Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo

Another love/hate affair for me...I like this one because it does actually help reduce my oily scalp and calms my scalp down (probably due to the Tea Tree oil in it), however the dislike is it's slightly on the harsh side which is no doubt due to the fact that it contains SLS. Rarely does my hair like any shampoo that contains it as I end up with hair that feels 'stripped' clean and dry, and not in a good sense! It's also got too much peppermint oil, straight out of Pureology's Hydrate shampoo books, PM have also added it at 6th place in the ingredients list, although unlike Pureology oddly I don't find my scalp itching after using this. It also foams less and smells quite refreshing and more natural. However I wouldn't use this long term simply because it doesn't agree with my hair and I end up having to use a hair mask weekly to try and restore my hair to its pre-shampoo state. The hunt for a good shampoo continues...


Selena x


~ My HG list ~

(As I've sampled many 100s of skin, hair and m/u products over the last decade and a half, I thought it might be useful to share my top 10 must-have products, subject to change if and when I come across something more effective. I love constantly trying out new stuff - usually sample sizes via e-bay, also plenty courtesy of a friend who works at Sephora)


1. Hair Loss Treatment: ‘Divine Herbal’ - Hair Oil
2. Lip Balm: 'Nuxe' - Reve De Miel Lip Balm
3. Pigmentation + Anti-Ageing Treatment: ‘Divine Herbal’ - Facial Treatment Serum
4. Cleanser: 'Paula's Choice' - Skin Balancing Cleanser
5. Concealer: ‘Mac’ - Studio Finish Concealer
6. Lash Growth Serum: ‘Divine Herbal’ - Divinelash
7. Foundation/SPF: ‘Juice Beauty’ - Stem Cellular Repair (warm glow)
8. Face Scrub: ‘Sisley' - Botanical Gentle Buffing Cream
9. Moisturizer: ‘Antipodes' - Rejoice Light Day Cream
10. Hand Cream: 'Origins' - Make A Difference Rejuvenating Hand Treatment

I bought this a couple of times before only as a splurge Bc it's kinda expensive Bc it's a salon 💇 brand but I really like this shampoo! It's very refreshing & clarifying due to the tea tree oil & peppermint oil & lavender oil in it & it smells like a spa experience! It's cooling & really wakes you up ! It works beautifully on my oily hair & im not allergic to the scent of this Bc it's all natural essential oils versus the synthetic garbage shampoos from the drug store which I never buy! 😖

Cleans the hair well for sure but makes absolutely no difference when it comes to making my hair less oily. On the contrary I am staring to come to the conclusion that all expensive special shampoos for oily hair are useless and even counterproductive

Eye-opening minty fresh but low lathering hair “cleanser”. This does a good job cleaning out oils and really helps keep my fine hair from looking greasy, my hair is wavy and easily gets weighed down - this shampoo (and corresponding conditionder) helps get it clean so the wave in my hair pops up nice. I have read other reviews that say this makes their scalp tingle, I don’t experience that at all, but I don’t have any scalp issues. I really like the way it smells, but the aroma doesn't linger in my hair which is a good thing.
I got the big bottle with the pump during a sale and feel I got a great deal on an otherwise expensive product, not to mention my hair does good by it so that makes it all the more worth it.
I can say pretty much everything above for the Special conditioner as well and add that it helps with eliminating any static or frizzies without weighing my hair down.

Used to use the Lavender Mint line but realized it was way too heavy for my thick but very straight hair despite my whole head being bleached for a few months at this point. Wanting to stay in the Tea Tree line as the smell and feel of all of the essential oils in these products are really nice I gave this a try as I had heard that it's really lightweight. This cleans my hair so well and gives me insane body and shine. A bonus is that as soon as it hits your scalp but before you lather it up your whole head opens up and feels instantly cooling, like your scalp is getting a breath of fresh air. Would recommend as you can get various sizes at different price points and the quality is amazing!

I love this shampoo. I have an oily scalp and experience all the wonderful joys that come along with it. This shampoo is great. A little goes along way. I love the intense tingle (scalp, nose, sometimes eyes...it is that strong). It does a great job of cleansing my oily scalp and isn't harsh on my drier ends however I do use a very moisturizing conditioner (PM tea tree and lavender or PM Super Charged Moisture or Joice hydrating conditioner). My hair is soft and clean. Love it.

Con:
I hate the smell. Seriously. I start tearing up when I put this shampoo ontop of my head. Its that strong.
The cap for the bottle broke in the first few uses.

Pro:
It works. It just does. I tend towards an oily scalp that's sensitive to a lot of products and this shampoo just balances things out. I feel more comfurtable, wash my hair a bit less frequent and I think there's less shedding too. So while this isn't a luxorious experience I enjoy using in the shower, I sure enjoy the results. Will continue to buy as long as it works.
Note: I use this shampoo about once a week.

I'm a full time hairstylist and I would really recommend this tor people who have a bad dry scalp, it's so refreshing!!! It really helps clean those pores real well and the conditioner puts in some moisture right back in!! Honestly a lot of people tend to have really hot steaming shower which can also dry your hair out! So make sure after you condition to close your cuticles by ending your shower with a cooler water temperature!!

For me with fine, slippery oily scalp and non processed hair this is a great shampoo. I have fine straight asian hair which is not dyed or damaged. so this is great I wash twice and focus on the scalp. I only apply conditioner to my ends and mid shaft and since I always detangle with a heat protector and my wet brush my hair looks pretty good. I probably don't recommend this for daily use if your hair is on the dryer side or damaged from excessive heat styling etc.

This is my favourite clarifying shampoo!! I've been using it for 10 years. This gets all the build up off your scalp and has gives that clean mint sensation on your scalp. Great for dandruff treatment. Because it's very drying, I highly recommend using a hydrating mask after rinsing this stuff out. I use Tea Tree on average once a week, so the. Bottle goes a long way. Holy Grail!