Product Reviews Rated 3.94 out of 5 stars
52 Reviews
Most Helpful Positive Review Left my hair so soft This shampoo is amazing. Honestly, I wasn't expecting a lot from it. I had never heard of the brand before, and I have been using the same hair products for as long as I can remember. I am so glad I got a chance to try this because I officially have a new shampoo. The packaging is simple, minimalistic, and sleek which I always enjoy because it usually means the company doesn't spend all the money on packaging rather than ingredients. The smell was pleasant and not overpowering. I tend to not wash my hair very often. I find that my hair is healthiest when I let it naturally do its thing. The first chance I got, I tried the Kristin Ess shampoo. It was so nice. I don't like a thick lather and I also hate the stripping feeling that some shampoos give. Somewhere in the middle where it isn't a tangled blob and isn't coated in chemicals is my happy place. This nailed that factor. Once I rinsed it out, my hair was notably softer and I could run my fingers through it. I have long hair so that usually isn't possible. I finished with my normal conditioner and heat spray, towel dried for about 5 minutes, then gave it a blow dry. I felt like a supermodel on a hair commercial. I am terrible and blow drying my hair but I looked like I had given myself a blowout. I was mad I didn't have plans. Overall, this shampoo outperformed some salon quality shampoos I've used. I've been seeing more articles mentioning this brand and I am really excited I got a chance to use it. I plan on using other products in this line after my experience. I highly recommend this shampoo.
Most Helpful Critical Review Caused Hair/Scalp Problems I wanted to love this brand and especially this product, but I can't. Everything was fine until about 2 weeks in to using the shampoo and conditioner. My scalp first started getting dry and itchy, which has never been a problem for me. About 3 weeks in, excessive amounts of hair started coming out when I washed or brushed my hair. My hair wasn't falling out in clumps, but it was more than normal, causing me to be concerned about the cause. About 1 month in, there was a lot of dandruff, irritation on my scalp, and parts of my scalp were getting crusty, almost like a had massive dandruff buildup. I want to preface this that I have never had any of these problems with other brands, including other inexpensive brands, high end brands, and custom shampoo. I used other Kristin Ess product including the scalp scrub, detangler, and the scalp every day conditioner. I stoped using these products and stuck with just the shampoo and conditioner to see if my symptoms improved. My symptoms continued to worsen and I realized that it was the shampoo and conditioner causing all of my problems. I even showed my hairdresser and she thought that the brand was good because it claims to be vegan and and lacks bad ingredients. There is something in these products that caused all of my symptoms and is not good at least for my hair type. I would strongly encourage using another brand to avoid dealing with the symptoms I experienced. I am not saying you will have the same problems, but for me, it was awful. I immediately switched brands and I have already noticed a positive change after one wash using another brand. Do your research and ask your hair dresser before trying.
Reviewed by 52 customers Absolutely love this Shampoo 5
Doreen from Brick
Love love love. I wash my hair everyday and this is by far the best shampoo I have ever used. Smells fantastic too!
Good Shampoo 4
Pamtheshopper from Fairborn
I like to try new products so I decided to buy this shampoo. My husband and I were impressed with how well it cleaned our hair and the great, light scent. We liked it so well that I bought a second bottle of shampoo and the conditioner.
Ruined my hair 1
Danielle from Muncie, Indiana
I picked this up a few weeks ago in store. I have dry hair due to past bleaching, and my drugstore shampoo had started causing hair loss. Although my hair is dry, I NEVER have frizz. I tried this shampoo for about three weeks, and it got frizzier EVERY time! I tried air drying, blow drying, combing wet, not combing wet. No matter what, the same poofy frizz. My hair felt very weighed down and almost like a film over it. All of the shine was gone and I had to straighten my hair just to cover the frizz. However it does smell amazing, so I hate that it didn't work out.
