Routine Shampoo Review

My Take on the Luxury Shampoo

routine shampoo review

When you have extensive alopecia, it’s easy to neglect your scalp. To think, “well, I don’t have much hair, so why bother nourishing it?” and to use whatever products are cheapest.

Since losing the rest of my hair postpartum, I’ve been guilty of this! And although I used an amazing and gentle shampoo called Revita in the past to support my hair and scalp health, which stopped shedding in its tracks, I got a lazier after having my daughter.

I didn’t order another batch of Revita and began using Dove soap on my head. (Now, while I like the brand, I wouldn’t recommend rubbing body soap on your head, unless it’s made solely of natural ingredients!)

It’s important to keep your hair follicles clear of build-up, to moisturize and hydrate without stripping your skin of its natural oils and to prevent hair loss from the root – only then can you expect regrowth. For this, you need a hair care routine.

In this Routine shampoo review, I’ll see whether this brand would be a good asset to your own hair care routine – and if not, the other brands I’d recommend. Enjoy!

Emma's 'I'm not a doctor' disclaimer

Hi there, I’m an alopecian, I’m not a doctor! Any advice I give is based on my own research and personal experiences . This site is, however, reader-supported. When you buy through external links, I may earn a tiny affiliate commission. Learn more here. I also keep the lights on by selling my own headscarves and alopecia merch.
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Quick Comparison: Routine vs Revita

routine shampoo bottle

Routine Shampoo & Conditioner with Rosehip

Revita shampoo bottle

Revita Hair Density Shampoo & Conditioner

My Fave

What are Routine Shampoo and Conditioner?

The Routine hair care brand offers a luxury hair thinning shampoo and a conditioner that supposedly has a superior formulation to other shampoo and conditioner brands. (And it’d want to – at $25 a bottle, this brand’s shampoo isn’t exactly cheap!)

However, it does contain some great ingredients to prevent hair breakage and maybe even increase hair growth: with essential oils, fatty acids and “carrier oils” like argan oil and coconut oil, which work to nourish the scalp environment, improve hair texture and deeply nourish hair strands after environmental damage.

The Routine wellness shampoo range and Routine conditioner may sound like amazing hair care products. But can they stop your hair falling out? And what are the potential side effects? Because, due to some of the ingredients involved, Routine shampoo might not be for everyone…

Key Ingredients & Benefits

On the surface, Routine shampoo and conditioner look like wonderful, all-natural hair care products from a trustworthy, cruelty free haircare brand. They contain proven ingredients for increasing hair thickness, preventing hair damage and even promoting hair growth.

Plus, both Routine shampoo and Routine conditioner are free from harmful chemicals like sulfates, parabens, synthetic stabilizers or color additives. (Psst…check out my top sulfate-free shampoos in this post!)

However, before you rush out and buy Routine shampoo, take a moment to examine the below ingredients properly.

Because while many of them are great for sensitive skin and can create a healthy scalp – which is essential for increasing hair growth – one or two of them might actually damage hair health and even lead to more hair thinning or hair breakage. Noooooo!

The vegan hair loss formula contains:

  • Biotin: Helps to support hair growth cells and works to strengthen hair and improve hair quality – although biotin can cause nausea and skin rashes for those who have excess stores or a biotin sensitivity. So check with your doctor first!
  • Argan Oil: An antioxidant that protects, hydrates and nourishes hair follicles to minimize hair breakage, argan oil can restore damaged hair and improve hair quality.
  • Coconut Oil: Deeply moisturizing and hydrating, coconut oil improves hair texture, strengthening hair and replenishing damaged hair.
  • Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera is a wonderful anti-inflammatory that cools your scalp and adds much-needed moisture, without causing an oily scalp in the process.
  • Nettle Oil: Helps in hair regeneration by stimulating the scalp. Rich in silica and sulphur, nettle oil also nourishes and adds a natural shine to leave hair soft and hair moisturized.
  • Niacinamide: Also known as Niacin or Vitamin B3, this vitamin boosts blood flow to deliver even more nutrients, fostering a healthy scalp.
  • Saw Palmetto Oil: A natural DHT blocker with anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory properties, saw palmetto is a wonderful ingredient for tackling hormone-related hair loss and moving you into the growth phase of the hair cycle faster.
  • Caffeine: Another natural DHT blocker, which is the hormone associated with male pattern baldness. It also stimulates hair follicles and improves blood circulation to scalp – and, as this study shows, it’s almost as effective as minoxidil in stopping hair fall.
  • Proteolytic Enzymes: The only ingredients that cause me to question Routine shampoo – as instead of working to reduce hair loss and promote healthy hair growth, they could actually do the opposite. More on these potentially harmful chemicals in the “side effects” section.
 
