Grandpa's The Soap Company Pine Tar Shampoo - Cleanses and Moisturizes Dry Scalp, With Pine Tar and Tea Tree Oil, All Hair Types, Vegan, Sulfates and Parabens Free, 8 Fl Oz.

I read through some of the other reviews before I bought this product back in May, but I don't think there were as many as there are now. I've also read where a lot of reviewers don't like the smell and claim that it does not work for them. To each his own. While the jury is still out on the fragrance of this shampoo, I'd put my results against anyone else who claims it didn't work. I've tried a lot of shampoos and for a long time I was a fan of products that contain coal tar solution. I never had any luck with products where the active ingredient was selenium sulfide, pyrithione zinc or anything other than coal tar solution. I've tried them all. And then a few years ago the brands that I liked to use stopped using coal tar solution as the active ingredient and claimed a "new improved formula" - none of them worked for me. I ran out of what I was using because I couldn't find anything with coal tar other than T-Gel. And T-Gel worked in that it helped "control" my psoriasis and reduce plaques, but it never made my scalp healthy and its fragrance was nothing to brag about either. So I starting using a left over bottle of baby shampoo just to wash my hair until I could find something that worked. It was by accident using the baby shampoo that I realized my skin was sensitive to the surfactants used in mainstream brands. This is one of the reasons that baby shampoo is tear free - it has less harsh ingredients. My symptoms were reduced, but it still didn't get rid of the flaking and plaques I had on my scalp. I was further convinced that using a different shampoo formula was part of my problem when I stayed at a hotel and used the complimentary shampoo. Whatever cheap, harsh chemicals were in hotel shampoo caused my scalp to get worse in just one or two days of use. I found a shampoo at a natural foods retailer that was free of the harsh chemicals. I like the smell of it and it was supposed to assist with scalp health, but it still didn't eliminate the plaques. I then tried Grandpa's bar soap because this retails stopped carrying the shampoo. The bar soap helped, but it had a strong, funky smell. I put the bar inside a travel soap holder because it was so fragrant. I finally ordered Grandpa's shampoo from Amazon in May and have used it daily since. My scalp has never been healthier. I have no sores, no plaques, and no flakes. It is, by far, the best shampoo I've ever used to control my psoriasis. It does have a funky smell, and my wife is not fond of it, but I don't think the smell is as strong as Grandpa's bar soap. I am almost out of this first bottle, so I'm going to order it again with my next Amazon order and will order two bottles so that I'll always have a backup. 7/9/2023 Update: I still use the product and now that I’ve grown a beard, I use it for washing my beard. I would get dry flaking, red, irritated, itchy skin on my face underneath my beard. This has eliminated this problem.

I really like the smell of the shampoo and I like the feel it does soapy with is nice make you feel like it worth the price

I wish I could wash my hair less often, but I have problems with acne, sebum plugs and oily dandruff if I don’t wash my hair every day. This is not as effective as coal tar shampoos, but if used frequently, or in alternation with something stronger, it does work pretty well to control itching, buildup, etc, especially if you leave the lather in for a few minutes before rinsing. It doesn’t dry hair out as much as other medicated shampoos, and it doesn’t destroy my natural curl/wave or seem to make my body acne worse. It lathers up pretty well and I like the woodsy scent. I have tried other products with sulfur or zinc for my scalp issues, but overall I like this the best. I have also tried the classic shampoo bar, but this works better for me.

I have fine 4c hair and always have an itchy burning scalp esp after washing my hair. No dandruff just scalp on fire. I decided to go back to basics and include GSC Pine Tar shampoo as I remembered my dermatologist recommended PTS previously. It has a strong sent but that’s pine tar. This shampoo has a simple clean formula and after my first time washing my hair with it, the itch has reduced significantly. I recommend it. Used along with a quality deep conditioner, hair is soft and I like its effectiveness.

Great Smell

Honestly the product works as advertised. However the smell is very unpleasant. It smells like tiger balm and burnt wood. Not in a good way. I have washed my hair twice and can still smell it. I will not be purchasing this specific scent again. I love their other shampoo and conditioners. I recommend the clarify which hazel or purify rosemary. Those two smell natural but lovely.

This shampoo is good, the smell is strong and masculine, but I like it. seems to clean well and leaves hair soft and does well removing the oils. Would buy again. Love the ingredients and the cleanliness of this brand

I dont like all the extra ingredients. Changes the scent and feel. I'd rather just use a bar of soap by lathering my hands and rubbing it in my hair than use their shampoo

Bought this product and it did its job as I needed to take hard dandruff from my head. Tried to buy it again, the shampoo was not allowed through customs. Real shame

Purchased this for my boyfriend , and his dry itchy scalp . When he uses it , it really seems to help ... And I actually enjoy the smell and have used it for myself

I like this shampoo, it has a strong smell which some people don't like, but I like it. It's a more natural smelling shampoo than others and find it soothing. My hair feels clean and it's worth every penny. Highly recommend.

I had itchy oily scalp but since I started using this. The itch has finally gone away! I love it!!! It did what Head 'n Shoulders didn't. I use it all the time. I know it's more expensive than some other shampoos, but I definately find it worth it. I also took care of 95% of my dandruff.

Polytar, the shampoo that saved thousands from the horrors of eczema and psoriasis for decades, for some reason has become unavailable, (I presume this is pending an adjustment in the formula or obtaining new supplies following recent EU legislation on coal tar). I bought this instead, for someone desperately searching for an alternative that can still be easily obtained. I hear generally good reviews of it and have tried it myself. The smell is more like a conventional shampoo, and less tarry than the Grandpa's brand bar of soap, or original Polytar. Yes, it has the faintest hint of tar - but it's really quite faint and undetectable once rinsed off. It makes a good lather and cleans well without stripping your hair. It also, most importantly, does soothe the scalp somewhat. It's not polytar, but it's OK. I prefer to just use the Grandpa's brand bar of soap for everything (shaving, washing, hair) - but if you prefer gel/shampoo, this is good stuff, give it a try.