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Home » Hair Care Products » Paul Mitchell Hair Care Review: Salon-Quality Products for All Hair Types

Paul Mitchell Hair Care Review: Salon-Quality Products for All Hair Types

aida turner

Published by Aida Turner

Fact checked by Annie

Paul Mitchell is the No. 1 professional hair styling brand worldwide by Kline’s Salon Hair Care Global Series, based on value sales of products in 30 markets. They have been manufacturing salon-like hair styling products for 40 years since their inception. Paul Mitchell is one of the largest family-owned pro hair care brands and the first hair care brand to shun the animal testing procedure and proudly proclaim it officially. They believe in creating the highest quality products with no compromises.

Paul Mitchell was founded in 1980 by businessman John Paul DeJoria and hairstylist Paul Mitchell. They wanted to start a beauty company that would stand on solid pillars unknown to the industry. They began Paul Mitchell with just $700 back then, and now it is worth over USD 1 billion. Currently, Paul Mitchell has more than 1000 products and is available in around 80 countries all over the globe. Further, John Paul Mitchell System also runs a hairdressing school. The hair care products are marketed as professional quality results at home.

Is Paul Mitchell a good brand for hair?

Yes, Paul Mitchell is a good hair care brand and among the top thee salon hair care brands worldwide. Paul Mitchell products are easy to use, cruelty-free, and offer pro-grade treatment that gives salon-like results at home. Whether you have damaged hair or are dealing with any other hair concerns, such as split ends or damaged hair, there is a Paul Mitchell product for your specific hair care needs.

The luxury and professional hair care brand uses high-quality ingredients to make vegan products for your hair care routine. Most of its herbal extract ingredients are naturally sourced and hand-harvested. For example, its famous Tea Tres the product range contains 100% Australian trees. Further, all of the Awapuhi extract used in its products is grown at its farm in Hawaii. Paul Mitchell has made it a clear point from the start to use the best ingredients in all its product ranges and give its users the best soothing hair transformative experience.

Who is Paul Mitchell best suited for?

Paul Mitchell products are designed for all hair types, whether normal, straight, or curly. Therefore, if you want a pleasant-smelling hair care solution formulated with vegan and high-quality ingredients, Paul Mitchell products might be a good option for your healthy hair care.

The brand caters to professional stylists and salon owners, emphasizing support and enhancement of the professional beauty industry.

Additionally, Paul Mitchell targets consumers who value ethical practices and sustainability, as the brand is committed to cruelty-free products and environmental stewardship

What are the Key Ingredients and Formulation of Paul Mitchell Products?

Paul Mitchell product proudly claims to have its roots in Hawaii. They use the fragrant juice of Awapuhi Ginger in their products. The natives of Hawaiians have used this secret treasure, the Awapuhi plant, for centuries. Having exclaimed the benefits of the Awapuhi plant, the Paul Mitchell co-founders established an off-the-grid farm in Pa’auilo, Hawaii, in 1983. They grow and harvest Paul Mitchell’s signature ingredient, “awapuhi extracts.” Let us see Pau Mitchell’s key ingredients in detail.

Awapuhi extracts

You will find the awapuhi extracts in all of Paul Mitchell. The native Hawaiians used this unique extract to moisturize their hair and make it look and feel the best. Hawaiian people refer to the wild ginger plant as “Awapuhi.” Its sap is used to make shampoo and other hair care products. This plant extract contains around 19 amino acids and provides much-needed natural nourishment to dry and damaged hair strands. It serves many purposes: It conditioner the hair, tames frizz or flyaways, and repairs dry and damaged hair. All of the awapuhi extracts used in the Paul Mitchell are grown in the John Paul Mitchell Systems® Awapuhi Farm.

Tea Tree

Paul Mitchell has an entire product range or brand named after Tea Tree. According to Healthline, the tea tree oil helps with dandruff, hair loss, buildup removal, and moisturizes your hair as well. Further, as per the research conducted by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, using 5% tea tree oil in the shampoo caused a 41% improvement in hair issues such as dandruff.

Other Botanical extracts

Paul Mitchell uses a lot of herbal extracts in its product formulation. The most commonly used natural ingredients are Algae Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, etc. According to The National Centre for Biotechnology Information, herbal extracts contain bioactive phytochemicals that clean the scalp and can help deal with hair problems such as dandruff, scalp irritation, hair fall, etc.

Apart from these unique ingredients, Paul Mitchell uses sulfates or milder alternatives, moisturizers, humectants, heat protectants, UV protectants, and color-safe ingredients in its products, depending on the purpose they are formulated to serve.

What hair care products does Paul Mitchell Offer?

