The Avalon Organics scalp treatment shampoo is an all-natural, organic shampoo that helps treat dandruff, scalp inflammation, redness and itching. This shampoo is very popular as it is a non-GMO, vegan, and biodegradable product. It is also quite affordable, putting it on the radar of many hair experts and users alike.
Let's take a deep dive into the formula of this shampoo and see if it is actually worth the organic label and if the ingredients are effective for the claims they make.
Avalon Organics Scalp Treatment Shampoo Ingredients
Shampoo Features At A Glance
- Chief Ingredients - Tea Tree Oil, Aloe Vera, Oa
- Is it sulfate free - Yes
- Is it paraben free - Yes
- Is it perfume free - Yes
- Is it suitable for colored hair - Yes
- Key feature - The shampoo is an organic, non-GMO product that contains tea tree oil to control dandruff and inflammation
List of All Ingredients
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Aqua (Water), Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Glycerin, Heptyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Avena Sativa (Oat) Bran, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed, Tocopheryl Acetate, Alcohol, Babassu Oil Polyglyceryl-4 Esters, Beta-Glucan, Bisabolol, Citric Acid, Inulin, Sodium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Certified organic Ingredient
Ingredients Explained
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Aloe vera is a plant that has been used for medicinal purposes in ancient India, Greece, Rome and China since time immemorial. Usually the gel-like substance that is present in the leaves of the aloe vera plant is used for cosmetic purposes.
This substance is rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, monosaccharides, polysaccharides, omega fatty acids among other nutrients that nourish your hair.
Aloe Vera is also used in shampoos to act as a humectant and a moisturizer. This means that not only is the aloe vera plant great at adding hydration to your scalp and hair, but it is also great at moisturizing your tresses without making them greasy.
You can often find aloe vera as an ingredient in cosmetics that are prepared for oily skin and scalp types as it’s lightweight and non-comedogenic (it doesn’t clog your pores).
Coco Glucoside
Coco glucoside is a type of surfactant that is used to clean hair and scalp. It is a very mild, non-irritating surfactant derived from coconut and fructose. Unlike sulfates, it is very gentle on your scalp skin and does not remove excess natural oil from it. Nor does it strip hair color from your strands.
This ingredient is also a fantastic foaming agent and makes sure the shampoo lathers well and spreads easily throughout your hair.
Sodium Coco-Sulfate
Sodium coco sulfate is also a form of surfactant, and just like coco glucoside it is also very mild. Most harsh surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are derived from a fatty acid called lauric acid which can be very harsh.
However, sodium coco sulfate is a mix of several different fatty acids and is very mild on your scalp skin and hair.
This ingredient has been declared safe for use on skin and hair by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Panel.
Sorbitol
Sorbitol is a type of poly alcohol that has long been used in food as an artificial flavoring. However, in shampoos sorbitol has a different function - it is used as a humectant! This means it adds moisture to your hair and scalp skin and prevents it from being lost through skin cells.
It has another function in shampoos. Sorbitol is often added to improve the consistency of the formula as it is a thickening agent.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is an essential oil that is derived from the steam distillation of the tea tree plant leaf. It is widely regarded for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
The Australian Aborigines people have been using tea tree leaves for its medicinal properties since ages to treat skin ailments, fungal and bacterial infections.
There has also been considerable research to show that the topical application of tea tree oil can help reduce fungal infections on the skin and scalp,
In cosmetics, tea tree oil is used to treat acne, oily skin, redness and inflammation. Similarly in shampoos, this essential oil is added to reduce a flaky scalp dandruff, redness, inflammation and itchiness.
There is also high demand for tea tree oil products for the scalp as it is known to have a clarifying effect. So it’s great for oily scalp types too!
Tocopheryl Acetate
Tocopheryl acetate is a derivative of Tocopherol, a type of Vitamin E that helps moisturize scalp skin and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
This ingredient is a common part of most cosmetics and does not cause any harm or irritation to skin or hair. In fact, it is a type of antioxidant that helps reduce skin irritation and redness.
Alcohol
If you see an ingredient label saying just “alcohol”, they are probably talking about denatured alcohol or ethanol which are primary alcohols. These are basically solvents that help dissolve oil from your scalp and help the ingredients reach your scalp skin faster and more easily.
