Except for facial moisturizers, I’m a fan of all things fragranced. Especially hair care and bath and body products. So when Aveda launched Cherry Almond Softening Shampoo and Conditioner, I was very excited. Years ago, Aveda had a cherry bark product that I loved that disappeared. But before I took the plunge with the new duo, I decided to check them out on the Aveda website to get more details, particularly what were the ingredients.
Cherry Almond Softening Shampoo
Unfortunately, when I initially checked the ingredient list for the Cherry Almond Shampoo, I discovered that the shampoo contained sodium lauryl sulfate, a surfactant that may produce scalp irritation (though it doesn’t bother me) and color loss in color-treated hair (though some dispute this). When I saw on Facebook that the shampoo contained SLS but was listed as safe for all hair types, I wrote a comment questioning the safety for color-treated hair and I got a response from someone at Aveda who said I should call their 800 number to discuss it further. I never got around to doing that.
When I started writing this post, I thought I better check the website again since several weeks have passed since I first looked at the ingredients. Surprisingly, sodium lauryl sulfate has been replaced in the ingredient list by ammonium lauryl sulfate, another surfactant that is a larger molecule that is not able to penetrate hair follicles and is therefore less irritating and has not been linked to color fading or hair loss. Oh. So I guess they changed the formula slightly to address concerns about SLS. The shampoo is listed as “color safe” on the Aveda website. Yippee! I guess I can try the Cherry Almond Softening Shampoo now.
Ingredients: Water\Aqua\Eau , Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate , Propanediol , Decyl Glucoside , Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer , Babassuamidopropyl Betaine , Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil , Prunus Serrulata Flower (Cherry) Extract , Glycerin , Glycol Distearate , Acrylates Copolymer , Polyquaternium-10 , Butylene Glycol , Sodium Chloride , Citric Acid , Sodium Hydroxide , Fragrance (Parfum) , Linalool , Geraniol , Limonene , Sodium Phytate , Benzoic Acid , Phenoxyethanol , Potassium Sorbate , Sodium Benzoate <ILN45474>
Cherry Almond Softening Conditioner
When I was in Boston recently, I went to the Prudential Center to go to Eataly to buy some Italian treats to bring home for dinner. After my mission was accomplished, I noticed an Aveda shop and salon in the mall and I decided to stop in and look at the Cherry Almond products. I didn’t look at the shampoo ingredients on the tube because I assumed that it still contained SLS. I asked a sales associate about it, and now I realize that she really didn’t know much about it. She said that they recommend the shampoo for all hair types including color-treated hair but that I should do what I think.
I decided to pass on the shampoo, and buy the Cherry Almond Softening Conditioner instead. It comes in a TSA-approved travel size (l1.4 fl. oz.) for $9 or a full size 6.7 fl. oz./200 ml for $17. I bought the full size since it was a much better deal.
The Conditioner is a thick but easily spreadable white gel-cream. I always leave on conditioner for several minutes before rinsing.
The Conditioner truly smells divine. It is a strong cherry almond fragrance that makes the conditioning process more pleasant for me as a scent lover. The scent remains for a few minutes after rinsing. My hair was detangled after conditioning and very easy to comb out and dry.
Cherry Almond Softening Conditioner really does make my hair exceptionally soft, and with my usual flat ironing it is very smooth. My thick, coarse hair doesn’t feel weighed down after I use it, and it doesn’t get that dirty feeling quickly.
Ingredients: Water\Aqua\Eau , Cetearyl Alcohol , Propanediol , Behentrimonium Methosulfate , Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil , Prunus Serrulata Flower (Cherry) Extract , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil , Lactic Acid , Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine , Butylene Glycol , Caprylyl Glycol , Fragrance (Parfum) , Linalool , Geraniol , Amyl Cinnamal , Citronellol , Limonene , Phenoxyethanol , Potassium Sorbate <ILN44968>
More Info about Both Products
Both the Cherry Almond Shampoo and Conditioner contain naturally derived cherry blossom and sweet almond oil. Other ingredients used to produce the lovely fragrance are organic sweet orange, tonka bean and ylang ylang. Some other ingredients, e.g. oils, are derived from babassu and coconut. 98-99% of the ingredients are natural, and some are certified organic including the shea butter in the Conditioner. Gluten-free, vegan and silicone-free. Cruelty-free.
The packaging is made from post consumer materials and is recyclable. Aveda is committed to responsible packaging and manufacturing practices.
Final Thoughts
I’m very happy with Aveda Cherry Almond Softening Conditioner, and I’m glad I bought the full size tube. That’s really saying something because I have been so wedded to JOICO K-Pak Luster Lock Treatment for so long. I recommend Aveda Cherry Almond highly to the scent lovers out there. If you don’t like scented products, you would hate this because it’s such an opulent scent.
Now that Aveda has replaced SLS with ALS in the Cherry Almond Softening Shampoo, I’ll pick that up next time.
Have you tried Aveda Cherry Almond yet?
This stuff is amazing, and the smell is delicious!
I’m glad you’re a fan of Cherry Almond too!
Sounds like the conditioner is a real winner! I have always been under the impression that SLS strips colour treated hair too, had no idea that it could be just a myth.
I have been talking to my colorist at Vidal Sassoon about this for several years, and she keeps telling me that water is the culprit, not SLS. Nevertheless, when my hair is freshly colored, I still avoid SLS. I love eva NYC Clean It Up Shampoo that has SLS so I primarily use it fairly close to my appointment to get my hair recolored “just in case”. Aveda must have had enough people call them with concerns about SLS in the Cherry Almond Shampoo that they decided to change the ingredient to ALS, a “safer” ingredient. I’m glad they did change it. Now I’ll buy it!
I enjoy some of Aveda products so I’ll check this one out.
The Aveda Cherry Almond scent is divine, and my hair is the softest it’s ever been! Worth checking out 🙂
The scent sounds amazing! I love a good thick conditioner.
The cherry almond scent is absolutely delicious, and it conditions and softens so well!
My one splurge when my kids were outgrowing their clothes and shoes every other week was the Aveda Cherry Bark. I used it for years and years. Does this smell similar (from your memory)? And how long does it linger?
I did use the Cherry Bark which is why I was so excited about the new Cherry Almond. I honestly am not sure if the scent is the same because that was so long ago. But the Cherry Almond is lovely. I am only using the conditioner, right now, so I can’t say what would happen if you used both. On me, the scent from the conditioner didn’t remain after I dried and flat ironed my hair that I could tell. Not sure what would happen if I used both products, but next time I go to Boston, I’ll buy the shampoo and let you know!
Cherry is one of the few scents I can’t tolerate but I’m glad you like it!
I just started avoiding sulfates in the last 6 months and my fantasy color lasts SO much longer! I bet these smell absolutely divine.
that’s good to hear! My red hair fades so much I try to wash it as few times as I can get away with, but I’m glad that Aveda replaced the SLS coz the conditioner smells divine that I can only imagine what using both would be like
I love the scent of cherry almond. I’ve tried lotions with that scent and love it.
Cherry almond is so delightful!
I love cherry and almond. I’m going to head to aveda to smell it!
I’ve tried Aveda’s anti-dandruff products, but not much else. Cherry Almond sounds so yum. I could smell something like that all day.
I stopped SLS based shampoo during pregnancy and my hair actually loved the more organic product I used
I enjoy that cherry almond scent.
The scent sounds amazing! I don’t have sensitive skin or colored hair so I need to give these guys a try!
Nina, the cherry almond scent is a delight! I think you’d love this haircare duo from Aveda 🙂
This scent sounds nice!
Ooh the scent sounds really nice – need to smell asap