Aussie (shampoo)

Aussie is an international cosmetics brand. Its products are focused solely on hair care, such as shampoos, conditioners, hair serums, gels and sprays. It is marketed as a product of Australia due to its inclusion of certain natural ingredients found from the country itself. Thus, its logo is a kangaroo, and, similarly, its slogan is "Roo Your 'Do!". However, the brand is in fact manufactured by Procter & Gamble, an American company, which bought the brand in 2003. The brand was particularly successful in 2004, when P&G had US$55 billion in sales (the brand sales was unknown).

Aussie manufactures hair product collections for straight, wavy and curly hair to fix problems such as frizz, dryness, flat hair, and damaged hair. Aussie’s celebrity stylist is Sarah Potempa.

The product was sold in Australia prior to 1990, but was phased out during the 1990s and the product has been focused on the British and American markets.

History

In 1979, Aussie was founded by Tom Redmond, an American businessman. Prior to this, he had more than 20 years of experience in the professional salon industry.

When visiting Australia, Redmond realised that a wide variety of various ingredients such as Blue Gum Leaves, Australian Custard Apple, Quandong, Mint Balm, Wild Cherry Bark and Jojoba Seed Oil could be used to produce hair products.

Accordingly, Redmond was inspired to develop the first of the Aussie products: Australian 3 Minute Miracle (an intensive, conditioner that claims to produce results in three minutes).

Products

Shampoos

• Mega Shampoo – an everyday shampoo with Australian Kangaroo Paw Flower extract.
• Moist Shampoo – for dry hair, with Australian guava.
• Real Volume Shampoo – to add volume to fine or limp hair, with Australian Hops.
• Dual Personality Root Cleanser + Tip Mender Shampoo – for greasy, frizzy hair.

Conditioners

• Mega Conditioner – everyday conditioning formula Moist Conditioner – for dry hair, with Australian guava
• Real Volume Conditioner – to add volume to fine or limp hair, with Australian Hops
• Dual Personality Root Cleanser + Tip Mender Conditioner – pH balancing conditioner for greasy roots and dry ends.

Hair treatments

• 3 Minute Miracle Original Reconstructor – for average damaged hair, with Australian Balm Mint to replenish moisture.
• 3 Minute Miracle Deeeeep Reconstructor – helps reconstruct dry or damaged hair.

Styling products

• Mega Styling Spray
• Mega Styling Gel
• Real Volume Styling Mousse – for volume
• Sprunch Spray – for loose curls
• High and Mighty Gel – for strengthening and locking styled hair
• Dual Personality Hi Hold + Hi Shine Spray

Collections by country

Although it is marketed as a product of Australia, Procter & Gamble stopped selling Aussie goods in Australia as they had higher sales in Britain and America. Aussie is currently an international brand, its products sold in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States, France and Canada.

The following collections are manufactured by Aussie in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom, except where noted:

• Colour Mate
• Aussome Volume
• It’s Time For You To Shine – not sold in Germany, Netherlands
• Take The Heat – not sold in the Netherlands
• Miracle MoistLuscious Long – not sold in Greece

The following Collections are sold only in the countries specified:

• Mega Collection – Portugal
• Miracle Light – Spain
• Original – Spain

In the US and Canada, Aussie has a much wider variety of products:

• Aussome Volume
• Moist
• Confidently clean
• Miraculously Smooth
• You Can Shine
• Sprunch
• Instant Freeze
• Hair Insurance
• Aussie Men
• Aussie Family

Controversy

The National Skincare Authority and Livestrong have both declared that consumers of Aussie products must be aware that Aussie uses toxic chemicals in its manufacturing process. The National Skincare Authority has rated Aussie Shampoo a 1.1/10, a highly toxic hair care product in the shampoo category of the Natural Hair Care Product Review. The National Skincare Authority has also stated that “The Aussie Mega Shampoo does not meet any natural ingredient parameter.” Some Aussie products contain Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, an alkaline ingredient that helps penetrate dirt and oil on hair. The manufacturing process of this chemical may leave traces of dioxane, a probable human carcinogen (according to Natural Health Information). Many Aussie products also contain a variety of Parabens such as Propylparaben and Methylparaben, which have been linked to breast cancer (according to the Natural Skin Care Authority). However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published studies showing that there is no direct link between parabens and breast cancer. Although this remains unproven, it is also believed there is a link between Aussie products and cancer due to the ingredient Cocamidopropyl Betaine, as seen in animal tests.

Aussie products also contain FD&C Yellow 5, which is linked to "reduced fertility and a reduced chance for a full term healthy pregnancy."

Aussie Mega Shampoo also contains chemicals that have not been certified or assessed for safety by The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR). Additionally, the brand has been frowned upon for testing on animals when its products have not been certified organic and use synthetic chemicals. The very fact that the product is not certified organic causes many to believe that the product contains genetically modified organisms and pesticides.

Awards

Despite much controversy over its products, since its launch, Aussie has won a number of awards from beauty and fashion editors worldwide.

UK

Bella Magazine Beauty Awards 2012: Aussie Miracle Moist

Beauty Insiders‘ Choice Winner 2012

The Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible 2012: Aussie Aussome Volume Conditioner

Now Beauty Awards 2012: Best Hair Mask: 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor

Top Santé Beauty Glow Awards 2012: Best Hair Rescuer: 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor

Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards 2012: Best Shampoo & Conditioner: Miracle Moist Shampoo & Conditioner

CEW Beauty Awards: Best Classic Beauty Mask: 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor

Company Beauty Awards 2012: Best Shampoo and Conditioner: Take the Heat Range

Beauty Magazine Awards 2011: Best Classic Beauty Product: 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor

Elle Beauty Awards 2011: Best Hair Mask: 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor

Women‘s Own Beauty Awards 2011: Best Conditioner: 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor

Beauty Insiders‘ Choice Winner 2010

Fabulous Beauty Awards 2010: Winner Best Hair Treatment

Cosmetic Executive Women Awards 2010: Best Classic Product

You Magazine Beauty Awards 2010: Best Beauty Product

UK Beauty Awards 2009: Winner Best New Hair Product

Bella Beauty Awards 2009: Winner Best Conditioner

Company Best New Beauty Awards 2009: Best Problem-Solving Product

Fabulous Beauty Awards 2009: Winner Readers’ Favourite

Hair Magazine Awards 2009: Winner Best Value Shampoo & Conditioner

Beauty Insiders‘ Choice Winner 2009

Finland

Cosmopolitan 2010 Beauty Award Winner

Haircare Product of the Year (Gloria Magazine & Anna Magazine Awards)

Norway

Norwegian Beauty Awards: Winner Best Haircare Product Launch

Sweden

Swedish National Beauty Awards: Winner Best Shampoo

Cosmopolitan 2010 Beauty Awards: Nominee, awaiting results

Spain

PremiosVogue Belezza Awards 2012

External links

• Official website