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Maui Moisture is a popular hair care brand that many people swear by, but others claim the products contain harmful chemicals.
This conflicting information leaves the average consumer wondering: is Maui Moisture good for your hair? Read on to learn more about the pros and cons of using Maui Moisture products.
Maui Moisture: An Overview
Maui Moisture offers shampoos, conditioners, hair stylers, and treatments primarily targeted at wavy and curly hair types. The brand asserts that it makes products with quality ingredients, such as silicone-free conditioners and stylers.
However, the company also uses chemicals that concern some hair care fanatics. That said, the consensus within the hair community is that when it comes to Maui Moisture, the good outweighs the bad.
Although Maui Moisture should be safe to use, it is always a good idea to educate yourself on the ingredients in your hair products to make an informed decision.
Read Next: Does Maui Moisture Cause Hair Loss?
Should You Use Maui Moisture for Your Hair?
Unless you have a specific allergy, you can safely use Maui Moisture products. Whether or not these products are the best choice for your hair is a bit more complicated.
Understanding the primary ingredients in Maui Moisture products—as well as the less-than-great chemicals included further down on the ingredient list — will help you determine if this is the right brand for you.
Maui Moisture Key Ingredients
Many wavy and curly hair influencers recommend Maui Moisture for its excellent ingredients. Many of Maui Moisture’s key ingredients are plant-based and provide important nutrients to your hair.
Aloe Vera and Coconut Water
Maui Moisture sets itself apart from other hair care brands by using aloe vera as the first ingredient in its shampoos and conditioners. Derived from the aloe plant, aloe vera is a juicy, thick gel-like substance that contains fatty acids, amino acids, and vitamins known to benefit hair follicles.
Aloe vera is also ultra-moisturizing, making it an appealing ingredient for wavy and curly hair that is prone to frizz and dryness.
Maui Moisture also infuses its products with coconut water. Hair brands like to use coconut water because it has hydrating effects but, unlike coconut oil, doesn’t get greasy or weigh the hair down.
No Silicones or Mineral Oils
Some hair care lovers like Maui Moisture for having drugstore prices without most of the unappealing ingredients you see in cheap products. For instance, Maui Moisture never uses silicones.
Silicones are prevalent in lower-quality moisturizing hair products since silicones create the feeling of soft, hydrated hair. But silicones form a seal over your hair, causing product buildup and preventing your hair from absorbing nutrients.
Maui Moisture also abstains from using mineral oils in its products. Like silicones, mineral oils will build up in your hair and cause scalp irritation. To top it off, all Maui Moisture products are vegan.
Read Next: Brands That Make Vegan Hair Products
Ingredients in Maui Moisture to Be Aware Of
In addition to the nourishing ingredients in Maui Moisture, the brand also uses chemicals that may pose some risks.
DMDM Hydantoin
Some of Maui Moisture’s products contain DMDM hydantoin. DMDM hydantoin, also commonly known as Glydant, is an antimicrobial preservative found in many cosmetic products.
DMDM hydantoin is effective at preserving products, but it releases formaldehyde. In high quantities, formaldehyde is a carcinogen. DMDM hydantoin can also cause skin and scalp irritation. Some people claim to suffer hair loss as a reaction to DMDM hydantoin.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review, an independent cosmetics safety organization, says that DMDM hydantoin is safe in amounts that don’t exceed 0.074 percent. Maui Moisture products that contain DMDM hydantoin have percentages that fall below that limit.
Consumers who have a known allergy to DMDM hydantoin, or simply want to avoid any risks, can still use most Maui Moisture products. Maui Moisture products with DMDM hydantoin include the Curl Quench and Coconut Curl Smoothie and several conditioners.
Isopropyl Alcohol
Most alcohols are big red flags on hair product ingredient lists, including isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is a common ingredient in Maui Moisture conditioners.
Isopropyl alcohol is used to help oil and water combine in products, as well as to help other ingredients get absorbed into the hair. Like most alcohols, isopropyl alcohol can be extremely drying and can make your hair frizzy and dehydrated.
This alcohol type is quite prevalent in hair products and is usually fine for the hair when used in moderation, especially in the context of Maui Moisture products, which have moisturizing substances as the primary ingredients.
If you have a tight curl pattern and are extremely sensitive to dryness, you may want to avoid isopropyl alcohol. Otherwise, you should be fine to use conditioners that contain isopropyl alcohol as long as you incorporate other moisturizing products into your routine.
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide is another unappealing chemical that Maui Moisture uses. Many companies, including Maui Moisture, use small amounts of sodium hydroxide in shampoo to balance the pH level.
Because sodium hydroxide is a severely corrosive substance — it is also called lye — many people are alarmed when they find out it is in their shampoo. Over-exposure to sodium hydroxide can cause burns, hair damage, and skin irritation.
But don’t let this scare you: a normal shampoo will only have low concentrations of sodium hydroxide, which is perfectly safe for your skin and hair. Sodium hydroxide lowers the acidity of shampoo and makes it safer for your scalp since a pH imbalance can cause irritation and dandruff.
Read Next: Controversial Shampoo Ingredients to Know About
Frequently Asked Questions
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Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Maui Moisture.
Is Maui Moisture really natural?
Maui Moisture products contain both plant-based ingredients and synthetic chemicals. Natural doesn’t have an official definition, but Maui Moisture does use fewer harsh chemicals than some other similarly-priced hair care brands.
Is Maui Moisture or Shea Moisture better?
Whether Maui Moisture or Shea Moisture is better is a matter of personal taste. These brands carry similar products with similar ingredient lists. One major difference is that Maui Moisture emphasizes aloe vera as its primary ingredient, while Shea Moisture usually favors coconut water.
Does Maui Moisture have parabens?
Maui Moisture shampoos and conditioners do not have parabens. Parabens are a category of preservatives that may be linked to hormone disruption and some types of cancers, although the amount usually found in cosmetics has been deemed safe by the FDA.
What type of hair is Maui Moisture for?
Maui Moisture hair products are mostly designed for wavy and curly hair types. However, straighter hair types may also see good results with Maui Moisture.
Does Maui Moisture have protein?
Maui Moisture does have shampoos, conditioners, and styling products that contain protein ingredients. Protein is an important ingredient for strengthening the hair and promoting curl definition.
So, Is Maui Moisture Good for Your Hair?
Maui Moisture is safe for most people to use. The moisturizing and nourishing ingredients in Maui Moisture products are especially beneficial to people with wavy or curly hair, although people with tight curls may have issues with certain dehydrating ingredients.
Furthermore, no Maui Moisture products contain problematic chemicals with concentrations high enough to be known to cause skin irritation or hair damage. Overall, Maui Moisture is a reliable and affordable brand that many people enjoy using.
If you aren’t sure what you should be using on your hair, take our “what hair products should I use” quiz. It’s only a few simple questions and you’ll have taken the guesswork out of picking out hair products!