Aubrey Organics Primrose & Lavender Scalp-Soothing Shampoo
(Part of my Green This House program.)
As I mentioned in a much earlier post, I went with Aubrey Organics’ Primrose & Lavender Scalp-Soothing Shampoo instead of my conditioner’s matching shampoo because the latter garnered a much higher hazard score on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep site. (Aubrey’s shampoo scored a low 0.4 compared to Avalon’s 1.0.) Neither of them challenged my immune system as much as my original shampoo, Aussie Moist Shampoo for Dry/Damaged Hair, did, however. The thuggish purple kangaroo was slapped with a staggering 2.4 hazard rating.
Aubrey Organics’ alternative doesn’t come cheap—at $9.99 for 11 oz., it costs almost four times as much as Aussie’s shampoo. It is, however, all natural and biodegradable, and won’t end up killing you, which, really, is all I ask of my hair-care products. (That and no fraternization with the man products across the tub, because that’s just a slippery slope to cats and dogs living together, and what kind of society would we be living in, IF you can call that living?) One minor quibble: the shampoo doesn’t lather up as much as other frothy concoctions do, which took some getting used to.
You do experience the scalp-soothing tickle the fresh, aromatic shampoo promises, however, if nowhere near the epic OMIGODTHEBURNTHEBURN proportions of certain antidandruff shampoos. It also cleans without stripping your hair of all its oils, leaving a healthy sheen that persists on days you don’t wash your hair, except you won’t look like you just dipped your head into an oil vat. (Unless you’re like me and have been using apple cider vinegar as a rinse, in which case you’ll just smell like you made a wrong turn at a salad bar.)
I wish Aubrey Organics jazzed up their brand identity and packaging a great deal more—but that’s just my shallow art-brain talking.
Jennifer said,
May 23, 2006 at 8:59 pm
Speaking of vinegar…in order to get rid of buildup in my hair, I have a small container of a 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 shampoo mix that I use about once a week. Since I don’t want to smell like vinegar, I then just shampoo again. No vinegar smell and my hair feels great!
green la girl said,
May 24, 2006 at 2:41 pm
Dude — You should totally enter this design contest.
The Worsted Witch » Mail Call: Shampoo Planet said,
October 11, 2006 at 4:26 pm
[...] The Witch is a fan of Aubrey Organics, but we’ve also heard good things about Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soaps—made with organic coconut, olive, hemp, and jojoba oils—which claim 18 different uses, including as a shampoo. Because you need to dilute one part soap to 10 parts warm water before applying it to your hair, it’d be a while before you’d need to call on the good doctor again. Bonus: The bottles are made with 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic so you can stick it to the petroleum industry, too. [...]
The Worsted Witch » Aubrey Organics Natural Sun SPF 25 Sunscreen/Active Lifestyles said,
August 3, 2007 at 10:23 am
[...] I’ve just run out of my old standby sunscreen from Paula’s Choice, which I’ve loved using because of its nongreasy, unscented, yet gently moisturizing formula—unfortunately, it hasn’t been rated by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). So when my husband called from the natural-foods store asking if I needed anything, I asked him to pick up some sunblock. But because I didn’t have EWG’s list handy (big mistake), after he prattled off some brands, I instantly clung on to a familiar name: Aubrey Organics, the brand I use for my shampoo. [...]
Sue said,
November 11, 2009 at 7:33 am
I have a itchy scalp from coloring my hair and was wondering do you shampoo, use conditioner then the apple cider vinegar??