Reactive Hair Editorial Team
This post was most recently updated on May 6th, 2023
Styling, coloring, and pollution can cause hair to dry and fall out. Many shampoo brands are popping up, which sometimes makes us tempted to try each of them. Yet, every hair has different problems and needs, so you can’t just choose a shampoo carelessly. You’ll need to adjust the shampoo to your hair type, to maximize the benefits. Our Ouai shampoo reviews will discuss ALL their shampoos to help you determine the one that fits your needs.
We at Reactive Hair will provide an in-depth review of Ouai shampoo which is becoming popular. With shampoo lines, key ingredients, authentic user reviews, alternatives, and more. Let’s check everything below.
What is Ouai?
When it comes to hair care products, you must be looking for inspiration from your favorite celebrities. If you are a follower of Jen Atkin’s Instagram account, surely you are very familiar with Ouai, of which she is the founder. Jen Atkin is a celebrity hairstylist to the stars – Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Kim Kardashian, and Chrissy Teigen. Ouai is one of the popular hair care brands that launched in 2016. The name “Ouai“, for the record, is pronounced way, a slang pronunciation of the French “oui.”
Ouai also provides a Quiz on their website to make it easier for you to determine which product is the most appropriate for you and gives product recommendations that are specific to your hair problems. Besides shampoo and conditioner, Ouai offers many personal care products that restore your hair and skin from the inside out, including body care, fragrance, and accessories. This time we specifically discuss Ouai Shampoo which is widely used by many shampoo lovers. Now let’s take a closer look at Ouai shampoo reviews in the next section.
Ouai Shampoo Reviews
Finding the best shampoo for your specific hair is sometimes not easy. Picking the right shampoo for your specific hair type is the first step to getting salon-worthy results. For example, if your hair tends to be dry or extremely dry, avoid using sulfate-containing shampoo or a shampoo that has a lot of alcohol. Since it will make your hair even drier and more damaged.
Luckily with Ouai, you can easily find a shampoo that is customized for your hair type. Ouai Shampoo is free of gluten, parabens, phthalates, SLS, and SLES, and has not been tested on animals. Each shampoo has a unique and exclusive blend of ingredients. This is what makes Ouai shampoo maximize its work on your hair, resulting in healthier and more manageable hair.
Ouai Detox Clarifying Shampoo
If your hair tends to be greasy, you may look for a dry shampoo to fix it. But, it might be temporary and not addressing the key root problems that caused it in the first place. One of the causes of greasy hair is hard water and styling products that can leave residues on your scalp, resulting in limp hair. This is where the Detox Clarifying Shampoo comes in, which can remove mineral residues deep in your scalp.
Ouai Detox Clarifying Shampoo is enriched with Chelating Agents that remove hard water mineral deposits. It is also formulated with Apple Cider Vinegar to exfoliate dead skin cells on your scalp, and Hydrolyzed Keratin to strengthen, soften, and add shine to your hair. A special blend of rose, bergamot, lychee, white musk, and champagne gives it the Melrose Place scent.
It is suitable for all hair types, including dry hair, colored hair, keratin-treated hair, and Brazilian blowouts. Since it basically exfoliates your scalp, it’s best to use this shampoo once a week. Excessive use may irritate your scalp and even cause your hair to produce more oil.
| PROS | CONS |
| Suitable for colored hair without fading the color | A bit pricey for some people |
| Gently and deeply removes dirt deposits on your hair and scalp | Contains fragrance and alcohol that may be disliked by some |
Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo
As someone with fine and flat hair, you may have always dreamed of having fuller hair while stepping out of the door. Taking Ouai to your daily hair care routine might finally ensure that your good hair days are more than the bad ones. Oily hair also makes your hair look flat, making it hard to get beautiful, fuller curves. What you need is a shampoo that gives volume and suppleness to your hair like Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo. It is suitable for curly hair, wavy hair, colored hair, and chemical-treated hair.
