Maui Moisture is a recently launched haircare brand based in the US, created by Vogue International, the guys who brought us OGX. To my knowledge, this tropical inspired collection debuted in January 2017, and more recently made its way over the pond to the UK, where it is now being sold in Boots and Superdrug. It is also worth noting that Superdrug carries a limited selection of the range, while Boots has most of the collection available, and both stores offer all full-sized products for £8.99. The whole range of products includes several shampoos and conditioners, hair masks and mists, however today I'm focusing specifically on the Thicken & Restore Bamboo Fibre Shampoo and Conditioner, as they are the products I have tried. This range also includes a blow out mist available in the UK, which I am keen on trying out once I run out of my current hair mist. Finally, before I actually get into the review, I wanted to insert a quick disclaimer that Vogue International is owned by Johnson & Johnson, so those of you who avoid nasty parent companies avert your eyes.
Now, let's start with the brand ethos, as their focus is on creating natural, cruelty free and vegan haircare without all the nasties. All their products are plastered with the words "most shampoos and conditioners start with deionized, chemically treated water as their primary ingredient. Maui Moisture starts with [...] aloe vera juice and is infused with pure coconut water," and promise not to include mineral oil, silicones, parabens, gluten, SLS, sulfated surfactants or synthetic dyes. Sounds pretty good. They also claim to be eco-friendly, and while their products are plastic-packaged, they are made from post-consumer recycled plastic. I know a lot of eco-warriors preach a plastic free lifestyle, but I personally support recycled plastic as I believe it creates demand for re-using the materials we have already created and are polluting our planet. For more info I suggest having a read of their FAQs page.
The Thicken & Restore range is infused with bamboo fibres, castor oil and neem oil, and claim to help strengthen and repair over-styled, damaged hair, encouraging a healthy-looking glow, and is aimed at weak and brittle hair. I have been blessed (sarcasm) with super fine and flat hair, which alone makes it far more prone to damage, however on top of that I have been dyeing my hair non-stop for about 8 years now, and a few years ago I also had the bright idea to go bleach blonde. Let me tell you now, that did not work out so great, as although I did achieve the Barbie-tastic platinum locks, I also managed to burn about half of my length off. Ever since, I have been gradually growing it out, but my ends are still a bit frazzled.
As I'm writing this review, I have been using this combo for about a month now, and while my hair has not been transformed into a thick, luscious mane, I have noticed drastic improvements in the overall health and condition. It is noticeably softer, stronger and shinier, while also having some more volume. The shampoo leaves my hair feeling really clean, but not weighed down which is fantastic, and the conditioner hasn't been making my lengths feel slick and sticky. I will add a side note here, however, as I am very particular about only using shampoo on my scalp and letting it wash through my lengths while I rinse, and not putting conditioner anywhere near my scalp and reserve it solely for lengths and ends - this significantly helps with not stripping and drying the bottom half of my hair, while not weighing down my roots. While reading some of the reviews for the conditioner I also noticed a fair few people complaining that it left their hair greasy. I've noticed that it does take a bit more work to wash out the conditioner and involves a fair bit of gentle rubbing, but it does fully wash out and leave your hair super soft if you just put in that little bit more effort. It's also worth noting these products have a tropical and citrusy scent, it's different but I personally love it. My partner also commented on my hair smelling nice, and he's a tough crowd.
Before I wrap up this review, I also wanted to add a quick comparison to other similar shampoos on the market. The Maui Moisture shampoos and conditioners all retail at £8.99 for 385ml (although I did manage to snatch mine up on offer at Superdrug for £5.99 each). As I've mentioned previously, Maui is created by the same people who make OGX, and the OGX Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen shampoo retails at £6.99 for 385ml (note: while OGX are cruelty free as far as I'm aware, this particular line is not vegan). I suspect Maui are cashing in on the green and natural 'trend' going on at the moment, however if the ingredients they use are superior then I have no issues paying £2 more. Now, L'Oreal brought out their Fibrology range a few years back, promising to give fine hair thickness and volume, and their shampoo retails at £4.99 for 400ml. It's not a natural product, and is probably the furthest thing from cruelty free and vegan, however a lot of people purchase these products for their affordability and brand recognition. I feel that Maui could have a difficult time competing with that, and perhaps introducing more offers by retailers, or Maui finding a way to lower their prices without compromising their ethics and ingredients, could entice more customers to reach for their product which promises similar results, and delivers. As for other cruelty free and vegan shampoos, the two I used to use for volume were the Superdrug Pro Vitamin Volume shampoo (£2.29 for 400ml) and Mane 'n Tail Shampoo & Body (£5.99 for 355ml), and while they were significantly more affordable and did give my hair increased volume, they failed to give my hair the same softness, cleanliness, shine and thickness that the Maui range has offered. I will definitely still reach for the Pro V Volume shampoo and conditioner when I'm broke and spending £18 on a shampoo and conditioner isn't feasible, however Maui is definitely worth the price difference when it is within my budget.
So, to conclude, while it is definitely a more mid-range priced haircare range, it's worth the investment if your hair is damaged and in need of some loving, as it delivers what it says on the tin. I mean, if you have relatively healthy and undamaged hair while using cheapo products, you crack on, but if you are looking for a more natural alternative while being conscious of sustainable packaging, I feel like this is definitely a great start. I'm also keen to try their blow out mist as I do blow dry my hair often, so I will make a follow up review when that time comes.
Have any of you tried Maui Moisture? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the products and brand in the comments!
Stay in school,
K.
No comments:
Post a Comment