For many people, finding the perfect shampoo that meets their specific hair needs can be a formidable task. In 1990, the owner of the brand Matrix, Arnie Miller, founded the new company Biolage which went on to become a world-known professional haircare brand.
There are many types of hair, based on texture and thickness. You have straight, wavy, curly, coily, fine, medium, and thick hair. You also need to choose a shampoo depending on the type of scalp, which can range from dry, oily, sensitive, normal, to combination-type.
Biolage shampoos are generally good for all kinds of hair because of the natural botanical ingredients present in them, and the lack of harmful chemicals.
If interested to find out about the wide range of Biolage shampoos, each of which caters to certain specific hair needs, then continue reading.
Table of Contents
How many types of Biolage shampoos are there?
There are a total of 12 types of Biolage shampoos available that cater to a variety of hair-related concerns of people, from dry hair to thinning hair to color-treated hair. This includes
| Biolage Shampoo | Hair Type It Is Suited For |
| Hydra Source Shampoo | Dry Hair |
| Keratin Dose Shampoo | Over-Processed Hair |
| Full Density Shampoo | Thin Hair |
| Clean Reset Normalizing Shampoo | All Hair Types |
| Smooth Proof Shampoo | Frizzy Hair |
| Volume Bloom Shampoo | Fine Hair |
| Ultra Hydra Source Shampoo | Very Dry Hair |
| Scalp Sync Cooling Mint Shampoo | Oily Hair & Scalp |
| Color Last Shampoo | Color-Treated Hair |
| Fiber Strong Shampoo | Fragile Hair |
| Scalp Sync Anti-Dandruff Shampoo | Dandruff |
| Color Last Purple Shampoo with Fig & Orchid | Color-treated Hair |
More on these shampoos, their ingredients and their benefits and/or side effects in the following sections of the article.
Is Biolage shampoo good for curly hair?
Biolage Smooth Proof Shampoo For Frizzy Hair is also good for curly hair, particularly in places with very high humidity. The shampoo keeps hair smooth and polished, apart from making it manageable by protecting the hair from high humidity or moisture.
Inspired by the water-resistant camellia plant, this shampoo provides anti-frizz smoothness for a long time.
Is Biolage shampoo good for oily hair?
Biolage Scalp Sync Cooling Mint Shampoo is good for both oily hair and oily scalp. Inspired by the cooling properties of mint leaves, this shampoo cleanses away excess oil from the scalp and hair. It keeps hair fresh, manageable, and strong and is suitable for straight, wavy or curly oily hair.
Is Biolage shampoo good for thinning hair?
Biolage Full Density Shampoo is great for thin hair. Made of biotin, zinc PCA, and a Gluco-Omega blend, it gently cleanses the hair, gives volume to thinning hair and so makes hair look fuller and thicker.
Combine the shampoo with its conditioner, and this combo can significantly help reduce hair breakage.
Biolage Fiber Strong Shampoo can also be used for thinning hair. Consisting of bamboo, this shampoo deeply cleanses the hair and restores strength and shine back to hair thereby making it less prone to damage and breakage.
Is Biolage shampoo good for color-treated hair?
Yes, there are a couple of Biolage shampoos which specifically target the hair care needs of people with color-treated hair. You can use the Color Last Shampoo and/or the Color Last Purple Shampoo with Fig & Orchid.
Both these shampoos help in maintaining the vibrant color of color-treated hair while simultaneously protecting hair from damage.
The Color Last Purple Shampoo with Fig & Orchid has a bright purple color and is particularly used for salon-treated blonde hair. With a low pH, this shampoo counteracts any unwanted yellow tones in hair, while protecting and conditioning it from breakage.
Is Biolage shampoo color safe?
Both the Color Last Shampoo and the Color Last Purple Shampoo with Fig & Orchid are color-safe as already pointed out in the previous section. These shampoos clean colored hair while maintaining the vibrance and shine of the colors.
Is Biolage shampoo good for keratin-treated hair?
Biolage Keratin Dose Shampoo is perfect for treating over-processed hair which includes keratin-treated hair, color-treated hair, or generally frizzy fragile hair. This sulfate-free, paraben-free, and silicone-free shampoo deeply moisturizes hair, reduces frizz, and strengthens hair.
For better results, you can combine this shampoo with its conditioner and the Pro-Keratin Renewal Spray.
Is Biolage shampoo good for African-American hair?
African American hair needs hair care products that would retain as much of the natural oils and moisture as possible. So shampoos that hydrate and moisturize the tresses, and keep them strong, are generally recommended for such hair.
Both Biolage Hydra Source and Ultra Hydra Source shampoos are great for dry hair. They gently cleanse the hair and deeply moisturize it, making it smooth and shiny. These two shampoos are thereby good for African American hair.
Is Biolage shampoo good for blonde hair?
