Review of Neutrogena T/Gel Original Shampoo

Reader Review of the Day: Neutrogena T/Gel Original Shampoo

February 3, 2009

If you have dandruff, you've probably tried just about everything to get rid of it. For reader Autumns_Elegy, the best in dandruff relief is Neutrogena T/Gel Original Shampoo ($9). Here's what she has to say about this classic product:

"I love T/Gel shampoo. It has a pleasant smell and you don't need to empty half the bottle to get a decent lather. I found that initially it made my scalp flake worse. . . [but] after two washes most of my dandruff was gone, and I'm now using it once a week with a scalp hydrating deep conditioner. Other antidandruff shampoos have just made it worse or have not had any effect at all, but T/Gel is the only one that seems to work. The price isn't half bad, either."

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17 Comments

2 years 6 weeks

I'm glad I'm not the only one! I had some sort of allergic reaction to the "new scent", too. My face got red and puffy and my eyes watered. It's not the coal tar: before the "new scent" crap, I used T/Gel since the early 90s, both regular and "extra strength". I ran around town buying up as much of the "old scent" as I could to buy time to look for a new product to use! Still haven't found anything that works as well, sadly...

2 years 29 weeks

Agree -- the new scent is godawful. I have also had to discontinue my T/Gel regimen after a decade of routine use. Worse still, I only realized there was a new scent after taking a shower with a newly-purchased bottle. The experience was so bad that I had to take a second shower within an hour because my eyes were watering so much!

2 years 44 weeks

I have been using T/Gel shampoo since it hit the market, likely more than 25 years ago....maybe longer. I just purchased (7/10/2010) a new bottle labeled "original formula" and also "new scent." Sort of a dichotomous statement, if you ask me. The "new scent" has a very, very strong caustic odor to it...so much so that I cannot continue to use the product. I remember when the product had more of a tar-smell to it, but that was changed to the recently-abandoned formula years ago...and I've always found that smell to be pleasant...but this new-scent goes far beyond just being annoying...I have had a physical reaction to it, and cannot continue to use the product. Any long-time users have a similar reaction to the "new scent" product? This sort of reminds me of the "new Coke" debacle from a couple of decades ago...why not leave well-enough alone?

emososays17 4 years 15 weeks

http://www.tgel.com/us/products/scalp-therapy.html I hope that link works but that's what the bottle looks like. It's a 2 in 1 but I still use conditioner after. Again, the only way I can describe it as smelling is just very "fresh". Maybe a little more masculine than you're used to your shampoo smelling. I know after my bf uses it I'm always smelling his head. But man, does it do a number of dandruff and psoriasis and even excema.

shayela 4 years 15 weeks

I dunno, I don't think saying "first of all, it's animal tested" is very offensive. It's the truth, sans any embellishments or details or persuasiveness . Please, people. If you're offended by that, I frankly don't see how you function in the real world everyday :/ and this is coming from someone who does care about animal testing, but not as much as I should because I always forget to check and whatnot. Still, I don't think foxie initially said anything offensive at all. She wasn't like "Everyone who buys animal-tested products is stupid and evil!" She was listing why she doesn't want to buy this product. SHEESH.Btw, old formula does smell kind of weird, I have yet to try the new one. My psoriasis is disgusting, and while it's not exactly dandruff of course, it can be soothing when the flakes get bad.

shayela 4 years 15 weeks

I dunno, I don't think saying "first of all, it's animal tested" is very offensive. It's the truth, sans any embellishments or details or persuasiveness . Please, people. If you're offended by that, I frankly don't see how you function in the real world everyday :/ and this is coming from someone who does care about animal testing, but not as much as I should because I always forget to check and whatnot. Still, I don't think foxie initially said anything offensive at all. She wasn't like "Everyone who buys animal-tested products is stupid and evil!" She was listing why she doesn't want to buy this product. SHEESH. Btw, old formula does smell kind of weird, I have yet to try the new one. My psoriasis is disgusting, and while it's not exactly dandruff of course, it can be soothing when the flakes get bad.

Ellenora 4 years 15 weeks

Thanks emososays17. I'll have to buy my dad the new, fresher version.

Ellenora 4 years 15 weeks

Thanks emososays17. I'll have to buy my dad the new, fresher version.

NouraBee 4 years 15 weeks

IT SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKEEED !!!!i tryed it 3 y ago omg i didnt bubble it made my hair SOO OILY !!!

NouraBee 4 years 15 weeks

IT SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKEEED !!!! i tryed it 3 y ago omg i didnt bubble it made my hair SOO OILY !!!

emososays17 4 years 15 weeks

They have a new, better smelling formula than the bottle pictured above. It's not tarry at all andI like the smell because it's very fresh. And foxie, quit trying to guilt people by saying whoever buys animal tested products are personally paying to have chemicals put in rabbit's eyes. Some people have no choice but to buy animal tested. I like not having an itchy head and if it was tested on animals at one time, so be it I suppose.

aimeeb 4 years 15 weeks

I've smelled this and it smells waaaaaaaaaaaay too medicinal for me. No way.

foxie 4 years 15 weeks

Uh... I'm forcing my beliefs on you and attacking you because I said "It's animal tested"? That's just a fact. If you feel defensive or guilty about paying people to squirt chemicals into rabbits' lidless eyes, frankly I don't feel bad for you.

Ellenora 4 years 15 weeks

My dad uses that shampoo in winter since his dandruff is awful as well. I don't have that problem, fortunately. A few people in my family use that. The smell is a bit iffy but that's because it does contain tar. Foxie--I'm happy that you're pro-animal but could you please be a tiny bit nicer about it? You could just simply say, "Please be aware that this product is tested on animals" and not "first of all, it's animal tested." I feel very defensive when you say things like that. If you could, could you please phrase things a bit differently like in the above example. I also feel like I'm being attacked because I use animal-tested products. I'm trying very hard to switch over as I own pets myself and I feel awful animal testing with cosmetics, but with my hyper-sensitive skin I can't switch over completely. There are some labels (like Neutrogena) that I will always remain loyal too because I'm not allergic to them and heaven knows I'm allergic to many, many labels (Maybelline and Jane to name two). I know from you're profile that you're vegan, but please don't force your beliefs on other Sugar members.

Ellenora 4 years 15 weeks

My dad uses that shampoo in winter since his dandruff is awful as well. I don't have that problem, fortunately. A few people in my family use that. The smell is a bit iffy but that's because it does contain tar.Foxie--I'm happy that you're pro-animal but could you please be a tiny bit nicer about it? You could just simply say, "Please be aware that this product is tested on animals" and not "first of all, it's animal tested." I feel very defensive when you say things like that. If you could, could you please phrase things a bit differently like in the above example. I also feel like I'm being attacked because I use animal-tested products. I'm trying very hard to switch over as I own pets myself and I feel awful animal testing with cosmetics, but with my hyper-sensitive skin I can't switch over completely. There are some labels (like Neutrogena) that I will always remain loyal too because I'm not allergic to them and heaven knows I'm allergic to many, many labels (Maybelline and Jane to name two). I know from you're profile that you're vegan, but please don't force your beliefs on other Sugar members.

foxie 4 years 15 weeks

First of all it's animal tested. Also, it smells like tar. That smell does NOT wash out. If you don't mind stinky hair that you have to re-wash with normal shampoo, I'd suggest just using apple cider vinegar.

foxie 4 years 15 weeks

Link Love

17 Comments

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