Leah LOVES hair. So much so, she dedicated an entire website to it! One of the founders of Hair Everyday and Chief Editor, Leah enjoys reviewing all the hair products and showcasing the best. She believes her most underrated articles are her hair care tips!
I’ve reviewed the Nioxin Cleanser Shampoo in this article. I’ve listed out its benefits and the Nioxin shampoo side effects too.
Do you sometimes require to use a clarifying or cleanser shampoo to get rid of scalp and hair buildup, but are too afraid to use one because it can ruin your freshly colored hair?
Well, if you just whispered a “yes” under your breath, then guess what, you aren’t alone in your struggle!
I’ve been there too and just let the buildup collect, until now it has caused hair loss and has made my scalp and hair excessively greasy!
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So, I knew I had to find a way out of this. There had to be a strong cleanser shampoo that is color-treated hair safe, right?
That’s how I got searching and my search finally lead to “the” shampoo – the Nioxin System Cleanser Shampoo, which is specifically designed for chemically treated hair and can also help reduce hair thinning (that usually comes along with hair treatments).
This shampoo seemed to be exactly what I needed and so, I tried it out and here is my review for you guys!
Nioxin Cleanser Shampoo Ingredients + Review
Key Ingredients
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Xylenesulfonate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamide MEA, Sodium Benzoate, Salicylic Acid, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Menthol, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Lecithin, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Extract, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment, Biotin/Folic Acid/Cyanocobalamin/Niacinamide/Pantothenic Acid/Pyridoxine/Riboflavin/Thiamine/Yeast Polypeptides, Yeast Extract, Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Yellow 5, Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Phenoxyethanol, Blue 1, Red
| Ingredient Names | What It Does |
| Water | Solvent |
| Sodium Laureth Sulfate | Surfactant/cleansing, Emulsifying |
| Sodium Lauryl Sulfate | Surfactant/cleansing, Emulsifying |
| Cocamidopropyl Betaine | Surfactant/cleansing, Viscosity Controlling |
| Sodium Citrate | Chelating, Buffering |
| Citric Acid | Buffering |
| Sodium Xylenesulfonate | |
| Sodium Chloride | Viscosity Controlling |
| Cocamide MEA | Surfactant/cleansing, Viscosity Controlling, Emulsifying |
| Sodium Benzoate | Preservative |
| Salicylic Acid | Exfoliant, Anti-Acne, Soothing, Preservative |
| Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil | Perfuming |
| Menthol | Soothing |
| Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil | |
| Tetrasodium EDTA | Chelating |
| Methylparaben | Preservative |
| Propylene Glycol | Moisturizer/humectant, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling |
| Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract | Antioxidant, Soothing |
| Cystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol | |
| Lecithin | Emollient, Emulsifying |
| Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract | Soothing |
| Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract | |
| Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract | Soothing, Antimicrobial/antibacterial, Emollient, Perfuming |
| Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Extract | Perfuming |
| Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment | |
| Biotin/Folic Acid/Cyanocobalamin/Niacinamide/Pantothenic Acid/Pyridoxine/Riboflavin/Thiamine/Yeast Polypeptides | |
| Yeast Extract | Moisturizer/humectant |
| Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment | |
| Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment | |
| Yellow 5 | Colorant |
| Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment | |
| Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment | |
| Phenoxyethanol | Preservative |
| Blue 1 | Colorant |
| Red |
Water/Aqua/H20
Water in most hair care products (and other cosmetics) is the chief component of the formula as it’s the solvent which dissolves all the other ingredients.
The water used in hair care products is sterile and deionized. This means there are no minerals in this water as they can interfere with the other ingredients.
Water-based hair products, especially conditioners are lighter, spread easily and help hydrate your hair if there are humectants (like glycerin, etc.) present in the formula.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
As far as surfactants go, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is slightly milder and less irritating than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Okay so think of this way, SLS is the worst offending surfactant which can lead to redness, dryness, irritation, etc. on skin. SLES isn’t as bad but it can trigger irritation if you have sensitive scalps, Ammonium lauryl sulfate is generally safer and mild.
While most coconut-derived surfactants like cocamide MEA, etc. are known to be safe on sensitive skin as well.
However, SLES is fantastic for cleaning your scalp of debris, dirt, excess oil and product buildup, but it can strip hair dye so it shouldn’t be used on color-treated hair.
Also, a strong surfactant can clarify your scalp, clearing the way for hair fall medication like serums, etc. to reach your follicles and help them get adequate nutrition.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cocamidopropyl Betaine or CAPB is a type of cleanser that is derived from coconut oil.
It’s often used in shampoos in place of harsh surfactants like Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Both of which can strip hair dye, remove moisture and irritate scalp skin.
CAPB however is milder and gentler and even has moisturizing properties.
Most sulfate-free shampoos do not lather well or clean hair very thoroughly but as the Videri shampoo contains this natural cleanser, it’s very good for removing grease and dirt from deep within your scalp without stripping it of moisture.