Read More

Argan Oil for Hair Loss

Coconut Oil for Hair Growth

Aloe Vera for Hair Growth

You can choose a Routine shampoo and Routine conditioner with different scents: including Rosehip, Basil & Avocado, Cucumber and Unscented. Below are the full ingredients in their most popular option: Rosehip shampoo and conditioner.

Routine Shampoo Ingredients

Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycerin, Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Pisum Sativum (Pea) Peptide, Polysorbate 80, Polyacrylate-33, Sodium CocoylIsethionate, Sodium Phytate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Caffeine, Biotin, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Serenoa Serrulata (Saw Palmetto) Fruit Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Argan Oil, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Tocopherol (mixed), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree Oil), Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Organic Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Tromethamine

Routine Conditioner Ingredients

Water, Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Pisum Sativum (Pea) Peptide, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Phytate, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Argan Oil, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Tocopherol (mixed), Stearalkonium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Niacinamide, Caffeine, Panthenol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Biotin, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree Oil), Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Organic Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Serenoa Serrulata (Saw Palmetto) Fruit Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citric Acid

Routine Shampoo Reviews

The below reviews are absolutely glowing – about how Routine shampoo and conditioner can stop hair fall within a couple of weeks, improve hair thickness and hair quality… and result in hair growth pretty quickly, too.

But bear in mind, Routine shampoo isn’t available on Amazon or other retailers, just through the manufacturer’s website – so the only reviews I could find were there and can be biased.

About 2 years ago, my hair started shedding a lot and I became concerned. Like really really concerned. I was using Sephora shampoos but my hair loss just got worse. Not only did my hair stop falling when I switched to Routine, but the conditioner made it soft and shiny. It is a bit pricey but your investment is worth it.

– Emily S

I was losing enough hair it affected my self esteem. Sorry, vain about my hair even at 74. So long story short, within 3 weeks of using shampoo, conditioner and oil, my hair is not falling out. My shower and hairbrush are clean. This is pretty amazing and I’ve told all my friends. I liked the way the shampoo and conditioner left my hair and I am used to using expensive hair products. Again, 3 weeks and obvious results in less hair loss, plus more hair volume. Thank you for a product that does what it claims!

– Jill B

Side Effects & Contraindications

So, are Routine shampoo and conditioner really as good as they sound? And is Routine shampoo safe for everyone to use or could it result in hair damage?

Well, at first, I thought the inclusion of proteolytic enzymes in Routine shampoo and conditioner was a good thing. Aftar all, they can enhance natural hair color and restore shine to, supposedly, leave hair smooth and vibrant.

But are these cosmetic benefits worth it? Because the way these enzymes work is by removing excess protein build-up from the scalp…and what if they actually take away so much of our essential hair proteins, that we wind up with MORE hair breakage, even thinning hair where we hadn’t experienced hair fall before?

As this study shows, an application of these enzymes on mice led to “intense degenerative effects of the hair follicle, such as detachment of the inner root sheath [and] cystic dilation of the hair shaft…implying impairment of their function”.

Yikes…as healthy hair follicles are pretty much essential in order to reduce hair loss and to promote hair growth, we definitely want to avoid anything that could cause them unnecessary damage.

There are a few other cases in which Routine shampoo and Routine conditioner mightn’t be the best choice for you.

Avoid Routine Shampoo and Conditioner if:

  • You have chemically treated hair or color-treated hair. Although the brand says their formula is “perfect for all types, including color treated hair”, it contains Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate – quite a powerful cleansing agent/surfectant that could cause your color to fade more quickly if you have dyed hair.
  • You have sensitive skin. Because even though Routine shampoo and conditioner contain great natural ingredients, I couldn’t determine whether or not their fragrances are synthetic. They might have additives that could trigger allergies, causing scalp irritation and even more hair loss – so you might want to look at all-natural paraben free shampoos like Revita instead. However, Routine shampoo and conditioner do contain tea tree oil, which can actually be very healing for the skin…so I guess you’d have to try it to see how they affect you!
  • You have very fine hair or thin hair: Again, although Routine shampoo can supposedly help hair thinning and promote hair growth amongst all hair types, the enzymes it includes might just be a little too much for already fragile hair. As can the surfactant I mentioned above – sure, it would be useful for cleansing the scalp but it might be just a little too harsh and actually have a negative effect on hair quality, leading to more hair loss.
  • You have oily hair: While I absolutely love the various oils that Routine shampoo and conditioner contain in their vegan formula, I’m not sure these products are indeed good for all hair types: like for those with oily hair. Not that they’ll do your hair damage but if your locks are already prone to getting greasy, maybe there’s simply too many oils going on and they could just end up weighing your hair down…with the kind of shine you don’t want.

