Is Wunderbar Any Good? A UK Salon's Honest Review

You've probably seen Wunderbar shampoo come up when you're searching for something a bit different. Maybe a friend has recommended it, or you've spotted it while browsing our shelves. Either way, you want to know if it's actually worth your money. We're going to give you a straight answer.

We'll be upfront with you: we don't use Wunderbar at Revive. Our backwash and colour work is built around other professional brands. But Wunderbar has become one of our most popular retail brands, and customers keep coming back for it. So we've put together this honest breakdown of the full range so you know exactly what you're buying.

What is Wunderbar and where does it come from?

Wunderbar is a professional hair care brand with roots in Germany. The range covers everything from everyday shampoos and conditioners to colour-depositing shampoos, semi-permanent colour, bleach powder, and perm kits. It's a genuinely broad range, which is part of the appeal.

Every single Wunderbar product is 100% vegan, and the brand uses sustainable packaging across the range. If that matters to you, it's a solid tick in the box. The core of most Wunderbar formulas is something they call their Revitalizing Tri-Complex, which combines argan oil with a blend of nourishing plant-based ingredients. You'll see that come up across most of the shampoos and conditioners.

The Wunderbar shampoo range: which one is right for you?

This is where most people start, and there are a few options worth knowing about. Wunderbar shampoos are not sulphate-free (the conditioners and masks are, but the shampoos contain sulphates for effective cleansing and lather). They fully comply with EU cosmetics regulations, so they're safe and well-formulated, but if you're specifically after a sulphate-free shampoo for colour protection, that's worth knowing upfront.

The Wunderbar Vegan Colour Protect Shampoo is one of the bestsellers. It contains the Revitalizing Tri-Complex alongside argan oil and mahogany extract, rich in antioxidants, to help colour-treated hair hold onto its vibrancy for longer. If you get your hair coloured regularly and want something that extends the life of your colour between appointments, this is a decent choice.

For damaged or chemically treated hair, the Wunderbar Nutri Repair and Strengthening Shampoo is worth looking at. It adds phyto-keratin into the mix, which helps strengthen the hair shaft and reduce breakage. It's particularly popular with customers who bleach regularly or have been through a lot of heat styling.

Got blonde or highlighted hair? The Wunderbar Sheer Silver Shampoo works like a toning shampoo, using violet pigments to neutralise yellow tones and keep blonde hair looking bright and fresh. It sits alongside the Colour Protect range rather than replacing it, so you can alternate or use it as your weekly tone-refresh wash.

There's also the Head 'n Hair Shampoo for dry or irritated scalps. It brings aloe vera into the formula alongside argan oil to calm and rebalance. If you struggle with dryness or sensitivity around the scalp, this is the one to try.

Wunderbar Colour Refresh Shampoos: a genuinely clever idea

This is arguably the most interesting part of the Wunderbar range and a big reason why customers keep coming back. The Wunderbar Colour Refresh Shampoos are colour-depositing shampoos, meaning they're not just cleaning your hair, they're also adding a small amount of pigment with every wash to refresh and maintain your colour at home.

They use what Wunderbar calls Triple Color Technology. The dye formula is formulated at an optimal pH, which helps the pigment actually penetrate the hair rather than just sitting on the surface. The non-oxidative formula also includes passionflower oil, vegetable butters and plant ester, so your hair gets a conditioning treatment at the same time as the colour refresh.

The range covers copper, warm brown, cool brown, pure brown, red, and violet, so there's a decent spread of shades. The Copper Colour Refresh Shampoo is our most popular, which makes sense given how much copper and warm auburn colouring is trending right now. You can also combine these with the Wunderbar Colour Protection Mask to amplify the results.

These shampoos are not a replacement for professional colour, and they won't make a dramatic change on their own. What they do is stop your colour from looking washed out and faded between appointments, which is exactly what most people are after.

Wunderbar Freestyle Color: semi-permanent at home

If you want to go a bit bolder, the Wunderbar Freestyle Color semi-permanent range lets you experiment without commitment. Available in rose, blue, violet, orange, green, red, grey, and clear, these are vivid, direct-application colours that don't require a developer or mixing.