Not only cleaning, but Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo also helps thicken your hair, making it more voluminous. A perfect combination of Biotin, Keratin, and Chia Seed Oil perfectly fits to promote thicker and stronger hair, reduce frizz, and hydrate your hair, leaving the appearance of fuller and bouncy hair. The exclusive blend of Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo also helps to prevent damage, breakage, and split ends. It has a floral scent with a blend of Italian lemons, Turkish rose, jasmine sambac, iris, lily, and white musk, giving it the Mercer Street scent.
| PROS | CONS |
| Helps deliver volume and thicker hair | Not really suit for everyone |
| Color-safe and curly-safe | Less lather |
Ouai Thick Hair Shampoo
Who says thick hair doesn’t need a special-formulated shampoo? If you have thick hair, it’s more likely to get tangled and sometimes hard to detangle. Customized for your thick hair, Ouai Thick Hair Shampoo is equipped with color-safe, natural ingredients that deeply moisturize your hair. It is formulated with Marshmallow Root that helps detangle hair easily, making your hair more manageable. Not to mention infused with Avocado Oil which also helps fight frizz, and Shea Butter to hydrate every strand of your hair.
It is why Ouai Thick Hair Shampoo is also perfect for frizzy and dry hair. Just like the Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo, it has the Mercer Street scent, a combination of Italian lemon, Turkish rose, jasmine sambac, iris, lily, and white musk. Also give your hair, Ouai Thick Hair Conditioner to get amazing results.
| PROS | CONS |
| Lightweight texture for thick hair | The smell is too much |
| Suitable for wavy, curly, and coily hair | Sometimes leaves your hair dry |
Ouai Medium Hair Shampoo
If you’re wondering, “What does medium hair mean?”
It’s hair in the middle between fine hair and thick hair. Ouai Medium Hair Shampoo provides a hydrating formula that revives the shine of your hair. Like Ouai Fine and Thick Hair Shampoos, it is also enhanced with Mercer Street scents, giving a pleasant shampooing sensation.
The shampoo is also perfect for those of you who have normal hair. Ouai Medium Hair Shampoo will help clean and hydrate medium/normal hair while retaining moisture in your hair. The shampoo uses Keratin to strengthen the roots and strands, Kumquat Extract, Babassu, and Coconut Oil to add shine to your hair. It also helps fight tangles.
| PROS | CONS |
| Recyclable packaging | Not suitable for anyone |
| Hydrate hair and fight frizz | Super strong smell |
Ouai Super Dry Shampoo
Greasy hair sometimes is annoying. The plan was to hang out with your friends, but then your greasy hair makes you feel unconfident taking selfies together. Dry shampoo is your best solution to get your hair volume back and pump up your hair volume between shampooing. Sometimes dry shampoo is not a great option too, since it leaves lots of white residue in your hair.
Ouai Super Dry Shampoo is equipped with an extra absorbent in charge of absorbing tough oil even on your oiliest hair days. With its super absorption power, this shampoo helps give more volume to your lifeless, flat hair. However, Ouai Super Dry Shampoo may leave little residue. It still has the sweet Melrose Place scent, so it’s not only refreshing your hair but also makes it smell good. Ouai Super Dry Shampoo is equipped with Volcanic Minerals and Rice Flour, great oil-absorbing agents.
| PROS | CONS |
| Easy-to-use applicator | Doesn’t quite remove all the excessive oil |
| Adds volume to your hair instantly | Sometimes leaves white residue |
All of these are sulfate-free which not all brands offer you. Even though sulfate-free, the shampoo gives an amazing lather so you can clean your hair thoroughly. Both women and men can use these shampoos. Now, let’s take a look at their ingredients.
Ouai Shampoo Key Active Ingredients
In this section, we break down all of Ouai Shampoo’s key ingredients, what they are, and how they benefit your hair. Let’s check them.
Detox Shampoo Key Ingredients
Apple Cider Vinegar
Hair has a pH range of 3.5 – 5.5 while apple cider vinegar has a pH of 2 – 3. Due to its acidity, apple cider vinegar will help exfoliate dead skin cells, reduce itching, and remove the build-up of hard water residue and styling products. It also maintains your hair color by sealing the cuticles. Apple cider vinegar is also great for balancing pH as other shampoos and conditioners are alkalines causing hair porosity.
