OGX is one of my favourite shampoo brands. They make shampoos for all hair types that contain exotic ingredients and have luxury fragrances. This is my review of the OGX Charcoal Detox Shampoo.
I love testing out different OGX shampoos to discover which OGX shampoo is the best for different hair types. The Charcoal Shampoo stood out to me as being the top shampoo for oily hair. The product contains a charcoal and kaolin clay blend which helps to remove product buildup and excess sebum from the hair and scalp.
This post is my full review of the OGX Charcoal Shampoo
OGX Charcoal Shampoo Review
TThis post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. I try to make my reviews as helpful as possible for my readers. You can view my product selection and review process here.
What is Activated Charcoal?
Activated charcoal is charcoal that is heated up to a high temperature and then combined with gas. This has the effect of making the charcoal more porous since the gas causes lots of tiny internal spaces to develop.
Activated charcoal acts like a sponge and is able to absorb toxins and different chemicals. It is often used in emergency rooms to treat drug overdoses, and can be useful for absorbing gases.
In the cosmetic industry activated charcoal is used in hair and skin care treatments to help draw out impurities and toxins. It is useful for treating acne, oily skin and dandruff since it is able to absorb sebum, grime or pollutants from the skin. At the moment however there is no evidence to support these benefits.
Activated charcoal is also used as a teeth whitening agent, as it is believed it can prevent your teeth from becoming stained. Further studies need to be conducted however to prove this theory.
The activated charcoal found in the OGX Charcoal Detox Shampoo comes from coconut.
Please note that activated charcoal should not be confused with the charcoal you would use on barbecue. The charcoal you would use on a fire contains substances which are toxic to humans.
Is Charcoal Shampoo Good for Your Hair?
Charcoal is used on the hair mainly to help detoxify the scalp and remove excess oil and buildup from the hair. Since activated charcoal is so effective at withdrawing toxins and dirt, it can be useful for deep cleaning greasy hair.
Activated charcoal is also useful for exfoliating the scalp. Instead of removing dirt and dead skin cells in the same way a scrub would, it acts like a sponge and draws grime out of the hair due to its large surface area. This is useful for treating dandruff or itchy scalp conditions.
Charcoal is also an effective deodorant, so it can remove odours from the hair as well as impurities. It also helps to add volume to the hair and give it a boost from the root.
In general charcoal shampoo would suit anyone with extremely greasy hair, flat hair that sticks to the scalp, dandruff, or hair that has become dull from excess product buildup.
How the OGX Charcoal Shampoo is Used
For the best results the OGX Charcoal Shampoo should be used with the matching conditioner. The shampoo should be applied generously to wet hair and massaged into the hair and scalp. After the shampoo has formed a thick lather rinse it thoroughly and follow with the conditioner.
The shampoo appears to be a very dark grey colour from the bottle. When you pour the shampoo out however, you can see from the photo below that it’s actually clear with a slight grey tinge. I found I had to apply a lot of the product in order to get a proper lather (I have medium length hair).
The shampoo has a pleasant floral scent which I actually prefer compared to other OGX shampoos I’ve tried. After rinsing the shampoo out, my hair felt very clean, and only one wash was required.
The matching OGX Charcoal Conditioner is a light grey colour with black flecks (see the photo below). It also has a nice scent which was much stronger than the shampoo. The perfume has a slight floral note and is nicer I think compared to other OGX products.
I found this conditioner was not as moisturising as other OGX conditioners I’ve tried. If you have extremely greasy hair then I think it would work well since it doesn’t leave any heavy oily residue on the hair, but still provides moisture.
I found the combination of using the OGX Charcoal Shampoo and Conditioner left my hair extremely clean, but slightly fluffy. This is definitely a good combination for oily or greasy hair types, but not so good if you are prone to dryness or frizz. If you wanted a purifying shampoo to use once of twice a month, this would also be a good choice.
Pros and Cons of the OGX Charcoal Shampoo
After testing this shampoo thoroughly I recommend that this is the best OGX shampoo for oily hair. It makes the hair feel extremely light and clean and removes excess sebum from an oily scalp.
It is suitable for sensitive skin and helps to leave you with a boost of volume and a healthy scalp. Below is my summary of what’s good and what’s not so good about the OGX Charcoal Shampoo.
Pros
- It’s Sulphate Free – this might be why it took so much of the product to create a lather in my hair. Sulphates can strip the hair of its natural oils however, so having a formula that is free from all forms of sulphate is a good thing!
- Effectively eliminates grease – the detoxifying formula removes all traces of oil and product build up which could leave the hair flat, heavy and dull.
- Nice scent – the shampoo has a nice scent, and since charcoal is also a deodorant, it can help to remove any odours from the hair and leave your hair smelling clean and fresh.
- Soothes the scalp – this shampoo can help to gently exfoliate the scalp and stimulate circulation. It is useful for soothing an itchy scalp or reducing dandruff.
- Good value for money – when I bought my shampoo there was an offer on in Boots and it cost £3.49
Cons
- Can dry out the hair – if you are prone to dryness this shampoo may not be for you. I found it left my hair a bit fluffy. My hair can sometimes get dry and the conditioner wasn’t moisturising enough for me.
