The Vegamour duo relies on Karmatin, a vegan silk substitute for keratin and silicone, which adheres to the hair shaft and helps repair damaged hair, while also fighting frizz. Boston-based board-certified dermatologist Neera Nathan, MD, explains that Karmatin can “coat the hair, act as a sealant, and offer protection, leading to more defined and smoother curls.” In addition to Karmatin, the Hydr-8 duo contains aloe vera, murumuru seed butter, moringa oil, and marula oil, which penetrate the hair shaft to provide deep moisture.
While those hydrating and repair benefits sound great and dandy, my biggest concern is that I have a lot of product buildup on my scalp that I have trouble rinsing out, even with the help of a scalp brush. For context, I am a founding member of the Church of Dry Shampoo and typically rely on clarifying shampoos or scalp scrubs, which can be abrasive if used too often, to remove residue.
But after one use of the Hydr-8 shampoo, I was pleasantly surprised to see the formula had removed all the product buildup from my hair and left my scalp feeling clean and refreshed. According to cosmetic chemist and founder of BeautyStat, Ron Robinson, the clean feeling may be attributed to the shampoo’s use of magnolia bark extract as it “provides anti-inflammatory and calming benefits.” While many shampoos contain sulfates, foaming agents that remove buildup but can dry out the hair and scalp, Vegamour relies on sulfate alternatives such as sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate and lauramidopropyl betaine to sweep away buildup and dirt.
My hair wash routine really depends on my workout schedule and any upcoming events, but I try to wash my hair every three to four days. To start, I apply a scalp oil such as Squigs Gooseberry Delight Hair Oil or Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil, followed by a massage using a scalp brush. I like to let the oils sit for a few hours while I run errands or clean my apartment.
Then, I use a quarter-size amount of Hydr-8 Shampoo to thoroughly clean my hair and scalp. (If I’ve used too much dry shampoo, I may opt for a clarifying shampoo first, but I no longer rely on it as much as I used to.) After rinsing out the shampoo, I apply the Hydr-8 Conditioner, which provides a layer of shine and softness that clarifying shampoo can sometimes strip.