Biotin
Biotin is a type of vitamin also known as Vitamin B7 or Vitamin H. There has been a lot of noise in the beauty industry these past few years about this vitamin.
From vitamin gummies to supplements to hair products, biotin was everywhere. And for good reason too.
There has been considerable research to establish that biotin helps hair growth and reduction of brittleness of hair and nails.
It is in fact the building block for a lot of the hair cells and helps add thickness and strength to your individual hair strands.
In fact there was a study conducted in 2012 to show the effectiveness of biotin in promoting hair growth. Two groups of subjects were given oral biotin supplements and a placebo respectively.
The study showed that the group of women who had been taking biotin supplements showed much improvement in hair growth.
Peppermint Oil:
Now my issue with most “natural” shampoos is that they end up having a lot of chemicals in them anyway thanks to the addition of artificial perfumes.
But in most natural shampoos, peppermint essential oil is used to add fragrance which gives it a huge advantage over other hair products.
Also, peppermint oil doesn’t just help in adding a refreshing scent but it also works as an effective hair growth agent.
A comparative study between peppermint oil, minoxidil and jojoba oil showed that the users of peppermint essential oil showed better results and had increased hair follicle number and depth by the end of the study.
My Review of the Nioxin Cleanser Shampoo
This shampoo comes as a kit, a set of the shampoo, conditioner and hair treatment that works together to help reduce scalp and hair buildup, thus cleansing the scalp, so the treatment can work to help regrow thinning hair.
The shampoo contains many naturally-derived ingredients that help boost hair health to a great extent.
These ingredients help provide the roots of the hair with strength. So, this is what really helped my hair, as within a month’s time I noticed that my hair loss had reduced considerably.
The only thing that I didn’t like about this shampoo is the fact that it contains sulfates, both sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).
But luckily for me, it didn’t dry out my hair to a great extent and it suited my colored hair just fine.
Overall, it is a powerful hair cleansing shampoo and helped get rid of my scalp buildup considerably. My scalp actually felt fresh after every wash!
The conditioner that comes along with this shampoo works like any other conditioner and it helps make the hair feel soft and smooth.
Along with the shampoo and conditioner, the after hair wash treatment is used so that the hair begins to grow and hair thinning reduces and this worked wonders on my hair!
This shampoo has a lovely peppermint fragrance, which is subtle.
I paid $21 for this whole kit of the shampoo (300 ml), conditioner (300 ml) and hair treatment (100 ml), which I felt was absolutely worth the price I paid, because the effects of this product on my hair were fantastic!
There is also a Deep Protect Density Mask that can be bought separately, which can be used to go along with the kit for better effects.
Pros and Cons of the Nioxin Cleanser Shampoo
Pros:
· Comes as a kit, for a fully developed treatment to reduce hair thinning.
· The ingredient formulation has many naturally-derived hair health boosting ingredients.
· This product has a very subtle and fresh peppermint fragrance.
· Suits colored hair perfectly and doesn’t fade hair colour at all.
· Works as an effective scalp and hair cleanser (for buildup and grime).
· Very reasonably priced product for the entire kit.
Cons:
· The shampoo contains sulfates (both sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate), but fortunately doesn’t dry out the hair.
How to use the Nioxin System Products?
This product comes as a kit and here’s how you can use it:
Step 1: Shampoo your hair
Wet your hair well and then take a sufficient amount of the shampoo in your palm, rub your palms together and apply it evenly all over your scalp and hair. Gently massage it in, using circular motions. Rinse it off after leaving it in for a couple of minutes.
Step 2: Condition your hair
Then once your hair is clean, apply a sufficient amount of the conditioner on your scalp and hair and gently massage it in. Again, leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing it off well (with cool or cold water preferably).
Step 3: Dry your hair and use the Nioxin System 6 Scalp and Hair Treatment
Once your hair has dried up completely, randomly partition your hair and apply 10 pumps of the Nioxin System 6 Scalp and Hair Treatment (shake the bottle before use). Gently massage it in and leave it on without washing off.
Please Note: You can also buy the Nioxin System 6 Deep Protect Density Hair Mask which can be used during your head bath along with this set, after you’ve conditioned your hair (but I have not tried it out).
My Feature-wise Rating of the Nioxin Cleanser 2 Shampoo
| Hair cleansing ability | 4.4/5 |
| Gentleness on the scalp and hair | 4.4/5 |
| Effectiveness of the product | 4.6/5 |
| Fragrance | 4.5/5 |
| Pricing | 4.5/5 |
The final takeaway
For those of you looking out for a product to help reduce the issue of hair thinning, then the Nioxin System 6 Cleanser shampoo, conditioner and hair treatment kit is the perfect product for you to choose.
It helps strengthen the hair roots, thus reducing hair loss and contributing significantly to the reduction of hair thinning. It also suits colored hair perfectly, without any worry of hair color fading.
I would personally recommend this product to anyone with colored hair, who requires a hair thinning solution.
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Cantu Sulfate-Free Cleansing Cream Shampoo Ingredients + Review
To Summarize
