El Rubio’s Essential Shampoo & Conditioner Review for Men

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A SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER REVIEW FROM A GUY WHO ACTUALLY USED THE SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER

Glad you made it here. If you did a quick search for “shampoo & conditioner review for men,” you probably found about 100 articles claiming, “The Best Shampoo for Men,” “Best Shampoos for Men You Should Try,” and, “Top 5 Best Men's Shampoo & Conditioner.”

If you combed through those like I did, you might not have found a single “author” of all these “reviews” who actually tested any of the products.

Well Buster Brown, you can bet your follicle freedom I wouldn’t do ya like that.

El Rubio Before & After The Great Cut, shown in his shampoo & conditioner review for men

-El Rubio, Chief Maintenance Officer for The Longhairs
Pictured before & after The Great Cut

A Shampoo & Conditioner Review For Men...

from a guy who actually used the shampoo & conditioner.

For this review I personally and painstakingly tested dozens of shampoo and conditioner products, putting my locks on the line to better understand what's out there—much like we did in the development of our world famous Hair Ties For Guys.

My goal was to provide an honest and thorough shampoo & conditioner review for guys who prefer to hear from an actual person who has personally used the products he's reviewing.

El Rubio shampooing his hair in his shampoo & conditioner review for men

Here I have compiled my observations and reviews of 10+ men's shampoo & conditioner products.

Product Selection

There are literally thousands of options, I couldn’t possibly review them all. My hope was to get a cross-section of different brands, and while generally geared toward “men’s” shampoo & conditioner, I tested and reviewed both women’s and men’s products.
 

REAL REVIEWS

Though some of these products were sent to us, we have not been compensated by anyone for anything. In cases where we’ve linked to products reviewed, these are not affiliate links.

By the same token, the approach toward these reviews is intended to be unbiased, and we mean no ill-will toward any company or person. I’ve simply called ‘em how I’ve seen ‘em to offer you the ultimate shampoo & conditioner review for men.

METHODOLOGY

The Longhairs Shampoo & Conditioner

TEST SUBJECT: El Rubio

Long blonde hair with the following characteristics:
  • Thick
  • Fine
  • Super straight
  • Average to slightly oily
El Rubio Long Blonde Hair from the back in his shampoo & conditioner review for men

Product Usage

Over the testing period I used each product at least twice, often three times or more.

Grading Rubric

I developed a grading rubric to help define the industry lingo I would use to review the products:
 
The grading rubric used for this shampoo & conditioner review for men
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TERMINOLOGY

In addition to the grading rubric, here are some common terms and what they mean in the context of shampoo and conditioner products in the United States.

Organic

USDA regulations include a definition of “organic” and provide for certification that agricultural ingredients have been produced under conditions that would meet the definition, including labeling standards based on the percentage of organic ingredients in a product.

All Natural

The FTC prohibits companies from misrepresenting the extent to which any product contains natural or synthetic components, including terms like all-natural or 100% natural.

These terms often have little relevance within the context of shampoo & conditioner. Arsenic is all natural but I’m not putting that shit in my hair. “All natural” does not necessarily mean better.

Parabens

Parabens are a family of related chemicals that are commonly used as preservatives to increase the shelf life of many cosmetic products. There is some debate as to the safety of parabens.

Sulfates

Sulfates are harsh chemical cleansing agents found in household cleaners, detergents and cosmetics. Sulfates commonly used in shampoo & conditioner include sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, which can strip, dry and damage your hair.

Cruelty Free/Not Tested on Animals

There are no federal legal definitions for these terms, so companies can pretty much say whatever they want.

Made in U.S.A.

The FTC regulates claims that a product is of U.S. origin, traditionally using the standard that a product be "all or virtually all" made in the U.S. 

Other Terms

Other terms include vegan, gluten free and hypoallergenic. You can figure those out on your own if you want to dive even deeper.
 

THE Ultimate SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER REVIEW FOR MEN

Dr. Squatch reviewed in a shampoo & conditioner review for men

We got these products direct from Dr. S. himself through a friend who met him at a swanky networking mixer.

DR. SQUATCH MEN’S MOISTURIZING SHAMPOO

Label

  • 100% Natural, Sulfate & Paraben Free
  • The fragrance is “Cypress Coast,” “Made with nettle, tea tree, comfrey root, and cypress oil to rejuvenate and strengthen your hair. Good for all hair types.”
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Squeaky clean, like sliding your finger across a window pane.

Fragrance

Opening the bottle you can smell the minty fragrance, definitely a natural smell.

