Hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, fragrance-free hair care from Briogeo? I had to try it!
My lifelong hunt for the perfect shampoo and conditioner combo that nourishes my hair and soothes my dry, eczema-prone scalp has not been easy. With all my allergies and skin sensitivities, I am picky about ingredients and require gentle but effective formulas. I was really excited when Briogeo released their Be Gentle, Be Kind line because not only do the products promote healthier hair and hydration, but they are dermatologist approved and hypoallergenic.
The collection includes the Aloe + Oat Milk Ultra Soothing Shampoo, Conditioner, and Detangling Spray. In combination with green tea extract, the aloe vera is meant to naturally calm the hair and scalp while the oat milk moisturizes. Each product is fragrance-free, a particularly attractive quality considering that the American Academy of Dermatology deems fragrance to be the number one cause of allergic reactions on the skin.
Although I am not positive that fragrance is a huge irritant to me, I was curious if this change and blend of ingredients would make a difference in my hair/scalp health. Here are the results and my thoughts:
First of all, I love that both the shampoo and conditioner have a pump. It’s really easy to dispense the product. But with that said, it isn’t very thick and I need to use a lot of shampoo to really get that clean feeling in my hair. However, once I wash my hair, I’m usually good to not wash it for at least three or four days, and with as much hair as I have, I love that. My scalp doesn’t get itchy or feel irritated, and to my pleasant surprise, all the products make my natural waves come out to play.
In terms of scent, I have to say that I don’t love it. I know it’s fragrance-free, but the natural aroma of the ingredients lingers, and I found myself missing my hair smelling fresh or fruity. I also wish that the bottle was bigger for the price as it is $26 for 8 fl. oz.
I really like this conditioner. It’s not heavy whatsoever, and it makes my hair feel silky but voluminous. My hair tends to get tangled in the shower, but I can literally feel the knots unraveling and becoming buttery soft as I work it in. Since using this, my hair has become more manageable and moisturized, but I don’t think it adds a substantial amount of shine. Like the shampoo, its natural scent lingers and I wish the bottle was bigger with it being $26 for 8 fl. oz.
My hair brushes through like a dream with this detangling spray. It disperses nicely, and I get way less knots and frizz throughout the week. My hair looks a bit shinier, but if I accidentally spray this too close to my roots, it weighs my hair down and makes it look greasy. I just need to be careful!
Additionally, I feel like its natural fragrance-free scent is the most powerful with this product, and the more I use it, the more I miss an added fragrance. And with it being $24 for 5.9 fl. oz., it’s hard to say if I am totally in love with it.
I feel like I am in a push-and-pull relationship with the Be Gentle, Be Kind line because everything works well, the ingredients are top notch, it doesn’t irritate my sensitive scalp, but its natural scent isn’t super appealing to me and the price tag is high. Fragrance is personal and can be a luxurious experience, but after not having it, I feel like my scalp is doing better. I know that if my eczema is acting up, this hair line will soothe me, and that’s huge in my book. That could be a reason to repurchase in itself, but I would certainly need to be saving up for it.
I would be interested in trying other lower-priced, fragrance-free hair products and seeing how they perform and how they smell. I also feel more inclined to purchase hair care that has lower concentrations of fragrance. I overall want to keep (safely) experimenting with my reactions to fragrance.