Try these scent control hair care products to keep your tresses tamed while chasing whitetails.
Nothing puts scent-free shampoo to the test quite like three feet of frizzy, wavy locks. Even with everyday salon-quality products, my unmanageable hair can end up in tangles and knots after washing—or simply walking outside. So just the thought of sudsing up with scent-control products for all of archery season makes my hair hurt.
While no hair products with the primary focus of making your mane scent-free will measure up to fragrance-laden luxury products, you can manage to get through weeks of deer hunting without doing too much damage to your delicate curls.
These are some of your best bets for staying stealthy yet brushable while gun or bowhunting.
Scent Crusher Hair & Body Wash
Although not specifically designed for women, Scent Crusher's Hair & Body Wash is still my favorite unscented shampoo for hunting season. Scent Crusher's proprietary ion technology boasts a continuous release of reactive copper ions to destroy odors and help you go undetected. The no-residue formula didn't dry out my hair after weeks of use, and I was actually able to comb through to the ends without ripping out many strands. The Scent Crusher product line also includes bar soap, field spray, and laundry detergent for a full-system approach. A 12-ounce bottle of Scent Crusher's Hair & Body Wash retails for $7.99.
Southern Racks Scentless Hunter Volumizing Shampoo
Touted as not only a scent-elimination shampoo but also a body-boosting formula, Southern Racks Scentless Hunter Volumizing Shampoo has a loyal following among lady hunters. It's sulfate-free and paraben-free plus safe for color-treated hair. It claims to leave hair soft and manageable while preventing frizz for weeks of scent-free washing. If you want to skip washing and drying your hair in deer camp, check out their non-aerosol dry shampoo powder, designed to be gentle on sensitive scalps and all hair types. Southern Racks also offers unscented moisturizing conditioner, body wash, and body lotion. The 8-ounce Scentless Hunter Volumizing Shampoo retails for $11.99
Illusion Systems PhaZe For Her 1: Shampoo
Relatively new to the scene is PhaZe for Her collection from Illusion Systems. The scent-control shampoo was designed by and for women who understand the struggle of fighting with frizzy, unruly hair post-wash with all-in-one hunter hygiene products. It claims a salon-quality formula featuring added conditioners to nourish hair as well as proproetary technology that "permanently encapsulates odor molecules on contact." It comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, so it's certainly worth a try! The PhaZe For Her system also includes conditioner, body wash, deodorant, lotion, laundry detergent, and field foam. The 8-ounce PhaZe For Her 1: Shampoo sells for $9.99
Meraki Hunt Unscented Shampoo
Another newcomer to the scent-control shampoo scene is Meraki Hunt. This woman-run company offers professional salon-quality products that leave hair soft yet scent-free. The shampoo advertises a blend of botanicals such as aloe vera and rosemary along with biotin and keratin for silky tresses all season long. It's free of sulfates, phosphates, parabens, and silicone, safe for color-treated hair, and compatible with any hair type. It's already racked up lots of 5-star reviews, and a coordinating conditioner is also available. While a little more on the pricey end at $18.99 for 12 ounces, it's a worthy investment if you spend lots of time in the stand.
Dead Down Wind Orange Pearl Body Wash & Shampoo
With a new and improved all-natural formula that contains 50% more odor-fighting enzymes than the original, Dead Down Wind Orange Pearl Body Wash & Shampoo claims to continue eliminating scents even after you shower. While brushing post-wash with this stuff isn't the easiest, it doesn't completely strip hair of moisture and is better than some of the other old-school options. Dead Down Wind also offers a wide range of other scent-free products from personal hygiene options like deodorant, lip balm, and toothpaste to laundry products like detergent, stain remover, and UV guard to in-field sprays and wipes. The 16-ounce Dead Down Wind Orange Pearl Body Wash & Shampoo retails for just $8.49
Wildlife Research Center Scent Killer Gold Body Wash & Shampoo
Featuring aloe for added moisture and softness Wildlife Research Center's Scent Killer Gold Body Wash & Shampoo generates a great lather and cleans deep for completely scent-free hair. Wildlife Research Center's proven, powerful Anti-Odor formula has stood the test of time and become a whitetail hunter favorite. Their Scent Killer Gold Laundry Detergent with Power Boost Plus+ is a go-to high-efficiency formula that will cleanse hunting clothes without causing any damage to those delicate duds. Wildlife Research Center's Scent Killer Gold Body Wash & Shampoo is available online and at many retailers for $9.99 for a 12-ounce bottle.
Hunter's Specialties Scent-A-Way MAX Liquid Body Soap & Shampoo
In a pinch, this traditional "green soap" will do for killing odors in your hair and leaving it only slightly straw-like. This is the soap/shampoo combo I grew up using because it was cheap and my dad bought it. While it's certainly not developed for long-locked ladies, it does leave hair scent-free. It's advertised to contain aloe vera and honeyquat for hydration, but this seems to better serve skin than finicky hair. Hunter's Specialties Scent-A-Way MAX Liquid Body Soap & Shampoo is an affordable option at $5.99 for 12 ounces.
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