I Reviewed OGX’s Coconut Milk Shampoo, and It Loaded My Hair With Moisture

We put the OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Shampoo to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Keep reading for our full product review.

When you see a shampoo that claims to add strength, elasticity, and hydration, resulting in balanced, healthy hair, it’s hard to turn a cold shoulder. No matter your hair care routine or hair type, these are valid concerns to us all. No one wants breakage or dry, brittle ends, am I right?

So when it came time to test the OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Shampoo, it was an obvious yes for me. With healthy, balanced hair in sight, I was eager to take this shampoo for a test spin. Read on for my honest review. 

About My Hair: Short and drab

I’ve recently cut my hair shorter, and it’s been a big adjustment. My natural waves aren’t supported in this cut, so I’ve found myself heat styling regularly to smooth and tame my chop from getting too poufy looking as it naturally dries. I typically wash every three days and have been enjoying using Hask tea tree shampoo to reset my scalp between product trials. I’m also in the early onset of summer and have been trying to keep my hair up off my neck much more than usual, so low ponytails have been in frequent rotation.

I always worry about my hair’s elasticity when I wear it up every day, and of course heat styling each day is no good either. I’ve been trying to find the right products and routine to keep my new length looking fresh and healthy, rather than dull and drab, and I just haven’t found my groove yet. 

The Feel: Milky and silky

Go figure that this shampoo has a milky feel to it, considering it’s made, in part, of coconut milk. The touch is a silky, slightly creamy consistency that lathers easily on wet hair. It didn’t have any weight to it that was noticeable during the application, nor was there any obvious residue post-shower. 

The Scent: Vacation mode

I’m a sucker for any tropical-oriented scents, coconut in particular. Anything that has me daydreaming of warmer days on the sand next to crystal blue waters is sure to leave me feeling refreshed. With subtle hints of peach and shea butter, the scent sits on the gentler side. It’s an aroma that, for me, creates a part of the experience and basically puts me in vacation mode.

Even if you don’t usually like the smell of coconut, I must say this smell falls on the softer side and doesn’t linger heavily after you shower. 

The Weight: Second-day blues

While this shampoo did not feel heavy to the touch or add any weight immediately, it did leave my hair feeling quite greasy and heavy on the second day. My roots looked really oily, and to some, maybe it wasn’t super noticeable—perhaps I only looked like I have shinier hair—but to me, the feeling wasn’t comfortable, and I found myself resetting my hair with my other shampoo between trial uses. 

However, I definitely felt my hair get stronger after the first few uses, almost to the extent that it felt thicker.

Ingredients: Inspired by nature

The most prominent ingredients in this formula are coconut milk, coconut oil, and egg white protein. These natural ingredients have a lot of perks. Coconut oil is known for its many hair benefits including softness and shine, while coconut milk helps to strengthen hair from the inside out, leaving it smoother and softer. Egg whites are loaded with protein and vitamins that can help rebuild damaged hair and breakage, thereby improving elasticity. Together, these key notes make for a symphony of balanced, healthy-looking hair.

This nourishing formula is sulfate- and paraben-free but does not meet Byrdie Clean standards.

The Results: Strong, hydrated hair

I definitely felt my hair get stronger after the first few uses, almost to the extent that it felt thicker. My ends felt just as full and healthy as my roots, but my entire head of hair was also super soft. What I loved most about this shampoo was how it really locked in the moisture of my hair and reduced the puffiness I so often work to avoid by heat styling. My natural waves were weighed down a bit, but I actually really loved the way they air-dried and that was a first for me at my new length.

The downside was that the same weight that made my waves more tame and manageable also left my roots feeling greasier. I have pretty coarse hair too, so I can’t imagine what this would do to finer hair types. It was really surprising to see that happen to my hair because few products have ever done that, again, because my hair is so coarse that weighing it down is nearly impossible. That being said, it feels like some stroke of bad luck. I had tried another moisturizing shampoo in the weeks before, so perhaps the back-to-back moisture-enhancing lathers were weighing on my scalp. It does seem one-off, but I’d be remiss not to share my honest findings with you, Byrdies. 

The Value: Unbeatable

It doesn’t cost a fortune to find a good moisturizing shampoo, and this product is proof in point. The OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo is roughly between $5 and $9 at most major retailers. There are few products in my beauty repertoire that are so affordable, so the price point is certainly a perk. You can get a similar product for $10 upwards to $40 or $50, depending on the brand and its unique formulations. But if you’re looking for something simple and affordable, the cost of this shampoo is unbeatable.  

Similar Products: You've got options

L’Oreal EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture Shampoo: Like the OGX option, this retails for between $5 to $10 depending on the retailer. The major point of difference is if your hair has been colored. The L’Oreal EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture Shampoo ($8) focuses on enhancing existing hair color and preventing it from stripping with each wash while infusing moisture and shine into the hair. The OGX formula strikes me as a simpler, perhaps even preventative formula, that can help for smaller hair woes like fighting against breakage if you're wearing your hair up every day or keeping it shiny and healthy despite regular heat styling.