Alcohols are considered problematic in shampoos as they can dry out your scalp skin and hair. but as alcohol is listed at the very end of the ingredients list it is probably present in trace amounts which is not enough to cause any harm.
There are other forms of alcohol called fatty alcohols which include cetearyl and cetyl alcohol which are actually good for your scalp and hair as they function as emollients and moisturize them.
Limonene
Limonene is a compound that is found in the essential oil of the citrus peel extract. It has a variety of uses but in shampoos it is essentially added as a fragrance.
This ingredient is safe for use on skin and does not harm hair or scalp in any way. However there is some research suggesting that limonene can cause skin irritation when applied on sensitive areas for if it goes inside your eye by accident.
Table Of Ingredients With What It Does
| Ingredient | What It Does | Gentleness Rating |
| Aqua/Water | Base for shampoo | - |
| Sodium Coco Glucoside | Surfactant for cleansing | Very Harsh |
| Aloe Barbadensis Extract | Moisturizing Agent | Gentle |
| Glycerin | Emollient | Gentle |
| Tea Tree Oil | Anti-Inflammatory, Antifungal, Antibacterial Agent | Gentle |
| Citrus Peel Oil | Antibacterial, Fragrance | Mild (but comedogenic) |
| Eucalyptus Peel Oil | Antibacterial, Fragrance | Irritating on Sensitive skin |
| Peppermint Essential Oil | Antibacterial, Fragrance | Irritating on Sensitive skin |
| Oat Bran | Moisturizing Agent | Gentle |
| Matricaria Flower Extract | Skin Conditioning and Soothing Agent | Gentle |
| Calendula Flower Extract | Skin Conditioning Agent, Fragrance Enhancing | Gentle |
| Tocopheryl Acetate | Moisturizing Agent and Antioxidant | Gentle |
| Alcohol | Solvent | Drying on Skin |
| Sodium Chloride | Thickening Agent | Mildly Irritating and Drying |
| Xanthan Gum | Preservative and Consistency Improver | Gentle |
| Sodium Benzoate | Preservative and Corrosion Inhibitor | Gentle (if present below 0.1 percent concentration) |
| Limonene | Fragrance Enhancer | Irritating on Sensitive skin |
Is The Avalon Organics Scalp Treatment Shampoo Good For Hair?
Based on the ingredients and the formula we can safely say that yes this Avalon Organics Scalp Treatment shampoo is safe and gentle to use on scalp and hair.
As we can see in the breakdown above one of the chief ingredients of this shampoo is tea tree oil which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Hence this shampoo is excellent if you have redness or irritation on your scalp.
From the ingredients list we can also make out that there is no sodium laureth sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate in the shampoo. Instead this product uses sodium coco glucoside (which is a coconut derived mild cleanser) as a surfactant, making it suitable for coloured hair.
There is also no added perfume or “Parfum” as it is commonly labeled on the ingredients list. Instead there is essential oil derived limonene which gives the shampoo its citrus fragrance.
Good For - Straight Hair With Oily/Dandruff-Prone, Inflamed Scalp
Straight hair is prone to getting oily very easily as the scalp’s natural oils get distributed through the strands quickly due to the shape. And if you have fine hair texture this can also lead to hair being weighed down and looking limp as well as oily.
This Avalon Organics shampoo, despite being sulfate-free, is very good at clarifying hair and scalp gently. So it is a good match for straight, fine hair textures as it removes excess oil and adds bounce back to the tresses.
Also, the chief component in the shampoo is tea tree oil which is a known antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent. So if you have a dandruff-prone scalp or irritation or redness on your scalp, this shampoo is a good pick as the formula is designed to treat these issues.
Shampoos That Have Similar Or Better Formula
Avalon Organics has a natural formula and does not contain any GMO ingredients. If you are looking for a shampoo that has an ingredients list similar to this one you can check out the Maple Holistics Tea Tree Shampoo.
The Maple holistics shampoo is also produced to control scalp oiliness, dandruff and inflammation. However it does not contain alcohol as a solvent unlike the Avalon Organics shampoo. The Maple Holistic shampoo also skips the use of several essential oils such as peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, etc. which are present as a natural fragrance in Avalon Organics.
While not exactly harmful and actually being better for your scalp and hair then added perfumes, some essential oils can be too rough on scalp skin that is already very sensitive or damaged. So it is better to avoid them.
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