First of all, let me say that I have nothing against Monat and have never tried the product. What I do know is that I do not really have it in my budget to make that switch and that the whole conversation that has been happening about the product really made me evaluate the ingredients I was using on my hair.
WHY AVEENO PURE RENEWAL
So, about 2 months ago I decided to make the switch to Aveeno Pure Renewal shampoo. No, this post is not sponsored by Aveeno in any way shape or form. I decided upon this shampoo because it is a brand I have trusted for years and it had great reviews compared to several other sulfate free shampoos. I also figured that Aveeno would be more readily available to most people. You can pick up the Aveeno Pure Renewal for about $7 at your local drug or grocery store. Mine came from Walgreens because I had $5 worth of rewards built up to spend (that’s a post for another day). I do have highlighted hair in case you are wondering if this will work for color treated hair.
MY EXPERIENCE FROM DAY 1 TO NOW
The first time I used the product I noticed that there was no lather, at least, not the lather you would expect from other shampoos. The reason for this is because the sulfate is actually what creates the lather in your shampoos. So, I worked the shampoo in and felt like maybe my hair wasn’t getting completely “clean”. I followed up with the Aveeno Pure Renewal Conditioner and my hair actually felt light weight and “flowy” even though it was heavy with water. After towel drying it I followed my normal steps and noticed that it was a little harder to get the comb through. However, my hair felt light and not weighed down.
I typically wash my hair at night and let it air dry or wash it in the morning and put it up immediately. Just yesterday I decided I would let it air dry in the morning to see how it looked. I can tell you, it looked like I had blown it dry! It was shiny, flowy, and had great shape. Now, I have been using the shampoo for 2 months at this point so I’m not sure that would’ve been my result in the first week. But after yesterday I was compelled to write this post because I can see the difference in the health of my hair.
MY RESEARCH AND REASONINGS
After a little research I discovered that sulfates in shampoos actually strip your hair of oils and good things. So, it makes sense that my hair feels better! Sulfate free shampoo is also a better alternative for color treated hair for that reason. I typically do not wash my hair every day just as a personal preference for my hair health. I have noticed that with Aveeno Pure Renewal I can actually go longer in between washings. I believe it is because my hair and scalp are more balanced and my hair isn’t fighting to produce oils that I would have been stripping out with regular shampoos that included sulfates. It makes complete sense. I have also made sure to use sulfate free dry shampoo for this reason (I’m currently using Not Your Mother’s).
KEY DIFFERENCES AFTER 2 MONTHS OF USE
- I do not have to wash my hair as often
- I do not have to dry my hair to get basically the same results as a blow out. I do dry the roots to achieve a little more lift.
- My hair feels thicker, yet more light weight and flowy
- There’s additional shine and strength
Again, I am not making any claims that Aveeno Pure Renewal is better or worse than Monat, but I can tell you that it definitely does the job and is a fraction of the price ($80 compared to $8). What about you? Have you tried Aveeno or maybe you’re a loyal Monat fan. I’d love to hear!
Alissa Apel says
That’s a good price for sulphate free shampoo. I should look into buying some. So far with the shampoos I’ve tried I like Hugo Naturals the best. I haven’t tried this one though.
Felicia says
Yes! It really is a win/win!
Lindsay N says
What kind of hair do you have? Mine is typically oily and I agree that the larger part makes it “feel” like it is cleaner but I am wondering if I should give this a shot! I am always open to new products!
Lindsay N says
What kind of hair do you have? Mine is oily and the larger seems to feel so important to get it clean! But if it just the sulphites than maybe this would be something better to try!