Curly hair can be a real challenge to care for, and you need to choose the right products if you want it to stay full and healthy. The Curly Girl Method is one of the most famous and beloved ways to look after this hair type so you might be wondering, is Trader Joe’s tea tree shampoo Curly Girl Method?
Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle shampoo and conditioner are both free from sulfates, silicones, drying alcohol, potassium hydroxide and lye, and non-soluble waxes, which means they are a great choice for the Curly Girl Method.
Read on to find out more about what makes a product Curly Girl-approved and the Trader Joe’s hair care products that you can buy.
Trader Joe’s and the Curly Girl Method
The Trader Joe’s chain of grocery stores can be found all over the United States, with more than 550 locations currently in operation.
The company was founded in 1967 and has gone on to be highly successful, employing over 50,000 people and reporting revenue of more than $16 billion in 2020.
Trader Joe’s is a fan favorite, and some people refuse to shop anywhere else. They are well known for their private brands and unique products – usually coming with a natural, organic slant. This does mean that they tend to have quite a small selection of products on offer, but they are often high in quality.
Before we take a look at the shampoo that they sell and whether it works for the Curly Girl Method, we should quickly explain what that method actually is.
The Curly Girl Method is a tried and tested routine for curly hair that avoids damaging habits and focuses on cleaning, conditioning, and natural hair styling. Many people swear by it as the best way to make your curls as healthy, full, and defined as possible.
For a product to be officially Curly Girl Method-approved, it needs to be free from the following:
- Sulfates
- Silicones that are not soluble in water
- Drying alcohols
- Potassium hydroxide and lye
- Waxes that are not soluble in water
- Witch hazel that is not alcohol-free
Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Shampoo Selection
So, what kind of tea tree shampoo can you get at Trader Joe’s? They offer a range of hair care products in their stores and two are tea tree-based:
- Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo with Peppermint and Eucalyptus Botanicals
- Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner with Peppermint and Eucalyptus Botanicals
They are pretty selective about what they put on their shelves at these stores, so it’s no surprise that they don’t have a lot of different shampoos and conditioners available. They look for quality ingredients that are naturally derived, which means no artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors.
Trader Joe’s also tries not to stock products that contain MSG, genetically modified ingredients, partially hydrogenated fats, or anything that comes with high marketing costs.
To check the current price and availability of Trader Joes Tea Tree Shampoo and Conditioner, click here to view the listing on Amazon.
Curly Girl Method Compatibility of Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Shampoo
The Tea Tree Shampoo and Tea Tree Conditioner that Trader Joe’s sells are both compatible with the Curly Girl Method because of the natural ingredients that they contain.
Both of these products are free from sulfates, silicones, drying alcohol, potassium hydroxide and lye, and non-soluble waxes. They are kind to your curls and have been given the official Curly Girl stamp of approval by the community at CurlScan.
Tips for Choosing Curly Girl Method-Friendly Shampoo
If you’re looking for other shampoos that are going to be compatible with the Curly Girl Method, the ingredients list is where you need to check.
Specifically, you are looking for sulfates, PEG/PG/PPG silicones and waxes, potassium hydroxide and lye, or witch hazel. If you see any of them mentioned, then the product is probably not going to be safe for the Curly Girl method.
If you want to be certain whether or not the product you’re looking at is approved, you can check the community-built database over at CurlScan.com.
They follow the guidelines from the Lorraine Massey book Curly Girl: The Handbook, as well as other advice and ideas that the community has developed over the years, to determine whether individual products pass the test. Those that do receive a stamp of approval.
Alternatives for Tea Tree Shampoo at Trader Joe’s
If you can’t find any Tea Tree Shampoo on the shelves, Trader Joe’s does offer some other shampoos and conditioners, but they are not all Curly Girl-approved.
Trader Joe’s Shea Butter ; Coconut Oil Hair Mask, Trader Joe’s Shea Butter ; Coconut Oil Hair Serum, and Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa Conditioner all contain ingredients that are not accepted for use with the Curly Girl Method, so they are not compatible.
Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa Shampoo, however, is compatible with Curly Girl, and is the next best option if you can’t get your hands on any of their Tea Tree products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Shampoo Good for Curly Hair?
Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Shampoo is good for curly hair and works with the Curly Girl Method.
Is Tea Tree Special Shampoo Curly Girl Approved?
Tea Tree Special shampoo is not officially Curly Girl Method-approved, but it might still be a good choice for some curly hair.
Is Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Shampoo Sulfate Free?
The tea tree shampoo that Trader Joe’s has on their shelves is free from sulfates.
Is Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Shampoo Clarifying?
You may need to use a separate clarifying shampoo alongside Trader Joe’s tea tree shampoo, as it is not necessarily clarifying on its own.
Final Thoughts
So, can you use Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Shampoo for the Curly Girl Method? You absolutely can! The tea tree shampoo that Trader Joe’s sells is free from harmful ingredients like sulfates that cause problems for curly hair, and it is officially approved for use with the Curly Girl Method.
Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa Shampoo is also Curly Girl-approved, but their other shampoos and conditioners are not.
To check whether or not a product is safe to use with the Curly Girl method, take a look at the ingredients or see whether it has been evaluated at CurlScan.com.