Briogeo’s Be Gentle, Be Kind Duo Gave My Hair A Deep Clean [Review]

Last Updated on November 20, 2022

The superfoods-infused shampoo and conditioner by Briogeo promotes healthy hair and wellness. This duo is formulated to restore shine, hydrate and protect dry, parched and dull hair. Here’s what it did for me instead.

After taking out my crochet protective style two days prior, my hair needed serious TLC. There was heavy build-up of oil, dandruff, and breakage. A trip to the mall saw Briogeo’s Be Gentle + Be Kind antioxidant-rich shampoo and conditioner land in my shopping cart, ready to go to work. And work, they did, especially the shampoo!

My Current Routine

I swear by my drugstore Herbal Essence Shampoo and Conditioner which I’d been using religiously every wash day. However, I’ve been gravitating towards black-owned products the past couple of months to render my support. That’s why my last visit to Mecca (in Australia) landed me in front of the Briogeo bay. With brooding excitement, I scanned the entire range, searching for the holy-grail shampoo and conditioner for my 4C, chemically-altered hair.

Wash days for me are like a really long trip where although you look forward to the destination, you’re not keen on the many turns and bumps it takes to get there. That’s the same with washing and styling my hair. First comes the detangling and combing it out to prep for shampoo, then comes the washing, conditioning, deep conditioning, detangling (again), air drying, moisturizing, sealing, and finally styling. That’s a lot for one Saturday. But this particular Saturday, I was super excited to try Briogeo for the first time.

Be Gentle, Be Kind Shampoo & Conditioner Product Rundown

About My Hair

My natural hair type is 4c; however, I’m chemically-relaxed (don’t judge me!). Due to having this self-imposed technically damaged hair structure, I have to always handle it with attention and care. A South African study showed that relaxed hair is more prone to damage and hair loss, especially over time. So, I’m always after products that can repair, protect, hydrate and strengthen my hair.

To minimize breakage, I typically put my hair in a protective style. After taking this out, my hair would crave a clarifying shampoo due to all the build-up over time. I would also need shampoo with detangling and hydrating properties. And, of course, a good conditioner to restore moisture and nutrients. This was the reason I decided to try the Be Gentle, Be Kind range from Briogeo’s many shampoos and conditioners.

The shampoo boasts a mixture of plant-based hydrators like Aloe Vera, clarifiers like Lemon and Grapefruit, nourishing power of Apple, and, of course, its star ingredient, Matcha which protects hair from further damage. The conditioner also has complimentary superfoods high in antioxidants and growth factors like Apple, Spinach, Broccoli and Avocado oil, among other healthy foods listed on the bottle.

Click to view the full ingredients.

Product Lather & Texture

Oh my goodness – let me just start with the most amazing thing: THE LATHER. The first time I saw the bottles (reminiscent of a green juice bottle as intended by Briogeo), I honestly thought though cute, it was small. Then, I saw it was 369ml (12.5fl. oz) which is a lot, so I hoped both products would last a while.

For a good shampoo to last, it must lather well so that you won’t need a lot of it in a wash. Let me tell you: the Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Matcha + Apple Replenishing Superfood Shampoo lathers well! A little goes a really long way. You only really need 1/4 of a hand-full for one full wash. By my calculations, it would take 8 washes for me to finish a bottle. I followed the instructions and massaged it into my hair and scalp for 30 seconds, then I rinsed it off. My hair felt super exfoliated and I really didn’t need to reapply.

The texture of the shampoo is a clear, slightly thick consistency. It doesn’t get messy at all and it was easy to pour and apply. The conditioner is a thicker cream texture which was slightly difficult to get out of the bottle unless you squeeze it from the sides. I also wasn’t too happy with the huge amount of conditioner I needed to coat my entire hair. I envision the conditioner to last half as long as the shampoo.

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The Scent

Both shampoo and conditioner smelt great. Although fragranced, it was not strong at all which is good. They smell like your traditional shampoo and conditioner.

The Results

I did not expect the shampoo to clarify my hair as instantly as it did when I rinsed it off. My hair felt brand new; all that heaviness from the oil build-up was lifted. Normally with my drugstore shampoo, I would still notice residue dandruff even after multiple lathers. With the Briogeo shampoo, my scalp was squeaky clean, which was great.

The only con was that my hair did tangle. Perhaps this was because I hadn’t clarified in a while and I had just taken off cornrows two days prior. Otherwise, the shampoo did as I wanted – to remove product build-up and dandruff.

With the conditioner, I’m still on the fence about this one. I did as instructed – coated my hair with it and massaged it for two minutes, then rinsed it off. I didn’t particularly notice shine or feel the softness you get from a properly conditioned hair. As a result, I followed it up with my holy grail Vitale Olive Oil Hair Mayonnaise to deep condition.

The Packaging

Briogeo is all about clean, naturally-derived ingredients. So, their packaging follows suit which is something a lot of customers love about the brand. The Be Gentle, Be Kind shampoo and conditioner comes in a cute-sized green juice-inspired bottle. Even better, they are 100% recyclable which helps to reduce the amount of trash in landfills. Also, although small in size, there’s a lot of product inside!

The Price

As someone who is used to drugstore hair care, this was definitely a splurge. $58 is quite a lot for a shampoo and conditioner duo, compared to drugstore brands where you can buy duos for $20 or less. In fact, breaking it down by fl. oz, the Briogeo shampoo/conditioner is $2.32 per fl. oz while a drugstore shampoo/conditioner can be around $0.31 per fl. oz. That’s 7 times more!

However, luxury can cost more. Briogeo is made with high quality, non-toxic and naturally-derived ingredients. They stand by their 6-free philosophy which means their products contain no harsh sulfates, silicones, phthalates, parabens, DEA, and artificial dyes. I’m personally impressed with the amount of plant and fruit extracts packed into their products, and proven by science to work. Also, I found that the Be Gentle, Be Kind shampoo lathers so well and will last me 8 washes. So, is it worth the price? I’d say, perhaps.

You can grab the duo Superfoods Hair Pack at a discounted price of $49 (save $9) directly on Briogeo’s website.

Would I Use Briogeo’s Be Gentle, Be Kind Shampoo & Conditioner Again?

The shampoo, yes, but only when my hair needs some serious exfoliation. The conditioner, given the price and the lack of softness, I’m still on the fence on this one! Regardless, I look forward to trying out other Briogeo products.

Overall Experience of Briogeo’s Be Gentle, Be Kind Shampoo & Conditioner

I really enjoyed using this duo. The shampoo, although led to some tangling, still clarified my hair in one wash. It lathers really well, which makes the splurge worth it since it’ll last longer than my drugstore products. The texture and consistency were also adequate and easy to apply. Although the conditioner was rich, it was slightly too thick and I didn’t physically feel that my hair was super conditioned. Both products smelt great and packaging is super cute.

Extra points for both shampoo and conditioner being made with clean ingredients. At least, even if I can’t see it, I know my hair is nourished and fed with all the good nutrients it needs!