What is love beauty and planet shampoo, really?
Love Beauty and Planet is basically Unilever’s attempt at cracking the sustainable beauty market. They showed up a few years back with recycled bottles, vegan formulas, and that whole “good for you, good for the earth” messaging.
Nothing groundbreaking, but they’re at least trying. The bottles use recycled plastic, they don’t test on animals, and they’re supposedly working on their carbon footprint. Standard stuff for 2025, but still beats companies doing absolutely nothing.
They’ve got different varieties of love beauty and planet shampoo—coconut water for volume, argan oil for smoothness, murumuru butter for colored hair, all that. Each one targets different hair problems with plant-based ingredients and essential oils.
Quick Background on My Hair Drama
My hair’s about shoulder-length, somewhere between wavy and confused. It can’t decide what texture it wants on any given day. I color it regularly, which means dry ends and oily roots if I skip washing for more than 48 hours.
I went with the Argan Oil & Lavender version because my hair was absolutely fried after my stylist got a bit too enthusiastic with the bleach last time.
The bottle said something about smooth, serene hair while being cruelty-free and vegan. Sure, let’s see if any of that’s actually true.
Opening It Up: First Thoughts
The bottle itself? Pretty nice, honestly. Matte finish, clean design, doesn’t look like it’s trying too hard to convince you it’s eco-friendly.
Popped the cap and immediately got hit with lavender. Not the fake, chemical kind either—it actually smelled natural. Made my basic shower feel a little less depressing, which I appreciated.
Consistency was normal. Nothing weird or watery. It actually lathered up, which shocked me because most sulfate-free shampoos are terrible at that.
Week One: My Hair Was Confused
Nobody warns you about this, but your hair gets weird when you switch products.
That first week with love beauty and planet shampoo was interesting. My hair felt super clean, but also kind of… stripped? You know that squeaky feeling when your hair’s almost too clean? Yeah, that.
What I noticed right away:
- That lavender smell stuck around forever (not complaining though)
- My scalp felt ridiculously clean but also a little tight
- The ends weren’t miraculously smooth yet
- Needed way less product than expected—like a quarter-sized blob was plenty
I didn’t give up though. Your hair needs adjustment time when switching products, especially if your old shampoo was loaded with silicones.
Weeks Two and Three: Okay, Now We’re Talking
This is when the love beauty and planet shampoo actually started proving itself.
My hair stopped feeling weird and started feeling legitimately clean. That tight scalp thing disappeared. My roots stayed fresh longer—like I could actually go two and a half days between washes instead of feeling greasy by day two.
The smoothing part kicked in too. Brushing through wet hair became easier. Fewer tangles. Less frizz when I air-dried, which was unexpected.
What was working by this point:
- Way less gunky buildup on my scalp
- Hair dried smoother without adding extra products
- My color looked better longer between appointments
- The oil production on my scalp seemed more normal
I started using the matching conditioner around week two, which definitely helped the overall situation.
Week Four: Final Thoughts After a Month
By the end of the month, I knew exactly where I stood with this shampoo.
My hair looked better. Not in that fake, coated way where products just sit on top of your hair. Actually better. Better texture, better shine, easier to style because it wasn’t fighting me constantly.
The environmental piece felt good too. Knowing the empty bottle gets recycled and the brand’s at least attempting sustainability made my beauty routine guilt less heavy.
What Actually Works About This Shampoo
Here’s what legitimately impressed me:
The ingredient list is decent. No sulfates, parabens, or dyes. The plant oils actually work instead of just being there for show.
Doesn’t wreck your color. My highlights lasted way longer than with regular drugstore shampoos that claim to be color-safe but absolutely aren’t.
The price makes sense. Around $6-8 depending where you buy it. Not luxury brand pricing, but not bottom-shelf garbage either.
The sustainability part is legit. Bottles are 100% recycled plastic and they’re working on using less water in production. Not perfect, but better than nothing.
Your hair gets properly clean. Some natural shampoos leave this gross residue or barely clean anything. This one actually works without destroying your hair.
The Not-So-Great Parts
Nothing’s perfect, and this shampoo has some real downsides.
The lather isn’t huge. If you need mountains of bubbles to feel like it’s working, you’ll be disappointed. It lathers enough, just not that crazy foam explosion you might be used to.
Might not cut it for super oily hair. If your scalp’s an oil factory, you probably need something stronger. This is gentle, which works for most people but maybe not everyone.
The scent isn’t universal. I loved the lavender, but my roommate said it smelled like old lady perfume. Scent’s personal like that.
There’s a learning curve with the amount. Too little and your hair stays kind of dirty. Too much and you’re wasting it. Takes a few washes to figure out your sweet spot.
Who Should Actually Try This
Love beauty and planet shampoo works great if you’ve got:
- Colored or bleached hair needing gentle washing
- Normal to dry hair wanting moisture without feeling heavy
- Concerns about environmental impact of beauty products
- Sensitive scalp that freaks out with harsh chemicals
- A regular budget that can’t stretch to $40 salon shampoos
Skip it if you have extremely oily hair, serious dandruff issues, or hate any scent in your products.
What I Learned About Using It Right
After testing for a month, here’s how to get the best results with love beauty and planet shampoo:
Use less than your brain tells you to. Seriously, start small. You can always add more if needed.
Concentrate on your scalp. Massage it into your roots and scalp area, let it rinse down through the ends. Your ends don’t need aggressive cleaning.
Let it sit for a minute. Don’t just slap it on and rinse immediately. Give it 30-60 seconds to actually do its job.
Use the matching conditioner. They’re designed to work together, and the results are noticeably better when you use both.
Keep the cap closed tight. Store it upright so water doesn’t get in and dilute everything.
How It Stacks Up Against Other Options
I’ve tested plenty of sustainable shampoos over the years, and love beauty and planet shampoo holds up pretty well.
It’s cheaper than Aveda or Rahua but feels nicer than basic drugstore stuff. The ingredients match up with pricier natural brands, minus the fancy packaging and boutique markup.
Against other mass-market eco options, it performs better than some, about the same as others. The real advantage is you can grab it at Target or CVS without hunting through specialty stores or ordering online.
My Actual Final Take
After a month of daily use, I’m definitely keeping this around.
Will it magically transform your hair overnight? Absolutely not. That’s not how any of this actually works, no matter what those ridiculous Instagram ads promise.
What it does do: cleans your hair properly, helps it get healthier over time, makes your shower smell nice, and lets you feel slightly less terrible about your environmental footprint.
The love beauty and planet shampoo line delivers on most of what it promises without the greenwashing BS that infects so many eco-beauty brands. It’s affordable, easy to find, and actually works—which is literally all I need from a shampoo.
If you’re curious about trying it, grab a bottle and commit to at least two weeks before deciding. Your hair needs adjustment time, and the results improve the longer you use it.
And if it doesn’t work for you? Whatever, that’s totally fine. Hair’s weird and what works perfectly for me might be terrible for you. But based on my month of testing, love beauty and planet shampoo is worth trying—especially at this price point where you’re not risking much.