Biolage Color Last Purple shampoo is good for blonde hair. The purple pigments in the shampoo counteract the yellow in ashy blonde hair, thereby helping to maintain that perfect blonde hair color.
Also, this shampoo is enriched with botanical ingredients like fig and orchid which makes the hair softer, smoother, and stronger.
Does Biolage shampoo cause hair loss?
It can. Certain common ingredients in shampoos trigger hair loss, such as sulfates, short-chain (or bad) alcohols (particularly propanol and isopropyl alcohol), and propylene glycol.
All of the Biolage shampoos contain sodium laureth and/ or lauryl sulfate(s), except for the Keratin Dose shampoo. Now, small quantities of sulfates in shampoo are necessary to effectively clean the hair of dirt, grime, and oil. Too much of it can however reduce natural oils and protein or keratin in your hair. This can make your hair brittle and prone to breakage.
Bad alcohols and propylene glycol also strip away moisture from hair, making it dry, frizzy, and prone to breakage.
Only Biolage Color Last Purple shampoo contains isopropyl alcohol. So you can steer clear of that one and have lesser worries about hair fall.
With regard to propylene glycol, these following Biolage shampoos contain this thickening agent:
- Keratin Dose Shampoo
- Clean Reset Shampoo
- Scalp Sync Cooling Mint Shampoo
- Scalp Sync Anti Dandruff Shampoo
So, choosing Biolage Keratin Dose shampoo might help you the most with counteracting the hair loss problem. However, the shampoos that contain sulfates, but not the bad alcohols and propylene glycol, might also cause minimum hair loss.
Can Biolage shampoo cause baldness?
No, two of the worst chemicals in shampoos that can aggravate hair loss are sulfates and formaldehyde. They can strip the hair of natural oils and result in brittle, fragile hair prone to breakage.
While all Biolage shampoos contain sulfates as cleaning agents, none of them contain formaldehyde. Washing your hair with these shampoos will cause some hair loss, but that is common for all shampoos.
It is natural to shed some hair while washing it; the concern kicks in when large balls of hair start appearing in your bathroom. This however is not triggered by Biolage shampoos, as most of them do not contain large quantities of common chemicals associated with hair loss and eventual baldness (as explained in the previous section as well).
Is Biolage shampoo good for dandruff?
The Scalp Sync Anti-Dandruff Shampoo helps reduce dandruff buildup in the hair. It is enriched with the goodness of anti-bacterial mint leaves and pyrithione zinc. This shampoo visibly reduces dandruff and lessens scalp irritation.
Dry scalp is one of the most common causes of dandruff. Washing your hair with a moisturizing shampoo that specifically nourishes the scalp (which pyrithione zinc essentially does) can help with your dandruff issue.
What are the ingredients in Biolage shampoo?
Most Biolage shampoos contain different botanical ingredients with some special properties to target specific hair needs. Some of the common ingredients in all of the shampoos are water and benzyl alcohol (as carrying agents), sodium laureth and sodium lauryl sulfates, sodium chloride and/or sodium hydroxide, and parfum/ fragrance.
The remaining ingredients differ for every shampoo and contain a range of botanical materials like lemongrass, cucumber extract, aloe vera leaves, camellia, cotton, mint leaves, fig, orchid, and bamboo.
Now, let’s answer questions on the presence of specific ingredients in Biolage shampoos.
Sulfates
All of the Biolage shampoos have sulfates like sodium laureth and/or sodium lauryl sulfate, except for the Keratin Dose Shampoo. This particular shampoo uses gentle foaming and cleansing agents like sodium lauryl sulfoacetate and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate.
Sulfates are cleansing agents often added to shampoos and body washes to create a lathering effect. While sulfates are necessary for products like shampoos to properly clean your hair of dirt, grime, and oil; prolonged exposure to sulfates might weaken hair strands by stripping the tresses of natural oils and keratin, and thereby lead to skin irritation and dandruff.
Protein
Proteins like keratin, collagen, and silk are sometimes added to high-end, salon-style shampoos like that of Biolage to deeply cleanse and strengthen the hair. Keratin is an extremely essential protein naturally found in our hair, skin, and nails. It protects and strengthens our hair both externally and internally, and keeps it healthy.
However, daily exposure to sun, pollutants, and chemicals deplete the keratin present in our hair, which leads to dull, fragile, and dry hair. So, sometimes people tend to look for shampoos with keratin and other proteins available, to restore the protein content in their hair thereby rejuvenating their hair and scalp.
Biolage Keratin Dose Shampoo contains pro-keratin and silk. The Volume Bloom Shampoo contains hydrolyzed soy protein.
DMDM Hydantoin
Biolage shampoos do not contain DMDM Hydantoin. DMDM Hydantoin (trade name Glydant) is an antimicrobial formaldehyde-releasing preservative commonly found in skincare and hair care products, added to increase the shelf-life of these commodities.
