Piur London Reactive Pro Shampoo (1000 ml) is the preparation wash of the Reactive Pro straightening protocol, for blonde, highlighted or sensitised hair booked for Smooth Therapy. It removes product build-up and equalises porosity along the whole length, which matters on lightened hair, where porosity is rarely even. It stays on for 2 to 3 minutes and is rinsed with cool water. Piur London presents it as formaldehyde-free and V-Label vegan, the same as Smooth Therapy.

Why porosity comes first on lightened hair

Blonde and highlighted lengths are rarely even: the most lightened pieces are the most porous, and an uneven fibre takes a smoothing treatment unevenly. This shampoo is there to even that out first, so Smooth Therapy meets the same fibre from root to ends. It is a preparation step, not a stand-alone clarifier, and we would keep it at the backwash for Reactive Pro appointments. What you control is the touch: a gentle massage with no vigorous rubbing, and how fully the hair is dried afterwards.

Key ingredients

• Tamarindus indica fruit extract: tamarind fruit extract.
• Lauryl glucoside: a gentle plant-derived cleansing agent.
• Cocamidopropyl betaine: a mild secondary surfactant.
• Glycerin: a humectant.
• Pectin: a conditioning film former.

What to expect

The hair comes out clean and slightly dry-feeling, ready for Smooth Therapy, and the cool rinse leaves it easier to handle. That dryness is the preparation working: nothing conditioning goes on before the next product.

Who it is for

• The opening step of every Reactive Pro service on blonde, highlighted or sensitised hair
• Lightened hair carrying styling product, silicone or purple-shampoo build-up before a smoothing service
• Salons running Smooth Therapy who want the preparation step from the same system

Who it is not for

• Non-blonde, chemically resistant hair booked for a smoothing service: Rebonding opens with its own shampoo
• A general or everyday wash: its role is preparing the fibre for Smooth Therapy
• Damaged or broken skin on the scalp
• Home use: it is a professional product

Professional tip

On highlighted hair, check the brightest pieces after the rinse. If they feel rough or gummy, stop and assess before Smooth Therapy goes on, not after.

How to use

Two ways to work this shampoo: Piur London's directions as the brand publishes them, and the way we run it at the backwash, with the timing left to Method A.

Method A: manufacturer method

1. Apply to wet hair.
2. Massage gently, without rubbing vigorously.
3. Leave for 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Rinse with cool water to help seal the cuticle.
5. Dry the hair fully before proceeding to Smooth Therapy.

Method B: the Brazilian method

1. Detangle dry, from the ends up. Lightened hair tangles and snaps when wet, so use a wide-tooth comb before the wash. Salon practice, not one of Piur London's steps.
2. Flat hands, no scrubbing. Lather through the lengths with flat hands: lightened lengths are where porosity is least even and where friction does the most harm.
3. Leave, then rinse cool. For the time in Method A, then the cool rinse.
4. One wash by default. Wash a second time only if the hair is product-heavy.
5. Nothing in between. No conditioner and no mask before Smooth Therapy: anything that coats the fibre undoes the preparation.
6. Press, then dry. Press the water out with a towel instead of rubbing, then dry fully on medium heat, roots first.

Where it fits in the Piur London range

Reactive Pro runs in one order: Reactive Pro Shampoo, then Reactive Pro Smooth Therapy, the glyoxylic smoothing treatment. Between salon visits the client keeps the hair in shape with Reactive Pro Conditioner Home Care at every wash and Reactive Pro Mask Home Care as the intensive treatment. For non-blonde, resistant hair, Piur London's Rebonding protocol does the same job with its own preparation shampoo. The salon steps sit in Piur London Professional.