Chelating Agents
Acting in much the same way as apple cider vinegar, chelating agents remove the buildup, chemically, of hard water residue, styling products, and chlorinated pool water. For physical removal of buildup, use salt or sugar. Chelating agents focus more on detoxifying the scalp, not the hair strands.
Tamarind Seed Extract
Tamarind has the ability to control the production of sebum on your scalp. This is why it plays an important role in Ouai Detox Hair Shampoo to remove excess oil deposits on your scalp. Moreover, vitamin C and antioxidants in tamarind also protect your hair from free radicals and UV light, which can make your hair dry and brittle easily.
Fine Hair Shampoo Key Ingredients
Biotin
Biotin (vitamin B7/ vitamin H) plays an essential role in protein synthesis, more specifically, the production of keratin. Biotin can improve the anatomical structure of keratin, an essential protein in the formation of hair, skin, and nails. This explains the contribution of biotin in promoting strong, thick, and healthy hair growth. In general, biotin promotes overall healthy hair, including giving your hair a beautiful shine and preventing split ends.
Chia Seed Oil
The ingredient that helps reduce frizz in Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo. Chia seed oil is rich in fatty acids that can penetrate the hair shaft to lock in moisture. Frizzy hair is the result of a lack of moisture in the cuticle layers, causing the cuticles to roughen and swell. With chia seed oil, it can hydrate your hair, giving it a perfect shine and preventing severe damage.
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Due to its small molecular size and lightweight, hydrolyzed keratin protein is able to penetrate the hair cuticle and fill in tiny gaps throughout the hair shaft. Filling in the gaps will help strengthen your hair’s structure thereby increasing elasticity and reducing breakage. Hydrolyzed keratin also helps to fight frizz because of its ability to hydrate and soften your hair.
Thick Hair Shampoo Key Ingredients
Marshmallow Root
The main problem with thick and long hair is frizz due to a lack of lubricant to deal with tangles and knots. This is where marshmallow root comes in. The mucus in the marshmallow root can nourish your hair and detangle it. Marshmallow root extract can lubricate your hair strands thereby reducing friction on your hair. In addition, the nutrients can also maintain the texture of your hair, making it softer and shinier.
Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is another ingredient that can reduce frizz and tangles. Even using avocado oil to detangle your hair will cause less damage than a comb. Avocados are enriched with antioxidants, biotin, minerals, essential fatty acids, and vitamins A, B5, and E which can moisturize, repair, and strengthen your hair. Avocado oil can penetrate hair to a deeper level due to oleic acid and monounsaturated fat compounds. They differ from other oils in that it only coats the surface of the hair.
Shea Butter
Shea butter is derived from the shea tree nut. The biggest benefit you get from shea butter is its ability to add moisture to your hair and lock it in. Especially for you with thick, coarse, and curly hair, shea butter really helps improve texture, reduces friction, and provides better hair protection. Vitamins A and E, and essential fatty acids in shea butter can also prevent split ends and add shine.
Medium Hair Shampoo Key Ingredients
Kumquat Fruit Extract
Derived from Kumquat fruit, this extract contains a very high amount of vitamin C. The number of antioxidants and minerals in kumquat is beneficial for improving the texture, quality, and strength of your hair. Not only that, but it can also prevent dandruff due to its capability to reduce excessive sebum production and fungal growth on your scalp.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is composed of a medium-chain fatty acid called lauric acid and vitamin E, making it more easily absorbed into the hair shaft. It is why coconut oil is widely used to treat dry hair. Due to its hydrating abilities, coconut oil helps repair damage and gives your hair a soft shine. Coconut oil can also strengthen your hair and scalp, including reducing oil buildup.