- Doesn’t lather well – you need to use a lot of the product to get it to lather. This may be due to the fact it’s sulphate free. If you like your shampoo to lather well, this might not be the right product for you.
- Masculine scent – I like the scent of this shampoo, however some of my friends thought it had a masculine smell and didn’t like it! I guess this could be a positive or negative depending on what you like your shampoo to smell like!
- Strips hair colour – although this shampoo claims to be safe for colour treated hair, I would not recommend it to anyone who dyes their hair. A friend who tried it told me it caused her colour to fade quickly.
OGX Charcoal Shampoo Ingredients
We know that the OGX Purifying Charcoal Detox Shampoo contains coconut charcoal, but what else is in it?
The second active ingredient is kaolin clay.
Kaolin Clay
Like activated charcoal, kaolin clay is also a powerful cleanser and exfoliator. It has a pH level of 4-5 which is similar to the pH of our hair, which is around 4.5-5.5. This means it helps to strengthen and balance the hair strands.
Kaolin clay is mainly used in beauty products to detoxify and absorb excess oil. Studies have proven that applying clay to the skin or scalp can help to draw out and reduce excess sebum.
Since clay often has a negative electrical charge, there are studies to suggest it can also bind to positively charged toxins and heavy metals and remove them. Some heavy metals with a positive charge found in environmental pollution include mercury or lead.
Full Ingredients
OGX sometimes change their formulas, so for the most up-to-date ingredients list you should check the product packaging. At the time of writing this post, the full ingredients are as follows:
(Aqua), Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Charcoal Powder, Kaolin, Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer, Polyquaternium-22, PEG-7 Amodimethicone, Linoleamidopropyl PG Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Polyquaternium-39, Sodium Hydrolyzed Potato Starch Dodecenylsuccinate, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Fragrance (Parfum), Ext. Violet 2 (CI 60730).
What sets the OGX Charcoal Shampoo Apart from its Competitors?
When researching charcoal shampoos, I came across two other products made by popular brands.
- Dr Organic Charcoal Shampoo
- SheaMoisture African Black Soap Bamboo Charcoal Deep Cleansing Shampoo
Like the OGX Charcoal Shampoo, the Dr Organic and SheaMoisture shampoos both come with matching charcoal conditioners.
I compared the three products to see how they were different and what set the OGX Charcoal Shampoo apart.
Before we explore the three products in more depth, let’s look at them side by side to compare the price and key ingredients.
Comparison Table
Last update on 2024-10-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
We can see from the comparison table that the OGX shampoo wins on price. It’s the least expensive out of the three and you get more product for your money. It’s also the only of the three to contain the combination of both activated charcoal and kaolin clay.
Although all three shampoos claim to remove toxins from the hair, the OGX shampoo contains the most detoxifying ingredients. It also however contains less moisturising ingredients compared to the other two shampoos.
The OGX shampoo is the clear winner if you have extremely oily or greasy hair, or are looking for a purifying shampoo. If you want to get the benefits of charcoal but your hair is prone to dryness, the Dr Organic or SheaMoisture shampoos might be better options for you.
I also found the SheaMoisture conditioner to be more hydrating for my hair than the OGX Charcoal conditioner. It also contains tea tree oil and African black soap which help to promote hair growth.
Where You Can Buy the OGX Charcoal Shampoo
The OGX Charcoal Shampoo is available to buy at Amazon, Boots, Superdrug, or FeelUnique
- Die Detox Kur für das Haar – Das OGX Purifying Charcoal...
- Besonders angenehmer Duft – Das angenehm nach Kokosnuss duftende...
- Glanz Shampoo mit ausgewogenem pH-Wert – Das pflegende...
Last update on 2024-10-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
FAQs about the OGX Charcoal Shampoo
Is OGX Charcoal Shampoo a clarifying shampoo?
Yes! The OGX Charcoal shampoo works well at removing product buildup and grease, and giving your hair and scalp a deep clean. It’s a great option if you want to purify and detox your hair!
Is OGX Charcoal Shampoo sulfate free?
Yes. There are no sulfates in the OGX Charcoal Shampoo
How I Test Out Products to Review
When I’m testing out a new shampoo I always use the product for at least a month before I write my review. This gives me enough time to test out the product thoroughly.
I also stop using any other products on my hair that could alter the way the shampoo works or the effect it has. My video reviews are always filmed after I have washed my hair with the shampoo with no other product on my hair.
I am aware when I test shampoo products that I have dry, fine and naturally curly hair, and I try to consider how the shampoo might perform on other hair types. In my reviews I give my own opinion of the product but also research other opinions across the internet, as well as discuss the product with my friends.
I am always interested to hear the opinions of my readers on any shampoos I have reviewed on my website, so there is a comment section at the end of each review for this purpose. I hope my reviews are helpful to others but if you have feedback on how I can make them better please let me know.
This Post was a Review of the OGX Charcoal Shampoo
Thank you for reading my review of the OGX Charcoal Shampoo. If you have tried the shampoo yourself please leave me a comment below and let me know your thoughts. This is a great shampoo for oily hair or if you are wanting to do a deep clean detox.