Virtue Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner – The Review!

Was the virtue only present in the brand name and lacking in the formula? Or did it cleanse my hair so much that it revived not only my barnet, but my soul too? Should this be rebranded magical virtue? Okay I’m dragging this virtue thing way too long now…

If you’ve been following my hair journey, you’d recall that I was in dire need of switching it up. My hair seemed lifeless, like it was a surplus to requirements. Oil production seemed excessive, like my shampoo was long in retirement. Possibly not visible to the naked eye of others, but to me, it felt weighted with build-up, immune to my washing regime. After listening to your recommendations, I decided to try a few new haircare lines out!

Virtue’s price point is *scratch of the neck, ear, eye and nose* on the astronomical side; I do feel as though I’m rinsing away liquid gold, I’m sure my shower drain plug has a higher net-value than I do! But putting my envy to one side, what effect does this have to my hair? Let’s assess the claims and get to the nitty gritty – no I don’t mean my hair!

‘Virtue Labs Smooth Shampoo is a luxurious lathering shampoo with a soft, smooth finish. Formulated with our first-of-its-kind Alpha Keratin 60ku® protein, this shampoo acts as a powerful in-shower daily smoothing treatment for hair. It re-paves rough cuticles and reduces friction between each strand, tackling frizz at the source for haircare goes light years beyond basic cleansing. The Conditioner, eliminates frizz with every wash. Formulated with Alpha Keratin 60ku® protein; this conditioner acts as a powerful in-shower daily smoothing treatment for hair. It re-paves rough cuticles and reduces friction between each strand, tackling frizz at the source for haircare goes light years beyond basic cleansing.’ Color-safe, sulphate-free, phthalate free, synthetic colour and dye free, paraben-free, gluten-free, cruelty-free. Vegan.’

Wow, try saying that after your eggnog and mulled wine!

Specifically targets frizzy hair? You know you’ve already grabbed my attention! Keratin too? If you’re not too familiar with keratin and its benefits – it’s a natural protein that helps form hair, nails and your skin’s outer layer (epidermis is the medical term). Additionally helps support your skin, heal wounds and keep your nails and hair healthy. Lastly, it can help to reduce frizz, increase shine, and strengthen hair; all of which I will gladly lather my entire self in (but my bank balance wouldn’t allow it)… First world problems.

Price individually: 60ml – £17.00 ($18) | 200/240ml – £42.00 ($42) | 500ml £74.00 ($90). But there are discounts available if you buy as a bundle – £61.50 (usually £82.00) which I’ve linked.

Click HERE to shop!

The packaging is cute, very modern and visually appealing with its bubblegum pink / mauve undertone colouring. You know it’s expensive when they preserve the formula with a foil seal, a fanciful and useful touch that I must say, I haven’t witnessed from hair lines at a similar price point. It caught my eye and I do like the extra attention to detail.

Shampoo formula is silky soft – a light shiny beige/cream shade with silver hues. Lightly scented. It’s so smooth, I was quite skeptical on effectiveness to really break down build-up. It lathers very easily, doesn’t feel heavy and most importantly, it doesn’t tangle or dry out your hair. It feels like it’s been treated in a salon rather than stripped. 

Conditioner – I don’t hugely rate the functionality of the bottle. I prefer for the bottle to be almost identical to the shampoo, in terms of not upside down in one of those squeeze bottles (it’s just preference and I tend to prefer the optical appeal). And flipping the cap over is a bit outdated in my personal opinion, but I know sometimes people love their conditioner to have a clear difference so they don’t mistake one for the other, which completely makes sense. The conditioner formula is buttery, smooth, thick which is fabulous to drench your hair in, comparable to a hair mask in a fraction of the time.

Throughout the week my hair was easier to manage, felt lighter and fresher for longer while not turning into a ball of frizz – always helpful. Towards the end of the week the oil-buildup was present again, but less so. After my second and third time using these products, I noticed a significant reduction in excessive oil production, even towards the end of the week which is a major win. And now, my hair exudes a natural shine so thankfully I’m less reliant on additional products to create that effect.

I keep my hair care simple anyway, but now after a tiny blob of leave-in conditioner and one pump of argan oil depending on hairstyle choice, my hair’s good to go!

If you’re looking for a new shampoo and conditioner range, Virtue is a great option. Possibly not an entire game-changer, but in the somewhat sparse sulphate free category, I’d say this is top tier in comparison!

I’d rate Virtue a solid 8/10.

Pros: Formula, freshness preservation, keratin benefits, no harmful ingredients, packaging – specifically the shampoo.

Cons: Price, conditioner bottle slightly fiddly.

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this review and if there are any specific products you’d like me to review, don’t hesitate to let me know!

What do you think? Have you tried out Virtue products? Do you use sulphate-free shampoo? Did you find this review helpful? Comment below!