Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo Review

Hey guys! Since I started working at an Aveda concept salon, I've really gotten to know a lot about Aveda, and their products. I could care less about the "natural" aspect that Aveda tries to portray, because that word is so over-used it's become virtually meaningless. I always have a bit of an attitude whenever any company, not just Aveda, tries to come off like their products are so organic and natural...yeah, sure. Because taking something out of the earth, processing it, and then putting a minuscule amount in a small, pleasantly shaped bottle along with 50 other ingredients is the absolute epitome of "natural." But hey, I'm always willing to put all my feelings aside and try something new...whether it's "organic" or not. Forgetting all those eco-friendly words for a second, Aveda is actually a nice brand, and I genuinely like a lot of their products. I would just like them more if they were honest with both the consumers and the professionals, like me.

Today I'm reviewing Blue Malva Shampoo, a blue-violet tinted shampoo for blonde, grey, and other cool-toned hair shades. First of all, the Cherry Almond Bark scent is AMAZING not to mention totally addictive. Apparently Aveda used to make a whole line of Cherry Almond Bark products..? I don't know why they chose to discontinue them, because I can't imagine anyone not liking the way it smells. Anyway, I was turned on to Blue Malva after I chose to get blonde highlights in my hair again (I, um, get bored with my hair color very easily..). After one of the stylists in my salon used it on me, I was hooked. Not only did it cleanse my hair just right and smell incredible, it visibly toned down the brass in my hair that I'm very susceptible to. So I've pretty much been using it every day, to keep the brass away, and my blonde still cool-toned, but...I think it worked a little too well. It's not something that you notice at first, or even at all in my case. But yesterday, I got a few more highlights put in my hair, and I couldn't believe the difference! The old highlights looked way too dull compared to my new very bright, very blonde ones! This has never happened to me with a violet shampoo before, and then it hit me - it's not called Blue Malva for nothing. That's why my hair got so drab, it's all the blue pigments! I'm used to violet shampoos that are, well, violet. Blue Malva is much stronger than I thought, which I love, just not for every day. However, if I had more of a cool-toned dark ash blonde hair color, or even if I had brown hair but disliked any sort of red reflections in it, I would definitely use Blue Malva often. Blonde hair is just a bit more porous so it takes in color easier, that's why my hair turned so ashy. I'm still gonna keep using it, and I'll definitely get more once I run out.

Here's the ingredient list:

Aqueous (Water/Aqua/Eau) Extracts/Extraits Aqueux: Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Leaf Powder, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Shell Powder, Prunus Serotina (Wild Cherry) Bark Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Wheat Amino Acids, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Babassuamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-6 Cocamide, Dimethicone PEG-7 Cocoate, Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Polyquaternium-10, Isostearamidopropyl Morpholine Lactate, Glycerin, Fragrance (Parfum), Geraniol, Linalool, Limonene, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Sodium Chloride, Polysorbate 80, Maltodextrin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Annato (CI 75120), Ext. Violet 2 (CI 60730).

And without all the puffery:

Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Wheat Amino Acids, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Babassuamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-6 Cocamide, Dimethicone PEG-7 Cocoate, Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Polyquaternium-10, Isostearamidopropyl Morpholine Lactate, Sodium Chloride, Polysorbate 80, Maltodextrin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Annatto (CI 75120), Ext. Violet 2 (CI 60730).

A pretty basic, gentle shampoo. Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Babassuamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-6 Cocamide, Dimethicone PEG-7 Cocoate, Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate are all surfactants, foaming agents, cleansers, etc. Wheat Amino Acids, Panthenol, and Tocopherol are conditioning agents. Polyquaternium-10 and Isostearamidopropyl Morpholine Lactate both prevent static electricity when used in hair care products, but Polyquaternium-10 also enhances the look and feel of hair, as well as making damaged hair feel healthier. Sodium Chloride is used to thicken many cosmetics and personal care products that are water-based. Polysorbate 80 is an emulsifier; it helps to mix other ingredients that normally wouldn't mix at all. Maltodextrin is a binding agent and emulsion stabilizer, but could also be used as a film former or conditioning agent. Tetrasodium EDTA is usually found in soaps. It can prevent hard water from not creating foam, and increase the lather effect. Annatto (CI 75120) and Ext. Violet 2 (CI 60730) are colorants that I would usually leave out, but they're what gives Blue Malva that blue-violet tint. Annatto is actually an orange/red color...maybe it's to control the blue? I'm not a chemist, so I don't know.

