SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo
Summary
SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo scores 86/100 -- a genuinely clean shampoo built around the cleanest broadly-effective surfactant in commercial use (Decyl Glucoside, the same one BASED uses). Sulfate-free, paraben-free, silicone-free, PEG-free, dye-free (uses food-grade Caramel as the natural amber colorant), phenoxyethanol-free. The plant-oil and botanical payload is exceptional: Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Fair-Trade Shea Butter, Buriti Fruit Oil, Peppermint Leaf Extract, Aloe Vera. Three hydrolyzed proteins (Rice, Vegetable, Keratin). Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Panthenol, Niacin. Apple cider vinegar pH adjustment. Clean Caprylhydroxamic Acid + Caprylyl Glycol preservative pair. The score sits below the 91+ Organic Jaguar tier because of two soft demerits: (1) 'Fragrance (Essential Oil Blend)' is single-source disclosed but not fully itemized, (2) Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol is a protein-conjugated silicone derivative (biodegradable, EWG 1, but technically a siloxane). SheaMoisture was acquired by Unilever in 2017.
At a glance
Key ingredients 17
Decyl GlucosideVery Good
Sugar/coconut-derived non-ionic surfactant; the cleanest broadly-effective cleansing agent in commercial use. Same surfactant class as BASED Body Wash. EWG 1. Replaces SLS/SLES.
See more about Decyl Glucoside →Sodium Lauroyl LactylateGood
Lactic-acid-derived secondary surfactant; EWG 1-2. NOT sodium lauryl sulfate despite the similar name -- this is a mild ester.
See more about Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate →GlycerinVery Good
Gold-standard humectant; plant-derived, EWG 1.
See more about Glycerin →Hydrolyzed Rice / Vegetable / Keratin ProteinsVery Good
Three protein hydrolysates; provide cuticle-binding amino acids that demonstrably penetrate the hair shaft and reduce protein loss during washing.
See more about Hydrolyzed Rice / Vegetable / Keratin Proteins →Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5)Very Good
Provitamin B5; penetrates the hair shaft and demonstrably improves softness and elasticity (Greaves 1999).
See more about Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5) →Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) ButterVery Good
Fair-Trade-certified plant butter; triterpene-rich with documented anti-inflammatory and barrier-restoring activity (Lin 2018).
See more about Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter →Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed OilVery Good
Ricinoleic-acid-rich oil with documented humectant and emollient activity. Jamaican Black Castor Oil is the ash-roasted variant traditionally used for hair strengthening.
See more about Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil →Mauritia Flexuosa (Buriti) Fruit OilVery Good
Amazonian palm fruit oil; highest concentration of beta-carotene of any food source plus oleic-acid-rich fatty acid profile. Lightweight emollient with antioxidant activity.
See more about Mauritia Flexuosa (Buriti) Fruit Oil →Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf ExtractGood
Single-source named botanical; menthol provides cooling sensation and stimulates scalp circulation.
See more about Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract →Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceVery Good
Acemannan polysaccharides; anti-inflammatory and lightly hydrating.
See more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice →Tocopherol (Vitamin E)Very Good
Lipid-soluble antioxidant; stabilizes oil phase and protects hair lipids from oxidative damage.
See more about Tocopherol (Vitamin E) →Niacin (Vitamin B3)Good
Vitamin B3; supports scalp circulation and follicle health.
See more about Niacin (Vitamin B3) →Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideGood
Plant-derived (guar bean) cationic conditioning polymer. The cleanest commercially available cationic. EWG 1.
See more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride →Caprylhydroxamic Acid + Caprylyl GlycolGood
Coconut-derived clean preservative pair; EWG 1. Replaces phenoxyethanol and parabens.
See more about Caprylhydroxamic Acid + Caprylyl Glycol →CaramelGood
Food-grade caramelized sugar; functions as natural colorant (gives the product its dark amber color). Replaces synthetic dyes.
See more about Caramel →Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl SilanetriolNeutral
Protein-conjugated silicone derivative; biodegradable and significantly cleaner than dimethicone, but technically a siloxane. EWG 1.
See more about Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol →Fragrance (Essential Oil Blend)Neutral
Plant-derived aromatic blend disclosed as 'essential oil' (no synthetic petrochemical fragrance), but not fully itemized to individual oils.
See more about Fragrance (Essential Oil Blend) →Get the full breakdown in the Scout app
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