Shihuanuo – Spotting gray hair is typically never welcome and always unexpected. When gray hairs appear, most people are faced with two options: Either sit for hours getting hair dyed for a lot of money at a salon, or do a messy, stinky hair dye job at their home. Ruining the bathroom and stinking up the house isn’t exactly ideal. Fortunately, there are new hair care products that are dying hair while washing it: shampoos that color hair.
One of these is Shihuanuo Hair Color Shampoo. The company says that with their 15 mins hair cleanse and color, gray hairs will be gone. But does this unsophisticated “magic” hair product do it’s promise? In this breakdown, I explain the details of how this product works, the science of how it operates, and the impact it will have on your hair care routine.
What is Shihuanuo Hair Color Shampoo?
Shihuanuo Hair Color Shampoo is a 3-in-1 beauty product. This product is a shampoo, a conditioner, and a hair dye all at the same time, In contrast to the old dyeing methods that require mixing a separate coloring solutions into a developer, this product is one of the Shihuanuo line of shampoos that comes in a dual-chambered pump. When the mechanism is activated, the two separate solutions are combined together.
The product boasts a combination of Western and Eastern herbal balance. The product focuses on the mixture of hair herbs and the specific elements:
- Ginseng Extract: Often used in hair products to strengthen follicles.
- Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi Mushroom): Aims to help bring back natural vibrance of the hair.
- Camellia and Macadamia Nut Oils: Included to condition and add luster.
While it is marketed as an “ammonia-free” product, understand that it is still a chemical color product. It is a solution that is a mixture of a color that will wash out and a color that is a semi-permanent dye that will fade over time.
How Does It Work?
What makes the product special is its the ability to multi-task. When using the product, and as you pump the product, two liquids (the colorant and the developer) will mix in your hand.
The Mechanism
When applied to hair, the formula works by opening the hair cuticle. This is done a lot less aggressively than ammonia based dyes. This allows the pigment to deposit onto the hair shaft. Because it is formulated with cleansing agents, it also cleans oil and dirt from the scalp at the same time.
The Result
The result is mild oxidative or “deposit-only” color. This means that it will not strip your hair of its natural pigments (like bleach would). It will stain the strands with a darker pigment. Because of this, these shampoos are excellent for going darker or covering grey, but cannot lighten dark hair to blonde.
Advantages of Transitioning to a New Color Shampoo
In what ways are people removing box dyers for pump bottles? It’s about time savings and the health of their hair.
1. Excellent Convenience
The biggest pro for these point dyes is the ease of use. No mixing bowls, brushes, or sectional clips are needed. You just pump the liquid into your gloved hands and rub it into your hair.
2. Application Saves Time
A regular salon appointment can end up taking 2-3 hours. Regular box dyes can take 30-45 minutes to process, but Shihuanuo says it achieves full grey coverage in just 15-20 minutes at most. This means it is more compatible with tight schedules.
3. More Economical
Having to go to the salon for root touch ups is an expensive process. One bottle of Shihuanuo is about the cost of 1 box of drugstore dye, but it contains a much larger quantity of dye. Depending on the length of your hair, it will last for multiple applications, stretching over a few months.
4. Less Harsh Ingredients
Because it is ammonia free, people won’t have to endure the burning dyes associated with lower quality dyes. The conditioning oils will soften hair and make it feel less straw like or brittle instead of post-rinse.
Potential Drawbacks and Risks
Having a full understanding of the product entails weighing the pros and cons. There is nothing wrong with the marketing of hair products, but hair products have disadvantages.
Ingredient Transparency
The marketing is one thing, but the bottle claims to have numerous natural ingredients. Numerous reviews describe to be cautious of the ingredients in the back of the bottle, some of which are common allergens like PPD (p-phenylenediamine) and resorcinol, which prone to cause allergic reactions. Allergic reactions to dyes are common, and while the bottle is natural in front, it is not natural enough to be free from a patch test.
Staining Risks
Stains are a common and unfortunate side effect of hair dyes. They call it a shampoo to target hair and not skin, and in some cases, the product is even safe to use on skin. Hair dyes, however, are not one of those cases. This is a hair dye, and it can stain grout and curtains, and even skin and nails.
Limited Color Longevity
The product typically offers either a semi-permanent or a demi-permanent solution. The product volume dictates the number of uses, but the color does not fade, but it does with every wash. In most user reports, their color stays for around 3 to 4 weeks. If you wash your hair daily, it may fade faster.
User Experience: What Real Customers Say
Regardless of hair type, reviews describe the user experience with Shihuanuo from a positive perspective. On average, there is a 4.3 star rating across many retail platforms for the brand, which reflects the positive experience with the hair product.
The Good
The coverage is definitely one of the most praised features from the users. They often compliment it for covering “stubborn grays” and making the hair shiny. One user mentioned, “It fully covered my greys and left my hair very shiny and soft. No chemical smells either”. The convenience is also a repeated favorite, as customers love that they can do a root touch-up right before jumping in the shower.
The Bad
The negative comments tend to revolve around allergic reactions and mismatched colors. Some users found that the “Dark Brown” shades were nearly black. Others experienced itching and irritation from the scalp, emphasizing the importance of doing allergy tests. Some reviewers mentioned a risk of the product staining skin and the bathroom.
How to Use Shihuanuo Correctly
If you don’t want to have a bathroom disaster and want the best results, follow these simple instructions.
Step 1: Prep for Safety
Do a patch test 48 hours before you plan to use the product. Apply a small amount of the product behind your ear and wait to check for any reactions. Once it is clear to use on your whole head, put on the gloves that come in the box before applying.
Step 2: Dry vs. Damp Application
Some shampoos work on wet hair but the majority of users state that dry hair gives the best gray coverage. Dry application prevents water from diluting the pigments in the shampoo.
Step 3: Massage Thoroughly
Pump the shampoo into your hands and mix the shampoo slightly. Massage the shampoo into your hair until you fully cover the roots and the areas around the temples that have the most grays.
Step 4: The Wait
Every instruction set says to leave the shampoo in for 15 to 20 minutes. If you have stubborn gray hairs, feel free to leave it in for the full 20 minutes, but do not leave it in any longer so you do not irritate your scalp.
Step 5: Rinse and Reveal
Rinse with warm water until the water runs clear. You do not need to shampoo your hair after, but you may choose to conditioner your hair if you want.
Conclusion
Those who feel frustrated with the process of dyeing hair every so often may appreciate Shihuanuo Hair Color Shampoo. It is cost friendly and works to efficiently hide gray hairs.
Yet, this isn’t to say it’s perfect. It still relies on chemical components and similar safety precautions (like patch testing) are necessary. If you’re motivated by only convenience and are in need of a fresh, low-maintenance solution to extending salon visits, this product is worth a go. Just remember, the gloves are a must.
