Wen Haircare: Brand Review and 6 Standout Products

Wen Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner on palm leaf shadow background — Wen/Unsplash

Founded by celebrity hairstylist Chaz Dean in 1993, Wen became an industry leader when its bestselling cleansing conditioners took the hair world by storm. Almost three decades on, the brand's revolutionary approach remains popular as we seek products that can simplify our routines and enhance hair health all at the same time. Wen was a pioneer of this movement, making quality haircare accessible for all.

Recently, Wen expanded into a full range of styling products as well as skincare, body care, and fragrance. Today, with a number of prestigious awards in tow and over 400 products available, the brand is truly here to stay. Keep reading to learn all about the brand and its standout offerings.

Wen

Founded: In 1993, by renowned celebrity hairstylist Chaz Dean.

Location: Los Angeles, California

Pricing: $$$

Best known for: The bestselling Cleansing Conditioners, which were formulated to cleanse and condition hair at the same time. Some of the most popular scents are Fig and Lavender.

Hero product: Nourishing Mousse, a liquid-to-foam mousse that adds volume, body, shine, and hydration to your hair.

Fun fact: Founder Chaz Dean started Wen in his own kitchen. ‘’I mixed a concoction of natural products such as sage, rosemary, apples, bananas, and pears together and boiled the mixture to make an elixir that was similar to tea,’’ he tells Byrdie. The results left Dean’s scalp feeling hydrated and not stripped. After five years of work at the laboratory, Wen was born.

Other brands you’ll love: Camille Rose, Renpure, Matrix, Nexxus

Brand History and Ethos

Founder Chaz Dean’s passion for hair actually began with photography. After years of attending several commercial photography courses, he decided to become a hairstylist. It wasn’t long before he started to make his own products and build a clientele. ‘’As a hairstylist, I constantly witnessed dry, damaged, and brittle hair. I created my Cleansing Conditioner as a response to the damage I was seeing on my clients' hair,’’ Dean says.

With a solution-based approach to product creation already in mind, Dean set his sights on one goal: cleansing hair without stripping it of its natural oils. ‘’I used to shampoo my hair twice a day because lathering shampoos stripped my scalp, leaving my hair dry and my scalp oily and unbalanced,’’ he says. This mission has made Wen the household name it is today. The "no-poo" method, which involves cleaning hair without traditional shampoo in order to maintain a healthy balance with the scalp's natural oils, has become more popular than ever since the brand created its game-changing formula almost 30 years ago.

Wen's brand ethos is holistic, as the brand believes that what we put onto our bodies is just as important as what we put into our bodies. ‘’Life can be hectic, so your hair and skincare routines should not be,’’ Dean says. With an offering of hair and skincare systems complete with nourishing essential botanical oils, Wen aims to bring out your most beautiful, confident, and authentic self.

The Best Wen Products

01 of 06

Cleansing Conditioner

Wen Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner $58.00

Shop

Wen’s iconic cleansing conditioners have been on the market for over 20 years, and customers can’t get enough of them. Formulated with aloe vera, chamomile, and rosemary extracts, the conditioner works to cleanse hair without lathering or stripping natural oils. If you want to redefine your haircare routine but aren’t sure where to begin, you might want to consider giving this gentle line a try. To use, just cleanse, rinse, and repeat (just like the process of shampoo and rinse, then condition and rinse).

02 of 06

Ultra Nourishing Intensive Body Treatment

Wen Honesty Ultra Nourishing Intensive Body Treatment $80.00

Shop

Building from its success in hair products, Wen expanded into body care with the launch of the Ultra Nourishing Intensive Body Treatment. We all want gorgeous, glowing skin, and this combination of powerhouse ingredients like vitamin K and arnica can give your skin the TLC it deserves, relieving stress and irritation in the process. During an independent consumer use study carried out by the brand, participants reported an improvement in skin hydration, radiance, and firmness. With its velvety formula and non-sticky texture, it won’t be long before you start to experience the skin-transforming properties of this one-of-a-kind treatment. Apply this product liberally from face to toes, morning and night.

03 of 06

Nourishing Mousse

Wen Fig Nourishing Mousse $36.00

Shop

This is a mousse like no other. Transforming from liquid to foam, it adds body, shine, and hydration to hair. And with a tagline like ’’Get the body of your dreams,’’ this product is on a mission to give your strands a boost with every pump.

If you're worried about stickiness or the crunchy feeling that's common with mousse, don’t be. A number of customer reviews testify to the product's soft, weightless feel and fruity scent. To use, apply 16-20 pumps on damp, freshly cleansed hair so the mousse can absorb, then air dry and style as desired.

04 of 06

Bella Spirit Restorative Lip Treatment

Wen Bella Spirit Restorative Lip Treatment $35.00

Shop

Wen’s skincare offerings have proven to be a hit with customers, and with products like the Bella Spirit Restorative Lip Treatment, it’s easy to see why. Dry, sore, and chapped lips are a common problem, so lip care is important, especially during changing seasons. Delivering hydration with a hint of color, the treatment includes botanicals, essential oils, and vitamins C and E, all helping to soothe and moisturize lips when applied liberally as needed. Additional ingredients include shea butter, avocado oil, and abyssinian oil.

05 of 06

Bella Spirit Exfoliating Lip Scrub

Wen Bella Spirit Lemon and Rice Exfoliating Lip Scrub $35.00

Shop

Created to be used alongside the Restorative Lip Treatment, this lip scrub provides a gentler, more natural approach to exfoliation. It’s easy to forget that the skin on our lips is different from the skin on our face, and lips need moisture and proper care in order to look their best. After a few applications, I couldn’t help but notice how soft and smooth my lips were. Key ingredients include vitamins C and K, lemon (which works to reduce inflammation and skin damage), and rice water (which helps to maintain skin elasticity). To use, scoop out a small amount and apply day or night.

06 of 06

Bella Spirit Self-Tanning Bronzing Mist

Wen Bella Spirit Self-Tanning Bronzing Mist $60.00

Shop

Everybody wants glowing, radiant skin and from time to time, we may turn to self-tanning to make this a reality. This mist is formulated with herbal waters, a honey blend, and a four-tea complex to moisturize and nourish as it boosts your glow. At Byrdie HQ, we can testify to how seamlessly it blends into the skin. It also contains lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, and cucumber extract, all of which are gentle and add to the sensory experience.

If you haven’t used a self-tanning product before and aren’t sure where to begin, don’t fret as the brand also offers an application brush to facilitate the process. For a beautiful and subtly bronzed complexion, all you need to do is spray the mist directly onto the skin or the application brush, then blend it in.

12 Cleansing Conditioners Great for Anyone Who Wants to Avoid Shampoo