Paul Mitchell offers a wide range of hair care and styling products. Through this diverse range, they support hair stylists with tools, products, and other uniquely crafted systems to grow their business. The most popular Paul Mitchell hair care brands or product ranges are Clean Beauty, Tea Tree, Neuro, Pro Tools, Awapuhi Wild Ginger, etc.

Paul Mitchell Shampoo

Paul Mitchell offers salon-quality shampoo for every hair type, color, and texture. The variety of Paul Mitchell Shampoos includes sulfate-free shampoos, clarifying shampoos, moisturizing shampoos, and more.

Here are some of the most popular Paul Mitchell shampoos, best known for their ingredients, fragrance, results, formulation, and customer reviews:

Paul Mitchell Bond Rx Shampoo

Paul Mitchell Bond Rx Shampoo is a sulfate-free shampoo for chemically treated and damaged hair. It is free from harsh chemicals such as SLS, SLES, and ALS. Its rich, creamy lather gently cleanses your hair scalp and maintains and protects the hair bonds. Not just that, it helps protect your chemically treated hair and gives it that natural shine that makes your hair look as if it were treated in a salon every day. It is color-safe and vegan.

This Paul Mitchell shampoo won the People Magazine Beauty Award for Best Spurge System for Damaged Hair in the year 2023. It is made with the patented Bond Rx technology and contains Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Citric Acid, and Glycerin. The citric acid acts as a pH balancer, whereas the Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol helps attract and retain moisture. For better results, it is recommended to use the Bond Rx conditioner and treatment after shampooing with this Paul Mitchell shampoo.

Paul Mitchell Bond Rx Shampoo
ProsCons
It has a luxurious smell of amber, sandalwood, and vanilla orchid.It may make your hair feel dry or stripped.
It does not weigh down your hair.

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Daily Shampoo

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Daily Shampoo is a regular shampoo for all hair types and is ideal for frizz control. If you have rebellious or unruly hair, use this Paul Mitchell daily shampoo to tame it and flaunt your favorite style. This shampoo makes your hair clean, soft, and easy to manage. It is color-safe, paraben-free, vegan, contains no gluten, and has a pH value 5.5.

It has a sweet, fresh scent of apple, dewberry, wild strawberry, and white peach. It contains Algae Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, and Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract to make your hair look and feel healthier and shiner.

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Daily Shampoo
ProsCons
It is a unisex shampoo.It may not suit all types of hair
It maintains the natural moisture of the scalp.Some reviews suggest that this shampoo causes scalp irritation
Remove dirt, white residue, and grime.
Good shampoo for oily hair

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo is one of the most famous and best-selling Paul Mitchell hair care products. It is also rated the #1 scalp care shampoo sold in the salon. According to Paul Mitchell’s official website, one Tea Tree Special Shampoo is sold every 14 seconds. It is an ideal regular shampoo for all hair types and needs. After you wash your hair with this Paul Mitchell shampoo, your scalp will feel fresh, clean, and full of life. Like other Paul Mitchell shampoos, they are color-safe, paraben-free, and vegan.

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo is made with unique ingredients such as tea tree, peppermint, and lavender. Other ingredients are Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Hedychium Coronarium (White Ginger) Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, etc. This famous Tingle Complex gives your hair a cooling and tingling scalp feeling. It contains Tea tree, peppermint, and lavender leaves that make your hair smell amazing and give you an aromatherapy experience.

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo
ProsCons
It is made with 100% Australian tea tree.It may dry out your hair.
Good product for textured hair.
It helps fight against and prevent dandruff.

Awapuhi Wild Ginger Hydrasoft Shampoo

Awapuhi Wild Ginger Hydrasoft Shampoo is a gentle, color-safe hydrating shampoo. When used with Hydrasoft conditioner, it makes hair 89 percent more conditioned and softer. It does not contain sulfates such as SLS, SLES, or ALS. Use this Paul Mitchell hydrating shampoo to get velvety, silky hair.

It is formulated with HydraTriplex and contains amino acids, vegetable protein, and nourishing oil. The key ingredients of Awapuhi Wild Ginger Hydrasoft Shampoo are Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Glycerin, and Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract. The active ingredient is hand-harvested Awapuhi Wild Ginger, which smooths and softens every strand. The use of Hyaluronic acid, vegan collagen, and plant extracts gives your hair a weightless lift and hydration. Massage the shampoo into wet hair and follow it up with Hydrasoft conditioner for best results.