Babassu Oil
As a natural moisturizer, babassu oil can provide a calming effect on scalp inflammation. It can be an alternative to coconut oil as it makes hair less oily. Babassu oil is also less comedogenic, which reduces the risk of scalp acne. Apart from moisturizing hair, it also contains vitamin E and antioxidants to protect your scalp and hair from external damage. Adding shine to your hair is also the work of babassu oil.
Super Dry Shampoo Key Ingredients
Volcanic Minerals
Volcanic minerals work just like the mud masks you probably keep on your skincare shelf. Volcanic minerals are able to remove dirt and sebum from the pores of your scalp, because of tiny particles that can penetrate deep into the scalp. This is why volcanic minerals are important ingredients in Ouai Super Dry Shampoo, eliminating excess oil that makes your hair greasy.
Rice Starch
Usually used in skincare, rice starch can repair and improve your skin barrier and prevent premature aging by reducing fine wrinkles and blemishes. In Ouai Super Dry Shampoo, rice starch is used due to its mattifying effects, absorbing excess oil on your scalp and adding volume to your greasy hair. It also helps promote the shine and smoothness of your hair.
Rhodiola Rosea Extract
Rhodiola Rosea has antioxidant properties due to its phenolic compounds. This makes Rhodiola beneficial for fighting free radicals and preventing skin cell damage due to pollution and UV light. This extract has the ability to increase hair elasticity, reduce detangles, freshen, and strengthen your hair.
These are the exclusive ingredients of Ouai shampoos that make your hair not only back to its normal conditions but also better than ever before by improving overall hair health. To make sure you pick the right shampoo, we provide customer reviews in the next section to back up our research. Keep reading to learn more.
Ouai Shampoo Reviews: Analysis of Real Customers
After looking at Ouai shampoo’s active ingredients to learn the products’ benefits, we have collected several real-life user reviews on Amazon. You need to get an understanding of how customers think after trying Ouai Shampoo. Below are the testimonials of five Ouai Shampoos.
Ouai Detox Shampoo Review
Detox Shampoo has 4.6 out of 5 stars from 2,352+ ratings. Most of the customers are happy with up to 80% being 5 stars. Here is the rate by feature:
- Scent: 4.3 / 5 stars
- Value for money: 4 / 5 stars
- Moisturizing: 3.9 / 5 stars
Let’s take a closer look at several users’ reviews.
“I have blonde hair (not natural) and I use a lot of products … If you use the detox shampoo before a hair mask or deep conditioner it removes all residual build up… and allows the conditioners to absorb.” – Carol (5 stars)
“I have extremely oily hair… I’m going on day three right now and my hair is still somewhat clean… It is pricey, but definitely worth it.” – Holli (5 stars)
“OUAI Detox Shampoo makes my hair silky smooth with no tangles. I have medium to fine hair… this one is the best for me.” – Sparky (4 stars)
Overall, Ouai Detox Shampoo is suitable for oily, colored, and medium to fine hair. It helps make the hair smooth, detangles, and clean from the residual. Even though it’s a bit expensive, the formula does a great job.
Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo Review
Currently, Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo sits at 4.4 out of 5 stars from 1,616+ ratings. Although the rating is not as much as Detox Shampoo, Fine Hair Shampoo also got many positive testimonials, with 73% of the people giving it a 5 star. Here is the rating by feature:
- Scent: 3.7 / 5
- Value for money: 3.6 / 5
Check below what the customers are saying.
“A little pricey but well worth it. I’ve tried so many different types of shampoo for fine oily hair and nothing has worked for me until now… My hair looks and feels clean and smells great!” – Cindy (5 stars)
“…very gentle on my blonde hair. Leave the hair smooth and nice…” – Linda (5 stars)
“It gets the oil out of my hair but it’s also drying my hair out…” – Jo (3 stars)
Ouai Fine Hair works great for oily hair and blond hair, leaving the hair clean and soft. But it may make your hair dry. The smells are great, but when we look at the other reviews, some people find it too strong and a bit pricey.
