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Let’s get one thing straight: I hate my hair—always have, always will. Hairdressers “ooh” and “aah” over it because it’s scary-thick, but for me, that just translates to frizzy, difficult to manage, and really good at breaking every hair tie I’ve ever owned. When quarantine hit and zero access to a salon became the new norm, I looked like a literal lioness (and not in a sexy, Britney music video kind of way). With my mane at its peak chaos, it was high time I turned to at-home solutions.
I’ve spent a fortune on expensive shampoos, masks, oils, serums, and sprays, only to be disappointed with every single one. At one point, I just decided it was my hair’s fault and exclusively kept my locks in a messy bun—I was tired of emptying my wallet for each and every hair product trend that would fail me. When a few friends recently suggested I go for a more wallet-friendly approach and consider putting salad dressing in my hair, I was frankly concerned—had they lost their minds? Little did I know I would soon owe these heroes my life; I had finally found something that worked.
A Dollop of ACV a Day Keeps the Hairstylist Away
Introducing: WOW Skin Science’s Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo. Ok, so—I’m no stranger to the benefits of apple cider vinegar. I take a shot of it every morning for my gut and mix it with clay powder for an extracting face mask. All of that said, one arena I was always hesitant to introduce ACV to was my big, frizzy head of hair. My aforementioned friends (and many celebrities) have sworn by ACV for years, and while the benefits were certainly enticing, I mostly just couldn’t get past the stench. With just a quick Google search, it became clear I had to try WOW’s ACV Shampoo out for size—proven to have the same benefits as ACV but with no stench, it seemed too good to be true. For the unindoctrinated, here’s a quick primer on ACV:
ACV is a jack-of-all-trades. When it comes to hair, it can be used as a rinse to control and mend dull, weak, or frizzy hair, which tends to be higher in PH. With all of its acidity, ACV can help to lower your hair’s PH back to a healthy equilibrium. A couple of tablespoons mixed with water can leave you with shinier, stronger, and silkier hair. Better yet, if you suffer from dandruff, ACV shampoo is the perfect substitute for Head & Shoulders and other 2-for-1 dandruff shampoos that are way too harsh and filled with nasty chemicals.
Sounds easy enough, until you start to notice everyone trying to move away from you on your morning subway commute—the stuff stinks! I needed a shampoo with all of the ACV benefits and none of the horrendous stench—boy, did Wow Skin Science deliver. Their Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo is powered with pure & natural apple cider vinegar derived from Himalayan apples, and yes, it smells as good as Himalayan apples sound.
WOW’s Shampoo is also formulated with two natural DHT blockers (Nettle Leaf & Saw Palmetto Extracts). DHT is a hormone responsible for hair loss and baldness, so blockers are integral in preventing hair loss and encouraging hair growth. For even more protection, follow up with their Hair Conditioner—made with cold-pressed organic virgin coconut oil and avocado oil to replenish lost nutrients and argan and almond oil to add natural thickness and volume, it’s the perfect piggyback to an ACV scrub.
So What Puts the WOW in WOW Skin Science?
If you’re like me, no matter how good a product is, I need to be able to stand behind the brand’s mission and values before I can commit. Plus, I’ll admit it: I’m a sucker for branding. Cute packaging, cheeky taglines, and a followable Instagram—these are a few of my favorite things. But what WOW might lack in an Instagrammable unboxing experience, it sure as hell makes up for with a damn good product. I like take-away pamphlets and tastefully etched slogans as much as the next guy, but more than anything, I like when my hair doesn’t look like a bird’s nest.
Plus, I’m being pretty harsh—the glossy gold packaging is definitely still Instagrammable, and honestly, the fact that WOW’s products don’t look like every other DTC brand out there just makes me love it even more. They don’t rely on perfectly curated imagery or trendy typeface, and instead, let their science-backed, plant-powered products speak for themselves. And clearly they have a lot to say—the shampoohas been the #1 shampoo on Amazon (we’ll just let that sink in for a sec…), was featured on Good Morning America, and has over 300,000 fans on IG.
The brand has been dominating Amazon for quite some time now and sold 17,000 bottles on Prime Day 2019. 17,000 bottles. One day. Many reviewers point to the shampoo and conditioner duo’s affordable price as why they chose to bite the bullet. At $29.95, there’s a relatively low risk, and with 14,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, there’s potential for a very high reward. Plus, the microbial shampoo is suggested for use two times a week, so it’s bound to last longer than most. Affordable, effective, and made with all-natural ingredients—what more can you ask for in a ‘poo?
How Do Ya Like Them Apples?
A LOT. I usually take super quick showers, but found myself taking my time with WOW.
Massaging my scalp with sweet Himalayan apples before moving onto a nourishing coconut finish felt borderline ritualistic.
Massaging my scalp with sweet Himalayan apples before moving onto a nourishing coconut finish felt borderline ritualistic. And for the first time since quarantine started, my hair is not tied back in embarrassment but instead swaying about in it’s smooth and luscious glory. Even with all of the volume, it feels lighter than it did before. Thanks to ACV’s antimicrobial properties, I can literally feel that all of the product gunk compiled over the past few weeks has headed for the drain once and for all. I’ve already Googled everything WOW has to offer and will 100% be trying their Onion Black Seed Hair Oil next. If anyone could make onions smell good, I’d bet a hefty dollar it’s WOW.
More Reasons to Love WOW:
- WOW’s products are made without artificial additives or harmful synthetic chemicals and are 100% vegan and cruelty-free. They’re proven to work and have garnered over 14,000 5-star reviews on Amazon alone. Plus, their eco-friendly packaging is made of 30% post-consumer recycled packaging.
- The brand was founded in India by Ashwin Sokke (also known as the pioneer of bringing green beauty to India), and quickly became one of the best-selling online brands in India and the US.
- Their website has a blog called “How to Wow” with hair tips and tricks to make sure you’re letting your hair live up to its full potential.
- You can treat your whole bod to WOW—with face masks and body lotion, let WOW take over your entire bedtime routine.
- Their founder strongly believes in taking a customer-first approach—so much so, that they offer a full money-back guarantee. In their words, “improving yourself shouldn’t be a gamble.”
