Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo
by Paul Mitchell · hair_care
Editor's Take
Mostly SLS and Olefin Sulfonate doing the heavy lifting, plus MI/MCI preservatives; the tingle is real, the clean score is not.
Four-pillar formula scores
- Efficacy: 7.5 / 10
- Modern Tech: 4.5 / 10
- Clean Beauty: 1.0 / 10
- Sustainability: 5.9 / 10
The Verdict
This is a clarifying shampoo that delivers exactly what the bottle promises: deep cleansing and an invigorating tingle. The surfactant system strips buildup effectively, and the menthol-based cooling is signature Paul Mitchell. The trade-off is a legacy preservative system (MI/MCI) and harsh sulfates that push the Clean score to 1.0. Worth it if you need serious clarifying power and don't mind old-school chemistry; skip it if you're sensitive or looking for a gentler daily wash.
Full INCI list
Water (Aqua, Eau), Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Fragrance (Parfum), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Water, Panthenol, Polyquaternium-7, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycol Stearate, PEG-150 Distearate, Menthyl Lactate, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Magnesium Nitrate, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Menthol, Lavandula Oil/Extract, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Terpineol, Pinene, Beta-Caryophyllene, Citronellol, Terpinolene, Turpentine, Geraniol, Coumarin, Limonene, Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Blue 1 (CI 42090)