You’d be hard pressed to find a guy’s bathroom without at least one hair care product in it. And I am talking about styling and shaping, not your run-of-the-mill shampoo or conditioner. To be clear, this isn’t just hipsters, groomers, and manscapers we’re talking about here. We’re talking about everyday guys, just being guys. Hair is an important feature for men and women alike. Always was, I guess. There is a reason why evolution has chosen to keep thick hair on the top of our heads, while the rest of our body became relatively hairless (unlike many other mammals).

There are hair styling creams and gels a-plenty, and finding the right one for you can be a difficult task. The one I am going to talk about here may not fit everyone, but it is a very popular brand of hair shaping cream. This is my review of Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree Shaping Cream.

Paul Mitchell Company Background

Paul Mitchell – officially titled John Paul Mitchell Systems – was founded in 1980, by John Paul DeJoria and Paul Mitchell. Their company is a highly inspiring story of rags-to-riches, and it starts with the two of them meeting at a beauty show in Miami, in 1971. They became friends, and over the years formed the idea and basis of their company.

Nine years later, the company was established – with the help of a $750 loan – and the two began selling their products door-to-door. It was a very difficult beginning, but the duo did not give up. It is a lesson in tenacity, to say the least.

Today, DeJoria remains the company’s CEO, and Luke Jacobellis is the president. Paul Mitchell died of cancer in 1989, but DeJoria is still alive and kicking, continuously steering the company in smart directions. This company is known not only for its line of successful hair care products, but also for its beauty schools, which sprung up all over the country.

Paul Mitchell Products Overview

Paul Mitchell produces and distributes hair care for men, women, and even pets! Their long line of hair care items includes shampoos, conditioners, stylers, creams, texturizers, gels, pomades, clays, dryers, irons, brushes, combs, hair curlers, hair straighteners, and other tools for professionals and everyday users.

Overall, Paul Mitchell products are known for their effectiveness and usefulness. They deliver. If these products didn’t work, they wouldn’t sell. Simple. You can only get so far on hype or buzz, right? Like every other beauty/cosmetics product out there, what works amazingly well for one person may not work as well for another person.

Beauty and cosmetics items have always been a matter of personal preference and taste. It also has a lot to do with the user’s scalp type and hair type. You’ll have to try it out for yourself, and see whether or not it fits your wants and needs. Now, let’s get on with our review of PM’s Tea Tree Shaping Cream!

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shaping Cream Review

This cream is designed to strengthen your hair, and provide it with a thickness which allows it to retain the shape you give it. It is a kind of cream which complements short hair which just needs an extra touch. For this reason, it is a popular product with guys. If you want to give your hair a bit of depth, shine, and volume, without resorting to lengthy procedures or treatments, this kind of styling cream is right up your alley.

This product is vegan-friendly and eco-friendly, meaning that it contains natural ingredients. There are no parabens in this product, and it is safe to use on dyed or otherwise chemically-treated hair. The oil which is in this cream is the essential oil made from the Australian tea tree melalecua alternifolia (not to be confused with the tea plant, aka camellia seinensis,  whose leaves provide us with the drink we call tea).

Tea tree essential oil is known all over the world for its health benefits, its antiseptic and antifungal properties, healing abilities, and general usefulness in cleaning and disinfecting. It is an essential oil which has positively exploded onto the scene in recent years, though it has been known in mainstream Western culture since the turn of the 20th century. The tea tree oil in this cream helps the hair remain dandruff-free, and allows the product to take better hold of the hair.

Related: Check out our Aveeno and Purple Shampoo features!

Other ingredients in this cream include shea butter, eucalyptus, jojoba, aloe, and lavender. Your scalp and hair will not only thank you, but compose epic poems in your praise.

This product goes on nice and easy. It smells really good, doesn’t group or clump together, but it can look a little wax-like coming out of the tube. A lot of shaping creams are meant for light or thin hair, but this one works well with thick-haired guys, too. It is an easy-to-use shaping cream, and I like it very much. It holds the hair in place for a good while, which is crucial when you are talking about a styling product. You don’t invest the time to apply it, only to have to re-apply two hours later, right? On the other hand, this doesn’t mean that your hair is rock-solid and immovable.

Paul Mitchell have managed to create a cream which holds your look in place, but still has some move and flex to it. It is a great balance which I – and many others – am so very thankful for. You have to be able to appreciate this kind of attention to detail, even if you don’t use the product. This is part of what makes PM a much-loved company in the beauty and cosmetics industry.

This cream rinses out easily, too. It leaves no residue, and washes away with water. Go easy with application, until you learn exactly how much to use on your particular head of hair. It depends greatly on whether your hair is wet/dry/damp, on the amount of hair you have, its thickness (or lack thereof), and other factors. Start small, and don’t overuse. A little bit of cream on your fingertips is enough for a good beginning. Don’t use it on your roots, but rather on the tips of your hair. Tea tree oil may dry up your scalp if you apply it directly.

Okay, we discussed the good parts. But you gotta take the good with the bad. So, what are the cons of using this product?

Looking for a styling product that creates texture and leaves a matte finish? Tea Tree Shaping Cream will be your go-to #PMTIMGLE pic.twitter.com/9n8mdsMFnG

— Paul Mitchell UK (@PaulMitchellUK) January 5, 2017

Well, first of all – price. It can be somewhat expensive, compared to other styling creams. It is a high-end hair care product, and may not fit everyone’s budget.

Duration. This cream stays on for a good while, yes, but there are similar products which outlast it. If time is an essential criteria for you, this may not be the item for you.

Less effective for longer hair. If you are looking for a styler fit for longer hair, perhaps a fiber or clay product would be better for you. Those types of products have more strength, and manage to be more compatible for longer-haired people.

Is Paul Mitchell Cruelty-Free? 

Yes, it is. In fact, Paul Mitchell became the one of the first cruelty-free companies to stop selling to China, due to China’s policy on animal-testing. To prevent animals from being harmed unnecessarily, PM pulled out of the Chinese market in 2012. Also, PM’s pet shampoos proudly state that they have been tested on humans. You gotta appreciate a company that puts the welfare of our fellow Earthlings before larger profit.

In regards to stopping Chinese sales, DeJoria stated: “Paul Mitchell has been and always will be cruelty-free.” Most of PM’s products are also vegan, meaning they do not contain animal products. Not all of them are, though, so if animal rights are an issue for you, remember to check that label before you purchase.

Conclusion

Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree Shaping Cream works best on short hair – thin, curly, or straight. If price is not an issue for you, you will definitely be able to work with this cream. It generates a strong hold on the user’s hair, without being overbearing, too smelly, too greasy, or too heavy. It has a nice matte finish to it – this also depends on what state your hair is in when you put it on – and it provides a texture which is still movable and workable.

This styling cream is a product which has the potential to become a permanent addition to your hair care routine. It did with me, anyway. PM’s Tea Tree Shaping Cream can help you look good and feel good (I personally love the effects of tea tree oil on my general mood). Plus, the fact that it is a cruelty-free and vegan-friendly product only adds to its overall appeal.

We all know what a good hair day can do for our feelings and self-confidence. When we look good, it can help us feel good. Search your feelings, you know it to be true. When you walk out of your house with great-looking hair, sometimes it can affect your entire day. Give this cream a try, see what it can do for you, and watch how your days (and nights!) becomes that much better.

Thank you for reading our Paul Mitchell feature. Check out our Sierra Designs, Kelty, and REI reviews while you’re here at EduMuch!