2 weeks Ago
needs no introduction. It’s loved by dermatologists, praised by editors, and all over social media. What need an introduction? CeraVe’s first-ever haircare (!!) collection.
The brand just launched five hair products—two shampoos, two conditioners, and a 2-in-1—all exclusive to Walmart and all under $10. Of course the beauty team got a sneak peak at the newness first and, in true editor fashion, put the Gentle Hydrating and Anti-Dandruff collections to the test. Keep reading for our honest reviews, along with details on how we tried the products, how they performed, and how our hair looked and felt post-wash.
The Gentle Hydrating collection details: The editor review: “My colorist is going to hate me for saying this, but I was my hair nearly every day. My fine hair gets oily by day two and when I sweat, I sweat, so just isn’t a viable option. For this reason (and the general fact that I’m obsessed with all of CeraVe’s skincare products), I was super excited to try the new Gentle Shampoo and Conditioner.
They’re designed to keep hair soft and healthy—even if you’re a frequent washer. At first glance, I didn’t actually think the shampoo would be effective at removing product buildup, sweat, and oil because it’s so creamy, but I was wrong. The formula lathers up a ton and post-rinse my scalp and strands felt clean but not squeaky or straw-like.
It is also safe for dyed hair and won’t contribute to color fading, which is a must for me. No notes there. The conditioner, IMO, is incredibly similar to .
The texture, feel, packaging—it’s legit like a moisturizing lotion for your hair. Even the ingredient profile—a blend of , , and silicones—is similar in both products. While lightweight, the conditioner provides a ton of slip for my fine waves and made my hair feel immediately softer both in the shower and once it was dry.
Typically, detangling my hair is a workout but I swear this made combing through knots so much easier. Overall, this duo is exactly what I expected from CeraVe: well-made basics with good-for-you ingredients that do exactly as they say.” The editor review: “Unlike my fabulous colleague Lauren, I do not wash my hair every day.
On average, I wash my every 10 to 14 days. But like Lauren, I’m also a major CeraVe fan, so I was pumped to test the new Gentle Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner—especially since it claims to be for all hair types, including kinks and curls like mine. After some pre-shower detangling, I was ready to try the shampoo.
The creamy formulation coated my curls well and felt super gentle as I started to lather it up. I could tell it was doing a good job of clarifying as I watched the murky water go down the drain. I was impressed by its ability to clean my hair without completely striping it of moisture.
Next up, the conditioner. I’m more of a thick, creamy conditioner gal so this lightweight bb was a departure for me. My only real issue was the lack of slip for my hair texture.
My curls are tight and dense—especially when wet—so I always look for that have significant slip in order to keep my hair somewhat detangled throughout the wash/condish process. I will say my hair felt clean and soft when I got out of the shower. It was also nicely prepped for the styling products I used for my braid-out hairstyle.
In the end, this isn’t a line I will be using every time I wash—my tight curls just need a biiiiit more moisture—but I would definitely recommend it to other textured hair folks with looser curls who are looking for a product that is effective but gentle.” The Anti-Dandruff collection details: The editor review: “I’m no stranger to , as I’ve dealt with an itchy, oily, acne-prone scalp that finds itself fighting dandruff every single fall and winter. My problem is that I tend to use said dandruff shampoo until the flakes go away, then switch back to my usual volumizing and nourishing products.
And the cycle repeats! But I basically trust CeraVe with my life (their beats out $$$ formulas for me all the time), so I was willing to see if if their new Dandruff Shampoo and Conditioner would change my ways. As someone with oily roots, I usually choose clear shampoos, since they’re not laden with all the oils and butters that weigh my hair down. This, however, is a creamy, white shampoo with a delicious foamy lather.
While it’s free of the two top sulfates (sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate), it does still contain other strong cleansers, which really help break down buildup and oils. Plus, the included 1 percent pyrithione zinc helps get rid of dandruff plaques and itch. But it also has a mix of lightweight moisturizers—ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide—to help offset any of the potential dryness.
As soon as I rinsed this out of my hair, I was shocked at how soft my hair already felt, a strong feat for a dandruff shampoo. As for my scalp? It felt balanced—not itchy or dry or flaky but also not coated in an oily residue either. As I worked the conditioner into my ends, I immediately felt my hair smooth a lil bit too.
This formula is ultra lightweight, which is great for my fine hair. But it still has the necessary ingredients to add detangling slip, shine, and moisture (ahem, ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid). There’s also no goopy texture or funky chemical scent like other dandruff lines I’ve used, which I <3.
Afterward, I blow-dried my hair with no product in—the true test of a shampoo and conditioner’s ability to smooth and detangle for me. My hair had a surprising amount of volume without any additional product, and my roots didn’t feel itchy like usual. And like, look at how soft and shiny my hair is.
Reminder: There is no product at all!!! Magic! I think I’ll actually make use of my dandruff shampoo now...
” Why trust ? is the deputy beauty director at with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from the best retinol eye creams to the . is the beauty editor-at-large at . Previously, Julee was beauty director at and global beauty director at and has held various editorial positions at Huffington Post and .
She counts herself lucky AF that she gets to play with beauty products for a living and tell dope stories. is the beauty editor at with six years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from to . Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports.
She has covered beauty for nine years at and has contributed to and magazines as well. Follow her on ..
