When I read the ingredients list on the back of the bottle of Mukti Botanical Shampoo (now in the TIA shop at $43), I did a double take. There was no way that this was the full list. Same with with Mukti Botanical Conditioner. Perhaps there isn’t a requirement to list all the ingredients in Australia (Mukti is an Aussie brand). Was I being greenwashed by this supposedly 95% organic hair care combo? I hunted online only to find the same (incomplete?) list on the Mukti website. And then I came across a video on YouTube with Mukti herself explaining how difficult it is to create a really natural shampoo and one without water no less. No water!

Mukti Botanical Shampoo and Conditioner have no water? So, when the ingredients list starts with “Certified Organic Aqueous Extracts of Bladderwrack,” it really does mean that there isn’t a water base, a bunch of silicones and hidden chemicals. Mukti is the real deal.

Which is so good to know because I am really enjoying using this shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo foams up a treat (due to cocobetaine) and along with the conditioner leaves my hair feeling clean and soft.

The botanicals (aqueous extracts are made by placing the powdered plant in either cold or hot water and then putting it through some process to partially evaporate) include many that are known to help healthy hair growth. Bladderwrack is a seaweed that has a high amount of vitamin C and something called alginic acid, which is insoluble in water and swells by absorbing water up to 100 times its weight. It is also a very good source of vitamin B12, a lack of which can result in hair shedding and dullness. Ginkgo is also associated with hair growth, as well as being a potent antioxidant and horsetail is a great natural source of silica.

Also worth a shout-out is red clover. Research from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) confirms that red clover extract contains four anti-tumor compounds and it also contains the powerful antioxidant tocopherol, which is a form of vitamin E.

The conditioner (now in the TIA shop at $43) makes use of avocado, macadamia and safflower oils. As well as imparting fatty acids, they seem to condition without weighing the hair down. And one of the biggest surprises is that my wavy hair has been relatively frizz free, even when I washed my hair during a thunderstorm.

Formulating without water and only botanicals must be, as Mukti says, a little challenging. But she has pulled it off perfectly. Mukti is a welcome addition to my hair care and I am now intrigued by the rest of the brand. And I believe Mukti is now working on an anti-aging line. One to watch.

Ingredients in shampoo: Certified Organic Aqueous Extracts of Bladderwrack (Fucus Vesiculosus), Calendula (Calendula Officinalis), Chamomile (Chamomilla Recutita), Ginkgo Biloba Leaf, Horsetail (Equisetum Arvense), Nettle (Urtica Dioica), Red Clover (Trifolium Pratense), Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis), Sage (Salvia Officinalis) & Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium); Cocobetaine (Coconut derived); Certified Organic Essential Oil of Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia); Vitamin B5 (Panthenol); Vitamin E (Tocopherol); Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia) blend preservative; Salt (Sodium Chloride); Citric Acid.

Ingredients in conditioner: Certified Organic Aqueous Extracts of Chamomile (Chamomilla Recutita), Calendula (Calendula Officinalis) & Limeflower (Tilia Cordata); Glycerin (Vegetarian); Cetearyl Alcohol (Vegetarian); Certified Organic Oils of Avocado (Persea Gratissima), Macadamia (Macadamia Ternifolia) & Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius); Certified Organic Essential Oils of Lavender Oil (Lavandula Angustifolia) & Mandarin (Citrus Nobilis); Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia) blend preservative