has already saved 6.5 million bottles from heading to landfill. Pinkalicious – the shampoo bar designed for normal hair is packed with organic, virgin, fair trade coconut oil and cocoa butter as well as grapefruit and vanilla oil.
Save when you shop with these fabulous Boots discount codes.
Best natural shampoo for blonde hair
Klorane Camomile Shampoo, £8, Escentual
As well as being free from SLS, this French pharmacy haircare staple is also free from parabens, colourants and silicones, while being full of naturally lightening camomile making it perfect to boost blonde shades.
Best natural shampoo for psoriasis
Odylique Gentle Herb Shampoo, £12, Odylique
If your scalp is easily irritated, this shampoo takes things back to basics. It's free from all sulphates, silicones, salts, fragrances and artificial preservatives and is pH balanced to soothe scalps prone to psoriasis, dermatitis or eczema. The gentle blend of strengthening horsetail, conditioning coconut oil, soothing chamomile, balancing nettle, shine-inducing rosemary and hydrating aloe vera leaves hair looking ultra healthy. Plus, it's the first vegan and organic shampoo to ever receive Soil Association approval.
Best natural shampoo for dry hair
Desert Essence Coconut Shampoo, £11.20, Biovea
Lots of oils, plants and fruits go into these natural shampoos - a huge range for every hair type imaginable.
Best reconstructing natural shampoo
John Masters Organics Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructing Shampoo, £29, Planet Organic
This sulphate-free shampoo has perfectly creamy lather with a gorgeous Lavender and Rosemary unisex scent meaning your boyfriend can even borrow it (but hopefully not too much).
Innersense Pure Harmony Hairbath, from £9, Innersense
Designed to leave hair soft, shiny and balanced, pumpkin seed, shea butter and coconut oils help to purify, cleanse and hydrate strands. It's free from SLS, scented with uplifting orange flower and leaves hair feeling light and full-bodied.
Best natural shampoo for hair loss
Champo Pitta Volumising Shampoo, £18, Champo
This Champo is specifically formulates for fine hair experiencing thinning or loss. It's infused with haritaki fruit (used in Ayurvedic medicine for strengthening and nourishing) along with coconut extract and fatty acids to help thicken hair while gently cleansing. And, the weightless formula offers an extra volume boost as well.
Best natural shampoo for coloured hair
Rahua Color Full Shampoo, £36, Naturisimo
This colour-preserving shampoo is infused with a plant-derived colour complex to enhance coloured hair. The army of antioxidants provided by rahua, morete and flaxseed oils, alongside gardenia and lavender essences, encapsulate each strand to prevent colour fading and bestow protection for all shades of colour-treated or highlighted hair.
