I Ditched Traditional Shampoo For A Month And My Hair’s Never Looked Better

When it comes to my hair: I do everything I know that you shouldn't do. I'm a hairdresser's worse nightmare – and they'll attest to that. I bleach it every 6-8 weeks, I straighten it daily and I also shampoo it, way too much.

Because speak to any hair expert and they'll no doubt advise you to cut back on shampooing your hair as often as you probably do. Why? Shampoos often contain sulphates and other ingredients that can strip your hair and scalp of essential moisture, if used too often.

Now don't get me wrong, no hairdresser would ever advise you cutting out shampoo completely. But cutting down on the amount that you wash your hair is generally seen as a good thing to do, in order to keep your hair and scalp balanced, healthy and hydrated.

So a couple of months ago, I decided my hair was in real need of a revamp. I'd started shampooing it almost daily – thanks to a newfound love of swimming and refusal to wear a swim cap – and I'd noticed my hair feeling dry, looking limp and all sorts of scalp issues had started to arise. Which is where Hairstory came in.

What is Hairstory?

Hairstory New Wash is a detergent-free, one-step cleanser and conditioner designed to be used instead of shampoo and conditioner. Founded by Michael Gordon, the OG founder of Bumble and Bumble, it aims to clean the hair and scalp, without stripping away any of the natural oils.

“The magic here is not what’s in New Wash, but what isn’t in it,” Michael told Forbes. “What people don’t realise is that what’s in shampoo, no matter the price, is essentially water and some version of sodium lauryl sulfate or a derivative of that. Surfactants that are used — whether they are sulfate free or not — if they foam, they will dry your hair out.

“New Wash is a combination of aloe vera and essential oils and doesn’t have detergent, doesn’t foam, doesn’t strip hair but effectively cleans hair and scalp. It’s not a co-wash; it cleans hair thoroughly, simply, but leaves hair feeling much better than before without the use of conditioner. When you touch your hair after using New Wash you can immediately feel a difference. The other amazing part is that it works equally well on any hair type.”

My Review, one month after switching to Hairstory

As sceptical as I was to completely ditch the hair products I knew and loved, I wanted to give Hairstory a real go. So I decided to commit to a month's use before making any decision about it. I used the Original formula, because although my hair is dry, it also gets greasy quite quickly, so I decided it didn't need any extra moisture.

The first thing to note is that Hairstory comes in pouches – a massive tick on the sustainability front. One pouch replaces both your shampoo and conditioner and I found that one pouch lasted me about 10 weeks. While the £55 seems steep, the price per wash is actually a huge bonus in cost compared to many salon quality brands.

You also get a scalp brush, which can be used to disperse the product through your hair and scalp. Because it doesn't foam up, it can feel quite odd at first – and be tricky to ensure you're thoroughly coating the hair. The scalp brush really helps with this. In fact, it feels like you're having a spa treatment in the comfort of your shower. Win win.

After the first couple of washes, my hair felt clean and soft – but did get greasy faster than usual. This is normal, as fine haired types (like me) can often go through a transitional period when you first make the switch. However, after 2 weeks, my hair was left feeling stronger and cleaner for days on end. Plus, it has more volume than ever – thanks to no heavy conditioners weighing it down.

If you're looking for a sustainable shampoo alternative, I couldn't recommend Hairstory enough. My hairdresser has even noticed a difference.