Awapuhi Wild Ginger Hydrasoft Shampoo
ProsCons
Good for taming dry or frizzy hairThe results may vary according to your hair type and need.
It has a ginger tea scent(the aromatic scent will make you feel as if you are on an Island retreat)

Paul Mitchell Conditioner

Paul Mitchell offers a wide range of conditioners to suit various hair types, from curly hair to straight. You can choose the best Paul Mitchell conditioner from lightweight leave-in conditioners that moisturize your fine hair without making them feel greasy, deep conditioners that nourish dry hair, or the latest conditioning cowash to make your curly hair more beautiful. Here are some of the most popular Paul Mitchell conditioners, best known for their ingredients, fragrance, results, formulation, and customer reviews:

Paul Mitchell Smoothing Super Skinny Conditioner

Paul Mitchell Smoothing Super Skinny Conditioner is one of the best daily-use conditioners. It softens hair texture and smooths frizz. It also prevents surface damage and repairs hair bonds. It helps you style faster by reducing drying time. It is color-safe, paraben-free, and vegan. It is an ideal conditioner for frizzy hair. Use it as a perfect prior preparation for a super smooth blowout. Therefore, it serves two purposes: to condition the hair gently and prep hair for styling.

It has a lush, juicy fragrance with a tint of apples, dewberry, wild strawberry, and white peach. Paul Mitchell Smoothing Super Skinny Conditioner contains Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, citric acid, and Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol.

Paul Mitchell Smoothing Super Skinny Conditioner
ProsCons
Tame flyaways and frizzYour hair might feel weighed down or greasy.
It can detangle curly hair.

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Lemon Sage Thickening Conditioner

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Lemon Sage Thickening Conditioner is powerful yet lightweight that gives you multiple benefits in just one bottle, be it detangling, moisturizing, shine-boosting, smoothing, or volumizing. Like all other Paul Mitchell hair care products, this conditioner is also color-safe, paraben-free, and made without any gluten.

The key ingredients of Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Lemon Sage Thickening Conditioner are lemon, sage, peppermint, and 100% Australian tea tree. The hair care brand believes that a lemon a day keeps hair tangled away, and they follow this with the formulation of this conditioner. The citrus ingredient gives your hair a beautiful natural luster, whereas the thickening agent gives your hair a dreamy, lightweight oomph. On the other hand, the use of panthenol gives strength to your hair strands. For the best hair results, use this conditioner with Lemin sage shampoo and spray. It acts as a body-booster hydrator for your hair.

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Lemon Sage Thickening Conditioner
ProsCons
Pleasant tea tree smell to set you for the entire day.Some reviews suggest that it dries out the hair.
Ideal conditioner for fine hair

Other Paul Mitchell Products

Paul Mitchell also offers other hair care products such as gel, treatments, oil, spray, styling tools, etc. Here are some of the most popular Paul Mitchell hair products, best known for their ingredients, fragrance, results, formulation, and customer reviews:

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gel

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gel is a great styling gel for medium hold and high-shine finishing. It is easy to apply and malleable, detangling your hair locks and giving you the much-needed versatility to style your hair as you desire. It is formulated without paraben, silicon, gluten, or synthetic colors. Since it’s a Paul Mitchell product, rest assured of its aromatic fragrance that will light up your mood in minutes. It gives the body and shine and ensures that each hair strand stays intact in its place.

The key ingredients of Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gel are Lavender, tea tree, peppermint, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Hedychium Coronarium (White Ginger) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract. The plus point is that you can apply it on both dry and wet hair.

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Styling Gel
ProsCons
It works well on all types of hair.As per some customer reviews, the gel makes your hair too tacky
It contains Dmdm Hydantoin as a preservative, which can cause scalp irritation and lead to hair loss.

Paul Mitchell Bond Rx Reparative Oil

Paul Mitchell Bond Rx Reparative Oil is a concentrated oil made with the patented Bond Rx technology. It helps reduce hair damage, maintain softness and shine, and make it easy to manage hair. Use it and get beautiful smooth hair finishing. This Paul Mitchell oil product is color-safe, vegan, paraben-free, and contains no gluten. Like the Bond Rx Shampoo, this oil is also ideal for chemically treated or damaged hair types. The smell is the same as that of the Bond Rx shampoo.

Paul Mitchell Bond Rx Reparative Oil contains Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, rassica Campestris/ Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, etc. After you shampoo and condition your hair with the Bond Rx range products, apply few oil drops to damp hair. You can now style your shiny, frizz-free hair as you want. If you have medium to coarse hair texture, add 1 or 2 oil drops to the Bond Rx Leve-in treatment and get extra hair repair. You can use this concentrated oil as and when needed.

Paul Mitchell Bond Rx Reparative Oil
ProsCons
It has a nice and pleasant smell.It is quite an expensive oil.

