Aveeno Nourish + Shine Shampoo Review

Is this shampoo safe for color-treated hair, even though it contains a sulfate (ammonium lauryl sulfate)?

If you read my other review of Aveeno Pure Renewal Shampoo and Conditioner, you know that I’ve been a big fan of Aveeno haircare products ever since my Japanese hair stylist recommended the brand to me years ago. I recently ordered Aveeno Nourish + Shine shampoo for the first time. Nourish and shine? Sign me up. But when I received it in the mail, I was a bit disappointed to discover that the second ingredient included the word “sulfate”—not “sodium lauryl sulfate,” but ammonium lauryl sulfate. But everyone knows that people with color-treated hair should avoid shampoo with sulfates, right? Or like fatty vs. regular alcohols, are not all sulfates created equal? Let’s find out.

Aveeno Nourish + Shine Shampoo Review

Aveeno Nourish + Shine Shampoo ingredients

water, ammonium lauryl sulfate, dimethicone, sodium cumenesulfonate, cocamide mea, cetyl alcohol, acrylates copolymer, cocamidopropyl betaine, fragrance, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, glycol distearate, tetrasodium edta, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride triticum vulgare (wheat) germ oil, triticum vulgare (wheat) gluten, orbignya speciosa kernel oil, glycerin, polyquaternium-10, astrocaryum murumuru seed butter, mauritia flexuosa fruit oil, mica, titanium dioxide

Unlike the Pure Renewal line, which includes seaweed extract, Aveeno Nourish + Shine shampoo includes wheat extract, which is supposed to deliver shine and banish dullness from hair.

I sent my dad the ingredient list and also asked him if ammonium lauryl sulfate was gentler than sodium lauryl sulfate, or about the same. Here’s what he had to say.

My Dad the Chemist’s review of Aveeno Nourish + Shine Shampoo

So it looks like he likes the ingredients in Aveeno Nourish + Shine shampoo. He also confirmed that ammonium lauryl sulfate was gentler and less irritating than sodium lauryl sulfate, which may be why the package of this shampoo states that it is “gentle on color-treated hair.”

Aveeno Nourish + Shine Shampoo review

I’ve been using Aveeno Nourish + Shine shampoo for a few weeks now, and I think it feels pretty similar to the Pure Renewal haircare line. It has a glossy, pearl-like sheen to it, and it’s nice and thick, so it feels luxurious. The fragrance is definitely there, but not overpowering, just a pleasant afternote. It also foams up nicely so it’s easy to distribute across your scalp.

I haven’t noticed that my hair has gotten shinier, but it does feel a bit smoother (but maybe that’s because of the Kirkland Signature Moisture Conditioner I’ve been using?). I think this shampoo is worth reordering if it’s a good price on Amazon. It’s pretty much interchangeable with the Aveeno Pure Renewal Shampoo, so I’d recommend buying whichever one is cheaper at any given time.

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