Look and Feel

The solution is a clear, thin liquid. Like hand sanitizer but slightly thicker. It would easily drain through the cracks in your fingers.

Experience

Massaging it into my scalp and the roots of my hair it produced a thin lather. Small bubbles rather than big bubbles, not a whole lot of texture. But more lather than a no-lather type.

Deep in my scalp and roots I let it sit for a little while to get the full experience. A tingling sensation, especially noticeable with a cool breeze coming in through the open window. The fragrance fills the entire shower, you can even feel it as you breathe in, like Vicks vapor rub.

It feels almost dry. Obviously my hair is wet, and I’m not saying it IS dry, but it feels dry. Almost that squeaky, rubby clean. Where it would make a sound if you rubbed it, like sliding your finger across a window pane. An unlubricated feel, not exactly rough, but friction.

Performance

Rinsed out clean with no residue, my hair and scalp felt noticeably cleansed. Nice feeling while wet, I could still feel the tingling.

 

DR. SQUATCH MEN’S DAILY CONDITIONER

Label

  • 100% Natural, Sulfate & Paraben Free
  • The fragrance is “Cool Citrus,” “made with calendula, peppermint, and sage to stimulate the scalp and hydrate hair. Balancing daily rinse for all hair types.”
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Like watered down down sour cream.

Fragrance

Again right from opening the bottle you can smell the herby fragrance, certainly the tea tree.

Look and Feel

Also thin but white, like watered down sour cream.

Experience

Massaging into the lengths of my hair it felt very thin. As opposed to a thick, rich lather lubricating with depth and substance, it was watery, milky, didn’t feel like there was much of anything in my hair.

I let it sit for a few minutes. When I reached back to rinse my hair, it almost felt like there was nothing in it. Not saying that’s bad, but it just felt wet.

Not putting it on my scalp but the lengths only, I couldn’t tell the sensation quite as much, although I know it was still tingling because I could feel it on the back of my neck.

Performance

Thin, fragrant, stimulating. Similar experience with the squeaky clean, it didn’t feel super smooth.

Again with the fragrance and tingling sensation. Especially with a breeze, boy that’s nice!

While I don’t mind the lack of lather, I don’t love the texture of the lather.

As I was blowdrying my hair I had a consistent experience. It felt decidedly sticky. As I tried to run my fingers through they got caught and hung up.

As my hair dried this experience diminished, but I was left with a feeling it didn’t rinse out entirely.

Did it comb out easily? It combed out ok. Still a little rough. Not super easy to get the tangles out. Even the next day, with no serum it was not easy to comb through.

How did it look? It looked almost like hay, an earthy, golden appearance with some shine. It was very natural, if not smooth. Felt straw-like.

 

OVERALL BRAND EXPERIENCE

This is a very nice brand. With these products I can feel the “all natural,” which carries some appeal. I do like it for the natural experience, the sensation, fragrance and cleanliness. I don’t love the texture, viscosity or lather.

The overall performance is good. Really nice stuff, just not my personal favorite. I want something that’s going to coat and lubricate my hair, feel a thick conditioning agent in there. I also want to it rinse clean and comb out effortlessly.

Might be a better product for guys with short hair (try their soap though, it's excellent).

 
El Rubio examining a sample bottle in the ultimate shampoo & conditioner review for men.
WOW reviewed in a shampoo & conditioner review for men

We got this from the WOW company who sent it to us requesting a review.

WOW APPLE CIDER VINEGAR SHAMPOO

Label

The first thing I notice is an incredibly busy label. Just to give you an example, the words on the front label include:

WOW Skin Science
Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo
Gentle & Natural
Detox formula for stressed tresses
No parabens
No sulphates
No silicones & salt

Made with ecocert certified ingredients
Bioactive Haircare

Made with 100% natural and raw himalayan apple cider vinegar
Removes buildups restores shine and smoothness

WOW is right! That’s a lot of claims, and there is a lot more text on the back. Here I’m thinking, this stuff must be amazing!

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Ultra thick lather, like rubbing honey into my hair.

Fragrance

Fragrance was not super strong, but a soft, soapy smell with a hint of spice, the apple cider no doubt.

Look and Feel

Super thick and golden, like honey.

Experience

Massaging into my scalp was like rubbing honey into my hair, though not so sticky. It really lathered in there. Ultra thick lather, but not super sudsy, foaming or building.

If you fill up a sponge with dishwashing liquid and start working it, but before it gets ultra sudsy, that middle stage when it’s still really thick. Nice, full-bodied texture.

