Jaimee Lupton, an entrepreneur from New Zealand, came up with the idea for MONDAY Haircare. She launched the brand for the first time in 2018, and then in January 2021, she brought it to the United States. Even though the brand only offers four shampoo and conditioner formulations (Gentle, Moisture, Smooth, and Volume), all of which are priced at $8, the brand’s range of pink, minimally designed bottles and clean formulations quickly struck a chord with audiences, which turned the independent brand into an Instagram sensation seemingly overnight. Since opening in the United States, the company claims to have sold more than a half a million bottles and are still counting; more than 10,000 bottles are sold each day (that’s seven bottles per minute, in case you were wondering).
I knew I needed to give it a shot because there was so much buzz surrounding the brand, including praise from Bella Hadid’s hair stylist Jenna Perry. I’m glad I did. Continue reading for my comprehensive analysis of MONDAY Haircare‘s most talked-about shampoos and conditioners.
The Formula of Monday Hair Care
Because of the particular requirements of my hair, I decided to go with MONDAY Hair care Volume collection, which, according to the manufacturer, is specially made with elements that are “known to fit soft, thin, and shining hair types.” In light of these requirements, I chose to go with this line.
The Volume line in particular includes a number of ingredients that are inspired by skincare products, such as coconut oil, ginger root, and panthenol. All of the products produced by the brand are vegan and free of SLS, parabens, and cruelty (this is a must for me), but the Volume line in particular includes these ingredients (pro-vitamin B5). The former (which is rich in lactic acid) provides additional nourishment and conditioning benefits, whereas ginger root increases blood flow to the scalp, thereby delivering key nutrients to the hair follicles to help promote healthier growth and regeneration. Both of these factors contribute to healthier hair growth and regeneration. Panthenol is widely regarded as the “gold standard” of hair moisturisers due to its proven ability to help repair and strengthen damaged hair, minimise split ends, and enhance hair suppleness.
The Sustainability Element
In addition to including all of the hair-healthy ingredients, MONDAY Hair care has also taken a number of steps to help make its products not only a more affordable alternative to salon-quality brands, but also a more environmentally friendly one. This is because MONDAY is committed to reducing its environmental impact as much as possible. To begin, the bottles’ distinctive square shape isn’t just for aesthetics; it also enables them to be packed tighter and more efficiently, which helps to cut down on their overall carbon footprint. This is one way that the bottles help to reduce their overall impact on the environment. Other initiatives include the use of shipping boxes made from recycled content, the elimination of all plastic packaging, which includes no plastic fillers, polystyrene, or bubble wrap, and the use of packing tape that is 100 percent recycled and printed with soy-based ink that is friendly to the environment.
The Scent of Monday Hair Care
When it comes to the scent, each and every one of MONDAY hair care goods is infused with the company’s unique Gardenia fragrance, which exudes an airy, fruity-floral odour. Even though I don’t put much thought into the smell of my haircare products—I care much more about the end results than the benefits of its olfactory properties—even I couldn’t resist stealing whiffs of it as I emerged from the shower. I care much more about the end results than the benefits of its olfactory properties. However, you can breathe easy knowing that the fragrance is not overpowering and won’t compete with the aroma of your go-to fragrance if you are sensitive to strong fragrances or prefer that your hair does not smell like a fragrance counter at Macy’s throughout the day.
Wrapping Up
I had significant reservations about whether or not an inexpensive product could produce the same degree of effects as my tried-and-true high-end products, but MONDAY hair care not only fully lived up to the claims, but it far exceeded them. In addition to satisfying all of my needs regarding the ingredients (vegan, cruelty-free, SLS-free, and color-safe), the formulations were not only fun to work with but also smelled amazing and, most importantly, left my hair looking and feeling smooth, swishy, and healthy.