AMAZING 5
ARI from AZ
Smells so good! and leaves my hair so smooth/silky
One of my go-to inexpensive shampoos 5
Brianna from Michigan
I tried a different shampoo and ended up going back to this after I ran out. This seems to cleanse my hair well of any buildup without weighing it down, especially when double cleansing. I don't wash my hair everyday and feel this is the most effective of the ones I've tried so far. I will say - I do wish this has a better scent to it. It's not terrible, but not my favorite scent. An interesting floral, perfume-y smell to it. Another reason I enjoy the extra gentle as the fragrance is less intense. The conditioner is alright, not the best for my hair type, so I pair this with one of my other conditioners.
Cause of Frizziness 2
Taylor from MD
Used this product and the conditioner almost daily for about 5 months. I've been using this product as a part of my curly hair journey and while I do get nice curls/waves while using this product, the frizz is just out of this world! I cannot take it anymore. My hair looks shattered (and very well could be despite a recent chop and no heat) after using both. I tried my girlfriend's cheaper shampoo and conditioner without parabens and the difference was astounding! Little to no frizz! I'm paying almost $15 more (for a set) for my hair to look so unhealthy. I'm glad my bottles are almost finished. I will not be purchasing again.
Awful 1
LoveisintheHair from CA
If you like HEAVILY scented artificial coconut you may like this, but I also hate what it has done to my hair. Once my hair dries, it's dull, lifeless, dry and in worse condition. The more I use it the worse my hair becomes. I liked it after the first and maybe the second washes. But after that it went downhill from there. Really disappointed with the entire line. This is now a very expensive and unpleasant smelling hand soap for me along with the other shampoos I bought from Kristin Ess.
Exceptional Shampoo 5
Sage from Texas
KE Extra Gentle Shampoo is an Exceptional Shampoo!
This is the Holy Grail of Shampoo for me!
It completely stopped my hair fall in its tracks.
Gentle enough on my red colored hair. I don't use conditioner except only on the ends, because I don't need to.
Please Never Stop Making This shampoo, it has saved my life.
I loved it until it caused months of breakouts 1
Laceyjo85 from Etna, Wy
I really loved all her products in the beginning but after awhile I started to breakout along my hair line. Which creeped down onto my forehead. I didn't think much of it and up'd my skin care which did nothing at all. After some investigation I decided to stop using all her products and it's take awhile but I'm finally done with horrendous breakouts. To test my theory I let my daughter use the products and the same thing started happening to her. I promptly threw them all in the trash. It wasn't like normal acne is was tiny little white bumps that were incredibly itchy and would spread like wildfire. Never will use again. It's taken me two months or clear my skin.
Left me hair feeling greasy 2
Em from New York
This product left my hair feeling so greasy!!!! I have thin/ fine hair so I thought this product would be a game changer… nope!! I would rather use head and shoulders over this product. My hair felt so oily after one use.
Wanted to like this 2
Danielle from Jacksonville, FL
I have very fine very oily hair and need to wash my hair daily. I really liked the idea of this shampoo being gentle enough for daily use. The shampoo didn't lather a ton but my hair felt clean but not stripped as I was washing it and the scent was a little strong but pleasant. I let my hair air dry and unfortunately, as my hair dried, it got super frizzy. My hair isn't usually super frizzy so this was rather disappointing.
awful! 1
nyw from delaware
so i have thick wavy hair. after two washes i noticed my hair started getting more oily. it also really dried out my hair to the point where my hair felt like hay. i had to use a hydrating conditioner by authentic beauty concept for 2 weeks before i noticed my hair becoming healthy again.
Wanted to love it 2
Allie from CA
I was looking for a sulfate-free and affordable shampoo and wanted to love this one. Worked great on my hair. Unfortunately it clogged my pores and gave me pimples around the base of my scalp and neck. Won't buy again.
I would definitely buy this product again. 5
K fuzzy hair from M8nnesota
Awesome find! I'm anxious to try other products in her line.
