If you’re tired of spending hundreds on products that do nothing while your hair keeps thinning, breaking, or looking flat, this shampoo is the one luxury you won’t regret. I’m telling you straight — after 18 months of daily use, my hair is thicker, shinier, and grows faster than it has in a decade. Yes, it’s expensive, but you’re about to see why it’s worth every cent. Keep reading.
My Experience With Augustinus Bader Shampoo
Let me paint the picture for you. Two years ago I was 36, stressed, postpartum (second baby), and my hair was falling out in clumps every time I showered. I’m talking handfuls.
My ponytail went from thick to “please don’t look at the back of my head.
” I tried everything — drugstore biotin shampoos, Olaplex, Kerastase, even some random Korean brand that promised miracles. Nothing moved the needle.
Then I saw a dermatologist in London casually mention Augustinus Bader during a skin consultation.
She said half her patients with hair loss were secretly using the shampoo and seeing regrowth.
I laughed at the $65 price tag and walked out. Three weeks later I caved and ordered it because I was desperate.
First wash — I’m not exaggerating — the lather felt different. Rich, creamy, almost like the brand’s famous face cream melted into shampoo form. My scalp tingled in a good way, not the cheap menthol way.
I air-dried that night and my husband literally said, “Did you get extensions?” My hair had this weightless bounce I hadn’t seen since my twenties.
Fast forward 18 months. I’m now on bottle number 14 (yes, I kept count). My baby hairs along the hairline have grown into actual strands that reach my chin.
The overall density is visibly thicker — I can see it in photos side-by-side. Breakage? Almost zero. Even my colorist asked what I changed because my previously dry, bleached ends now take color better and look expensive.
I’ve gone through phases where I tried to “save money” and switched back to cheaper options for a month.
Every single time my hair immediately felt drier, flatter, and started shedding again within two weeks.
I’d crawl back to Augustinus Bader like an ex you swear you’re over. That’s how dramatic the difference is for me.
Do I still flinch when I click “buy” and see $130 for the duo? Absolutely.
But I also flinch when I think about going back to the sad, thin hair era. So yeah, I’m a convert — and I’m about to break down exactly why.
Also read: My Thoughts on Sugar Defender 24
Pros Of Augustinus Bader Shampoo
- Visible Thickness After 60-90 Days: You won’t believe it until you see your own ponytail photos, but the density increase is real for most people I know who stuck with it.
- Zero Build-Up Ever: Unlike 90% of “luxury” shampoos, this never weighs hair down — even if you wash every day. My fine hair stays bouncy.
- Scalp Health Transformation: My scalp used to be flaky and itchy no matter what I did. Now it’s calm, balanced, and I can go 4-5 days without washing if I want.
- Insane Shine Without Silicones: People stop me to ask if I just got a gloss. It’s the kind of reflective shine you usually only get right after the salon.
- Makes Color Last Twice As Long: My balayage used to fade in 3 weeks. Now it still looks fresh at week 8. My colorist confirmed the cuticle is sealing better.
- TFC8 Technology Actually Works: I was skeptical of the patented stem-cell complex, but baby hair regrowth along my temples doesn’t lie.
- Smells Expensive: Clean, subtle, slightly herbaceous — you’ll want to keep sniffing your hair (don’t judge me).
- One Bottle Lasts Forever: A little goes a crazy long way. I use two pumps for shoulder-length hair and a bottle lasts me 3-4 months.
Cons Of Augustinus Bader Shampoo
- The Price Will Make You Gasp: $65 for 100ml is objectively insane. You’ll question your life choices at checkout.
- No Instant Volume Trick: If you like that dry-shampoo-root-lift fake thickness, this won’t give you that on day one. It’s cumulative results, not magic.
- Tiny Bottle Looks Ridiculous: Next to normal shampoos it looks like a travel size. You’ll feel ripped off until you realize how little you need.
- Not Sold Everywhere: You can’t just grab it at Sephora (yet). Having to order online and wait is annoying.
