I Replaced My Shampoo With the Formula Sharon Stone Says “Grew Back” Her Lost Hair
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InStyle editors say it fights frizz and makes strands sleek.
Augustinius Bader
The so-called skinification of haircare is very much in motion: Hyaluronic acid is showing up in shampoo, peptides are popping up in conditioner, and scalp serums have arguably reached a saturation point. Almost inevitably, Augustinus Bader—a cool-girl, luxury skincare line used by Victoria Beckham and Margot Robbie—created its own take on the trend. If you, like I, keep its iconic cerulean face creams stocked in your skincare collection, the brand’s shampoo and conditioner are certainly worth considering, particularly if your hair is plagued by dryness, dullness, and relentless frizz.
The Shampoo
Augustinus Bader
The Augustinus Bader Shampoo is a gentle, fragrance-free hair and scalp cleanser. Hydration is at the forefront of the formula, which yields glossier, smoother strands immediately post-use. As with the brand’s skincare products, The Shampoo is infused with Augustinus Bader’s TFC8 complex—which, per the brand, “optimize[s] your hair’s micro-environment while supporting cellular renewal and natural hair growth.” In other words, the hero ingredient improves hair over time, leaving it healthier with each wash. Case in point: Sharon Stone said the shampoo, paired with the corresponding conditioner and the brand’s Leave-In Treatment, “grew back” hair she’d lost after a stroke, per a 2023 interview with Byrdie.
The Conditioner
Augustinus Bader
Augustinus Bader’s conditioner is similarly packed with the aforementioned TFC8 complex. Like the shampoo, it’s scent-free and shine-inducing, though its key benefits lie in the frizz-thwarting realm. Commerce Writer Irene Richardson whose heat-damaged hair is “naturally curly,” says the conditioner mitigates much of the static she typically experiences. Associate Editorial Director Zarah Kavarana, who calls frizz her primary hair concern, says the conditioner gives her a “frizz-free mane.” Furthermore, she compares the smoothing effects to those of a hair mask; unlike many masks, which can prove heavy, however, she notes Augustinus Bader’s formulas smooth strands “without weighing down hair.”
That said, like the brand’s famously emollient face creams, its hair products are on the rich side. Senior Commerce Editor Christina Oehler, whose hair is “naturally thin and fine,” says the formulas feel “a little heavy” when used as directed; however, mixing the shampoo with her regular formula gives a “perfect consistency” for “sleek,” shiny strands sans a greasy, weighty finish.
I’d be remiss to skip over the formulas’ fragrance-free element, which, frankly, required a bit of acclimation. I’m accustomed to strongly perfumed hair washes and found the scentlessness a bit off-putting at first, as did some of my coworkers, one of whom described it as “plastic-y.” That said, the omission of scent is ostensibly a calculated decision; as is true in skincare, fragrance may pose potential irritation risk for sensitive skin types. (It’s for this reason brands that take a similar haircare-as-skincare approach, like Seen and Nécessaire, offer fragrance-free formulas.)
The packaging, which Senior Beauty Commerce Editor Kaitlin Clark describes as “super chic,” proves to be as practical as it is pretty. As she points out, the matte bottles prevent slipping; plus, the bottles are made from plant-based materials, making them ideal for those who “prioritize sustainability and hair health,” Senior Production Manager Alyssa Kingham summarizes, given that they’re a more eco-friendly choice than your typical plastic shampoo bottle.
As for the elephant in the room: Bader’s formulas cost five times more than your average drugstore options. That said, they’re very much unlike any old hair wash: A quick scan of the ingredient list shows they’re skincare-adjacent, brimming with hair-loving ingredients and very little of anything else. Viewed through the lens of luxury skincare for your hair, the cost becomes somewhat more justifiable.
If you’re in the market for glossy, frizz-free tresses and a truly healthier head of hair, shop The Shampoo and The Conditioner from Augustinus Bader. They’re unlike anything I’ve tried for taming my haylike, scraggly strands, and my shinier, smoother hair is proof.
Browse the brand’s additional hair products, below.
The Rich Shampoo
Augustinus Bader
The Rich Conditioner
Augustinus Bader
The Leave-In Treatment
Augustinus Bader
The Scalp Treatment
Augustinus Bader
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