How do you choose the best Paul Mitchell product for your hair?

To choose the best Paul Mitchell product for your hair, you first need to understand your hair care needs. Here, we will discuss the best Paul Mitchell products for different hair care needs.

Which Paul Mitchell Product is Best for Oily Hair?

The best Paul Mitchell products for oily hair are Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two and Paul Mitchell Shampoo Three, etc. Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two and Paul Mitchell Shampoo Three are clarifying shampoos that cleanse hair and remove buildup or chlorine. They make your hair fresh, shiny, and smooth. The Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two contains Cocamide MIPA and Sodium Laureth Sulfate as the cleansing agent and the algae extracts as humectants. This makes them excellent Paul Mithell products for oily hair. You can use it once or twice a week to clean your oily scalp.

Which Paul Mitchell Product is Best for Curly Hair?

The best Paul Mitchell products for curly hair are Tea Tree Lavender Mint Defining Gel, Tea Tree Lavender Mint Moisturizing Shampoo, and Tea Tree Lavender Mint Deep Conditioning Mineral Hair Mask. The use of tea trees in hair care products improves the elasticity of your hair strands, and this is particularly great for curly hair. Curly hair is more vulnerable to damage. Using tea tree products moisturizes the scalp and hair to remove frizz and tangles. Paul Mitchell Tea tree range helps in enhancing and defining curls with their lightweight and nongreasy formulation.

Which Paul Mitchell Product is Best for Color-treated Hair?

The best Paul Mitchell products for color-treated hair are Paul Mitchell Color Protect Shampoo, Tea Tree Special Color Shampoo, Clean Beauty Blonde Shampoo, and Bond Rx Range. Clean Beauty Blonde Shampoo is a sulfate-free purple-pigmented shampoo that cleanses blonde, highlighted, silver, or gray hair and removes unwanted brassiness.

Which Paul Mitchell Product is Best for Damaged Hair?

The best Paul Mitchell products for damaged hair are Paul Mitchell Super Strong Shampoo, Super Strong Conditioner, and Clean Beauty Repair Leave-in Treatment. The Paul Mitchell Super Strong Shampoo is formulated with a Super Strong complex that helps in building the damaged hair bond. It contains soothing ingredients such as Panthenol, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, and Wheat Amino Acids. It gently cleanses your hair scalp and makes your hair look and feel healthier. The Clean Beauty Repair Leave-in Treatment is a reparative that restores your healthy hair.

How Much Does Paul Mitchell Products Cost? 

Generally, the 10-12 fl oz size of Paul Mitchell products comes at $20 and more. The pricing is done according to different product lines. For example, the Awapuhi Wild Ginger is more expensive than the Tea Tree product range. The table given below shows a price comparison of some of the most popular Paul Mitchell products mentioned in this article:

Where Can You Buy Paul Mitchell? 

You can buy Paul Mitchell online as well as offline all across the USA. You can buy the most authentic Paul Mithell products directly from its official website, paulmitchell.com. When you buy the product through its official website, you will get three samples(you will get to choose them) at checkout.

Some of the other authorized sellers of Paul Mitchell products are the professional beauty salon industry, which includes John Paul Mitchell System professional salons and Paul Mitchell Schools.

Other trusted online retailers for the products are Amazon, Ulta Beauty, JCPenney, etc. You can also find its product offline at Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens. If you want to find John Paul Mitchell Systems products at a nearby salon or school, you can use their salon locator feature.

Is Paul Mitchell shampoo safe to use?

Yes, Paul Mitchell shampoo is safe to use. All of its products are free from harsh chemicals. vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free. Further, most of its products are sulfate-free and contain no gluten. This makes most of its products color-safe. The use of botanical extracts such as aloe vera, sunflower oil, and Paul Mitchell’s signature ingredients, Awapuhi Wild Ginger. Therefore, use Paul Mitchell products freely and enjoy exceptional performance, powerful formulations, and consistent positive hair results.

Does Paul Mitchell own salons?

No, Paul Mitchell does not have a salon. All the salons using and selling Paul Mitchell products are independent and have no owing partnership with the John Paul Mitchell System.

aida turner

Author of this article: Aida Turner

Founder & Hair Care Consultant

Aida is a cosmetologist and hair care consultant with over 7 years of experience in the beauty industry. Aida has worked with various top salons and smaller hair care brands, offering her product development, formulation, and testing expertise.

Her extensive knowledge of hair care ingredients and their effects on hair health enables her to provide thorough, well-researched, and unbiased reviews on a wide range of shampoos and hair care products. In her spare time, Aida enjoys experimenting with new hair care routines, blogging about her experiences, and helping others achieve their hair goals.