Hairstory New Wash review: I tried this no-shampoo cleanser and it's changed how I wash my hair

Read on for our full Hairstory New Wash review as one writer decides to sacrifice her favourite shampoo for a two-in-one cleanser and conditioner.

THE PRODUCT

THE HYPE

Packed with amphiphilic substances of a different kind to those you'll find in traditional shampoos, this detergent-free cleanser claims to only attach itself to the oil that shouldn't be on your hair. “It has a proprietary blend of essential oils and naturally-derived, saturated cleansers that firmly grab anything oily, but, unlike detergent, they have a weaker attraction to water,” Eli explains. “So, when you rinse, the oils and debris loosely attached to hair are rinsed away, but the good ones stay where they belong.” Some of the cleanser's molecules remain attached as they're so moisturising, which is why the brand claims you won't need to add conditioner to your routine. Sounds promising, but will the one-step New Wash really create swish-able locks?

REVIEWER

Sophie Cockett, Commerce Editor.

BEAUTY BIO

I've always had a love/hate relationship with my hair. It's very thick, so is prone to being frizzy and uncontrollable. I only really love my hair after every wash, when I straighten it with my trusty Remington Hair Straighteners to restore it to its pre-wash sleek and smooth state.

That said, excessive hair straightening has been known to leave my hair a little dry, so I tend to slather on conditioner and hair masks like there's no tomorrow. Another complaint is that I suffer with an itchy scalp from time to time. So all in all, I was excited to find out whether Hairstory's New Wash could moisturise my hair enough that I didn't need conditioner while also leaving my scalp feeling less irritated.

THE REVIEW

I signed up to use this 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner for two weeks, in place of my normal shampoo. What arrived in the post was the brand's New Wash Original Starter Kit, which comes with the New Wash Original cleanser and a brush, which promises to massage your scalp as you wash.

My first thoughts? I was pleasantly surprised at how jumbo the New Wash pouch was. Seriously - you get a lot of bang for your buck, given a little goes a long way. Yes, the packaging is very simple, but it's also all-importantly sustainable (more on that later). Plus, it's what's on the inside that counts, right?

I hopped straight in the shower to try the New Wash cleanser out, and I was quickly hit by the first quirk: this stuff doesn't foam. No bubbles. None at all. It was kind of disorientating, but I referred back to my box for instructions. It says that, due to the no-foam formula, you need to coat your entire head in the product and massage it in thoroughly "like crazy" then "massage some more". So I did.

I found it difficult to gauge how much product to use, but the scalp brush proved seriously handy with the whole massaging thing and was so relaxing, it felt like a mini at-home spa experience. I'm not sure I'd be confident using the shampoo without it, to be honest, as I'd worry that I wasn't massaging the product into my hair enough. And just as you need to massage this product in thoroughly, you also need to really rinse it out, so I spent much longer than I usually would under the shower.