Spot Reviews: Happy Skin's First-Ever Shampoo and Conditioner

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(SPOT.ph) Avid fans and casuals know Happy Skin is big on skin-caring makeup. For the longest time, the local brand has been known for its products whose quality is on par with international brands at accessible price points. The cult-fave Lip Mallow Tints is a prime example. 

Through their monthly releases over the years, the brand has expanded its offerings to include skincare, cute merchandise, and now, hair care with their first-ever Happy Skin Hair line. Curious if it's worth trying? We got the chance to test the line for a few weeks (and are still using it!), and here's what we think.

Also read: 10 Haircare Brands You Can Shop Online for Healthy, Nourished Tresses

What’s Happy Skin Hair?

Happy Skin’s hair care line has two variants: Happy Skin Hair Volume & Bouncy and Happy Skin Soft & Straight. Both are created in Japan (a country known for its advanced hair care technology) but formulated to cater to Filipinos and the Philippine weather.

From the name alone, the purpose of each type is immediately clear: one for more volume, the other for smooth, bagsak hair. More on that later—but both include a shampoo and conditioner, sharing the same skin-caring philosophy that defines Happy Skin products. This philosophy is reflected in the key ingredients of their new hair care: Amino Acids (to prevent hair breakage), Niacinamide (to improve blood flow to the scalp), Tetrapeptide (to stimulate hair follicles), and Hydrolyzed Soy Protein (to enhance the hair’s ability to seal in moisture). Both are also sulfate-free, making them gentle on the hair and scalp.

The stark difference between the two is that Volume & Bouncy contains Biotin Peptides, which nourish, hydrate, and rejuvenate the scalp and strands for weightless and voluminous hair, while Soft & Straight has Hydrolyzed Elastin, which coats the hair to improve resilience, elasticity, and vitality.

The fragrances also stand out, featuring three distinct scent notes. Unlike many other shampoos and conditioners on the market, these variants have top, middle, and base notes. We're speaking from experience here; they smell so good, from the moment you start applying it to your hair to hours later. Volume & Bouncy has cedarwood as the base, jasmine in the middle, and bergamot at the top. Soft & Straight, on the other hand, features oakmoss as the base, lily in the middle, and citrus and basil top notes.

The consistencies are also different. Volume & Bouncy has a transparent base, which cleanses the hair and scalp for a lighter, fresher bounce and volume. Conversely, Soft & Straight has a richer, heavier base.

Each bottle retails for P799 and contains 220 milliliters (7.4 fluid ounces).

Happy Skin Hair: First impressions

When I visited the Happy Skin branch in SM Aura, the Happy Skin Hair line, like all their products, has a dedicated display area where consumers can not only see the bottles but also smell them first-hand. I was drawn to the scent of Soft & Straight at first whiff, with its enticing citrus and basil notes. While it's still a favorite, I also grew to love the fresh, light fragrance of the Volume & Bouncy variants.

Another thing I appreciated about the bottles is the twist-to-open (and to close) mechanism, which is much easier especially when your hands are all wet and eyes are blinded by suds.

I chose to try the Volume & Bouncy first at Koop Studio, a hair salon around the area. For context, I have short hair—like the “2x3” cut that’s usually a requirement for boys at my Catholic high school. The stylist even pointed out that I wouldn’t need too much additional volume given my hair length, but I wanted to try it anyway.

As the stylist began applying the shampoo to my hair, the sweet, fresh smell of bergamot filled the air. I'm not sure if it was the scalp massage that made me feel so relaxed, but that combined with the smell lifted a weight off my shoulders. While Volume & Bouncy shares a citrusy top note with Soft & Straight, you can distinctly tell which is which. Despite being sulfate-free (which usually means less lather), both variants easily produced rich, frothy bubbles.

My first experience with Volume & Bouncy involved having my hair ironed at the salon, so I wasn’t aware of the full extent of the volume it provided. I also have naturally thick hair. But the next time I used it at home (without styling my hair), the volume volume-d. It was undeniable; I looked like a ruffled chicken fresh out of a fight, but in a good way. When I say my hair was bouncing, it was as if it has a life on its own—almost to the point of making me look somewhat ridiculous given my short haircut. But that’s how I knew it worked.

These days, though, I opt for the Soft & Straight for events and work as it always leaves my hair—what else?—naturally straight and smooth. I don’t even need to apply a baby hair fixer to get it to smoothen out. And oh, don’t get me started on the shine. It's remarkable, making my hair look much less dull.

I’ve had friends over and (excitedly) encouraged them to try the shampoo and conditioner combination. I remembered the smell of citrus wafting through our bathroom. They told me that they love the smell, and especially the bounce. Since my friends have longer hair than I do, I would always (with consent, of course) couldn't resist smelling their fresh-out-of-the-shower hair. One friend with particularly long hair told me that even though her hair can feel heavy, it felt light and airy after using Volume & Bouncy. To put it simly, your hair just moves with you.

If you want hair that looks, feels, and smells amazine (a truly top-tier compliment, if you ask me), Happy Skin Hair ticks all the right boxes. Whether you're looking for volume or sleekness, and regardless of hair length, the results are effortless and natural.

The smell was a huge plus for me since it boosted my overall confidence. The fact that it's made in Japan also speaks volumes about its quality, especially considering its affordable price point compared to other products on the market. It’s not intimidating at all and can be accessed easily in online and physical stores.

Where to buy Happy Skin Hair + other products?

Each bottle retails at P799, but you can purchase the duo (shampoo + conditioner) per variant at P1,598. 

They also have exclusive bundles that allow you to get Happy Skin merchandise with your purchase: Happy Skin Hair Shampoo + Treatment + Brush Set at P2,497 and Happy Skin Hair Shampoo + Treatment + Terry Tote Set at P2,497. You can check them out online through their website as well as their official Lazada and Shopee pages. 

Links are updated regularly and as much as possible but note that products can run out of stock, discounts can expire, and listed prices can change without prior notice.

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