Behind the New UltraShine: Biology-Driven Innovation for Healthier Hair

15 Years Later, UltraShine Is Still Setting The Standard

Since its debut in 2009, UltraShine Shampoo and Conditioner have been part of the EVOLVh story from the very beginning and part of so many of yours. It’s our original icon: the formula that redefined what clean, salon-quality haircare could be.

Now, 15 years later, UltraShine continues to lead, elevated by a new era of biology-driven innovation and an uncompromising approach to ingredient integrity.

At EVOLVh, evolution isn’t just in our name; it’s in our nature. Our mission has always been to deliver the very best in clean, high-performance haircare, grounded in science and driven by results. And as the science of clean beauty evolves, we evolve with it –continuing to raise the standard with smarter, more biologically aligned ingredients and next-generation formulas that perform without compromise.

From Botanical Beauty to Biological Precision

Science has always been at the heart of EVOLVh. From the beginning, our goal has been to create haircare that works in harmony with your body’s natural biology, delivering real, lasting results. What’s changed isn’t our philosophy – it’s the science that makes it stronger.

In the early days of clean beauty, botanical ingredients were celebrated for their recognizable, natural qualities and played an important role in shifting the industry toward safer, healthier formulas. But as technology has advanced, so has our understanding of what truly supports hair health at the biological level.

Today, we formulate with biomimetic, clinically proven ingredients – amino acids, ceramides, peptides – that are structurally aligned with the biology of the hair and scalp. These innovations go beyond surface-level results to strengthen, repair, and protect from within.

This evolution isn’t about replacing nature; it’s about refining it. By focusing on biology-driven science, we’re taking what nature inspires and what technology perfects to create formulas that are more compatible, more effective, and more transparent than ever before.

To bring UltraShine into its next chapter, we’ve infused the formulas with seven clinically backed actives and a new amino acid surfactant system. This smarter, biology-driven approach strengthens, smooths, and restores harmony to both hair and scalp. Over the past 15 years, we’ve learned just how essential scalp health is to achieving truly healthy hair, which is why this evolution places even greater emphasis on caring for the scalp skin itself. Each ingredient was chosen for its proven performance and natural compatibility, creating a routine that’s as advanced as it is gentle.

The Science of Clean Starts Here: A New Amino Acid Cleansing System
Find it in: UltraShine Shampoo

Surfactants are the unsung heroes of your shampoo bottle. They’re the molecules responsible for that rich, satisfying lather and, more importantly, for gently lifting away oil, dirt, and buildup from your hair and scalp. But not all surfactants are created equal.

Since the beginning, EVOLVh shampoos have relied on a blend of plant-derived glucosides – natural, sugar-based surfactants known for being mild, biodegradable, and sulfate-free.

This system, built around ingredients like Decyl Glucoside and Coco-Glucoside, was designed to cleanse effectively without stripping or irritation. It set a new standard for what “clean” could mean in salon-quality haircare.

And while that approach remains safe and gentle, clean chemistry has advanced – and so have we.

Our New System: Amino Acid–Based Cleansing

Our new shampoo surfactant system marks a shift toward an even more biology-driven formulation, built around an innovative amino acid surfactant system.

Amino acids are the building blocks of keratin, the protein that gives hair its strength, structure, and elasticity. By formulating with surfactants derived from these same amino acids, we’ve created a biomimetic cleansing system, meaning it’s designed to work in harmony with the biology of your hair and scalp.

Why Amino Acids Are a Smarter Kind of Clean

• More Biocompatible: Amino acid surfactants mimic the natural components of hair and skin, making them more compatible and less disruptive to the scalp barrier.
  
  
• Enhanced Moisture Retention: They help hair maintain hydration while cleansing, preventing the dryness and brittleness that often accompany traditional detergents.
  
  
• Stronger, More Elastic Strands: Because amino acids are part of hair’s natural protein structure, they replenish the very materials that keep hair resilient and healthy.
  
  
• Creamier, Low-Friction Lather: The result is a rich, cushiony foam that feels luxurious yet rinses clean — leaving hair soft, smooth, and balanced.
  
  
  
  

Amino-acid-based Capryloyl Glycine: Scalp Health
Find it in: UltraShine Shampoo 

This amino-acid-based active that works where healthy hair begins – at the scalp.
This smart ingredient helps regulate oil production, balance the scalp microbiome, and keep buildup and irritation in check, creating the optimal environment for stronger, more resilient hair.

Derived from glycine (one of hair’s essential amino acids) and a natural fatty acid, Capryloyl Glycine is a gentle yet powerful multitasker. It supports the scalp’s natural defenses, helps reduce dandruff-causing microbes, and keeps excess sebum in balance – without stripping or disrupting your skin barrier.