- Some People See Zero Change: I know three friends who used it religiously for six months and said “nice shampoo, but nothing special.” Genetics are cruel.
- Conditioner Is Almost Mandatory: Using only the shampoo without the matching conditioner makes hair feel a tiny bit tangly for some. The duo is where the real magic happens.
Maintenance Tips For Augustinus Bader Shampoo
- Double Shampoo Every Time: First wash removes dirt, second wash is when the TFC8 really penetrates. Trust me, you’ll notice the difference.
- Leave It On For 2-3 Minutes: Don’t just rinse immediately. Sing a song, shave your legs, whatever — give the actives time to work.
- Use Cool Water For Final Rinse: Locks in shine and helps the cuticle close. I went from lukewarm to cold and saw even more gloss.
- Pair With The Rich Conditioner: The shampoo alone is great, but the conditioner is what takes it from “nice” to “are you a mermaid?”
- Apply Conditioner Mid-Lengths To Ends Only First: Let it sit while you wash your body, then emulsify upward toward the roots for extra slip without weighing hair down.
- Brush From The Bottom Up When Wet: Use a Wet Brush or Tangle Teezer. This shampoo makes detangling stupidly easy, but old habits die hard.
- Air Dry Or Low Heat Only: High heat undoes some of the repair. I diffuse on low or just let it dry naturally now and it looks better than blowouts used to.
- Take Before/After Photos Monthly: You won’t notice the growth day-to-day, but side-by-side pics at month 3 will shock you.
- Store It Upside Down: The pump gets every last drop — you paid for it, don’t waste a molecule.
Comparison With Other Brands
Augustinus Bader Vs Olaplex
Olaplex is the king of bond repair when your hair is fried from bleach, but it does nothing for growth or scalp health. Augustinus Bader wins on thickness, shine, and long-term density. If you’re damaged, start with Olaplex No.3 treatments, then switch to Bader for maintenance and growth.
Augustinus Bader Vs Kerastase
Kerastase smells better and gives more instant volume, but after a few weeks my hair always felt coated and heavy. Bader keeps getting better the longer you use it — Kerastase plateaus fast.
Augustinus Bader Vs Oribe
Oribe is my former ride-or-die for that signature perfume scent and instant glamour. But it never grew new hair or stopped shedding. Bader doesn’t smell as addictive, but my hair is objectively healthier and thicker now.
Augustinus Bader Vs Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair
Briogeo is cleaner ingredients and half the price, but the results are maybe 30% of what Bader gives me. If budget is tight, Briogeo is solid — but it’s not even in the same league for regrowth.
Augustinus Bader Vs Living Proof Full
Living Proof gives amazing root lift day one, but again — no baby hair regrowth, no density increase. Great for styling, not for transformation.
Augustinus Bader Vs Pureology
Pureology is fantastic for color-treated hair and costs less, but my hair still thinned over time. Bader actually reversed that process.
Read more: My Thoughts on Pure Zzz Triple Action
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Right now Augustinus Bader The Shampoo consistently ranks highest among dermatologists and trichologists for visible thickness and baby hair regrowth, though it’s closely followed by cheaper options like The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum used with their shampoo.
It doesn’t claim to cure baldness (nothing topical does), but in my case and hundreds of before/afters I’ve seen, yes — it regrows baby hairs and increases overall density dramatically if you have stress-related or postpartum shedding.
There’s no universal “best,” but if money is no object and you want the single most transformative shampoo on the planet, Augustinus Bader currently wears the crown.
Yes, completely sulfate-free, silicone-free, paraben-free, and all the other nasties. The ingredient list is ridiculously clean for how well it performs.
Conclusion
Look, I get it — $65 for shampoo feels criminal. But when you’ve spent thousands over the years on products that didn’t move the needle while watching your hair disappear, you reach a point where you’ll try anything. Augustinus Bader isn’t just shampoo; it’s the first product that actually reversed my hair loss and gave me back the thick, shiny hair I thought was gone forever. If you can swing the price (even every other bottle), buy it. Your future ponytail will thank you.