This post reviews Intelligent Shop’s super volumizing ketoconazole shampoo – I’ve compiled my favorite shampoos for hair loss previously but I want to dive a bit deeper into each specific product in their respective posts.
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Introduction
Ketoconazole
Ketoconazole is a topical medication used as an antiandrogen, antifungal, and antiglucocorticoid. (Wikipedia) More on ketoconazole here.
Although it is mainly used for fungal infections ketoconazole is now also used off-label for hair loss due to these effects. This means that it decreases androgens in the scalp, targets fungus, and reduces inflammation through various mechanisms.
All of these benefits are extremely powerful in the context of fighting hair loss. If nothing else, it appears to be safe in regards to side effects – especially when compared with some of the other major hair loss compounds. Your risk-to-reward ratio is great here.
Efficacy
I cannot in full transparency comment on the raw efficacy of this product as I haven’t scientifically tested how much/little it’s helped my hair.
All I comment on in this series of posts is a view on the products themselves not on the efficacy of ketoconazole shampoo – I’ve covered that information in the link mentioned above.
Intelligent Shop Overall Review
If you’re looking to “graduate” from generic brands of ketoconazole shampoo into something that might not dry your hair as much and will also offer a more modern scent as well as extra ingredients to better fight hair loss you need to consider this product.
Key Ingredients:
- Pumpkin Seed Oil
- Saw Palmetto
- Ketoconazole (.9% – verified)
- Peppermint Oil
- Caffeine
- Black Cumin Seed Oil
Hair Appearance
I love the appearance this shampoo gives my hair – if you read my Nizoral 1% ketoconazole shampoo review you know I love the effect that had on my hair – making it appear and feel incredibly thick, firm, and dense.
This product is an extremely close second offering almost the same feel and appearance in terms of extreme thickness and density.
Smell
This shampoo also has a great smell. It’s a very modern “fresh” and slightly “minty” sort of scent. I prefer it over the more medicinal-smelling ketoconazole shampoos – this smells like a product normal people would use to wash their hair.
Lather
Again, similar to the Nizoral shampoo, the lather is really good. I can spread this out well with a bit of water and cover my entire scalp.
Cost
I bought the 10 fl oz bottle for $35 (including shipping).
This is 100% going to be more expensive compared to the generic brands in your local stores especially because this is a product you have to purchase online.
I don’t think this is a bad thing though, you’re also getting a lot of value from the shampoo that the generic doesn’t provide. It still offers .9% ketoconazole but has all those other hair loss fighting ingredients as well as smells modern and offers a great appearance boost to hair.
I may be biased because I’m a huge fan of the company and its owners but I think this shampoo is well worth the money. I’ll be trying out their conditioner shortly as well.
Convenience
While this product is sold online the shipping didn’t cost nearly anything for me and the product arrived quickly – so while you can’t just run to the store for a few minutes and pick this up I think the product is still relatively convenient.
It’s also not prescription at all so you don’t have to worry about anything like that which is just another step in the process.
Conclusion
My final verdict on the Intelligent Shop super volumizing shampoo is this: if you’re looking for something better than the generic Nizoral formulations you should go for this next.
It offers a great balance between all of the positive things that Nizoral has while adding new ingredients to potentially better fight hair loss, and smell more fresh, all for only a slightly higher cost.
The only downside here is that the product only offers .9% ketoconazole to comply with American regulations.
I did recently come across a study with 1% ketoconazole shampoo though which seems promising – most other studies I read used 2%.