Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic gluten-free hair products
I noticed a collection of unused shampoos and conditioners hidden in a box while clearing some items in my room recently. They were part of a review project I worked on last year and I never got round to finishing them up, mostly because they either do not suit me so well or because I’ve moved on to try other things. Anyway, of the lot, the Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic set is most interesting as it is made with non-toxic chemistry, and its unique selling point is being gluten free. And boy, after a year, they’re still usable!
I’ve written something about gluten-free cosmetics, which are created to help people with gluten sensitivity because some believe that such ingredients in cosmetics can get absorbed into the body and trigger a gluten reaction. In addition to being gluten-free, the Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic products are also said to be “Harmonically Made”, which indicates products have been verified for authenticity and safety, including but not limited to certified organic ingredients. Anyway, both the shampoo and conditioner are formulated without sulfates, parabens, silicones, ethoxylates, PEG, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances.
Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic Shampoo
Ingredients: Water, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycerin, Disodium Coco-glucoside Citrate, Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Oleate, Cocoglucoside, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Certified Organic Ethyl Palmate, Certified Organic Mauritia Flexuosa (Buriti) Fruit Oil, Nigella Certified Organic Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Vitis Vinifera (Red Grape) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Vaccinium Marcocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Certified Organic Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Certified Organic Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil, Certified Organic Menthol, Certified Organic Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Certified Organic Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon) Bark Oil, Certified Organic Vanilla Planifolia Fruit (Natural Flavor), Certified Organic Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry Natural Flavor), Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Oil, Certified Organic Limonene, Certified Organic Linalool, Citric Acid, Tocopherol (Vitamin E).
Described as a multifunctional daily use shampoo that is anti-aging and antioxidant rich, this shampoo is able to rid hair of build-up, revealing hair in its cleanest, purest form. Interestingly, while this shampoo contains three surfactants from what I can spot from the ingredient list, this product does not lather up as much as other sulfate-free shampoos I’ve tried. But amazingly, it did cleanse my hair pretty well even with just one wash although I had to use more than my usual quantity of shampoo. With the combination of peppermint oil, spearmint oil and menthol, this shampoo has a minty aroma and left my scalp with a minty freshness.
Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic Conditioner
Ingredients: Water, Certified Organic Ethyl Palmate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Tapioca Starch, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil, Certified Organic Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Mauritia Flexuosa (Buriti) Fruit Oil, Certified Organic Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Vitis Vinifera (Red Grape) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Vaccinium Marcocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Certified Organic Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Certified Organic Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil, Certified Organic Menthol, Certified Organic Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Certified Organic Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon) Bark Oil, Certified Organic Vanilla Planifolia Fruit (Natural Flavor), Certified Organic Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry Natural Flavor), Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Oil, Certified Organic Limonene, Certified Organic Linalool, Certified Organic Citric Acid, Tocopherol (Vitamin E).
Again, this is said to be a multifunctional daily use conditioner that is anti-aging and antioxidant rich, but I don’t find anything special about it other than the same minty freshness like the shampoo. It works like a normal conditioner but I did notice however that this conditioner contains Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Seed Oil, which I recently found out to contain significant UV absorption properties and was associated with an important sun protection factor. I had no idea! So because the ingredient is listed quite high up in the ingredient list of the Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic Conditioner, I suppose using the product provides the hair some level of sun protection too?
Overall summary
Overall, the non-gluten shampoo and conditioner does an effective job of cleansing and nourishing my scalp and hair. However, despite the claims that this range will leave hair volumizing. I did not find it so for mine and this is one of the reasons I’ve stopped using it. I reckon it could be because my hair is particularly oily and so this product might work better for those with normal hair. I’m rather surprised however that the products still work well after a year considering this is paraben free. However, you do want to note that both products contain Behenyl Alcohol and Phenoxyethanol as preservatives.
Price and availability
Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic shampoo and conditioner are available in two sizes; in 444ml bottles and 60ml travel size packaging. If you’ve never tried the products and would want to see how effective they are for your hair, you might want to give the travel size a trial. They cost S$14 each at Bud Cosmetics. I also found their products retailing at Lovelula but it seems the store only carry the full size items.
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I have been eyeing on IN products since the beginning of the year( esp their skincare range ) and heard some pretty good stuff about them. Didn’t get to purchase it because shipping in from US do cost me a bomb.
So coincidental, I started using this 2 days ago! Mostly same reaction as you but I do see volumizing effect for my hair! ?
Great thing to know that even after a year they are in usable condition.
Most of my other bath products deteriorate when they are left alone for quite sometime.
Bud Cosmetics is probably nearer for you. Believe they ship internationally. Otherwise, Lovelula’s shipping rate is pretty reasonable.
It helps you with volume? That’s great. It doesn’t do that much for me…or maybe I’m expect too much by comparing with other volumizing shampoos.
I was surprised, considering this is natural and said to have 12 months lifespan. I think the preservatives they use are rather potent then.
I’ve been using the shampoo for some time. Does its job as a daily cleanser. No complaints but no wow either.
I think that sums up how I feel about it too. I don’t mind it but unfortunately, I need more volume for my hair and so this one does not cut it on that expectation. But it’s nice for people with normal hair I suppose.
I prefer IN’s non-Harmonic’s range, as phenoxyethanol is listed quite high up on the Harmonic’s ingredient list.
Fig and Sage gives a good explanation on why we should avoid the phenoxyethanol:
http://figandsage.blogspot.com/2009/11/on-soapbox-ingredient-spotlight.html
I am afraid of using this product, it might harm my hair.!!Well, I suggest that you better make sure that the hair products you are buying are safe and effective.
Why would it harm your hair?
Thanks for bringing it up. Yes, I did read about that ingredient over at Truth in Aging and I might have mentioned about it in > details in other reviews. That’s why I thought I’ll mention it being used as a preservative, so that those who are wary of the ingredient knows.
I think Rebecca is right!That products seems to have a lot of chemicals that would ruin our hair. Well, I am not saying that you don’t need to buy that one, it was just my opinion and everybody is entitled to have their own opinion.
Great to have found this blog, was thinking how awesome this shampoo can get, but after the review I might look at a few more brands to consider what is more suitable for my hair. ?
I am not a fan of Harmonic Shampoo either. I used it for over a month but I didn’t really like how it made my hair look. My favorite gluten free shampoo is Pura d’or Premium Organic Shampoo. Highly recommend it.
Sarah @ The Hair Essentials last post is: Celiac Friendly: Gluten Free Hair Products