I recently received a generous hand-me-down of haircare products from Augustinus Bader, courtesy of a friend who found they didn’t work for her. While I like some of Augustinus Bader’s skincare (as I’ve mentioned in previous reviews), I wasn’t exactly too excited when they announced a haircare line. I was curious about how their TFC8® peptide would work for hair, but I was also a bit doubtful about whether a skincare brand could make good haircare products. It felt a bit ambitious of them, considering the price point the products would be at. Still, I couldn’t pass up the offer from my friend. So, keep reading for my honest thoughts on the Augustinus Bader shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in treatment…
Augustinus Bader Hair Care
Augustinus Bader claims to help renew follicles and regrow your hair with the help of their TFC8® technology-infused hair care products. The result is hair that appears healthier, stronger, fuller, and more vibrant.
The line consists of:
- The Shampoo / Rich Shampoo
- The Conditioner / Rich Conditioner
- The Leave-In Treatment
- The Scalp Treatment
- The Hair Oil
Each product leverages TFC8® technology, which includes natural amino acids, high-grade vitamins, and synthesized molecules found in the body to nourish and protect your scalp, follicles, and hair. This innovative approach aims to address common hair concerns such as thinning, breakage, and dryness.
First Impressions with the Routine
First, let me share a bit about my hair: it’s waist-length, unprocessed, and ranges from fine to medium thickness with medium density. My natural texture is wavy (2A-2B), but I currently style it straight, as it’s much more manageable at this length. For more information check out my beauty routines page where you’ll find all about my skin type and what I currently have on my top shelf!
Shampoo Experience
Before diving into the Augustinus Bader hair care products, I decided to start with a pre-shampoo clarifying wash to give my hair a fresh reset. My first encounter was with the packaging of the shampoo. While the screw-and-pour cap design aims to be innovative and stylish, it quickly proved to be difficult to close with wet hands. Not the most practical choice. Nevertheless, there’s no difficulty in pouring the product into one’s hand.
As for the shampoo itself, it was pleasant—nothing extraordinary. It lathered up nicely, especially since I was starting with clean hair, and rinsed out without leaving my hair feeling overly stripped or heavy with residue. My hair felt balanced—neither squeaky clean nor burdened with any left-over product.
Conditioner Experience
Next, I moved on to the conditioner. Thankfully, the screw cap here was more standard, and I had no issues with it. The real surprise was how it performed. Though it has a creamy texture, it quickly disappears into the hair without giving much slip. It almost vanished as I applied it, leaving me wondering if I had really conditioned my hair. While I could work my Manta Brush through, it didn’t have the same slip as other conditioners I’ve used before. Although these products are fragrance-free, there’s a noticeable smell of castor oil, which made the product seem rancid—especially considering it’s supposed to last another 3 to 6 months!
After letting it sit for 2–3 minutes, I rinsed with cool water. Initially, my hair felt good, conditioned even. I wrapped it up in a microfiber towel for 15 minutes and hoped for the best.
Post-Shower and Leave-In Treatment
Before blow-drying, I sprayed in some leave-in from L’Oreal—a staple in my routine—then followed up with the Augustinus Bader Leave-In Hair Treatment. Brushing through wet hair was easy enough, but I’ve definitely experienced smoother results with other products.
The leave-in treatment itself is very fluid. While I didn’t think a lot was needed, I applied a bit extra since my hair is quite long. Then, I let it air dry for a bit before moving on to a rough blow dry.
This is where things took a turn. As my hair air-dried, I noticed my ends felt rough, not soft. The product left a noticeable residue in my hair, making it feel slightly dirty, despite looking healthy and thick on the outside. It was perplexing—my hair appeared full and luscious, yet the texture was far from ideal. It didn’t necessarily feel like it weighed my hair down, but it seems the product aims to create volume at the cost of a clean, soft feel.
Though my hair didn’t look bad, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d want to wash it again the next day.
My Full Experience – Augustinus Bader Hair Care
After using these products for several washes and in various combinations, I’ve softened my initial negative impression a bit.
Augustinus Bader The Shampoo
Among the three, the shampoo is perhaps the one I have the least issues with. However, it does take a few washes to activate the foam, especially compared to my very first wash, which followed a clarifying shampoo. Every wash after that has been more of a struggle to get a good lather. Even when my hair wasn’t particularly dirty it still took a lot of product to create suds. Sometimes, I’ve had to wash and rinse up to four (!) times before achieving a decent foam and feeling like my scalp was properly cleaned. This issue caused me to go through the shampoo quicker than with other brands.
