When it comes to hair products, I am more than a little fussy. My hair is thin and fine (as well as being very, very long), which makes it difficult to disguise any mishaps. In short, if my hair is greasy or weighed down with too much product, you’ll know about it. The perfect hair product, if you ask me, is one that gives my hair a little bit of body without weighing it down.
Sounds simple, right? Only it’s not. You see, the term weightless is thrown around a lot when talking about hair products but rarely does it actually refer to its true meaning. Having thin hair means strands are particularly susceptible to "weight” in hair products. Whether it’s a super-nourishing mask that leaves strands heavy and flat at the root or a styling spray that causes hair to clump, in order for my thin hair to have any sort of volume, I need to avoid any sort of heavy product.
As a result, I am on a never-ending quest to find the very best hair products out there that suit my needs. Every shampoo, conditioner, mask, treatment and oil that comes my way gets tested meticulously. More often than not, I am let down. But a couple of weeks ago, news broke that cult skincare brand Augustinus Bader was releasing a haircare line, including shampoo, conditioner, hair oil, scalp treatment and leave-in.
And at first, my hopes weren’t particularly high. Don’t get me wrong—I love Augustinus Bader products, but they tend to champion rich hydration, which doesn’t bode well when it comes to lightweight volume in hair. On top of that, as you would expect, the products are really expensive, with the shampoo and conditioner priced at £40 each. But given the track record of success I have had with all of the brand’s skincare products, I felt it was important to give it a go.
The packaging is as you would expect—simplistic blue and gold, in the typical Augustinus Bader design, and very chic. The formulas contain the brand’s famous TFC8 complex to deliver hydrating and nourishing nutrients to hair, scalp and follicles for healthier growth and stronger, smoother strands. The products promise to suit every hair type and claim to deliver healthier, stronger and fuller hair from root to tip to help prevent loss and breakage. So with the claims in mind, I overhauled my hair routine to be exclusively blue and gold and dove right in.
Before I get into the nitty-gritty of each product, I want to address something very important. As we’ve established, my hair is thin, fine, long and naturally very straight. After using these products for a couple of weeks now, I want to say that I would never in a million years dream of recommending them to someone with thick curls or coils. Because actually, they’re not nearly as rich as I expected. In fact, in order to get the nourishment you’d need, you’d probably have to empty the entire £40 bottle of conditioner onto your ends. So I'm busting that "suitable for all hair types” claim.
But if your hair is thin and fine, like mine, then listen up. The shampoo is really hard-working. My hair was squeaky clean from root to tip (literally, the squeak was real). And the conditioner was not what I was expecting at all. Part of me thought it would be thick, rich and creamy, much like the brand’s cult moisturisers, but it’s runnier than I expected. At first, you’ll question whether you’re using enough, but then it sort of nourishes the hair and detangles ends without coating it in a thick, weighty cream.
After towel-drying my hair, I massaged in the scalp treatment and applied the leave-in treatment and oil to the ends, as they felt like they needed some extra nourishment. (My strands are bleached and prone to matting.) Before I turned the hair dryer on, I couldn’t help but feel as though my hair lacked moisture, but once my hair was dry, the magic happened.
After washing, my hair feels light and bouncy and possesses a certain amount of grit that means a quick zhoosh with fingers gives roots a long-lasting lift. But the best bit is said grit is totally invisible and doesn’t add anything but body. No, my hair doesn’t look the silkiest it’s ever looked, but the volume and movement are all there.
Would I personally spend circa £40 on each product and use them every day? No. They’re good, but no amount of volume is worth clearing my bank account for. If I had to hero one product for thin-haired folk, it would be the conditioner (but remember it probably won’t be rich enough for thicker styles). However, if you do have the money to spend, chances are you won’t be let down. Keep scrolling for more information on each individual product.
This stuff lathers. It cleans hair more so than any other shampoo I have ever come across. While that might not bode well for strands that are prone to matting, it seems like a great way to rid scalp and strands of build-up.
Enriched with castor-seed and coconut oils, this conditioner is much harder-working than the consistency makes out. Think of it like a moisturiser for your hair. It helps to nourish and detangle without leaving hair feeling like it’s coated in butter.
Not only does this scalp treatment help to volumise and give roots a boost, but it also reinvigorates hair follicles to support keratin and collagen production for growth and renewal.
This is potentially one of the fastest-absorbing hair oils I have ever come across. It helps to protect strands from breakage and seal split ends, and it works with your natural texture to keep things looking natural and effortless.
This stuff really amps up the conditioner's work. It’s really nourishing thanks to the amino acids in the TFC8 complex to help smooth, detangle and reduce the risk of snapping and breakage.
Next up, 15 haircuts that will trick people into thinking you have three times more hair.
