Josh Rosebrook’s Shampoo and Conditioner are so natural that I felt confident enough to quickly scan the ingredients list before using (typically, I don reading glasses to carefully scrutinize labels). Some of the ingredients are worth discussing, though, and I will come back to them. But first I want to say how much I enjoy using this shampoo and conditioner.

From the get-go my hair was soft and manageable. After a couple of weeks, my tresses were noticeably shinier and healthy looking. Josh Rosebrook promises that the products will reduce frizz and they do somewhat. Although we have had some challengingly wet and humid weather that they couldn’t cope with (but not much does – except my Ouidad, which unfortunately was confiscated by British Airways and I haven’t yet had time to replace it).

The shampoo ($30 in the shop), it must be said, does not produce much of a lather. Josh Rosebrook makes no excuses for this explaining that there is “just enough natural surfactant to wash and cleanse your hair without stripping your natural oils.” Shampoos that foam often do so as a result of chemical surfactants or highly processed coconut derivatives (see our post on what to avoid in shampoo) and so I appreciate Josh Rosebrook’s approach and am more than happy to sacrifice some suds for a product that is kinder to my hair and scalp.

The surfactant of choice is African black soap, which is traditionally made from roasted plantain. Hempseed oil, rich in fatty acids, features prominently – making Josh Rosebrook’s shampoo a welcome alternative to Alterna’s Hemp range. I also like the oils of grape seed, apricot and evening primrose. And the herbal extracts include botanicals that are noted for the contribution to healthy hair (horsetail and burdock for example) and scalp (rosemary and sage).

The conditioner ($30 in the shop) is really very nice and gives a tangle-free finish to my shower. It has a base of aloe gel and shea butter, rounded out with a few oils, including meadowfoam and then there is a herbal infusion that is pretty much the same lineup as the shampoo.

Both have more than enough good things to justify leaving it on for as long as possible before rinsing off. All in all, Josh Rosebrook’s shampoo and conditioner are a great addition to my haircare products.

Shampoo Ingredients: Vitamin-infused organic aloe gel, distilled water, organic African black soap, organic hempseed oil, organic oils of coconut, jojoba, grape seed apricot & evening primrose, organic herbal extracts of: rosemary, burdock, horsetail, sage, oregano, thyme, lavender, peppermint, goldenseal, cinnamon, lemon peel, palm and cottonwood

Conditioner Ingredients: Vitamin-infused organic aloe gel, organic shea butter, organic oils of: coconut, meadowfoam, olive and hempseed, organic herbal extracts of: rosemary, horsetail, burdock, peppermint, sage, oregano, cinnamon, thyme, lavender, goldenseal, lemon peel and cottonwood extract; natural plant-sourced vitamins e, a, b1, b2, b3; plant-sourced kosher vegan xanthan gum & potassium sorbate; may contain organic vinegar; organic essential oils of: mandarin, ylang ylang and proprietary blend of other essential oils