Ouai Thick Hair Shampoo Review
Thick Hair Shampoo has 390+ ratings with 4.5 out of 5 stars. The rating seems not as impressive as Ouai Detox and Fine Hair Shampoos since this could be due to the product being more popularly bought on the Ouai website and most customers bought it as a bundle with the conditioner. However, up to 78% of reviewers rate it as a 5 stars product. Let’s check what they think about Ouai Thick Hair Shampoo.
“Smells great. Doesn’t leave a residue or weigh my hair down. Great for bleached hair, it doesn’t dull your color.” – GM (5 stars)
“…it didn’t work on my hair. Smelled fine and felt fine, but wasn’t worth the money….” – Phyllis (3 stars)
“Pricey… I have very thick, coarse hair. Just one shampoo and my hair felt fabulous and looked really good and wasn’t frizzy at all, even in TX heat… I only use it about once/a week. – AK (5 stars)
As you can see, Ouai Thick Shampoo did a great job for bleached hair without making it dull. It doesn’t make hair frizzy and has a nice smell. However, do keep in mind that it doesn’t work for anyone.
Ouai Medium Hair Shampoo Review
Medium Hair Shampoo has 4.5 out of 5 stars with 605+ ratings, not quite as impressive as Ouai Thick Hair Shampoo since most users bought it as a bundle with the conditioner. However, 74% of reviewers gave it 5 stars. Below are the customers’ reviews.
“This product hydrated my dried out, color treated (aging) hair… Left my hair feeling silky. I followed the line’s conditioner… Highly recommended for any middle-aged man/woman looking to restore your hair’s youth.” – Colleen (5 stars)
“I have a very reactive sensitive scalp and this shampoo not only soothes it but does not irritate my scalp.” – parkhurst (5 stars)
“The scent is too overpowering… But it does get a good lather for thick hair.” – Laine (3 stars)
The fragrance is not good for some people. But Medium Hair Shampoo is suitable for sensitive scalps, and thick, and colored hair.
Ouai Dry Shampoo Review
Super Dry Shampoo by Ouai also achieves great feedback from many reviewers with 1,483+ ratings. It has 4.5 out of 5 stars with 73% being 5 stars. Here is the rate by feature:
- Drying power: 4.1 / 5
- Volume control: 3.9 / 5
- Scent: 3.6 / 5
- Sheerness: 3.5 / 5
- Value for money: 3.3 / 5
Let’s see the customer reviews below.
“This doesn’t leave as much residue as others and gives me a little volume between wash days.” – Liz (5 stars)
“The dry shampoo is effective!… It leaves an aggressive white residue that even rubbed in makes roots look gray… The rose scent but it is super strong. It definitely combats my very oily hair though!” – Caroline (4 stars)
“It really gets rid of the oily hair. It does make your hair white but you can easily brush the white off.” – Lisandra (5 stars)
Ouai Super Dry Shampoo works well on oily hair and adds volume to your hair, but it leaves a white residue. The scent often bothers some people.
The reviews are quite impressive, especially for Detox Shampoo, Fine Hair Shampoo, and Super Dry Shampoo. Most of the users are happy with the results. Now, let’s check the side effects of Ouai Shampoos below.
Ouai Shampoo Possible Side Effects
In this section, we discuss side effects that may occur while using Ouai Shampoo. You should check the ingredients first before using any of these shampoos.
- Most Ouai Shampoos contain Sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate, a surfactant that removes dirt and product buildup. This may cause eye irritation, drying, and irritation to your scalp or skin, especially if you have dry and/or sensitive skin and/ or scalp. We recommend using a conditioner after washing your hair.
- Alcohol denat is used in Super Dry Shampoo. You may experience scalp irritation and flaking. Due to its ability to absorb oil, for long-term use, it may cause dry skin. It causes your scalp to produce extra oil, leaving your hair greasy.
- All Ouai Shampoos contain perfume (fragrance), and many people love it but some dislike the smell. It may cause allergic reactions for some with sensitive skin/ scalp.
- Skin rash, itching, dryness, and redness may occur while using Detox Shampoo due to Isopropyl Alcohol on the ingredients label.
