GET IT OFF MY HEAD. (Original Source Tea Tree and Mint Shampoo)

Member Name: L0BSTERQUADRILLE

Product:	Original Source Tea Tree and Mint Shampoo
Date:	10/02/05 (1397 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: My husband likes it.

Disadvantages: Hurts like heck.

After trying a number of Original Source shower gels and generally being quite impressed with the results; I decided to try the Original Source tea tree & mint shampoo (only because tesco had sold out of TRESemme!).

The Original Source; tea tree & mint shampoo is in keeping with all of the Original Source products; the shampoo being a terrifically bright coloured liquid; a pea green colour and being contained within a bottle that has black, bold and prominent writing upon it (see pictures). It is this combination of ‘in your face’ colours and the bold writing that make Original Source products stand out above other products of their kind.
Original Source; tea tree & mint shampoo; is priced at £2.08 (although this price may differ from store to store) for a 250ml bottle and is made by the company ‘Cussons’. The shampoo can be bought in all supermarkets and I have seen it available in corner shops as well. (Original Source has a wide range of shampoos; yet the tea tree & mint is the only one of the range that is widely available.)
This original source product is made with natural oils; and not with synthetic fragrances. It is not tested on animals and the packaging is recyclable. As with most of the Original Source products; it displays the ‘suitable for vegan’s’ logo.

Similarly to the Original Source shower gels that I have used; this shampoo has the history of the Original Source printed upon the back of the bottle;
‘The Original Source range of shower products is inspired by the bush remedies of Ellen Wakeman. Daughter of missionaries in New South Wales, she disgraced her family when she ran away to join the Australian Gold rush in 1857. By means left vague in the records of time, Ellen persuaded a barber to take her on as an apprentice. While learning to shave whiskers and pull prospectors teeth, she also discovered the healing powers of the plants that grow in the outback – and became famous for her herbal cures.’
I do like how Cussons have provided us with this information; as it adds to the uniqueness and quirkiness of Original Source products.

The tea tree and mint shampoo claims to offer us a stimulating and revitalising sensation ‘like nothing you’ve felt before’
The peppermint oil contained within the shampoo is supposed to make our heads tingle and give us a cooling sensation over the scalp.
The shampoo is said to thoroughly cleanse the hair, leaving it clean and shiny; should leave our hair more manageable so that it looks and feels healthy.
The tea tree oil holds protective properties. The shampoo is formulated for effective cleansing of all hair types and should be suitable for frequent use.

The directions are to; wet hair, massage through the hair and scalp into a rich lather. Leave it on for a minute so that we can feel the formula working; then rinse. Repeat as necessary.
For best results follow with Original Source tea tree and mint conditioner.
Avoid contact with eyes and sensitive areas, should contact be made; rinse immediately.
People with sensitive skin should always test products on a small area of their skin prior to use.

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Upon opening this product the mint smell was overwhelming and very intense; yet quite pleasant also. The smell alone is revitalising and exhilarating.
The bright green liquid is quite thick and only a small amount is necessary; lathering very well.
On application immediately you do indeed feel revitalised; the tingling and cooling effect follows soon after.
After this initial nice result the tingling and cooling effect soon becomes unbearable and itchy; I could not leave it on the full minute finding myself frantically trying to rinse the shampoo off to ease the pain. I needed to get it off my head! Even after rinsing thoroughly my head was still uncomfortable with the overwhelming coolness and tingling. It took almost an hour for this to subside and it left me with one heck of a headache.
In amongst this drama; I managed to get some shampoo into my eyes. The pain was something else; the tingling, stinging and cooling is phenomenally painful to eyes! Rinsing immediately although essential did not help at all.
This pain did not subside; my eyes felt irritated for the remainder of the day.
I do have slightly sensitive skin so initially I put this down to bad practice on my part, having not done as advised; testing it on a small area of skin. However my husband reported the same experience that I had had; he does not have sensitive skin.

On top of the trauma; I was very disappointed with the effectiveness of the shampoo. It dried out my hair completely leaving it feeling like straw, my hair knotted very easily and looked tired and lifeless almost immediately.
We are advised to follow its use with the Original mint Source, tee tree & mint conditioner (again priced at £2.08); for best results; the next day (yes; I did put myself through this drama all over again!); I followed its use with the recommended conditioner. The results were better; but by no means lived up to the claims; in fact quite the opposite; my hair didn’t look slightly clean, healthy or shiny; more lifeless, un conditioned and dull.
My husband was actually impressed by its effect on his hair; so it is possible that this shampoo is suitable for some people. He also insists that the uncomfortable ness of use eases through time (I will not be testing that claim!).
Regardless; Original Source claim that this is suitable for all hair types; and it isn’t.

The mint smell lingers all day and is quite powerful; this didn’t bother my husband so much as he has short hair. However with my hair being longish and worn loose the constant smell bothered me. This also meant it wasn’t really suitable to wear perfume (which I like to wear) after using the shampoo; so instead I stank of mint all day.

I could quite categorically say that I hate this product; I will never use it again.
It has been proven that bad hair days affect our temperament and our day to day conduct; I blame this shampoo for the two consecutive bad days I encountered and the reason for my un pleasant behaviour on those days!

As for recommending it; I think you need to have an acquired taste to appreciate the tea tree & mint shampoo, along with a suitable hair type. My husband actually has grown to love it and intends to remain loyal to it; I am sure he will not be the first or last person in the world who likes it. So; try it you might like it!

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Original Source offer a whole range of products; including shower gels; shampoos; conditioners; bath foams; shave gels; anti-perspirant deodorant; hand washes; bar soaps and facial products.

For more information visit; www.originalsource.co.uk

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