Thank you Soley Iceland for sponsoring this post, as usual all thoughts and opinions are my own!
Spending time at home over the past year has given me a lot of time to learn about and develop my skincare routine. Lately I’ve noticed that scalp care is getting more attention as it’s the literal root to having healthier hair. I’ve been hoping to avoid postpartum hair loss so I’ve been looking into masks, shampoos and conditioners that promote a healthy scalp. Note: I have recently switched back from shampoo bars since, having a baby has significantly cut the amount of free time I have. I’m lucky if I can even hop in the shower, so I don’t have the extra time to lather a bar in my hands. One product I was interested in trying is the Soley Iceland Graedir Vegan Shampoo and Conditioner for Dry Scalp. It contains sustainably-sourced wild herbs known for their healing properties, that can only grow in Iceland’s harsh climate.
Here is my review and details of my first experience using Soley Iceland Graedir shampoo and conditioner.
The packaging
Soley Iceland Grædir can be purchased on Amazon, when I received it, it was sustainably packed in a box with paper cushioning instead of plastic. Solely Iceland products are Ecocert Cosmos Natural certified meaning that they guarantee and highlight the best environmentally friendly and socially conscious practices in creating their products. Plus, the bottles are recyclable!
The ingredients
The ingredients are the main reason why I wanted to try this shampoo and conditioner. It contains:
YARROW – One of the oldest known medicinal plants in the world, contributes to shiny and healthy-looking hair.
BIRCH – Dawny Birch is Iceland’s only native tree, reputed to make hair shiny, thick and healthy looking.
WILLOW – A well-known source of salicin and salicylic acid, an excellent substance for scalp and hair health.
BEARBERRY – Used in cosmetic formulations because of its unique combination of antioxidants and phytochemicals to protect scalp and hair.
I love that Soley incorporates these nutrients in their shampoo and conditioner, because I don’t have time to add any extra steps to my shower routine to achieve a healthier scalp!
The full review
Using the shampoo
The first thing I always do when purchasing a shampoo is smell it! The shampoo has a nice, sweet, light herbal smell, not too overpowering, which has been my experience with other herbal skincare products. It’s 98.1% natural in origin which I was happy about.
When I started to lather it in my hair, it lathered up too well, and I realized it has one type of sulfate in it. I usually avoid sulfates because it is known to be an irritant. But I had never heard of ALS, just sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), so I decided to do some research. In my research I read that the molecular structures of the two have different effects on the skin. SLS is a smaller molecule than ALS and is therefore more irritating to the skin since it can penetrate the outer layers of the skin in the shower. ALS is a larger molecule and isn’t as irritating. I didn’t experience any irritation from the ALS and the shampoo left my head feeling clean and fresh.
Using the conditioner
Upon pouring it in my hands, it has the same light herbal smell as the shampoo and is 99.9% natural in origin. The texture is creamy and light. I noticed my hair immediately absorb the conditioner, so I had to use more product than traditional conditioners. Note: I do have a lot of very thick hair though!
Immediately after my shower, I noticed that my hair visibly had more shine, felt softer and seemed more hydrated, so despite the conditioner feeling thin, it did the job well.
Three days later..
I usually go 3-4 days until my next hair wash. Day 0 and 1, my hair had the same sweet, light herbal smell. Towards the end of day 2, my scalp was beginning to feel a little oily and by day 3 it feels more oily than usual, so I’ll wash it again. I may have used too much of the conditioner, which could contribute to the extra oiliness I experienced. Overall I’m excited to experience the benefits of the herbs in these products.
Want to try it with me? You can purchase Soley Iceland Graedir Vegan Shampoo and Conditioner for Dry Scalp here.
xo,
