Gentle Shampoo Concentrate

Dear Ethique, it was the instructions that needed to change, not the formula. I use Heali Kiwi but had to get the concentrate for my husband. Initially I got this reformulated gentle shampoo concentrate, which is a powder… except when it is hardened and caked on in the box. This has happened three out of four times I’ve purchased it. I then tried the old formula… what a difference. The solid blocks are so much easier to handle. For both formulas I had to mix them in a pan on the stove, but the old formula melts easier and doesn’t result in clumps that are almost impossible to dissolve like with the new formula. The old formula’s texture is also better, more uniform and creamy. I am stocking on the old formula but when it runs out, I might need to find an alternative. I don’t want replacement product, I want a consistent product every time I purchase it.

I like the shampoo and also like the sustainability of your products. No plastic bottles and no palm oil!

Love the conditioner concentrates as I find them easier to use than the bars. Great that I can just refill my reusable pump and avoid single use plastic bottles. Only reason I've given 4/5 instead of 5/5 is that, for the price, I'd expect a fair bit more. They could at least fill the box.

To start with the positives, this was fairly easy to make up (I used a blender) and it’s nice that it’s fragrance free.

I wanted to love this but I just don’t. I have quite thick, wavy, shoulder length hair which needs washing every day. I was hoping a gentler shampoo might actually help with the oiliness by not over stripping. But the fact that this shampoo generates hardly any foam at all makes it really difficult to get it distributed over my whole scalp. I’ve tried using more product and it doesn’t get much better. I don’t have time to spend parting my wet hair carefully in lots of different places and dabbing bits in here and there to get even distribution. Even when I have done my best to get it evenly distributed I just can’t seem to move my fingers through to massage my scalp until it’s all been washed out and conditioned which is a bit pointless. This definitely needs more foam or something to make it distribute.

This product might be fine if you have short hair.

I can't use any shampoo bars with essential oils as I get a terrible rash, which is a very common allergy I developed over time from being exposed to products with essential oils in them (it can happen to you!). This really limits my options and also makes me sad because I loveeee nicely scented products (honestly wish there was a fragranced one with synthetic fragrances so I wouldn't get a rash and could still smell nice), but this one fell so short, just like the unscented bar shampoo. I have really greasy hair and this just A. doesn't wash out and B. leaves me looking greasy, stringy and unwashed every time. I've tried everything, way less product to barely any, lots more, ages and ages washing it out, it just doesn't work. It also doesn't concentrate well, lots of lumps. Really bummed.