Again, I'll say this is good for blondes that like cool tones in their hair, just don't use it every day. If you have darker blonde or brown hair, but don't like getting any warmth, I'd suggest you try this. It does have Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Chloride, so this shampoo is not safe for keratin treated hair.

Aveda Blue Malva shampoo is now only available in a liter size, and retails on the Aveda website for $31.50. So if you're interested, stop in to your local Aveda salon or store and pick some up! I've got some new products by Keratin Complex that I'm loving and will definitely do a review soon. Take care of your hair everyone! [: ...read more ⇒

L'Oréal White Violet Shampoo/Conditioner Review

Hey guys! Today I'm reviewing L'Oréal Professionnel Colorist Collection White Violet Shampoo and Conditioner. In case you were wondering, these are the same shampoo and conditioner that Artec had, but Artec is no longer being made and has been repackaged under L'Oréal's Colorist Collection. Same stuff, different bottle.

The shampoo is really nice! It's very pigmented and tones out the yellow quite nicely. I highly recommend it to my fellow pale blondies. It also smells nice, kinda like bananas. Some people say they smell coconut too, but I don't know, LOL. I'm so bad at identifying scents.

The shampoo contains Water, Lauryl Glucoside, PPG-10 Cetyl Ether, Cocomide MIPA, and Coco-Betaine, so no sulfates for all you who are anti-sulfate! Lauryl Glucoside is the main surfactant, and it's made from glucose and lauryl alcohol so it'll be pretty gentle on your hair, which is good for us blondes! PPG-10 Cetyl Ether is an emollient and a conditioning agent kind of similar to Cetyl Alcohol. Cocomide MIPA thickens shampoo and creates foam to make the lather we all expect shampoo to have. Coco-Betaine is actualy Cocamidopropyl Betaine, which is a surfactant that comes from coconut oil! Maybe this is what everyone is smelling? Haha, but it's actually very effective in shampoos and body washes that require a nice lather. Looking further on the ingredient list, I see more ingredients that are derived from coconuts... interesting. It's also worth mentioning that the shampoo itself is a very bright purple! I love that it has so much pigment. I'll definitely be re-purchasing this!! =D

Honestly, I'm very disappointed with the conditioner. I just feel like it has no effect, like it's just plain conditioner with a violet tint. I expected it to tone yellow more than the shampoo, like my all time favorite violet conditioner, Redken Pure Pearl does. However, it does smell nice and conditions your hair a little bit better than Pure Pearl in my opinion. Still, I'd rather have the better toning effect that Pure Pearl gives instead of something more conditioning like White Violet. You can always use a leave-in, like my previously reviewed Catwalk Fast-Fixx afterwards. =)

It contains Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, and C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate. Really it's just your basic color-safe conditioner. Oh, and I know the word Alcohol might scare some of you, but it's way different than like, rubbing alcohol or something similar. The alcohols used in cosmetics provide very good moisture for your hair and skin, so don't be afraid! I'd tell you guys to stay away if it honestly posed any sort of threat to you, so no worries. =) I think I'm gonna use up this bottle and just stick to Pure Pearl from now on. Do you agree? Disagree? Comment and let's talk about it. =)


Now, for those of you who have never used violet, or any color-depositing shampoo/conditioner, you should know that they are not meant to be used every day, no matter what brand you have. I recommend using them once a week as a refresher in-between salon visits, or every other shampoo to maintain color and brightness (for those who need it most, like blondes and redheads). If you are blonde and try and use this as your main shampoo, your hair will become dull and might have a grey/violet tint, and we don't want that so be careful!


L'Oréal's White Violet Shampoo and Conditioner is available in salons and online, anywhere from $15-$20 each depending on where you go. Both the shampoo and conditioner come in 8 oz bottles.

So yeah, hopefully this helped some of you, and I'll talk to you all soon! Take care of your hair! ♥ ...read more ⇒