DMDM Hydantoin, when used in shampoos and conditioners, can induce hair loss. So, recently more and more customers are opting for hair care products free of DMDM Hydantoin.
Silicone
Some variants of Biolage shampoo contain silicone. This is again a common chemical found in hair care products and goes by names such as Dimethicone and Amodimethicone. It kind of seals the hair giving it a shiny look.
But this seal can also lock out nutrients and moisture from outside and so sometimes, consumers look for silicone-free shampoos.
Here is a list of Biolage shampoos that contain silicones:
- Volume Bloom Shampoo
- Smoothproof Shampoo
- Color Last Shampoo
- Color Last Purple Shampoo with Fig and Orchid
Formaldehyde
Biolage shampoos do not contain formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives like DMDM Hydantoin or sodium hydroxymethylglycinate. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and so is extremely toxic for the scalp and hair.
Parabens
Only two out of the twelve Biolage shampoos contain parabens:
- Scalp Sync Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
- Scalp Sync Cooling Mint Shampoo
These shampoos contain Sodium Methylparaben and Ethylparaben. Parabens are commonly found in a vast range of hair care and skincare products. These chemicals act as preservatives and increase the shelf life of the products.
While parabens are necessary ingredients in shampoos, their prolonged use can irritate the scalp and cause dandruff in hair.
Alcohol
All of the Biolage shampoos contain benzyl alcohol. It acts as a preservative and does not affect the texture of the hair, so it is okay to be used in hair care products. Alcohols are often added to shampoos as an additional carrying agent, along with water.
Now, when it comes to alcohol in shampoos, there are two types – good and bad. Good alcohols (long-chain or fatty alcohols), like cetyl alcohol, Cetearyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and lauryl alcohol are beneficial for hair (particularly curly hair) by drawing moisture to the hair.
Bad (short-chain alcohols) alcohols, which include benzyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and alcohol denat are especially bad for curly hair as it quickly draws out moisture from hair leaving it frizzy and prone to breakage.
So, while benzyl alcohol is not necessarily bad for straight or wavy hair, it can be a bit troublesome for curly hair.
Biolage shampoos that contain bad alcohols like benzyl are listed below:
- Color Last Purple Shampoo (has isopropyl alcohol)
- Fiber Strong Shampoo (has alcohol denat.)
- Full Density Thickening Shampoo (has alcohol denat.)
Phthalates
Biolage shampoos are free of phthalates. These chemicals are sometimes added to hair care products for easier absorption and spreading of the product on the scalp and hair, and also to preserve the scent of the shampoo. Unfortunately, phthalates have severe side effects linked to asthma, cancer, and neurodevelopmental and reproductive issues.
Gluten
Biolage shampoos do not contain gluten. This is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Gluten in shampoos helps in strengthening hair and adding volume to it.
But there are many people who are gluten-sensitive and so they search for gluten-free shampoos. They can go ahead and purchase the Biolage shampoos.
Is Biolage shampoo safe during pregnancy?
Probably not. It is advisable to not use cosmetic and self-care products that contain sulfates during pregnancy. Since most of the Biolage shampoos have sulfates, it might be wiser to opt for sulfate-free shampoos for those nine months.
Other common chemicals in shampoos that should not be used during pregnancy are parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, and phenoxyethanol. Of course, you have Biolage’s Keratin Dose shampoo which is sulfate-free and also does not contain these four chemicals.
Is Biolage shampoo safe for dogs?
Artificial scents, formaldehyde, and parabens in shampoos are toxic for dogs. While Biolage shampoos do not contain formaldehyde, all of them are scented, and two of them contain parabens. Maybe using your Biolage shampoo to wash your dog once in a while is okay, but it should not become a long-term solution.
Is Biolage shampoo septic safe?
Only the Color Last Purple Shampoo might be septic-safe as it has low pH. Other Biolage shampoos might not be septic-safe. Usually, if a product is septic-safe, that’s written on the container.
Is Biolage shampoo cruelty-free?
Biolage is owned by the French personal care brand L’Oreal which is not a cruelty-free brand and nowhere does Biolage explicitly state that they do not test their products on animals. Moreover, Biolage is not certified cruelty-free by any organization.
Also, Biolage products are supposedly sold in China, where the laws ask for testing of all products on animals before the sale. This fact also raises concerns about the cruelty-free status of Biolage.
Is Biolage shampoo vegan?
When a company is not cruelty-free, it is also not considered vegan.
Although some of the Biolage shampoos are advertised as vegan, like Hydrasource, Volume Bloom, Smoothproof, Clean Reset, Scalp Sync Anti Dandruff, Color Last, and Color Last Purple shampoos; these are still not cruelty-free products. So in the true sense of the term, Biolage shampoos are not vegan.
References:
- https://www.biolage.com/products/hair-care/shampoo
- https://www.skinsafeproducts.com/matrix-biolage-advanced-full-density-shampoo-13-5-fl-oz
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