Editor’s update (May 2026): Original & Mineral (O&M) still makes the clean, sulfate- and paraben-free haircare reviewed here. The current Original & Mineral range on Amazon is the direct match.
“Clean haircare” is a crowded claim, but Original & Mineral — O&M to its fans — has been doing it credibly out of Australia for years, and it’s still going strong in 2026. The pitch is kinder formulas that don’t compromise on salon-grade results, built on native Australian botanicals you won’t find in most ranges.
What O&M actually is
O&M is an Australian-made clean haircare and professional colour brand. The formulas are sulfate-free and PETA-approved vegan, and the whole line is built around a “free-from” philosophy — skipping a long list of harsher ingredients while still aiming for the performance you’d expect from a salon brand. It started in the colour world (its professional, ammonia-free colour is a big part of the business) and extended that clean approach across shampoo, conditioner, treatments and styling. It’s the kind of brand that sits comfortably in both a salon backbar and a discerning home bathroom.
O&M hair color: what CØR.color is
If you found this page looking for O&M hair color reviews, this is the part of the business you are after. O&M was founded in 2007 by a Sydney salon owner who wanted to change how hair color was made, and its professional color system, CØR.color, is still at the heart of the brand. It is a permanent color that O&M makes without ammonia, PPD or resorcinol, the ingredients most often blamed for scalp irritation and hair-dye reactions. The range runs to more than 130 shades, and a dedicated version, CØR.color.rn, is formulated for resistant, hard-to-cover gray. O&M makes its products in its own solar-powered factory in Sydney.
Two things to know before you book. First, CØR.color is professional-only: you get it through an O&M salon, not in a box at home. Second, “free from ammonia and PPD” does not mean free from every allergen, so a patch test before your first appointment is still the rule, especially if you have reacted to hair dye before. Pair it with O&M’s sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner at home and your color has the best chance of lasting between appointments.
The clean, kind philosophy
What separates O&M from “clean” brands that feel like a compromise is that the kindness is the point, not an excuse for weak products. Sulfate-free cleansing is gentler on the scalp and far better for colour-treated hair, since sulfates strip both natural oils and colour molecules. Vegan, PETA-approved formulas mean no animal-derived ingredients or testing. And the professional colour side being ammonia-free reflects the same ethos end to end. For anyone who’s been trying to “clean up” their routine without downgrading their hair days, that consistency is the appeal.
The Australian botanicals
O&M’s signature is its use of native Australian plant ingredients — names like Lilly Pilly, Banksia Flower, Quandong, Tasmanian Sea Kelp and Davidson Plum. These aren’t just marketing flourishes: Australian botanicals are prized for their antioxidant content and hydrating properties, and they give the range a genuine point of difference from the same handful of ingredients everyone else uses. It’s a nice example of a brand leaning into where it’s from rather than chasing whatever’s trending globally.
Who it’s really for
O&M is an especially good fit for colour-treated hair, where sulfate-free, gentle formulas help colour last longer and stay vibrant. It also suits anyone deliberately choosing vegan, cleaner haircare, and people who want salon-quality results at home without a salon-sized ingredient compromise. With shampoo-and-conditioner pairs targeted to different concerns plus a styling range, there’s enough breadth to build a full routine — just match the pair to your main concern (hydration, repair, volume, colour protection).
How to use it
Pick your shampoo-and-conditioner duo by your primary need rather than buying across multiple ranges, and use them as a pair for best results. Shampoo at the scalp, conditioner mid-length to ends, and add a weekly treatment or mask if your hair is colour-treated, dry or damaged. The styling products are designed to layer over the wash routine, so you can keep the whole regimen within the brand if you like a coherent system. As with any sulfate-free line, give your hair a few washes to adjust if you’re switching from a heavier-lathering shampoo.
Is it worth it, and where to buy
For clean, vegan, salon-grade haircare with a genuine identity, O&M is well worth it — particularly if you colour your hair. You can shop the full range direct at originalmineral.com.au, and it’s also stocked through salons and Australian beauty retailers such as Adore Beauty. Start with the shampoo-and-conditioner pair that matches your main concern, and build from there.
Shop the post
👉 Shop Original & Mineral haircare on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read full disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Is Original & Mineral (O&M) still available in 2026?
Yes. O&M is still made in Australia and sold in 2026, direct at originalmineral.com.au and through salons and beauty retailers such as Adore Beauty.
Is O&M sulfate-free and vegan?
Yes. O&M’s haircare is sulfate-free and PETA-approved vegan, formulated on a clean, free-from philosophy with native Australian botanicals.
Is O&M good for colour-treated hair?
Very. Its sulfate-free formulas are gentle and help preserve colour, and the brand’s professional side is built on ammonia-free colour — so the whole ethos suits colour-treated hair.
What are O&M’s signature ingredients?
Native Australian botanicals such as Lilly Pilly, Banksia Flower, Quandong, Tasmanian Sea Kelp and Davidson Plum, prized for their antioxidant and hydrating properties.
Does O&M make hair color?
Yes. O&M’s professional CØR.color is a permanent hair color made without ammonia, PPD or resorcinol, in more than 130 shades, with a CØR.color.rn version for resistant gray. It is sold to salons, so you book it through an O&M salon rather than buying it to use at home.
You might also like
- Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics
- June 2022 in Beauty: Rhode, Mothership IX, and a Mineral SPF Moment
- Kerastase Cristalliste for Long Hair: My Honest Tried & Tested Review
- Milani Hair Clip-In Hair Extensions
Update, August 2026: if a summer of sun and salt water has left your hair in need of more than a good shampoo, we rounded up the seven best-selling repair treatments on Amazon right now — all under $25 — in our post-summer hair repair guide.
Update, September 2026: if the shower drain has looked worse since the weather turned, that is seasonal shedding, and the fix starts at the scalp rather than the lengths. We rounded up seven scalp-care buys — all under $20 — in our fall hair shedding scalp-care guide: an anti-dandruff wash, a weekly scrub, a rosemary mist and oil, a soothing leave-on elixir, a scalp massager and a detangler. If you want the lot, add the whole seven-piece fall scalp reset to your Amazon cart.