Don't Trust Aussie for Curly Hair!
Yet another brand that claims to be "curly hair friendly" while blatantly lying straight to your face.
I’m backkkkkkk :)
If you hadn’t seen my mini announcement on July 17th, I’ll briefly restate that I was on vacation for the month and planned to resume my newsletter after I returned — partly because of unreliable internet and also because I was feeling lazy once tropical weather hit. Regardless of all that, I am back home now, and the journey begins again. I also think I might be coming down with something as I write this, which is never fun. I got rained on the day before this, so the cold wind plus my soaking wet hair and clothes probably didn’t help. Anyway, here’s a bit of the work I’ve been piling up while on break! Enjoy.
Okay, so let’s talk Miracle Aussie. You know the purple bottle you’ve probably seen on drugstore shelves since forever? Yeah, that one.
So let me just say it clearly: Aussie might smell good, that is all it's good for…
And before anyone @'s me — no, I’m not talking about the Australian brand Aussie Curls. That’s a different story. I mean the classic American Aussie line, the one owned by Procter & Gamble, the one with the kangaroo logo that’s probably sitting in your local CVS right now. That Aussie.
A few days ago, I spent the night at my mom’s work-friend’s house (tiring sentence to read, I know, just bear with me), and while showering in their bathroom, I noticed their shampoo and conditioner were both Aussie. I had never really used the brand before, but since I was at the tail end of my trip and completely out of my own stuff, I went ahead and used it—without even thinking to check the ingredients or look into what was actually in it. Safe to say, after doing my research later on… it made a lot more sense why my hair felt the way it did.
Let’s start with the shampoo—because if you’ve ever used it and then felt like your hair was straw-like, or even hay, here’s why: it’s packed with sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, which are both major moisture-strippers. If your curls are already dry or frizzy, which mine are, these are basically your worst enemy. And yet they slap the word “Miracle” on the bottle like they’re doing us all a huge favor… yeah, okay.
Then there’s the styling products. Almost all of them are loaded with silicones (usually dimethicone or bis-aminopropyl dimethicone if you want the full details and specific chemistry), which can weigh curls down and build up over time. I know that I like the feeling of smooth and almost “slip” like hair when I use silicone-based stuff, but trust me — after a few weeks, your hair’s just suffocating under product gunk unless you're clarifying constantly.
To add icing to the cake, the alcohols that are in these products, specifically benzyl alcohol, are known to dry out tighter textures like 3b to 4c. Also, some products include DMDM hydantoin, a preservative that releases formaldehyde. I’m not going to spiral about that too hard right now, but… formaldehyde?? In 2025?? Be serious.
Additionally, many hair products don’t just say “formaldehyde” on the label — they use sneaky names like:
Formalin
Methylene glycol
Quaternium-15
DMDM hydantoin
These are preservatives or ingredients that release formaldehyde over time.
→ And for those of you unsure as to why formaldehyde could be a problem in hair care products, here is a short list I found with a quick Google search to help clarify:
It can trigger scalp irritation
Has been linked to hair loss
It can also cause rashes
Increase in dandruff
— this was just off of a quick Google search —
Now, the Miracle Curls line does have coconut and jojoba oil listed in their ingredients, which protect your hair from drying out and reduce breakage, but when those oils are buried under all those drying ingredients, they don’t really help much at all. It’s like throwing a band-aid on a chemical burn.
And still, some people do swear by it. Usually, folks with wavy or looser curls who don’t mind a little build-up, or who have a solid clarifying routine already in place. But if your hair leans tighter, frizzier, or needs a lot of moisture? I wouldn’t risk it.
Now. Before I wrap this up, let me just say there is a brand called Aussie Curls (not to be confused with the purple bottle one), and that stuff? Totally different.
It’s actually Australian. It’s also Curly Girl Method–approved, free of sulfates, silicones, parabens, and all the other nonsense. I’ve never personally tried it, but if you're looking for a brand that respects curls instead of coating them in synthetic junk — that’s the Aussie you want. Not the one sitting on a Target endcap with fake positive vibes...
To wrap it all up:
If you’ve been using Aussie (the purple bottle kind) and feel like your curls aren’t thriving? You’re not imagining it. It’s not your hair. It’s the products.
If it works for you, then sure, okay! I’m not here to oppose anyone’s routine or preferences but rather to advise and warn anyone curious about the real truths behind the brands they buy. Personally, I believe that if you even doubt using Aussie’s products for a second, it’s time to let that purple Kangaroo go.
You deserve better than $5 worth of toxins in a bottle!!!!
It feels so nice to be writing again. Every time I think I need time off from it, I just miss it all the more.
And even though my sore throat and loopy eyes are kicking the living shit out of me right now, I know that writing this post was exactly what I should have been doing with my time — plus, knowing this could help quite literally anyone out there makes it all the better.
I’ll see you all next time!
With love,
Chloe <3
So happy you're back!! Thank you for the warnings about products. I'll be more conscious when buying curly hair products. Tons of love!