Speed Review: ARKIVE All Together Now Co Cleanse

This is the first product I've tried from ARKIVE, the haircare brand by hairstylist Adam Reed. It's a brand which has appealed to me, despite typically finding it difficult to be excited by haircare, as I've heard positive feedback from those who have tried it. The brand is a certified B Corporation and products are both cruelty free and vegan friendly, with recycled plastic used in the packaging. I was sent ARKIVE's All Together Now Co Cleanse for review. It's been a while since a co-wash featured in my hair routine. They were popular a few years ago and at the time, I was intrigued by the marketing, which essentially re-branded the "Wash and Go" adverts I remembered from my childhood! I've not heard a huge amount about them since that resurgence.

On first impressions, I liked the packagaing. The bold, block colour feels modern after years of beauty minimalism with brands such as The Ordinary and Glossier adopting clinical designs. It's fun but not out of place with the likes of Hair by Sam McKnight, Trinny London, Skin Rocks and Byoma all opting for similar in their packaging. The main downside is that it's hard to see how much product is remaining. I found the directions clear and easy to follow although it'd be useful to have quantification over how much a "generous amount" to apply is. The directions also advise taking a little longer to rinse than you normally would which did make me question the rinsability and may have been offputting if I'd seen this in-store. The product itself is a thick, white cream and for this reason, I feel a tube rather than the bottle with pump may have allowed for improved functionality. I found it easy to work through my hair. It has a neutral scent. I was only able to work the product into a slight lather but I did appreciate how gentle it felt during use. Rinsing did take a little effort but I'd still say that it took less time than using two separate products and it certainly wasn't so cumbersome as to put me off. After showering, I combed through my damp hair and noticed that it felt more conditioned and I experienced fewer tangles than I recall from other co-washes. For me, this really sets ARKIVE All Together Now Co Cleanse apart from other similar products and would make me more likely to repurchase. After drying and styling, my hair looked the same as it does when I follow a traditional routine and I appreciated that there hadn't been a noticable compromise as a result of using a 2-in-1 product. Admittedly, it didn't feel quite as soft and silky but the trade-off was that my fine hair felt thicker, with more volume and less weighing down than it sometimes can. I also appreciated that it didn't irritate my sensitive scalp. I'm not going to swap my usual two-step routine for a co-wash as I do feel I need the additional conditioning benefits but this is a good product to have on hand for days when I'm short on time (the antithesis of "Everything Shower" days!). It'd also be a welcome addition to a gym bag and I think those with fine hair would particularly enjoy the results. It's a generously sized 300ml yet costs just £13 which I feel is very reasonable indeed. Everything about ARKIVE All Together Now Co Cleanse- from the branding to the usage and results- feels more premium than the price tag suggests. Overall, I'm impressed!