I Reviewed MoroccanOil’s Extra Volume Shampoo, and It Revived My Hair

No matter what hair type you have, volume is a hair goal that’s hard to refuse. And I’m not talking about teased-up beauty pageant hair (that has a time and a place)—I’m talking natural-looking volume. I mean, what’s not desirable about that? As someone who works out often and is left with flat, oily roots, I’ve been desiring a cure-all cleanse that will revive my hair and stay fresh for three days between washes to no avail. So, when I got asked to trial MoroccanOil’s Extra Volume Shampoo, it was an easy and enthusiastic yes from me. With hopes of solving my hair woes, I put it to the test right away.

Keep reading to see what I discovered. 

About My Hair: Weighed down

I have short, thick, wavy hair. One of my biggest battles is finding a shampoo that will give me lasting results. I’ve been in need of something that will hold up throughout my daily sweat. My second-day hair has been falling flatter than usual due to my riding the bike each day, and the perspiration hasn’t been kind to my face or scalp. Dry shampoo works on occasion, but I’m not big on band-aid solutions. I want something that will cater to my scalp and give me fresh hair that won't lose its life by the third day. (I usually wash every three days.) I’d just finished trying some moisturizing shampoos that were way too heavy for my hair, and prior to that, I was using Oribe’s Gold Lust duo, which I loved. My new length has me putting heat on my hair often (blowdryer, flat iron, curling iron, you name it), so I like to use products that maintain and protect my hair’s health and integrity. 

The Feel: Surprisingly light

Usually, when I use any product that has argan in it, I expect it to be heavy. Argan oil isn’t heavy per see, but I have a tendency of affiliating the hair hero with thicker hair that has a better shot of not getting weighed down. But this formula is super duper light. A puddle in your hand is nearly weightless, and it doesn’t have a heaviness to its application either. While confident before trial that this would work fine on my hair type, after using it (and as a professional stylist), I can also say that I’m confident this shampoo would do well on finer, limper hair.

The Scent: Heavenly amber aromas

What. Is. This. Scent! Holy smokes, I seriously fell in love. If it could be bottled as a perfume, I’d totally wear it. Spicy amber aromas always get me and without fail are some of my personal favorite notes. The smell of this shampoo is warm, rich, and maybe even provocative. But it’s also balanced by this sensual, relaxing, possibly floral side that mellows it all out and harmonizes it if you will. I can see why they created body products with a scent like this, and I am definitely going to go get myself some of their body butter after I finish writing their review. 

Ingredients Quality & Concentration: Argan-infused

Argan oil, the main ingredient infused into all of MoroccanOil’s products, originates from argan trees in Morocco and is loaded with transformative powers for hair. Its wealth of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids serve to restore hair’s elasticity, offering shine and strength from the inside out. It is also a hydrating ingredient that can nourish and replenish dry, damaged hair and serves as a UV protector and free-radical neutralizer. This specific formula, the Extra Volume Shampoo, is also loaded with an ingredient called linden bud extract, which is used to naturally plump up condition the hair for that shiny, healthy fullness it results in. 

Aside from these standout ingredients, this shampoo is made without the use of sulfates, parabens, or phthalates and has met Byrdie's clean standards. 

The Results: Lasting volume, all-over

What I noticed instantly with this shampoo was that my hair was full of body, all over. I was hoping and expecting to get volume at my roots, but I felt like my entire head of hair instantly became plumper. No joke. By the third day, after various workouts (not to mention tons of summer humidity), my hair looked just as fresh as it did on day one using other trustworthy products. I had gotten used to seeing my hair flatten with time, but instead, I curled my hair on day three, and it looked like I had just washed it that morning. The cleanse was gentle with each use, never weighing my hair down, and its results of healthy hair with natural-looking volume held up through some seriously sweaty trials. I paired the shampoo with my Gold Lust conditioner and felt like my hair was going to some luxurious spa every time I showered. Everything about my experience with this shampoo was heavenly. 

The Value: Name brand average

With most name brand volumizing shampoos coming in between $20 and $30, the MoroccanOil Extra Volume Shampoo rings in at a fair, almost average price of $24. Sure, you may be able to get something for $5 at the drugstore that claims to do the same thing, but I guarantee you won’t be able to find a bottle that’s this effective with a Byrdie clean formula and a killer scent. I wouldn’t classify name brand products as budget-friendly, but within their own category, I’d say this pricing is totally fair, and you definitely get what you’re paying for. Your hair will thank you for it. 

Similar Products: It’s all about lifestyle

Knowing what you’re looking for in a shampoo is about hair type, yes, but it’s also in large part about your lifestyle. For me, working out has thrown a wrench into a lot of my regular hair rhythms and my go-to's haven’t performed the same way. So when you’re seeking out a volumizing shampoo, be sure to consider lifestyle factors like your wash frequency, style choices, day-to-day grind, etc. 

Virtue Labs Full Shampoo: One of the only tried and true volumizing shampoos I’ve regularly returned to is the Virtue Labs Full Shampoo ($38). It always left my hair feeling fresh and full, but since having shorter hair and more frequent workouts, I was struggling to have lasting results as I did with my other go-to’s (like Oribe’s Gold Lust shampoo). The MoroccanOil Extra Volume Shampoo blew me away with its lasting results and all-over volume. Plus, MoroccanOil’s 8.5 oz formula is much more affordable at $24 compared to the $38 for Virtue’s. 

Pura D’or Hair Thinning Therapy Shampoo: There’s a big difference between wanting lasting volume and having hair thinning or hair loss. If you’re experiencing the latter, a volumizing product is not going to be a cure-all for your hair woes. While I will definitely be returning to the MoroccanOil Extra Volume Shampoo in my next round of postpartum hair woes for a fresh, full, and healthy look, I’ll have to alternate it with the Pura D’or Hair Thinning Therapy Shampoo ($25) to help me grow out those pesky new baby hairs and eliminate the ample hair loss that comes after having a baby.