The result is a cleaner, calmer scalp that allows your hair to thrive – the perfect biological foundation for the performance of every EVOLVh shampoo.

Hydrolyzed Corn Starch: Scalp Health 
Find it in: UltraShine Shampoo

Your scalp health is the foundation of beautiful hair. That’s why our new formulas feature BioEase™ MY-100, a gentle, corn-derived ingredient designed to calm and protect even the most sensitive skin.

Made from enzymatically hydrolyzed corn starch, BioEase™ MY-100 is rich in maltooligosaccharides – natural sugar molecules that help reduce irritation and soothe itching by strengthening the scalp’s barrier. These bioactive sugars help interrupt the nerve signals that trigger discomfort, maintaining a calm, balanced environment where healthy hair can thrive.

The result is a scalp that feels nourished and hydrated – and hair that looks and feels healthier from root to tip.

Rice Water: A Time-Honored Ritual, Reinvented by Science
Find it in: UltraShine Conditioner

For centuries, rice water has been cherished as a beauty secret for stronger, smoother, and shinier hair. In our new formulas, we’ve taken this ancient ritual into the modern age with PhytoTrace™ Rice Botanical Extract – a next-generation ingredient that combines tradition, traceability, and clean science.

PhytoTrace™ Rice extract is grown in the natural reserve of Camargue, in Provence, France, where farmers follow the highest standards of sustainability and environmental responsibility. The extract is obtained through a cold maceration process that preserves heat-sensitive phytochemicals, maintaining the complete profile of nutrients naturally found in the rice grain.

Rice Water Benefits:
✔️ Strengthens strands by reinforcing the hair shaft and reducing breakage
✔️ Boosts shine by smoothing the cuticle for increased light reflection
✔️ Soothes the scalp with natural calming and anti-inflammatory properties
✔️ Balances moisture by improving elasticity and preventing over-drying or buildup

It’s a perfect synergy of tradition and innovation – offering the softness and shine you expect from UltraShine, now with even more hair-strengthening benefits.

Citropol®: A Clean, Sustainable Alternative to Silicones
Find it in: UltraShine Shampoo and Conditioner

To achieve that silky, frizz-free finish UltraShine is known for, without traditional silicones, we’ve introduced Citropol®, a clean, biodegradable innovation derived from natural isoprenols.

Citropol® smooths the hair cuticle and reduces frizz by up to 58%, creating a lightweight, touchable finish that feels natural – not coated. It’s what gives UltraShine its signature softness and effortless movement, now in a cleaner, more sustainable form.
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Ceramide NG (Hairflux®): Repair and Strength from Within
Find it in: UltraShine Conditioner

Healthy hair relies on ceramides – natural lipids that hold the cuticle together and keep strands strong, smooth, and hydrated. Over time, heat, color, and UV exposure can deplete them, leading to dryness and breakage.

The new UltraShine Conditioner is fortified with Hairflux® (Ceramide NG), a bioidentical ceramide complex made with olive and castor oils that replenishes lost lipids, restores the hair’s natural barrier, and improves elasticity and shine.

In clinical studies, Hairflux® was shown to reduce breakage by up to 82% and visibly improve smoothness and scalp comfort. The result is hair that’s softer, stronger, and more resilient — from root to tip.

Castor Oil Esters (ProShine™): High-Gloss Shine, Naturally
Find it in: UltraShine Conditioner

We’ve always been known for our signature shine – and now it’s even better. ProShine™, a proprietary blend of castor oil esters, boosts light reflection by up to 184% for a radiant, healthy-looking finish.

This clean, plant-derived ingredient mimics the benefits of traditional shine agents while deeply conditioning and smoothing the hair’s surface – leaving it soft, luminous, and full of life.

Creatine: Rebuilding Hair Strength and Resilience
Find it in: UltraShine Conditioner

Creatine – a naturally occurring amino acid derivative – works from within the hair structure to improve strength, elasticity, and overall integrity. It supports keratin formation and helps rebuild damaged fibers, making hair more resistant to daily stress and environmental factors.

This addition enhances both the UltraShine Shampoo and Conditioner, helping to restore balance and vitality to every strand.

The Fragrance: Just One Ingredient, 100% Natural Pink Grapefruit Oil

Scented with 100% natural Pink Grapefruit essential oil, the new UltraShine delivers a fresh, sparkling citrus aroma with sweet, tangy notes that uplift the senses and make every wash feel clean, bright, and refreshing. 

A New Era

The evolution of UltraShine represents more than a formula update – it’s a reflection of our commitment to progress, transparency, and the science of healthy hair. As clean beauty continues to advance, we’ll continue to evolve with it, always raising the standard for what salon-quality performance can achieve through biology-driven formulation, intentional innovation, and uncompromising integrity.

Read more about our commitment to ingredient and innovation transparency!