Caused Hair/Scalp Problems 2
GeorgiaPeach from Savannah, GA
I wanted to love this brand and especially this product, but I can't. Everything was fine until about 2 weeks in to using the shampoo and conditioner. My scalp first started getting dry and itchy, which has never been a problem for me. About 3 weeks in, excessive amounts of hair started coming out when I washed or brushed my hair. My hair wasn't falling out in clumps, but it was more than normal, causing me to be concerned about the cause. About 1 month in, there was a lot of dandruff, irritation on my scalp, and parts of my scalp were getting crusty, almost like a had massive dandruff buildup. I want to preface this that I have never had any of these problems with other brands, including other inexpensive brands, high end brands, and custom shampoo. I used other Kristin Ess product including the scalp scrub, detangler, and the scalp every day conditioner. I stoped using these products and stuck with just the shampoo and conditioner to see if my symptoms improved. My symptoms continued to worsen and I realized that it was the shampoo and conditioner causing all of my problems. I even showed my hairdresser and she thought that the brand was good because it claims to be vegan and and lacks bad ingredients. There is something in these products that caused all of my symptoms and is not good at least for my hair type. I would strongly encourage using another brand to avoid dealing with the symptoms I experienced. I am not saying you will have the same problems, but for me, it was awful. I immediately switched brands and I have already noticed a positive change after one wash using another brand. Do your research and ask your hair dresser before trying.
Great shampoo for sensitive skin/scalp 5
PAnne628 from Los Angeles
I have very sensitive skin -- allergic to perfumed shampoo. I also have frontal fibrosing alopecia and need products that do not irritate my scalp or cause flaking. This one is terrific!
Doesn't clean hair 1
Molly from Durham, NC
I wanted to love this, and was searching for a gentle shampoo - I wash my hair frequently thanks to fine/thin strands and working out 6 days/ week. This just didn't cut it. It left my hair dirty/ full of residue no matter how well I scrubbed.
Love other Kristen Ess products, but hate this one.
This shampoo is the best shampoo I've ever used 5
Lynn from New York
The smell is amazing
Mixed feelings 3
Shyann from Wisconsin
I have mixed feelings about this product. The smell is AMAZING, definitely my favorite scent I've ever used on my hair. But, it leaves my hair feeling dry and after day 1, my hair feels pretty greasy. My hair type is thick and I have A LOT of it. After using it for 2 weeks, my hair keeps getting more dry. I'm super sad about it because I want to love it, but I don't think I'll continue to use :(
Do your research 1
Steph from 550 N 19th St Lot 33
So I have never wrote a review about any product in my life, but this product was not good to me! I understand that all hair types are different, but from what I've read on this product I had similar experiences to others. I've only been using this product for a week and right away my hair started to fall out and my scalp was so itchy. The smell was nice and I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt, but for those things to happen only a week of using it I wasn't going to continue.
It's a no for me 1
Suuuu from Nevada
Doesn't clean hair thoroughly and it left mine super oily with a waxy residue behind.
amazing! 5
Cait from Texas
has a great scent, super gentle, I have thin straight flat and oily hair and i use it everyday / every other day with the extra gentle conditioner and my hair is so soft and clean! love it and highly recommend
Great Smell 5
Kyle from Undisclosed
I have somewhat curly/wavy hair and this product makes my hair feel so soft and fresh. Overall this is a great shampoo, and even better when paired with its conditioner counterpart. The smell is really great, and probably my favorite part.
would rather use a free hotel shampoo 1
sam. from Undisclosed
I LOVE the dry shampoo and conditioner and thought why not try out the real shampoo and conditioner. BIG MISTAKE! my hair feels grimy and dirtier than ever before. Like it feels like I haven't washed it in 2 weeks. Suave works better. Hotel shampoos work better. This stuff is awful.
I didn't even know it was sulfate free! 5
Laura M from Undisclosed
I didn't even know it was sulfate free! It lathers up nicely.it's economical and goes a long way. Works as well as the expensive salon shampoos.