I’m Kayla. I test hair stuff for a living, and I’m picky in the shower. I want clean labels. I want soft hair. I also want my scalp to chill.
My hair? Wavy 2B/2C, medium thickness, oily roots, dry ends. I color my grays. I live in humid Austin with hard water. I swim twice a week. So yeah, my hair sees a lot.
If you want to see every before-and-after photo plus the ingredient deep dive, you can check out my detailed review on Arenaturals.
I used each pair below for 10–14 days. No other stylers, just a microfiber towel and a wide-tooth comb. I rinsed well, like 60 to 90 seconds. Little note: I have a shower filter. It helps.
Curious about plant-based color options too? I recently put a natural black hair dye through the same kind of testing.
Here’s the thing. “Natural” can still mean strong. Sulfate-free can still clean. Slip matters. So does scent. And bottle caps that don’t snap.
Quick headline: my top three
- Best overall for waves and curls: Innersense Hydrating Cream Hairbath + Hydrating Cream Conditioner
- Best budget and gym bag buddy: Acure Curiously Clarifying Shampoo + Conditioner (Lemongrass & Argan)
- Best bar set for travel: Ethique Pinkalicious Shampoo Bar + The Guardian Conditioner Bar
If you're looking to explore even more natural haircare options, check out Arenaturals for a curated range of clean shampoos and conditioners.
Now the full scoop, because the little stuff matters.
Innersense Hydrating Cream Hairbath + Hydrating Cream Conditioner
This set made my hair look like it got eight hours of sleep. Not perfect. But close.
- What I loved: The shampoo is creamy and low-foam. It needs water to wake up, so I add a splash in my hands first. My scalp feels clean, not tight. The conditioner has real slip. My comb glides. Curls form on their own. The scent is light herb and vanilla. My partner said, “You smell like a spa, not a cookie,” which I’ll take.
- What bugged me: It can feel heavy if I use too much. Quarter-size is plenty for me. Also, the pumps are tiny. I had to pump 6–8 times, which gets old.
- Results on day 2 hair: Still bouncy. Less frizz at my crown. I could wear it down without a hat, which is rare for me in summer.
Editors at Allure add to the hype, noting that the Innersense Hydrating Cream Hairbath cleanses without stripping natural oils and leaves strands soft and manageable.
For anyone in or around the Twin Cities who wants to pair their at-home hair routine with a professional scalp massage, take a peek at the Eagan rubmaps guide to scan real-world spa reviews, compare service menus, and schedule a head-to-toe relaxation session.
Good for: Wavy to curly hair. Dry ends. Color-treated hair.
Not great for: Very fine hair that gets flat fast.
Cost vibe: Pricey, but I used less than with drugstore stuff.
Acure Curiously Clarifying (Lemongrass & Argan) Shampoo + Conditioner
My budget win and my post-swim fix. Simple and bright.
- What I loved: It cuts through sweat and pool days. No harsh squeak. The scent is fresh lemon, like a clean kitchen but nicer. The conditioner is light. I don’t lose volume at my roots. My kid said my hair smelled like “lemon cake,” which made me laugh.
- What bugged me: The flip cap cracked in my gym bag twice. Also, if you have knots, the conditioner may not be enough on its own. I had to add a pea-size leave-in on rough days.
- Results on day 2 hair: Clean roots, light ends. Needs a tiny mist of water to calm halo frizz.
Good for: Oily scalp, swimmers, teens, sweaty summer.
Not great for: Very dry or coily hair.
Cost vibe: Friendly. Often on sale.
Ethique Pinkalicious Shampoo Bar + The Guardian Conditioner Bar
Plastic-free and cute. Also, these bars last forever.
- What I loved: Suds fast if you rub the bar in wet hands first. The shampoo rinses clean and bright. The conditioner bar looks odd, but it melts into the hair and gives decent slip. Travel is a breeze. No leaks.
- What bugged me: Hard water made the shampoo feel a bit “waxy” the first week. I learned to rinse longer. Storing the bars matters. Keep them dry or they get mushy.
- Results on day 2 hair: Light, fluffy, but not dry. Good ponytail day hair.
Beauty reviewers at Bondi Beauty praise the Ethique Pinkalicious Shampoo Bar for its eco-friendly design, pleasant scent, and impressive longevity.
Good for: Normal to oily hair, travel, low-waste folks.
Not great for: Very thick coils that need heavy moisture.
Cost vibe: One-time spend, then slow to use up.
Rahua Classic Shampoo + Classic Conditioner
If you like a mellow, fancy shower, this is your set.
- What I loved: The scent is warm wood (palo santo). The foam is soft. It leaves my hair bouncy with a clean scalp. Shine is real. I used less dry shampoo all week.
- What bugged me: The conditioner needs more slip for my ends. I had to leave it on for 3–4 minutes to get that “butter” feel. Price is… a treat.
- Results on day 2 hair: Shiny and light. A few flyaways near my ears.
Good for: Most hair types that want bounce and shine.
Not great for: Tangle-prone hair that needs big slip fast.
Cost vibe: Luxe splurge. I save it for date nights or when I need a mood lift.
SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Shampoo + Conditioner
Thick, rich, and cozy. Like a knit sweater for your hair.
- What I loved: Deep moisture without cones. Curls feel plush. My ends look sealed. It smells sweet, like honey and shea.
- What bugged me: It can weigh my waves down if I’m heavy-handed. On my fine-ish strands, it’s a once-a-week treat, not a daily driver.
- Results on day 2 hair: Defined but low volume. Great for braid days.
Good for: Coily hair, very dry ends, winter care.
Not great for: Fine hair or folks chasing lift.
Cost vibe: Fair and easy to find.
Attitude Super Leaves Volume & Shine Shampoo + Conditioner
My fine-hair pick when I want a clean label and lift.
- What I loved: Light foam, citrus scent, no heavy film. My roots had air under them. Scalp stayed calm. No itch.
- What bugged me: It’s not a heavy detangler. I still needed a detangling spray on pool days.
- Results on day 2 hair: Soft, with some bounce left. Looks neat without trying hard.
Good for: Fine to normal hair, sensitive scalp.
Not great for: Very dry, coily hair.
Cost vibe: Mid, and the big bottles last.
100% Pure Yuzu & Pomelo Glossing Shampoo + Conditioner
Zesty and light. Think clean, shiny, and swishy.
- What I loved: Citrus scent that fades fast. Hair feels smooth, not coated. Shine shows best when I air-dry.
- What bugged me: The shampoo is thin and runs off if I’m not quick. The pump can clog. I had to rinse the pump once a week.
- Results on day 2 hair: Shiny but flat at the crown unless I slept in a loose bun.
Good for: Normal hair that wants gloss.
Not great for: Oily scalps or heavy tangles.
Cost vibe: Mid to high.
A few sets that didn’t make my top list (but weren’t bad)
- Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Shampoo + Conditioner: Great smell, soft feel, but my waves fell flat by day two. Nice for dry hair, just not my winner.
- HiBAR Maintain Bars: Clean feel and good values, but the conditioner bar didn’t give me enough slip for knots.
How I tested (and what actually helps)
- I wet my hair for 60 seconds first. Shampoo likes water.
- I emulsified shampoo with water in my hands so it spread.
- I used a scalp brush once a week to clear build-up.
- I rinsed conditioner until my hair felt “slippery but light.” If it felt waxy, I kept rinsing.
- Once a week, I