The Ultimate Odele Review: Clean Haircare That Really Works

Hey there, fellow hair care lover! If you‘re anything like me, you‘re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest products to take your locks to the next level. So when I first heard about Odele, a new clean haircare brand making waves in the beauty world, I knew I had to get my hands on their goodies and share my honest thoughts with you.

After testing out Odele‘s lineup for the past few months, I‘m finally ready to spill the tea on this buzzed-about brand. Buckle up, because this is going to be a deep dive! We‘ll cover everything from Odele‘s backstory and mission to detailed product reviews and comparison. By the end of this post, you‘ll know exactly whether Odele deserves a spot in your haircare routine (spoiler alert: it just might).

What Is Odele?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let‘s start with the basics. Odele is a clean haircare brand that launched in 2020 with a mission to make luxury-quality products accessible to everyone. The brand was founded by three women – Lindsay Holden, Britta Chatterjee, and Shannon Kearney – who were tired of compromising between performance, clean ingredients, and affordable prices.

"We saw a gap in the market for high-quality, clean haircare essentials that didn‘t cost a fortune," Holden told Allure. "We wanted to create a line of products that not only delivered amazing results, but also made you feel good about what you were putting on your body and down the drain."

And boy, did they deliver! Odele‘s products are packed with nourishing, plant-powered ingredients like shea butter, quinoa protein, and chia seed oil. But just as important as what‘s in the formulas is what‘s not. Odele bans over 1,300 questionable ingredients from its products, including sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicones, and synthetic fragrances. Everything is 100% vegan and cruelty-free, and safe for color-treated hair.

But Odele‘s commitment to clean beauty goes beyond just ingredients. The brand uses recyclable packaging made from post-consumer materials whenever possible, and partners with environmental nonprofits like 1% For the Planet. On top of that, Odele donates 1% of its sales to causes promoting equity and empowerment. Talk about a feel-good purchase!

Since its launch just two years ago, Odele has taken the haircare world by storm. The brand‘s products have racked up countless rave reviews and earned spots on "best of" lists from the likes of Allure, Glamour, and Refinery29. Odele is also now available at Target stores nationwide – a testament to the brand‘s rapid growth and success.

My Experience With Odele Products

Now that you have the backstory, let‘s dive into the good stuff: the products themselves! I‘ve been lucky enough to test out almost every item in Odele‘s lineup, and I‘m excited to share my unfiltered thoughts.

Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner

First up, the Volumizing Shampoo ($12) and Conditioner ($12). As someone with fine, flat hair, I‘m always looking for products that will give me a boost of volume and fullness. And let me tell you, this duo does not disappoint!

The shampoo has a luxurious lather that leaves my hair and scalp feeling squeaky clean without stripping moisture. It contains rice protein, a natural volumizer that plumps up the hair shaft for a thicker, fuller look. I also love the fresh, citrusy scent – it makes my shower feel like a spa experience.

The conditioner is equally impressive. It‘s lightweight yet deeply nourishing, thanks to hydrating ingredients like jojoba esters and sunflower seed oil. Unlike other volumizing conditioners I‘ve tried, it doesn‘t leave my hair feeling dry or straw-like. Just soft, bouncy strands with tons of body.

After blow drying, I‘m always amazed at how much fuller and fluffier my hair looks when I use these products. Even better, the volume lasts all day – no midday flatten-out here!

For comparison, I‘d say the Odele Volumizing duo works just as well as high-end options like the Oribe Shampoo for Magnificent Volume ($46) and R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Conditioner ($32). But at just $12 each, Odele‘s products are a fraction of the price. Talk about a steal!

Air Dry Styler

Next up is one of my absolute favorite Odele products: the Air Dry Styler ($12). If you‘re a fellow lazy girl who hates heat styling, this one‘s for you.

The Air Dry Styler is a lightweight cream formula designed to enhance your natural texture and fight frizz, without any crunchy or sticky feeling. It contains natural polymers, plant proteins, and chia seed oil to define waves and curls, add a hint of hold, and boost shine.

I like to apply a quarter-size amount to damp hair after showering, then scrunch and let my hair air dry. The result is the most perfectly undone, beachy waves – like I just spent a day at the ocean, minus the sand and sun damage. The waves last for days and only get better with each refresh.

