Acure Ultra Hydrating Shampoo is a richer-feeling sulfate-free shampoo that works particularly well on thick, coarse hair. It leaves hair soft and manageable without feeling heavy, although the strong almond scent may not be for everyone.
Best for
- thick or coarse hair
- dry ends
- hair that tangles easily
- people wanting longer-lasting freshness
Not ideal for
- very sensitive scalps
- people who dislike sweet scents
- anyone wanting very shiny, glossy results
First impressions
My hair is thick, coarse and tends to get quite dry at the ends, but I also have a very sensitive scalp, so shampoos are always a balancing act for me.
The bottle has one of those little cellophane seals around the lid, which I always weirdly appreciate. It’s reassuring because you know it hasn’t already leaked or been opened in transit. Thankfully it was also easy to remove. No scissors required. Or teeth.
The lid itself opens easily one-handed, which I increasingly value in shower products after years of wrestling slippery packaging with wet hands.
The shampoo is clear and medium-thick – substantial enough to feel rich, but not so thick that it’s awkward to work through the hair.
Smell
The scent is strong and very definitely almond essence or marzipan. Not subtle at all. The last few shampoos I’ve tried have been either fresh smelling or fragrance free so this was very different. I have a strong personal preference to fresh scents in general, so I did not get on with this at all. If you like the smell of almond essence though, you’ll be fine. I think!
The smell didn’t linger once dry, which I was relieved about.
Using it
Compared with some other natural shampoos I’ve tried recently, including the Attitude Super Leaves Clarifying Shampoo, this one was noticeably easier to spread through my hair and much quicker to rinse out.
It foams moderately well for a sulfate-free shampoo and feels smooth while washing. One thing I noticed immediately was how easy my hair was to comb afterwards. Usually I’m dealing with at least some level of resistance or knotting, but this felt surprisingly manageable even before conditioner.
Results
Once dry, my hair felt soft and comfortable rather than ultra glossy or dramatically “finished.” It probably didn’t give quite as much shine as some shampoos aimed at smoothing or repair, but it also didn’t weigh my hair down.
What impressed me more was how long my hair stayed looking clean afterwards. I comfortably got an extra day before feeling like I needed to wash it again, which is unusual for me and definitely something I notice.
Scalp-wise, I’m slightly undecided. My scalp did feel a little itchy afterwards, although not badly and nowhere near as irritating as some shampoos I’ve tried. I’ve definitely had worse reactions, but I’ve also had gentler products that my scalp preferred.
Overall
A really solid option for thick, coarse or dry hair, particularly if tangling is an issue. It’s easy to use, leaves hair soft and manageable, and seems to help hair stay fresher for longer.
Acure positions itself very much in the “cleaner ingredients” space – no parabens, phthalates or mineral oil, plus it’s vegan and cruelty free. It’s also EWG Verified, which I know reassures some people, particularly if they’re trying to avoid harsher ingredients.
The strong marzipan scent and slight scalp itchiness mean it’s probably not perfect for everyone, especially if you’re extremely scalp-sensitive, but overall I liked it and would happily keep using it.
The shampoo and conditioner 2-pack is currently $19.98 which seems a reasonable price.