Performance

Felt like it rinsed out clean. My hair definitely felt clean, like the formula had thoroughly cleansed, but it did not feel stripped. Clean but not that sticky, rough clean.

 

WOW HAIR CONDITIONER

Label

Same deal here:

WOW Skin Science
Hair Conditioner

Intensive conditioning for thin, weak or damaged hair

Organic virgin coconut oil + avocado oil + wheat protein

Safe for colour treated hair

Hypoallergenic

No parabens
No Sulphates

Setting the expectations pretty high, team.

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Running my fingers through I can still feel a buildup or residue.

Fragrance

Really nice fragrance, you can definitely smell a rich coconut scent.

Look and Feel

Texture is ultra thick and creamy, even thicker than the shampoo, almost like bearing grease. In fact it was so thick that it won’t even come out of the pump dispenser, I literally had to twist the cap off and slam it around like a bottle of ketchup.

Experience

Completely and utterly coated the lengths of my hair. Really nice, like my hair was just soaking in a bowl of heavy cream. There was no doubt it was completely penetrating the hair.

Rinsing it felt very soft and smooth, though my hair still felt heavier, even heavier than when it’s just wet with water.

Performance

After drying and combing the results were very nice. Smooth, soft, shiny. Pretty easy to comb through. There did still seem to be a slight heaviness. Running my fingers through I can still feel a buildup or residue. Very good performance otherwise.

Lasting scent is pleasant, but not too strong.

 

OVERALL BRAND EXPERIENCE

Nice stuff, but thick, heavy buildup. Too gunky, made my hair feel heavy. Combing and brushing felt like more of a chore getting through all the stuff. Might be better for occasional, change-of-pace use, but too much leftover gunk for regular use.

Might also be good for shorter hair, or people with thinning or super fine hair.

 
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Seven brand reviewed in a shampoo & conditioner review for men

A salon brand recommended by my most trusted hair professional.

GAZAR LUSTRE SHAMPOO

Label

A 32 oz colored bottle with pump top dispenser and super basic labeling. In fact everything that’s on the label is in the title above.

The back is also limited to brief instructions, ingredients and a tagline: the definition of style is you.

While it provides less information, after reading the labels on many of these other brands it’s refreshing to not get pounded with truckloads of marketing messages on the bottle.

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Thick, nice, clear like alien mucus/jelly.

Fragrance

Not a strong fragrance, just a light soapy scent.

Look and Feel

Thick, nice. Clear, like alien mucus/jelly. It would run through the cracks in your fingers, but slowly.

Experience

Massaging it in built a super thick lather, not a sudsy lather, more like an oil slick. It built depth. Full coverage and penetration. It felt like a quality formula on my head and scalp.

Performance

Rinsing it out felt totally clean and completely rinsed. Not a squeaky, rough clean, not an oily clean, just clean. Like everything had been cleansed from my head and scalp, but not harshly.

 

ARMURE RECONSTRUCT CONDITIONER

Label

Same deal with the label, only the product name and brief instructions on the reverse.
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Like if you took a glue stick out of its container and mashed it up in your hand.

Fragrance

A pleasant coconut scent, not super strong but unmistakably present.

Look and Feel

Ultra thick and creamy, white. In fact it’s not even liquid. It’s like if you took a glue stick out of its container and mashed it up in your hand.

Experience

This stuff coats your hair like nothing else. I mean full coverage, lubrication, it is just in there. A real treat.

Performance

Really fabulous stuff. If there is any downside I could say the fragrance is just slightly more feminine than masculine, even so it’s still quite pleasant.

 

OVERALL BRAND EXPERIENCE

Excellent quality formula and a top performer. Could use this brand going forward and be just fine. If you care about your hair, this is the kind of stuff you want to be using.

 
Hunter 1114 reviewed in a shampoo & conditioner review for men

We acquired this product at the Premiere Hair & Beauty show in Orlando.

BLACK DIAMOND 2-IN-1 SHAMPOO & BODY WASH

Label

  • Luxury Men’s Grooming
  • Features: Diamond Dust, Charcoal, Wheat Protein, Vitamins And Minerals

Pretty underwhelming.

On the reverse:
Black Diamond 2-in-1 Shampoo and Body Wash is perfect for the man on the go. Whether it is at the gym, in your travel bag or your go-to product in the shower, Black Diamond provides all the luxury benefits a man needs.

Based on the copy alone it was hard for me to take this brand seriously. It struck me as lazy and without much thought, as if buzzwords like “gym” and “travel bag” will connect me to their brand.

