Ouidad Superfruit Renewal Clarifying Cream Shampoo Review

Ouidad's newest brainchild hit select Ulta stores this March, and I was lucky enough to be able to get my hands on it courtesy of Ouidad via Black Girl with Long Hair. I'm considered BGLH's resident product reviewer, so companies will send products for consideration -- but there is no guarantee that I will write about them or review them. But I could not keep this good news to myself! I am actually going to make it a point to try and write about all of the products I receive. And you know my reviews will always be 100% honest and unbiased. Without further delay, let's get going:

Ingredient List: Water (Aqua)/(Eau), Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycerin, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Maltooligosyl Glucoside/Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Lauroryl Sarcosinate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Glycol Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Glycolic Acid, Panthenol, Euterpe Oleracea (Açai) Fruit Extract, Musa Sapientum Fruit (Banana) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Propanediol, Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-10, Fragrance (Parfum), Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium PCA, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Red 33 (CI 17200)

Ingredient Analysis:

• Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate: Less harsh version of SLS, used to cleanse the hair.
• Glycerin:Generally vegetable-based humectant that draws moisture from the air
• PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate: Coconut oil-derived fatty acid polymer used to emulsify oil and water, as well as condition hair and skin, and act as a surfactant.
• Sodium Cocoamphoacetate: Incredibly gentle organic compound used as a surfactant, emollient, hair conditioning agent, and foam booster.
• Maltooligosyl Glucoside/Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate: A complex derived from carbohydrate syrup (sugar) and corn starch that conditions and moisturizes the hair. It helps improve moisture balance and moisture retention in the hair, and also helps soothe and improve dry scalp.
• Cetyl Alcohol: Considered "fatty alcohol" -- NOT to be confused with drying alcohols such as ethyl. Acts as a lubricant, thickener, and emollient. Also give conditioner its velvety feel without making hair greasy. Is additionally used to keep product ingredients from separating.

Availability: Superfruit Renewal Clarifying Cream Shampoo is currently available at select Ulta locations nationwide. It can also be purchased at www.ulta.com and www.ouidad.com. It is also available for purchase in Ouidad Salons in Santa Monica and New York.

Affordability: At $18 for an 8.5oz bottle, this is definitely an expensive shampoo. There's no way around it. Although it is not ridiculously priced as some others, the price point can still make a budget-conscious naturalista cringe. Although I was sent the product for free, you better believe I will be purchasing it once I run low -- even though I wish it were about $7 - $8 cheaper. It's that worth it.

Product Claim/Description: Superfruit Renewal Clarifying Cream Shampoo is  gentle cleanser that effectively removes product build-up and residue yet, unlike other clarifying shampoos, will not strip or dry hair. Infused with a powerful, antioxidant-rich blend of concentrated whole superfruit acids -- acai, blueberry, cranberry, papaya, and banana oil immediately nourishes and replenishes moisture. After just one use, vibrancy and shine are restored while increasing curl softness and bounce. 

How I (Ouidad) Use It: Using fingertips, gently massage through wet hair and scalp. Leave in hair for  1-2 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Follow with your preferred Ouidad conditioner. Use weekly, or as needed.

The End Result: Curls look and feel renewed and revived for noticeably healthier-looking curls.

Performance/Delivery: Oh. My. Goodness. I'm in love. Seriously. I first used the shampoo in a crisis situation. I woke up late for work one morning, and had a super time crunch on my hands thanks to a high priority meeting I was scheduled to attend. At the same time, my hair was an absolute mess and in dire need of a wash thanks. I needed something that was going to clean without stripping, help cut down on frizz and my dry ends, and of course allow me to detangle quickly. 

Soft, shiny wash and go after using Superfruit Renewal

Let me just say -- this shampoo delivered on all fronts. I haven't fallen this head over heels for a shampoo since tgin's Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo. Because I was in a time crunch, I didn't have much of a chance to really let my usual Aussie Moist Conditioner sit in my hair. I slapped it on, wet it, detangled for like 15 seconds and kept it moving, praying that the Superfruit Renewal Shampoo would handle the rest. This shampoo not only made my tangles history, but it managed to accomplish something I didn't think was possible: hair that feels squeaky clean, yet ultra soft and moisturized. My rough ends were a thing of the past, and even after another wash with a different shampoo, they still haven't returned full force. I really did see the difference in my hair after one use. What made me even more excited was that the shampoo truly did clarify my hair and scalp, but with none of that crunchy, weird, dry feeling clarifying shampoos leave behind. I was in all sorts of shock and awe. In fact, this shampoo has shifted the way that I think about shampoos, in terms of the role it plays in the perfect wash and go.

As far as fragrance goes, it is mildly fruity with floral undertones. Not at all offensive or overbearing. It is a creamy light pink in color, which I didn't mind at all. The consistency is rich, but really no more or less thick than your average creamy shampoo. It is definitely not a cowash; it is a shampoo. But probably one of the most gentle shampoos you will ever come across. In life.It has a great lather, and tons of slip. Goodness, the slip! I didn't let Aussie Moist complete the detangling job, and the Superfruit Renewal definitely picked up the slack and then some. Talk about Guinness World Record detangling times. I literally cleansed and detangled my hair the rest of the way in under 15 minutes. I kid you not. Definitely on my Must Haves for 2014 List.

Drawbacks: The only drawback is that none of the "powerhouse antioxidants" are in the top ingredients. But that is no deal breaker, especially since The Beauty Brains broke down how companies add botanical extracts to water and list them. It honestly appears that the Ouidad did the exact opposite. Something fun in the top 5-7 ingredients would have been nice, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

Bonuses: My hair was so soft and smooth, I felt like I didn't need to condition afterwards. And the super duper bonus? FRIZZ BANISHED. Seriously. Normally, I have to rely on the conditioner to tame the frizz after a shampoo, but Ouidad told Aussie, "fall back, I got this!" To see what I'm talking about, check out this photo of my hair 100% dry after using my regular products (Aussie Moist, Camille Rose Naturals Curl Love Moisture Milk, and TIGI Catwalk Curlesque Curls Rock Amplifier) to style. Notice how smooth my ends are! Shampoo makes all the difference!

Multiple textures, yep! Best anti-frizz wash and go ever? You better believe it!

Bottom Line: Worth every penny. If you are on a product spending budget and only periodically make allowances for a splurge here and there, splurge on this. I promise, you won't be disappointed. Like I said, when my bottle runs low, I will be running to Ulta for more! I'm obsessed, and now antsy to work my way through more Ouidad products. #adventuresofaproductjunkie

Best Practices: Following instructions is super important. Although I didn't leave it on my hair for the recommended 1-2 minutes, I made it a point to not immediately wash it out. I left it on for 30-45 seconds per section after working it through my hair and scalp. I believe this helps remove more of the buildup than applying, massaging on, and rinsing alone.

Overall Product Rating: 5 stars hands down. Seriously, I'm loving every part of this shampoo!

Shameless plug time: Don't forget to join me in my first ever hangout with Ouidad herself! Coming Sunday the 23rd at 2:30pm EST -- 11:30am for all my #LANaturals :)