Ouai reviews and discussion

4.4

85% of reviewers would recommend to a friend

Reviews mention

  • Luxurious signature fragrances
  • Effective clarifying shampoo
  • Lightweight, shine-boosting hair oil
  • Versatile, high-performing stylers
  • Overpowering fragrance intensity
  • Inconsistent shampoo performance
  • Occasional drying, buildup issues
  • Fussy, inconvenient packaging

Ouai earns largely positive reviews for effective staples like Detox Shampoo, Leave-In Conditioner, hair oil, Air Dry Foam, and Wave Spray that leave hair clean, lightweight, shiny, and well‑scented. Reviews also flag notable drawbacks: overly strong, lingering fragrance that irritates sensitive scalps, hit‑or‑miss performance on shampoos/conditioners and masks (drying, buildup, or just “meh”), and occasional packaging frustrations (stiff conditioner bottles, finicky sprayers).

AI summary based on Thingtesting reviews

518 reviews and posts

  • perhaps I don’t use their products correctly but i don’t get the hype. the wave spray, doesn’t work on my hair. the dry shampoo foam, doesn’t clean my hair but at all. everything smells nice but the function is lost on me.

  • both my dog and I use Ouai haircare products because they smell SO GOOD and they work really well. The Fur Bebe shampoo is perfect for my goldendoodle and everyone compliments me on how he smells. The detox shampoo and the THIN shampoo is perfect for me and my house that has such hard water it's basically necessary to use a clarifying shampoo every day.

  • I have used their shampoos, conditioners, masks, and scrubs. The scents are amazing! I smell like an angel every time I use one of their products. My ultimate favorite product of theirs is the detoxifying shampoo. This shampoo makes my hair feel lighter and softer than ever. I wish the ingredients of their products were cleaner but I guess it has to be that way to get such lovely smells.

  • I unfortunately didn’t like this brand. Pretty much everything I tried either didn’t work or was way too heavy and scented for me. Made my hair pretty frizzy.

  • the candle doesn’t burn to the edges but the vessel is super nice and could definitely be re-used. the detox shampoo smells good (i wouldn’t say amazing, but it’s nice) and lasts me a long time since i don’t need too much. i got the candle for free but the detox shampoo is definitely worth the money.

  • i legit love their leave in mask for thin to medium hair it has helped me in so many ways and i am just overall a huge fan of theirs

  • Smells good but I don't think it has a particularly strong hold on my hair.

  • I love their hair and body oils, since they don't feel heavy and smell amazing. They are a bit of a splurge, but a good option for your self-care days and wanted to feel glowy and soft all over.

    Feedback

    The packaging feels a bit cheap for the product price.

  • This oil smells so good and feels great. I used it in my hair and on my body and oh my goodness it felt luxurious.

    Feedback

    I can't think of an improvement except perhaps the lid could be less messy

  • I have only used the hair oil so that is why I am giving the brand a 4. The smell of the product is amazing and helps put a nice shine to my hair.

  • LOVE their hair oil and leave-in conditioner. Smells amazing and not too heavy or overwhelming. I have medium weight heir, but have developed natural curls in the past few years. Using the leave-in conditioner after I shower has done wonders to bring the natural curl out of my hair in a manageable way. Also keeps my hair super soft, tangle free and shiny!

  • Their leave in conditioner is ultra luxurious and smells like perfume.

  • I caved into the hype and bought the Wave Spray, Air Dry Foam, and Shampoo and Conditioner. The Air Dry foam was an immediate fave. Just one to two pumps eliminated the need for me to do ANYTHING with my hair post wash. My thick curly hair would dry frizz-free and with the perfect amount of bounce. The Wave Spray was a second fave, but it was too strong for my hair and the product started irritating my scalp after regular use. I stopped using the shampoo and conditioner for that reason as well. The fragrance is too strong for my sensitive scalp!

    Feedback

    My biggest issue is the fragrance. Despite all the products smelling great, the strong fragrance irritated my scalp after using it regularly for a few months. I ended up having to dilute the wave spray pretty heavily to continue using it. I split it in half across two bottles and filled the other half with water to help tone it down. I'm cautious now, but I still whip it out on days when my hair needs a little extra styling lift. I switched to Crown Affair for my shampoo and conditioner and my scalp feels much healthier.

  • I really go back and forth with Ouai products. I love them (I think?) but I just cannot justify the price. I love the packaging and I LOVE the scent of all of these products. After I shower with the shampoo and conditioner is smells like I just walked out of a $200 salon treatment, but my hair does not *look* like I did. I will still continue to keep tabs on this brand, I am interested to see what they do in the future.

    Feedback

    These products are too expensive for the size and outcome of the product.

  • I actually really like this brand. The thin hair shampoo and conditioner works really well with my hair. I also like the hair gloss, though it did require following the directions really accurately/some trial and error to keep my hair from looking greasy. I think some of their products come with a learning curve to ensure you're getting the most out of it. I also like the scents, but can see how others would find them overpowering.

  • I am a dedicated Ouai product user. The detox shampoo, the fine hair shampoo and conditioner, and your hair oil are all part of my daily routine.

  • "Affordable" is a bit of a stretch - quite simply, while their products are amazing, they are beyond my price range for the quantity offered. Indeed, short of an amazing sale somewhere, I basically never even get to touch these things. I just can't justify it. It's hard enough to justify the other shampoos, etc., that I get, and these are more, but I need to concede something to the rat's nest gods. That being said, if you CAN justify the expense - these are truly amazing, My favorites are the detox shampoo and leave-in conditioner. Good at getting the crud all out and infusing the hair with needed moisture afterward while leaving the hair sleek and smooth and smelling amazing. I just can't help but feel it's all a bit overpriced for the average customer, and that stings a bit. They are especially well known for their line of shampoos/conditioners based on hair type as well. Few companies bother with such, but, there really is a real difference in the needs and the subsequent products. I've used the fine hair formulation, and quite liked it, but, not quite as much on balance for cost vs quality as just getting the single-bottle detox shampoo in a pinch. Still though, if you're struggling to find a product that works, I do highly recommend trying such out. It's amazing the difference that just using something made for your hair type can make.