What is WEN Shampoo? | hwh<3

I have had a few people ask me to write an article about WEN hair care.  The claim is that you can use the cleansing conditioner (as shampoo and conditioner) to clean your hair without the harsh, drying chemicals.

I have gone about 6 weeks now without washing my hair (I’ve gone no poo), so I feel skeptical to try it on my own.  I might (MIGHT) consider trying it in the future, for the sake of a new article and better review.  However, in this article, I am going to break down what it is, what it means and if I think it is worth it or not.

The cleansing conditioner is a 5-in-1 product that acts as a shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, leave-in, and detangler.  I think the purpose of this is to simulate co-washing, which is where people use conditioner instead of shampoo to wash their hair.  Conditioners usually have cleansing agents in them, which could effectively clean your hair without the harsh sulfates of shampoo.  I think co-washing is the next best thing from no poo, in terms of a healthy scalp and healthy hair.

It contains no lathering agents, which can be weird at first, but is better for the overall health of your scalp.  The downfall is that you will have to use more product.  In the FAQ section of the website, it states “WEN® isn’t like an ordinary shampoo so you want to use more of it, not less. You can never use too much! The more you use, the better the results.”

It is specifically designed to not dry out your scalp and strip your natural oils.  The result is more moisture, sheen, manageability and color retention.

While most people claim that WEN Cleansing Conditioner does not really “wow” them at first, they fall in love with it after about a week or so.  It takes a little bit of time for your scalp to adjust to the new formula.  Your scalp is used to being completely stripped of all oils every time you use shampoo.  Since WEN does not use sulfates, your hair may be dull and lifeless until your scalp stops over-producing oil.  When doing no-poo, this typically takes about a month.  So I would recommend that you use it for at least a month before you base your opinion.  There are a lot of bad reviews online, but my guess would be that they didn’t use it long enough to really judge it.  I can’t stress enough that your scalp needs time to adjust to a new cleaning habit.  Try it for a month.

What I don’t like about WEN is the way their website is set up.  They draw you in with promises of free shipping and two free gifts with the membership.  You pay $29.95 for the first time with free shipping, but it sets your credit card up to automatically bill you $29.95 + $8.99 S&H every three months.  The problem with this model is, let’s say you hate the product and you don’t want to buy another package.  You are tied up with life, like everyone else, and forget to call and cancel (not to mention, I’m sure that’s a lot of wasted time on the phone that everyone dreads).   Now, you have to pay the 40$ for a product you don’t like, and you will damn near go to hell and back to get back your money.  Or you can even pretend that your credit card is maxed out and you can’t afford the 40$ when the 90 days rolls around and now they pester you until you pay it.  It’s not a surprise to me, because I found that the shopping cart redirects to a Gunthy Renker website, which is the same company that makes proactive.  Whatever the case, I just hate to deal with companies like that.  If I do buy this product, I will never buy it directly through the website.   Also, don’t be deceived.  QVC offers WEN, but for a lot more expensive, and it also adds you to an “auto-replenish” program.  

There are different formulas of WEN Cleansing Conditioner, each made for different types of hair.  The WEN website requires you to put your billing info in before you can even look at the different types.

(Click the link to see where to buy each formula)

Sweet Almond Mint is pretty generic and will work on most hair types, but it is geared toward fine and medium hair.

Tea Tree is formulated for people with dry, flaky scalps.  Tea tree has antiseptic properties that can combat dandruff and other scalp conditions.  It is suitable for all hair textures.

Cucumber Aloe is light and is aimed toward people with thin and fine hair.  It combines the astringent properties of cucumbers and the moisturizing properties of Aloe.   It won’t weigh down your hair, and should be used on oily hair.

Fig is meant for overly damaged hair.  It strengthens and rehydrates hair that has been over-processed with chemicals and heat.

Lavender rehydrates hair while adding volume.  Lavender has antiseptic properties and a calming fragrance.

Pomegranate is a similar formula to lavender, in the sense that it rehydrates and adds volume.  The main difference is the scent.

Spring Gardenia Green Tea is used for all hair types.  It has a refreshing spring smell.

Summer Mango Coconut is used for all hair types.  It has a fun summer smell.

Fall Ginger Pumpkin is also used for all hair types.  It has a spicy fall smell.

Winter Vanilla Mint is another seasonal product, for all hair types.

Six Thirteen is a richer formula than the others, formulated with 11 amino acids.  Wheat and nuts are also absent in the formula, so it is more suitable for sensitive skin.

So now I am going to break down some of the ingredients:

These are the ingredients listed on the WEN Website:

So they listed the key ingredients of the formula, but let me explain what a few of the others are:

Cetyl Alcohol is an opacifyer.

Cetearyl Alcohol is also an opacifyer, along with a surfactant and foam booster.

Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice Extract is a conditioning agent.

Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein is a conditioning agent.  It can aggravate allergies, especially in people with Celiac disease.

Panthenol is another conditioning agent.

Butylene Glycol- Fragrance and skin conditioning agent.

Behentrimonium Methosulfate- Antistatic agent, conditioning agent and surfactant.

Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine- Antistatic agent and conditioning agent.

Polysorbate-60- Fragrance and emulsifying agent.  Its usage is restricted in cosmetics as it is unsafe to use on damaged skin.

PEG 60 Almond Glycerides- Emolient and skin-conditioning agent.  It is also unsafe for damaged skin.

Amodimethicone- Conditioning agent.

Citric Acid- pH adjuster.

Menthol- Fragrance.

Methylchloroisothiazolinone- Preservative.

Methyliosthiazolinone-  Biocide.

Fragrance / Parfum - Fragrance compound.

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Out of the ingredients, really only the last 3 are an issue, and they really aren’t that horrible.  The Polysorbate 60, and PEG 60 Almond Glycerides aren’t great either, in the event you have open sores on your scalp.  There are no parabens, sulfates or formaldehyde so that is a good sign.  The majority of ingredients are conditioning agents and extracts, and so there is not a tremendous amount of harm in this product.

The last thing I want to briefly discuss is Chaz Dean, the creator of the product line.  Dean is all about being “green” and it reflects in  his salon, Chaz Dean Studio in Bel-Air, where it is common for celebrity clients to walk in.  His hobbies include yoga, meditating, cooking and hiking.  He formulated WEN, after realizing what harsh products of typical shampoo does to hair.  He didn’t just want to create a hair product, but instead reinvent the norm of hair products.  He began creating WEN in 1993 and tested it for 5 years before releasing it to the public.  It has exploded in the last few years, and I have a feeling it won’t be the last we see of it.

My opinion?

I actually am going to buy this product in the near future and give it a shot.  I love that it is so natural and that it promotes healthy scalps.  I love that he wants to redefine the world of shampoo, as that is something that I have taken a strong interest in, in the last few months.  I really admire Chaz for taking initiative and I can’t wait to try it.  It could be better or worse than no-poo, but I will have to find out for myself.  Look out for my review in the future!

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Have you tried WEN?  What is your opinion?  Please leave it in the comments!

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