Tested and Reviewed: The Root Project, A New Hair Brand That Promises Good Hair in Only Three Steps
Even though I have everything at my disposal to have amazing hair, I choose laziness every time. I'd love to be the girl who's lathering up with a gazillion products in an everything shower, then doing a full blow-out (velcro rollers included, ofc), followed by a few clip-in hair extensions and a curling iron session. But that will never, ever be me. My haircare vibe is the simpler the better, which is why a new brand called The Root Project really intrigued me. As the name suggests, The Root Project puts the focus on your roots, subscribing to the philosophy that if you take care of your roots, great hair will follow. They're not offering a bunch of solutions to scalp issues necessarily, but rather making the act of taking care of your scalp feel like a normal thing. And the formulas aren't loaded with a ton of heavy ingredients that won't do your scalp any favors. Enter: A simple three-step system with cleanser, conditioner, and deep conditioner that do great things for your roots and, in turn, shell out some good hair days. As a lazy editor, I put all three products to the test for weeks. Could the essentials be the key to making my hair look good without all the fuss? Lemme tell ya—kinda. Keep reading for my full review. Use code COSMO20 for 20% off:The Root Project The Rootine TrioThe Root Project Clean Canvas Detoxifying Hair CleanserThe Root Project Instant Pleasure Silky Hair MoisturizerThe Root Project Power Smooth Extreme Softening Hair MaskThe Detoxifying Hair Cleanser intrigued me the most. My scalp contains a number of sebaceous glands that should be studied by scientists, meaning my roots get v oily, v quickly. Often, I need a pretty strong shampoo to get my hair clean, usually opting for something with a strong-ish surfactant and then a once or twice a month sulfate-filled reset wash to really get the dry shampoo and volumizing products out. This one does contain Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, which helps provide a really strong lather but isn't nearly as harsh on your scalp or hair as the big three sulfates (sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, and ammonium lauryl sulfate). It does counteract some of the potential dryness you get from such a deep clean with aloe vera, mango seed butter, sunflower seed oil, and avocado oil. Plus, it's loaded with antioxidants like glutathione and rosemary extract—two great ingredients for scalp health. Beth Gillette for CosmopolitanOkay, matching the bottles wasn’t on purpose, but I’ll take it, lol.I really love this formula because of how well it cleans without drying out my hair. Because of this, I could see it playing well with a wide array of hair textures. For some, it might be a bit too cleansing for an everyday wash, but it's perfect every other day on my hair type. I mean, just look at my roots in the photo above—they look so lifted and full, and it's all thanks to a really good clean from this shampoo. So, I don't always use conditioner. I know, gasp. But while it might sound like a cardinal sin to you, many hairstylists have actually told me that it isn't always necessary for my hair, considering my ends are healthy and don't need tons of moisture. However, I do like to condition once or twice a week to make sure my hair feels soft and doesn't get dry. The Instant Pleasure Silky Hair Moisturizer is unlike any other conditioner I've ever used. As with all formulas from The Root Project, this conditioner is water-less (sustainability is at the forefront of the brand—love). The consistency is a lot less viscous than other conditioners and doesn't glide through hair in the same rich, coating way. But don't let that deter you. This conditioner is actually so moisturizing. Castor oil, mango seed butter, argan oil, and avocado oil all help lock in hydration and keep my ends sleek and smooth, even after I rinse the product out. Plus, there's a little rice protein and quinoa extract to help add a teensy bit of strengthening and repair, but not too much. Once every two weeks or so, I'll smooth on a hair mask to help make my ends feel super soft and fresh. However, I have to be super careful with formulas, as most can weigh my hair down. I used the tiniest dime-sized dot of the Power Smooth Extreme Softening Hair Mask from the mid-lengths to ends of my hair and let it sit in the shower for 10 minutes while I washed, exfoliated, and shaved. The whipped texture makes this feel extremely lightweight on hair. Dare I say, it's probably the lightest hair mask I've ever used (although, I could probably pile on more if I wanted a deeper condition or if I had thicker, coarser hair). Beth Gillette for CosmopolitanMango seed butter, the throughline of all Root Project products, is what really gives the hydrating and sealing properties. It's rich and nourishing, especially when paired with vitamin E, panthenol, argan oil, sunflower seed oil, and rice protein. After I used this, my hair looked really healthy. So much so, I thought, "Maybe a haircut isn't so dire after all." My split ends looked more uniform and smooth, and my hair felt soft but pliable. Someone at the office even asked me if I did something different with my hair—a huge compliment considering all I did was air dry.My one and only con with this entire line is the scent of the products. Because everything is clean and doesn't incorporate synthetic fragrance, you're really smelling the ingredients in the formulas...which leave a little to be desired. They're something I can look past in the shower and don't linger in my hair at all, but they're not the most pleasant as I'm lathering up. The shampoo smells minty, while both the moisturizer and deep conditioner use lemon peel oil for a slightly citrus scent. Final verdict: The Root Project's three-step system of essentials takes all of the guesswork out of curating a haircare routine. No, it won't work for every single hair type and concern (i.e. the moisturizer might not be enough for very dry, very damaged hair), but it was fantastic for my fine hair that looks for softness, volume, and bounce most of all. And it's really great to only need three products that'll help support scalp health while making my hair look good at the same time. I simply don't have time for anything else these days, mmk?FYI: You can use code COSMO20 for 20 percent off your order if you wanna try too.More reviews from our beauty editors:Tested: Beauty of Joseon's New Tinted SunscreenHailey Bieber’s Go–To Foundation Is Worth The $$$K18’s New Volumizer Is Legit Magic for Flat HairBeth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
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