The sulfates Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate are listed in the ingredients, so I already know this is not a product I would use. For the sake of this review I still used the products.

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It’s black with sparkling “diamond dust.” Are the diamonds going to cut my head?

Fragrance

No discernable fragrance.

Look and Feel

First of all it’s black with sparkling “diamond dust,” does this, like, have silica in it? Are the diamonds going to cut my head? What’s it going to do to my hair?

Thick and globby with a nice, full texture.

Experience

Massaging into my scalp and hair produced a soapy, sudsy, thick lather.

Performance

Squeaky clean. Dried out. Not lovely.
 

BOURBON SPICE INVIGORATING HAIR AND BEARD CONDITIONER

Label

  • Invigorating Hair and Beard Conditioner
  • Features: Wheat Protein, Ginger Root, Peppermint, Sacha Inchi, And Coconut Oil

On the reverse:
Infused with conditioning properties, our Bourbon Spice stimulates the scalp and skin with ginger root & peppermint extracts. This conditioner is cocktailed with natural herbs and spices that promote healthy hair and beard growth.

Application: Hair: After shampooing, massage a small amount onto scalp in circular motion until distributed evenly. Let product sit for 2 minutes and rinse well. Beard: Using warm water, lather up a small amount of Bourbon Spice and massage, rinse well.

Again I immediately had problems with the copy. First of all, that’s not even a proper conditioning technique. If they didn’t take the care to really understand this industry, what does that say about their product?

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Did not feel the slightest bit buzzed, despite the 'bourbon spice.'

Fragrance

I could smell the peppermint.

Look and Feel

Thick and white.

Experience

Coated my hair. I could smell the peppermint and ginger root, felt nice enough.

Performance

Softened my hair after using the shampoo. Smoothing and detangling properties mitigated the effects of the shampoo. Did not feel the slightest bit buzzed despite the bourbon spice.

 

OVERALL BRAND EXPERIENCE

Initially a shaving and beard care brand, I feel like this company wanted to expand their product line to shampoo & conditioner, slapped some ingredients together, wrote some marketing language they thought would appeal to men and called it a “luxury grooming” product.

The fact the shampoo is sold as shampoo and body wash, and the conditioner sold as hair and beard conditioner, does not inspire confidence that these are quality hair products.

Might be fine for super short hair, would not recommend for long hair. Might be worth trying their shaving and facial care products.

 
krieger + söhne Man Series reviewed in a shampoo & conditioner review for men
I found this product searching on Amazon for men’s shampoo and conditioner.

krieger + söhne SHAMPOO

Label

  • Man Series
  • For All Hair Types

Everything on the bottle is in English, Spanish, French and German...which I found interesting considering the company is listed in Alpharetta, GA, (a seemingly common marketing tactic in the shampoo & conditioner industry).

On the reverse is a paragraph about the formulation, with emphasis on Tea Tree Oil and the list of ingredients, which include Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, immediately indicating this is not a product I would use.

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Rinsing it out my hair felt stripped clean, almost sticky, rough against my fingers.

Fragrance

Strong tea tree scent, minty, you can feel the sensation breathing it in.

Look and Feel

Silvery and soapy, like pump-action hand soap. Opening the bottle and squeezing the shampoo out the space is pretty quickly filled with the strong tea tree/minty vapor, a pretty nice experience.

Experience

Massaging into the scalp and hair produced a medium to light lather, not really sudsy just a bit foamy. The lather decreased as the formula was in my hair.

I could quickly feel the tingling sensation, again pretty nice. I let it sit for two minutes or so, tingly. Especially with the window open and a little breeze tingly and very cool.

Performance

Should have used the hand soap. Rinsing it out my hair felt stripped clean. It felt squeaky, almost sticky, rough rubbing my fingers across. I can actually hear the squeaky, like when you rub against a floaty toy in the pool. Feels stripped, not nice. Running my fingers through they get caught up.

Imagine dragging your fingers across a smooth surface where they glide effortlessly, vs. a surface that causes more friction, almost sticky, where your fingers would jump and dart as they break friction on the surface. That’s what my hair felt like.

 

krieger + söhne CONDITIONER

Label

  • Man Series
  • For All Hair Types

On the reverse is a paragraph about the formulation, Peppermint Oil gives the scalp a cool, soothing, relaxing feeling.

This was a problem for me because proper conditioning technique would not have you applying conditioner to your scalp.

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My hair was dry and frazzled, my scalp felt dry and tight, like the skin was stretching.