I let my partner use the Augustinus Bader shampoo exclusively to see if it would help with his recent hair shedding. Unfortunately, after three weeks, he had to switch back to his regular shampoo because his dandruff returned. While Augustinus Bader claims that their shampoo “supports improved scalp and follicle health and renewal, preventing flakiness and supporting natural hair growth,” the actual clinical results do not address improved flakiness.
Augustinus Bader The Conditioner
As for the conditioner, I still find its texture odd—it seems to disappear into my hair. It doesn’t provide the same level of slip or detangling as thicker conditioners. I’ve also noticed that I use more product than I typically would with other conditioners. Furthermore, I do find that I get better and shinier results with other conditioners.
Given the high price tag, this has been a bit disappointing. Perhaps the new Rich Conditioner would be better suited for my hair. I’d be willing to try the new Rich Shampoo and Conditioner, but after this experience, it’s not a high priority.
Augustinus Bader The Leave-In Hair Treatment
The leave-in treatment is the product I’m still figuring out, and so far, it’s my least favorite of the three. While it doesn’t weigh down my hair, it leaves my strands with a noticeable product feel, which I don’t love. This is especially evident in my brush, which has been getting much dirtier since I started using it. Additionally, it doesn’t provide the softening or protective feel I expected.
I’ve reduced the amount I use to just a small dollop, which has improved the feel in my hair and lessened the product build-up. However, using such a small amount makes me wonder if it’s actually doing anything. It doesn’t seem sufficient to protect my hair from blow-drying, for example. Even without the build-up issue, I feel like there are similar products out there that work better in my opinion.
Mixed Feelings on Results
In the end, I’m a bit unsure how to rate the Augustinus Bader hair care line. On one hand, the results aren’t terrible; the products felt somewhat better than the previous system I was using. Once my hair adjusted and I figured out the right amounts to use, I found the results to be decent—not top-notch for the price tag, but good enough to not dismiss them entirely.
My hair does feel fuller, looks healthier, and dries much neater than before. However, I think trimming my ends midway through this trial also contributed to the improvement in my hair’s appearance. After getting rid of the dry ends, it seemed like the products worked better overall.
One downside is how fast I’m going through the products, especially considering the price tag. The shampoo, in particular, has been frustrating—I often need more than two washes to achieve a decent lather. Similarly, I need to be more generous with the conditioner as it doesn’t provide much slip.
Hair Growth & Shedding Thoughts
As for hair shedding or growth, the two months I’ve used these products is too short of a time to give a definitive answer. It could also be a coincidence that I’m using them at the end or beginning of my hair’s natural growth cycle. I haven’t noticed any obvious results in my hair’s growth related to the switch to these products, aside from the immediate thickening effect from the ingredients.
If I notice any increase in shedding or breakage after finishing these products, I’ll be sure to update this section.
Worth the Price?
On the other hand, I wouldn’t rush to repurchase these products. The high price tag, combined with their performance, makes them feel a bit underwhelming. If these products were half the price, I might reconsider. But at €50 for a shampoo (that also runs out fast!), I’d rather invest in other professional brands in the same price range. I’ve also found myself relying heavily on styling products to make up for the lack of shine and softness.
Final Recommendations
If you’re curious about the brand’s hair care line, I’d recommend trying the shampoo. However, I’d hesitate to suggest the conditioner and the leave-in treatment as they don’t behave typically. It’s possible that the new Rich Conditioner could suit my hair better, but honestly, I’m not eager to find out. I get the feeling the original shampoo and conditioner are best for those with fine hair that’s easily weighed down.
I highly suggest trying the travel kit of the shampoo and conditioner, as this duo may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Feedback to the Augustinus Bader Company
While I appreciate the innovative spirit behind Augustinus Bader’s expansion into haircare, it feels like a leap into unfamiliar territory. Instead of diving headfirst into formulating these products independently, I would have preferred to see a collaboration with a brand that truly understands and specializes in haircare. Brands like R+Co Bleu or Oribé, both of which embody the same high-end luxury aesthetic. These brands could have brought a wealth of expertise and produced more refined formulations. This move by Augustinus Bader feels more like an attempt to incorporate TFC8 technology into haircare—without the same level of care and expertise that defines their skincare line. A partnership with an established, professional haircare brand would have likely resulted in better-performing products that match the luxury image and high price tag that Augustinus Bader aims to exude.