If I had to compare the Air Dry Styler to another product, I‘d say it‘s similar to the Ouai Air Dry Foam ($28), but with a slightly lighter feel. It also reminds me of the Bumble & Bumble Don‘t Blow It Fine Hair Styler ($32), but with more hold and definition. Again, at just $12 for a generous 6 oz bottle, Odele‘s version is a total bargain.

Curl Defining No-Lather Shampoo

My curly-haired friends, Odele didn‘t forget about you! The Curl Defining No-Lather Shampoo ($12) is specially formulated to cleanse and hydrate coils, spirals, and everything in between.

As the name suggests, this shampoo doesn‘t lather up like traditional formulas. Instead, it has a creamy, low-foam consistency that gently removes dirt and buildup without disrupting your curl pattern or stripping moisture. It‘s sulfate-free, of course, and contains nourishing ingredients like shea butter, sunflower seed oil, and quinoa protein to help maintain strong, healthy, frizz-free curls.

I have type 2 wavy hair myself, but I have several friends with curly hair who have raved about this shampoo. One told me it‘s the only cleanser she‘s ever used that doesn‘t make her curls feel dry or "squeaky" after rinsing – just soft, defined, and bouncy. Another said it‘s helped tremendously with reducing frizz and maintaining moisture, even in humid weather.

I‘d say the closest comparison to Odele‘s Curl Defining Shampoo would be the DevaCurl No-Poo Original Zero Lather Conditioning Cleanser ($24), which has a similar low-foam formula. But considering DevaCurl‘s recent controversies (IYKYK), Odele offers a safer, more trustworthy alternative for a fraction of the price.

Smoothing Shampoo & Conditioner

Last but not least, I want to shout out the Smoothing Shampoo ($12) and Conditioner ($12) from Odele. These purple-tinted formulas are ideal for thick, coarse, frizzy, or damaged hair types.

Both products contain a nourishing blend of shea butter, macadamia seed oil, and hydrolyzed rice protein to smooth the hair cuticle, fight frizz, and boost moisture levels. They also have a subtle lavender scent that‘s calming and spa-like, without being overpowering.

I have a friend with 4c hair who swears by this duo for keeping her hair soft, manageable, and hydrated. She loves that they provide powerful smoothing benefits without any silicones, sulfates, or other harsh ingredients. Her hair always looks so shiny and healthy when she uses these products!

While I don‘t have thick or coarse hair myself, I do struggle with frizz and dryness from time to time. Whenever my hair is feeling parched, I‘ll reach for the Smoothing Conditioner as a deep conditioning treatment. I‘ll apply it from roots to ends, let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then rinse out for an instant dose of hydration. The results are seriously impressive – my hair feels silky smooth and looks ultra shiny, without any greasy residue.

If you like the Odele Smoothing range, I‘d also recommend checking out the Briogeo Farewell Frizz Smoothing Shampoo ($28) and Conditioner ($28). They have similar smoothing and frizz-fighting benefits, thanks to ingredients like argan oil and algae extract. But again, Odele‘s products are less than half the price – a major win for your hair and your wallet!

The Bottom Line

Phew, that was a lot of info! If you‘ve made it this far, I‘m guessing you‘re just as obsessed with hair care as I am. And if you‘re looking for a new brand to try, I honestly can‘t recommend Odele enough.

Not only are their products clean, vegan, and cruelty-free, but they also work. Like, really work. I‘ve tried my fair share of haircare over the years, from drugstore bargains to high-end splurges, and I can say with confidence that Odele‘s formulas rival the best of the best. The fact that everything is under $15 is just a really sweet cherry on top.

Of course, everyone‘s hair is different, so what works for me might not be your holy grail. But with Odele‘s accessible price point and Target availability, it‘s easy to try out a few products and see for yourself. Trust me, your locks will thank you!

I hope this review was helpful and informative, and maybe even a little entertaining (hey, a girl can dream). If you have any other questions about Odele or haircare in general, feel free to leave a comment or slide into my DMs. I‘m always down to chat beauty!

Until next time, may your hair be bouncy, shiny, and always on point.

Xoxo,

Your Resident Hair Care Guru