Fragrance

Similar to the shampoo but with a hint more peppermint than tea tree. Minty but not as prevalent as the shampoo, didn’t have the strong, fill the shower vapor.

Look and Feel

Creamy, pasty white, pretty smooth. Consistency was blotchy, pasty. Not bad.

Experience

Coated the hair well, hair felt smooth with the conditioner in there, but not ultra-smooth, like I could almost feel micro-minerals in there. Conditioner was pretty ok.

Performance

After blowdrying, my hair felt softer and detangled. However, it was dry and frazzled. My scalp felt dry and tight, like the skin was stretching. Even the color seemed to have lost some shine.

The fragrance didn’t hold so much after the fact.

 

OVERALL BRAND EXPERIENCE

I will give them credit for creating a very nice looking brand, a convincing marketing campaign, good photography, videos, an all-around nice job...except the product.

Whether it was the cost of a quality product or a failure to research or whatever the reason, the product itself is not good. If they spent just a little bit more they could have had a product that lived up to the marketing.

As a result, I won’t put this stuff in my hair again and would not recommend for anyone who cares about their hair.

 
Ogle I AM reviewed in a shampoo & conditioner review for men
We procured this brand at the ABS hair and beauty show in Chicago. The first thing I noticed is there are three products; a shampoo and conditioner as well as a deep clean shampoo.

OGLE SHAM Everyday/Color Safe Hydrating Wash

Label

  • “I am fearless & happy,” which I found inspiring
  • Nag Champa
  • I AM
On the reverse is a short description emphasizing a silky feel and a smooth touch.
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It does in fact smell just like the ancient nag champa incense you burned in your room to cover up the weed smell.

Fragrance

It does in fact smell just like the ancient nag champa incense you burned in your room to cover up the weed smell. It’s quite lovely, though I never would have thought of putting in my hair. 

Look and Feel

Super thin and milky. Must have been the thinnest shampoo I’ve ever used, I actually had to cup my hand into a reservoir, fill it with shampoo and slap it onto my head quickly so it wouldn’t run down the drain.

Experience

Despite being so thin it actually lathered up pretty nice and thick, surprisingly so. Massaging it into the scalp it coated everything nicely.

Performance

After rinsing my hair felt very clean, a little squeaky but not super squeaky. Felt cleansed. Possibly a little overstripped.
 

OGLE RINSE EVERYDAY/COLOR SAFE HYDRATING CONDITIONER

Label

  • “I am confident & creative,” also inspiring
  • Nag Champa
  • I AM

On the reverse:
Natural gloss and infused hydration.

Dang! Infused hydration, this stuff must be insane!

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Massaged into the lengths nicely, a thick and enveloping coating.

Fragrance

The scent of nag champa filled the space, which I found delightful.

Look and Feel

Thicker, nice, off-white, a tint of yellowish, creamy. Massaged into the lengths nicely, a thick, enveloping coating.

Experience

With the conditioner in my hair felt very smooth, but also more earthy, natural.

Performance

Light, soft, airy. Love the lingering fragrance. Very nice.
 

OGLE AWAKEN DEEP CLEAN SHAMPOO

Label

  • “I am kind & amazing”
  • Rosemary-Eucalyptus-Mint
  • I AM
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Like it was left on a bed of salt or minerals that just suck the moisture out.

Fragrance

Strong mint with tones of the rosemary and eucalyptus.

Look and Feel

Very different from the “daily” shampoo. Thicker, far more texture and substance.

Experience

A little bit of that dryer, stripped, squeaky feeling, perhaps to be expected for a clarifying/deep cleanse shampoo.

Performance

It’s certainly clean, if perhaps overstripped. Ultimately it’s a little dry and frizzy. Not like dried out chemically, like it was left on a bed of salt or minerals that just suck the moisture out, like living in Phoenix.

 

OVERALL BRAND EXPERIENCE

A good brand experience. I loved the fragrances, the natural feel, even the performance to a degree, even though I was left a bit dried out. I also like having a deep cleanse product, not for daily use but when you really want a deep clean.

Not a product line I would use regularly, but I enjoyed testing it and appreciated the clear effort that was put into the formulation. For what it’s worth the labeling was entertaining. Certainly worth a try.

 
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One 'n Only reviewed in a shampoo & conditioner review for men
I used this brand almost exclusively the first time growing my hair out, and I’ve always liked it. Having not used it for a few years it was interesting to come back and compare to all these other brands.