Alternatives to Routine Shampoo

Although I would probably buy Routine shampoo myself to try at least once, and am also happy to recommend Routine conditioner, I don’t think it’s suitable for everyone. Like if you have fine, thin or oily hair, if you have an especially sensitive scalp or known allergies to any of the (many!) botanical ingredients, you might want something more simple.

Revita Shampoo & Conditioner

Revita shampoo and conditioner are my favorite hair thinning products for good reason – they worked in stopping my hair loss. I love how they smell, the brand’s customer service and how they massively improved the texture and quality of my hair, too.

Although I didn’t notice miraculous regrowth results, after a few weeks of using Revita I did notice a small amount of baby hairs growing back into my patches. I should have stayed consistent with their use, though…which is why I’ve just ordered my next batch and I’ll stick with it for longer this time!

Revita shampoo bottle

Vegamour Shampoo & Conditioner

Although admittedly, I think it was this brand’s amazing Gro serum that brought my hair back, to my bald spots and my eyebrow (which had disappeared postpartum), I love their other hair care products, too.

Like Routine shampoo and conditioner, they’re in the high-end market – and are actually quite a lot more expensive, at $86 for the set. For those who can afford it, Vegamour is a great brand. But it also has plenty of botanical ingredients that mightn’t agree with everyone. My husband kept sneezing after I used it and begged me to stop! Oh well.

Vegamour gro shampoo

Common Questions

Where can I buy Routine Shampoo?

Routine shampoo and conditioner aren’t available to buy on Amazon – you can only get them direct from the manufacturer, on their website.

Can you use Routine Shampoo every day?

Yes, you can use the shampoo and conditioner daily if you like. If you notice your hair getting oily (or overly dry), you could try them every other day instead.

Is Routine Shampoo safe for colored hair?

I wouldn’t recommend it as the surfactants included could make color fade faster than other shampoos which are more natural.

Final Thoughts: A Nice Addition to Your Routine!

As I said in the start of this post, I think one of the most important things you can do to reduce shedding and boost hair growth is to start with your scalp. To find a product that supports scalp health, rather than rubbing on a bunch of harsh chemicals or synthetic fragrances.

With that in mind, I think any product that means a healthier hair care routine is A Good Thing. And Routine shampoo seems like a pretty good option…apart from, perhaps, the potential side effects I mentioned and the fact that it mightn’t be suitable for certain hair types.

If you don’t fall into that category though, give it a try! Add some nourishing oils to your hair care regime and please share your experiences with your new Routine below!

Love & hugs,

Lady Alopecia Signature

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Author

Lady Alopecia

Alopecian. Yoga Teacher. Copywriter. Here to share information, offer support and show people the adventures that can lie in hair loss. I’m proud to have alopecia and I want to help others embrace their baldness, too!

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Comments

6 Responses

  1. Routine shampoo and conditioner seemed to give me body week 1. Week 2 it broke my scalp out with sores, flakes and itching. I asked them why their ingredients are not listed on the bottles and they told me it is because they are always changing the ingredients so they are listed on line!!!! So now I have no way to know what caused the scalp issue. In the long run it took 3 weeks to get rid of the breakout and caused even more hair loss

    1. Hi Karen,

      Thanks so much for sharing your experience and I’m really sorry to hear about those awful side effects you experienced…it just backs up my concerns about why they don’t include at list of ingredients on their bottles! And they aren’t listed online either, from what I could find, all sounds a bit dodgy to me. I’m so sorry this happened to you and I hope your hair has managed to recover since. Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with me and my readers, though – hopefully it will deter anyone from buying Routine products!

      Take care,

      Emma x

    1. Hi Julia,

      While I appreciate that people are entitled to their opinion, I don’t appreciate the words you’re using to express it. Calling someone ‘pathetic’, when you clearly haven’t read about my story or the fact that I’m an alopecian simply trying to help other people find things that could help them cope with hair loss, isn’t really fair. And no, I am not getting paid for this post. I state right at the top and in my disclaimer page that I may earn a small affiliate commission on some products I recommend on Lady Alopecia but I’m not paid to write posts…I just want to provide people with the kind of information I never had. I’m very open and transparent about what I do here, that there are no miracle cures but that some things can help to reduce shedding, and I want to give people all the information possible.

      If you actually took time to read this post rather than jumping to accusations straight away, you might see that I’m not pushing Routine shampoo on anyone – in fact, I mention its risks and contraindications, noting that it probably wouldn’t suit everyone. So if I was getting paid by Routine to write this, I’d be doing a pretty bad job!

      Anyway, my advice would be to do your background reading on the author of posts before launching an attack against someone who’s just genuinely trying to help. But that’s just my opinion.

      Wishing you all the best!

      Emma

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