Calling all greasy-haired lads and ladies: have I got a treat for you. Well, Lush has a treat, and it’s in the form of its yummy-smelling liquid shampoo, I Love Juicy.
I Love Juicy (which is a take on the show “I Love Lucy” and I just NOW got that joke…) is a bright yellow, somewhat clear, somewhat cloudy liquid shampoo made with yummy, fresh fruit juices and essential oils to help degrease your hair. I have a problem with greasy hair (as you can see if you read my review archive for other shampoos that promised to deslick my tresses) and I think I have finally found my true love.
I purchased a small bottle of I Love Juicy, based on the recommendation of both my best friend and one of my friendly neighborhood Lush sales associates. The shampoo itself has a big blob of cloudiness in it. I tried hard to shake the bottle but the shampoo is pretty thick. It’s best to just leave the cloud where it is. Upon opening the lid, I got a whiff of fresh fruit juices, mostly citrus and a little bit of sweetness (possibly from the kiwi or mango used in the shampoo).
I hopped in the shower, wet my hair, and put a decent-sized blob of this in my hands (I have long, thick hair, so I would need more than the average person to clean my hair, I would say). I might try less next time because this has a lovely lather. Be sure to work it really into your scalp. You could hum the “I Love Lucy” theme song as you scrub it into your hair.
The scent of this shampoo is like no other I’ve ever smelled. I used to love the way Herbal Essences smelled (the really old school Herbal Essences, like from the late 90s when they had those awkward square-ish bottles and those caps that you could cut your fingertips on if you weren’t careful) and this smells even better. So fresh and so juicy… hence the name. It’s the perfect thing to wake you up in the morning, or even help you remember summer when it’s dreary cold outside.
I Love Juicy has an ingredients list that reads like a supermarket produce department: Water, Sodium Alkyl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide MEA, Propylene Glycol, Perfume, Lemon Oil, Freshly Juiced Papaya, Fine Sea Salt, Carrageenan Extract, Sweet Orange Oil, Fresh Pineapple Juice, Fresh Kiwi Juice, Fresh Mango Juice, Citral, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
A-ha, that’s why it lathers so nicely. There’s a ton of sulfates in the shampoo, as well as parabens. If you don’t mind washing your hair with either of these chemicals, then by all means, please pick up this shampoo if you’ve got an oil slick building on your scalp. Some peoples’ hair and skin reacts to sulfates, so be careful using this shampoo. This is especially true if you’re allergic to any of the fruits listed in the ingredients. I’m hearing more and more of how people are allergic to papaya and pineapple (I think it has something to do with its astringent and enzymatic qualities; both of these fruits can taste a little bit “sulphur-y”.)
After washing with I Love Juicy, my hair felt super clean. I even got three days of non-grease after using this shampoo. Wow! I would not recommend using this shampoo more than once or twice a week, as it is VERY drying. Be sure to use conditioner afterward (might I suggest Veganese?) to help replenish the ends.
I Love Juicy comes in three sizes: $9.95 for 3.3 oz, $19.95 for 8.4 oz, and $29.95 for 16.9 oz. The 3.3 oz is perfect for travel or just to try out. Since you only use this once or twice a week, a little bottle should last you a few months. The giant bottle should last you at least a year!
Try it out, see if it works for you. If not, Lush has a great return policy, and many other different shampoos to try.