MOISTURE REPAIR SHAMPOO

Label

  • one ‘n only
  • Argan Oil
  • Derived from Moroccan Argan Trees
  • Moisture Repair Shampoo
  • Sulphate, phosphate, paraben free
  • Repairs damaged hair - Adds volume
  • Hydrates & restores moisture
  • Color protection

And the same in two other languages. To be honest it feels like they just threw every freakin thing they could on the label. Even so these are some ambitious claims so let’s see what they got.

On reverse:
A gentle cleansing formula that hydrates and restores moisture levels, improving overall health and appearance of the hair.

And so on.

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Not too thick, not too thin. Jellylike texture, clearish with a hint of amber.

Fragrance

A subtle, earthy, natural, almost like incense in the same neighborhood as Ogle.

Look and Feel

Not too thick, not too thin. Jellylike texture, clearish with a hint of amber. It would eventually slip through your fingers but only gradually.

Experience

Quite interesting, there is absolutely zero lather. Massaging into the roots and scalp I could feel it getting in there but no suds or foam whatsoever. Instead it almost felt like it mingled or absorbed into my hair. Once it was all in there I almost couldn’t even tell there was anything in my hair.

Performance

Rinses out clean and doesn’t have that squeaky feeling. Fingers glide over wet hair smoothly and silently. It’s not a harsh cleanse by any stretch, very gentle. Hair felt clean but not starched out clean.

 

MOISTURE REPAIR CONDITIONER

Label

  • one ‘n only
  • Argan Oil
  • Derived from Moroccan Argan Trees
  • Moisture Repair Conditioner
  • Sulfate, phosphate, paraben free
  • Hydrates & restores moisture, detangles, repairs damaged hair, color protection.

On reverse:
A daily conditioner that helps reconstruct the hair, detangles and replenishes moisture levels. Helps condition and smooth the cuticle, repairing split ends. Improves shine and manageability. Provides color protection.

Really got everything there guys.

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Frizz is dampened. Fingers glide through smoothly with no catching. Looks and feels amazing.

Fragrance

A notably difference scent from the shampoo, but equally earthy, natural, almost like incense, with a stronger influence. Very nice but not overpowering.

Look and Feel

Creamy off white, denser but not super thick.

Experience

Similar to the shampoo, after applying to the lengths the conditioner is almost absorbed by the hair. Very smooth but not slick. Pleasant.

Performance

Soft, thick, healthy. Frizz is dampened. Fingers glide through smoothly with no catching. Looks and feels amazing. I can still feel that little bit of oily residue on my fingers after running them through my hair, although it didn’t make my hair feel heavy or gunky.

 

OVERALL BRAND EXPERIENCE

I quite like this brand and their products. The only downside is that little bit of residue left at the end, but that is far preferred over a dried-out, stripped or squeaky feeling. I feel like my hair is hydrated and moisturized, and the frizz-dampening effects are welcome. High ratings, definitely worth trying and potential for regular go-to use.

 
We learned about Miracle Flow some years ago, a shampoo designed “for guys with flow,” with frequent references to hockey hair. These guys are funny, their brand is punchy, their social media is entertaining. I was excited to try their product.

SHAMPOO

Label

Excellent logo. Great branding. Something I can buy into.
Miracle Flow reviewed in a shampoo & conditioner review for men

Excellent logo. Great branding. Buy some to wash your beard or even for body wash.

Fragrance

Soapy with a subtle fragrance.

Look and Feel

Soapy, basically like hand soap.

Experience

Sudsy, foamy with medium lather.

Performance

It was definitely clean, but perhaps dried out.

CONDITIONER

Miracle Flow does not currently offer a conditioner product.

 

OVERALL BRAND EXPERIENCE

I didn't personally love the product when I tried it, but these guys are a genuine brand. Buy some to wash your beard or even for body wash.  

 
Hair Story reviewed in a shampoo & conditioner review for men

Hair Story is a new and different kind of hair care line, based on the premise that we only need conditioner because the shampoos we use damage our hair, thus requiring conditioner to fix it.

The company sent us their products requesting we review them. Three products are offered:

  • New Wash: a hair cleanser that’s better than shampoo and doesn’t require conditioner.
  • Hair Balm: a massage-in styling product for use after New Wash.
  • Undressed: a styling spray, presumably in the hair spray stratosphere.

The labels on all three products are super minimal which lends well to their minimalist brand feel. All you see is the brand name, product name and a tiny line of text around the bottom with ultra-brief instructions and manufacturing information.

NEW WASH

Label

While the labels are minimal, there is a pamphlet for each product offering more detailed instructions mixed with aspirational fashion descriptives. There is quality writing but wandering between what your experience is going to be like, how to use the product and bashing shampoo.