- As for pregnant and breastfeeding women, you should probably consult with a doctor first before taking any Ouai Shampoo.
If the side effects are prolonged, you should stop using it and talk to a doctor immediately. Now, let’s take a look at the alternatives to Ouai Shampoo.
Alternatives to Ouai Shampoo
Tons of brands out there that offer shampoo to cater to your specific hair needs and problems. We compiled several alternatives to Ouai Shampoo that vary in price, key ingredients, customization, and more. In this section, we have Olaplex, OGX, and Avalon.
Olaplex
Founded in 2014, Olaplex’s hair care system offers six items, ranging from treatment, and shampoo to conditioner. As for the shampoo, Olaplex provides 3 products: Nº.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, Nº.4 Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo, and Nº.4 Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo. They are specifically designed to treat your damaged hair. In an effort to create them, Olaplex has patented technology, called Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate. It works by eliminating the adverse reaction between oxygen and sulfide bonds in the damaged hair.
Check our Olaplex Reviews to learn more.
OGX
Since taking root in 1987, OGX offers customized hair care product lines of shampoo and conditioner. Their products are not just gentle to your hair, but to the planet too. OGX product lines use natural ingredient blends, such as Argan oil from Morocco, coconut milk, tea tree mint, and shea. They provide up to 23 shampoos that are customized to your specific hair needs. One of their best seller shampoos is OGX Thick & Full + Biotin and Collagen.
Avalon
Avalon Organics was established in 1989 that provides skin care, hair care, and bath & body products built from botanical ingredients. They have 11 shampoos formulated with organic botanicals and essential oils. All of them are free of harsh chemicals, cruelty-free, sulfate-free, and vegan. Their best seller shampoo is Thickening Biotin B-Complex which is designed with a special ingredient blend of biotin, saw palmetto, quinoa protein, and vitamin E.
Comparison of the Alternatives
| Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo | Olaplex Nº.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo | OGX Thick & Full + Biotin and Collagen | Avalon Thickening Biotin B-Complex |
| Current Price: $30 for 10 fl oz | Current Price: $30 for 8.5 fl oz | Current Price: $13.99 for 25.4 fl oz | Current Price: $19.49 for 32 Fl Oz |
| 4.4 out of 5 stars from 1,618+ ratings | 4.7 out of 5 stars from 64,276+ ratings | 4.6 out of 5 stars from 2,421+ ratings | 4.3 out of 5 stars from 11,107+ ratings |
The table indicates that Ouai and Olaplex are the most expensive options among them. However, the volume of Ouai is 1.5 fl oz more than Olaplex. Olaplex has the highest ratings out of the lot, while Avalon has the lowest. OGX provides the least expensive shampoo. Each shampoo is associated with hair thickening but they are equipped with different key ingredients and/ or technology.
To conclude our Ouai Shampoo reviews, each shampoo is designed for a specific hair type. You need to choose one that is associated with your hair problems and needs. They are also equipped with exclusive active ingredients that contribute to promoting your hair health.
Hope this was helpful and gives you the necessary information to pick the best Ouai shampoo for your hair. Let us know in the comment section with your thoughts or questions about Ouai shampoo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here we answer several frequently asked questions about Ouai shampoo.
What is Ouai shampoo good for?
Ouai offers customized shampoo to cater to your hair types, needs, and problems. Ouai provides shampoo for fine, medium, and thick hair as well as detox shampoo and dry shampoo.
How often should I wash my hair with Ouai?
You can wash your hair 2-3 times a week. But for Ouai Detox Shampoo, you only need to wash it once a week, since it is an exfoliating shampoo, not like the others.
Is Ouai good for damaged hair?
Yes, it is perfect for all hair types, including colored hair and chemical-treated hair. You just need to find one that matches your hair texture: Fine, Medium, or Thick.
Do the Kardashians use Ouai?
Yes. Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner have been associated with Ouai, as you can find them in Jen Atkins’ Instagram account.
Does Ouai thicken hair?
You can use Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo since it is formulated with Biotin, which is well-known to promote hair growth.