They're best suited to pre-lightened or very light hair for the most vibrant result. On darker hair, you'll get a more subtle tonal shift, which can actually look really nice if that's what you're going for. The clear option is useful for mixing with other shades to soften the intensity or for using as a gloss-style treatment on its own.

Wunderbar Perm Kits: one of the best home perm options available

This is where Wunderbar really stands out from most brands you'd find on the high street. Their perm kits are genuinely professional quality and come in three formulas to match your hair type, which is the kind of detail that makes a real difference to the result.

The Perm Kit 0 is for resistant or very healthy hair. The Perm Kit 1 is for natural, normal hair. The Perm Kit 2 is specifically formulated for colour-treated or sensitive hair, which matters a lot if you're also getting highlights or balayage done.

The kits use Triple Wave Technology with almond protein and a conditioning base that helps protect the hair structure during the perming process. Each kit contains everything you need for one service: the perm lotion, neutraliser, an application sponge, a post-perm treatment, and gloves. The post-perm treatment with cannabis sativa seed oil and panthenol is a genuinely nice touch, leaving hair soft rather than that straw-like texture you can sometimes get with cheaper perm kits.

We hear consistently good things from customers who use these. The curls come out naturally elastic rather than tight and springy, which is exactly what most people are after.

Wunderbar bleach and styling

The Blond de Light Bleach Powder is a 9-level lift powder, which puts it in the same performance bracket as professional bleaches used in salons. If you're lightening at home, please do a strand test first and follow the instructions carefully, but as far as home bleach products go, this is a step up from what you'd find in a chemist.

On the styling side, the Quick Dry Heat Protect Spray is a regular go-to for customers who blow-dry daily. The Gloss It Top Coat Oil is a nice finishing product to add shine without heaviness. The Finish It Strong Hold Hairspray does exactly what you'd expect and the hold is solid without feeling sticky or stiff. There's also a Smooth 'n Soft Leave-In for frizzy or coarse hair that customers with thicker hair textures seem to really rate.

Is Wunderbar worth it? Our honest verdict

For a brand at this price point, Wunderbar offers genuinely good quality. The vegan formulation and sustainable packaging feel like real brand values rather than marketing boxes to tick, and the product range is thoughtfully put together. There's a logical logic to how everything connects: the shampoo ranges are designed to pair with their matching conditioners and masks, the Colour Refresh system works with the Colour Protection Mask, and the perm kits come in three strengths so you're not just guessing.

It isn't a budget brand, but it isn't trying to be. What you're paying for is well-formulated, ethical haircare that does what it says. If Wunderbar is on your radar, the best starting point is the shampoo and conditioner for your hair type, or if your colour is fading between appointments, try one of the Colour Refresh shampoos and see what you think after a few washes.

Frequently asked questions about Wunderbar

Is Wunderbar shampoo sulphate free?
The Wunderbar shampoos are not sulphate free. They contain sulphates for effective cleansing and lather, and comply fully with EU cosmetics regulations. The Wunderbar conditioners and hair masks do not contain sulphates.

Is Wunderbar vegan?
Yes. Every product in the Wunderbar range is 100% vegan. The packaging is also made from sustainable materials.

Is Wunderbar a professional brand?
Wunderbar sits in the professional haircare space. Their perm kits in particular are professional quality, and the brand is trusted by salons and home users alike. It started in Germany and has built a strong reputation for reliable results.

Which Wunderbar Colour Refresh shampoo should I use?
Choose based on your current hair colour. Copper or red for warm brunettes and redheads, cool or pure brown for brunettes wanting to neutralise warmth, violet for keeping highlighted hair bright. Start with leaving it on for two to three minutes and adjust from there based on how much deposit you want.

Can I use Wunderbar perm kits at home?
The kits are designed to be accessible for home use, but we'd always recommend a strand test first and reading the instructions carefully. If your hair is already heavily bleached or chemically treated, consider booking a professional perm service rather than attempting it at home.

Browse the full Wunderbar range at Revive Hair Artists, with free UK delivery on all orders.