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Zesty, direct, citrusy burst, with a pump top that dispenses a dismally weak little pee stream.

Fragrance

Zesty, direct, citrusy burst. It doesn’t fill the space, but more fragrant when you put it to your nose. A different fragrance than most hair care products, though very nice.

Look and Feel

The instructions in the pamphlet mention twice to “use a lot,” and “not enough = not clean;” pretty brash if that’s simply a way to sell more product, but I took them at face value and used more than I would typically.

Problem was the product comes with this pee-shooter pump top that dispenses a dismally weak little pee stream. No question it would take at least five pumps to use the amount I normally would, but telling me I should really “slather it up” I had to pump the damn thing ten times, pinching my finger twice in the apparatus.

Anyhow, the texture was thick and almost dry. Not at all syrupy or flowy, wouldn’t go through your fingers if you left it in your hand for an hour. I could close my hand on it, open my hand back up and it would only stick to the original side. More textured, like what you would see in most conditioners.

Experience

Following instructions carefully I slathered up that mane, and as I read in the pamphlet there was no lather or foam or suds or anything, very non-soapy. Similar to one ‘n only in the way it feels like it absorbs into your hair. After a while you almost can’t feel it’s there.

I rinsed thoroughly as instructed, and I could tell why. I really had to rinse to get it out of there.

Performance

After rinsing it felt nice and clean. Not squeaky, like that distressed overstripped feeling. Hair felt intact. Refreshed.

 

HAIR BALM

Label

Again the label is minimal, but a similar pamphlet with detailed instructions for use along with a philosophical background on its origin, including, “you really can’t understand it until you use it.”
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Added some volume and control, not so strong as a gel or even a mousse.

Fragrance

The same zesty, citrusy scent as New Wash.

Look and Feel

Same pump top as New Wash but more practical as the instructions are to start with one pump and add more as you like. More creamy in texture, rubs between your fingers like a light styling cream.

Experience

The instructions are to use Hair Balm with damp hair, then let it air dry. I found this interesting because it means I wouldn’t have to blow dry after washing my hair, an especially appealing notion the longer your hair is.

Rubbing it into my hair was nice. It absorbed quickly with a pleasant fragrance, a nice compliment to the New Wash. I could feel it in my hair, adding some volume and control, not so strong as a gel or even a mousse, but for example when I pushed my hair back on my head it will stay back slightly.

Performance

The instructions say, “you can give it a squeeze occasionally so that it breaks up while drying,” which I did and I could feel it breaking up.

Once my hair was dry I could definitely tell the difference. My hair had a little more texture and volume as opposed to falling flat. It wasn’t crispy or stiff, but the slightest hold which gave it some life. Into the second and third days it still had that little bit of extra texture.

UNDRESSED

I did not test the third product in this line.
 

OVERALL BRAND EXPERIENCE

The Hair Story concept is pretty bold, in what appears to be an attempt to disrupt the hair care industry by eliminating shampoo and conditioner entirely, replacing those products with Hair Story as the alternative.

That’s going to be a difficult uphill battle, with consumers accustomed to these products over decades and lots of big companies with lots of money who don’t wish to see shampoo & conditioner disappear.

That said, the products themselves were up to the test and I’ll give them credit for an ambitious project.

I had a good experience overall. My hair felt clean, without the squeaky, dry, stripped or frazzled feeling. I really liked using Hair Balm almost as an alternative to drying my hair, and the results were positive.

I could see these products being especially nice for medium length hair, though I wonder how the products will hold up with longer hair.

If you are trying to get away from shampoo & conditioner, or if you want to try something new and different, Hair Story is worth a try.

 

Dove Men+Care / Old Spice / Head & Shoulders

Dove Men+Care, Old Spice and Head & Shoulders reviewed in a shampoo & conditioner review for men
The second ingredient in all four products were sulfates: sodium laureth sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate.

Having reviewed many smaller/local brands, I wanted to test the “mainstream” products, so I found three men’s shampoo & conditioner brands at a local drug store: Dove Men+Care, Old Spice and Head & Shoulders.

Between these three brands, the first thing I noticed was that I couldn’t find any conditioner. There were several 2-in-1 shampoo + conditioner products, but no conditioner by itself.

There were a few different fragrances/varieties for each, but essentially the same stuff. Here are the products I chose:

  1. Dove Men+Care Fortifying Shampoo - Cooling Relief Icy Menthol
  2. Dove Men+Care Fortifying Shampoo + Conditioner - Thick & Strong With Caffeine + Calcium
  3. Head & Shoulders Shampoo + Conditioner 2 in 1 Men Advanced Series Swagger Old Spice (I interpreted this as the fragrance)
  4. Old Spice Fiji 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner

The next thing I found was that the second ingredient in all four products were sulfates: sodium laureth sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate, often with the other of those two also found in the ingredients list.

Initially this came as a surprise. I just figured the big brands would offer higher quality products. Why don’t they?

Why Make Cheap Shampoo & Conditioner?

My theory is most men don’t care much about their shampoo & conditioner.

Before I had long hair I would buy the cheapest shampoo & conditioner I could find, and spending more than $10 would have been absurd. If that's the mentality, it wouldn’t make sense for the big brands to offer higher quality (and thus more expensive) products.

That was before I cared much about my hair. Once it grew long I started caring more, and learning, which eventually led to this shampoo & conditioner for men! Today I wouldn’t use any of these products in my hair unless I was testing and reviewing them for you.

Even so, I tested each brand and got what I expected: dry, stripped, frazzled hair, consistent with other sulfate products.

If you have short hair, or don’t care about your hair, these brands could be fine. If you have long hair or you just want a quality shampoo & conditioner, I do not recommend Dove Men+Care, Old Spice or Head & Shoulders.

The results were awful and consistent with other sulfate brands: dry, stripped and frazzled. I wouldn’t put any of these products into my hair again.
 
El Rubio examining a bottle with a discerning eye in the essential shampoo & conditioner review for men.

After Thorough Testing

What I can say is there is a lot of junk out there, but many fine products as well. The hair care industry is vast, and everyone is trying to carve out their little slice of the market using buzzwords, packaging and clever marketing.

This extensive research and testing has led us to the development of an apex shampoo & conditioner that sets a new standard for guys who care about their hair.

For the last products in this shampoo & conditioner review for men, I’m proud to reveal...

 

The Longhairs Shampoo & Conditioner

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EPIC CLEANSE CONDITIONING SHAMPOO

Label

With all the claims and marketing on the products we tested, our aim was to keep it clean, minimal and light on the fluff, while still describing the product and making it fun to read.

Here’s what you’ll see on the label:

  • EPIC CLEANSE™
  • Conditioning Shampoo
  • Monumental cleansing and hydrating performance.
  • Supports All Hair Types
  • Sulfate & Paraben Free
  • An epic hydrating shampoo with argan, acaí and flaxseed oils and a blend of conditioning agents that cleanse your hair and scalp while restoring its natural moisture balance.
  • Excellent for straight, wavy and curly hair, frizz control, and manes damaged by excessive exposure to environmental elements.

Along with directions for use and ingredients.

Epic Cleanse Conditioning Shampoo
Massaging the shampoo into my scalp produced a deep, slow-building lather, not foamy, but thickening as I worked it into the roots.

IDEAL CONDITIONS HYDRATING CONDITIONER

Label

Much like with Epic Cleanse™, we went for clean and minimal while accurately describing the product and making it fun to read.

Here’s what you’ll see on the label:

  • IDEAL CONDITIONS™
  • Hydrating Conditioner
  • Remarkable smoothing and detangling performance.
  • Supports All Hair Types
  • Sulfate & Paraben Free
  • A superior conditioner with essential oils and rich, hydrating emollients. Restores moisture, elasticity and shine, resulting in stronger, more resilient hair, resistant to split ends and breakage.
  • Works wonders on straight, wavy and curly hair, for exceptional detangling, combing and shine.

Along with directions for use and ingredients.

Ideal Conditions Conditioner
My hair is a smooth waterfall running over soft, slippery moss, virtually frictionless, like sliding naked down a waterslide filled with warm baby oil.

OVERALL BRAND EXPERIENCE

Absolutely…..EPIC!!!

I truly believe we hit our marks and ended up with a shampoo & conditioner that stands up to the best out there. Their overall performance is as good as any brand I’ve tested.

If there were a brand in these reviews that’s comparable, I’d say it would be the Seven brand.

Admittedly I am biased, having made the products ourselves. Even so you don’t have to take my word for it, but do peruse the hundreds of reviews from customers who have already been using them.

The Finest of Flow

We invite you to experience a shampoo & conditioner made for men with long hair, knowing the thought and care that’s gone into its development, and expecting the quality of a certified product of The Longhairs. 

Who Are These Guys?

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A community for guys with long hair, advocates, supporters and friends. We publish tips, advocate for hair equality, and celebrate men’s long manes with hair whips and high fives.
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