Pre-poo treatment relieves scalp irritation before shampooing
This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.
—
Stated by brand
Can’t be confirmed from label.
Shown: 6 fl oz (180 ml)
Sizes & containers
4 fl oz · No store price at this size yet · UPC 810006942484
Cantu
Guava & Ginger Scalp Exfoliating Pre-Poo Treatment
Scalp treatment
- Scalp treatment
- Sulfate-free
- Silicone-free
- Protein-free
- Cruelty-free · label states
Size4 fl ozusual store size · 2 sizes
Price$8–9 Good valuecommonly seen · 6 oz
Price / oz$1.40/ozat 6 oz
Where to buy4 stores · $6.99–8.54
Add it to your products. We’ll tell you if it’s ever recalled.
Scent:
The ingredient list declares fragrance. What it smells of is not stated, and we do not guess.
Manufacturer page: cantubeauty.co.uk
Personal fit
Is this right for you?
Complete the consultation to see how well this product fits your hair and your goals. With 6,000+ products in our library, we can match you to the right ones.
- About 20 minutes, and your answers save as you go.
- Every product matched against your hair across the 19 factors we check.
- A personalized routine built around your schedule, styling habits, and local weather.
- Find products that do the same job at a lower cost.
- Your goals, scalp, damage history, water, budget, and scent preferences all shape your plan.
$49 with 60 days of follow-up questions and plan updates
$99 with 12 months. Pay once; the year renews only if you choose.
Factor
Your profile
Fit
Best for hair types
All types
Not in your profile
Moisture level
High
Not in your profile
Slip / detangling
Moderate
Not in your profile
Weight on hair
Light
Not in your profile
Fragrance
Present
Not in your profile
Protein
None
Not in your profile
Silicone / wax buildup
None
Not in your profile
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate
Not in your profile
Parabens / preservatives
None of these listed
Not in your profile
Essential oils
Present
Not in your profile
Show all 19 factors we check
The rest of what your plan weighs on this product.
Fast-drying alcohol
None
Not in your profile
Vegan / cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · label states
Not in your profile
Animal-derived ingredients
Not yet verified
Not in your profile
Heavy humectants
Heavy
Not in your profile
Hard-water defence
None
Not in your profile
UV filter
None listed
Not in your profile
Ingredient list
24 ingredientsAbout average
Not in your profile
Price tier
Drugstore
Not in your profile
Where to buy it
Grocery / mass · Specialty beauty
Not in your profile
The consultation builds your hair profile, checks every factor in this table against it, and tells you where this product fits or what to use instead.
Start your consultation$49 once, with 60 days of follow-up questions and plan updates. Nothing renews, and you never have to buy a product.
Your avoid-list
Lower cost than most scalp treatments
$1.40/oz at 6 oz, less than 98% of the 280 scalp treatments , which mostly run $3.84–19.05/oz.
Great for
Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
Fine hairthat flattens under most products
Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list
Matte, textured stylesabsorbent powders do the mattifying
Very dry hairno fast-drying alcohol in the list
Tight budgetsit sits in the lower price tiers
Maybe skip if
this product has a scent
Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
Wash day
How it fits into wash day
Read from the product’s own directions on the date shown. A step the label leaves out is shown as not stated, never filled in.
- When
- Before shampoo: Scalp exfoliation
- Start on
- not stated on the label
- Where
- scalp
- Label wait
- no wait
- Then
- shampoo it out
- Conditioner after
- not stated on the label
- How often
- Repeat as needed.
- Apply a generous amount directly to the scalp before shampooing.
- Gently massage with fingers or a fine tooth comb to help exfoliate away any buildup.
Not yet complete on our side: starting state. We list a product here once its label states a before-shampoo use. We only put it into a routine once every step is on record.
Scalp products are listed for browsing; we do not yet place them in a personal routine.
Browse technique guides (general advice, not matched to this product’s directions)
Source: distributor page · checked 2026-09-17
What the formula actually does
Read from the label, not the marketing
Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.
Slip and detangling
Moderate
Conditioning agents are present, lower in the list.
Oils and butters
None
No oils or butters in the list.
Weight on the hair
Light
Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair.
Water-binding (humectants)
High
Humectants near the top: binding water is one of its main jobs.
Protein
None
No protein or amino acids in the list.
Needs detergent to remove
No
Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove.
Hard-water defence
None
No chelating agent in the list.
Fragrance
Present
Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients.
from the formula
stated by the brand
reported by reviewers
Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.
Ingredients that matter
The ingredients that change a decision
The workhorse ingredients, plus anything lower down that changes a decision. The chips name what an ingredient does. They are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.
| Ingredient | What it does | Why it matters | Chip |
|---|---|---|---|
| WaterAqua (Water) | solvent | The base everything else is dissolved in | Neutral |
| Glycerin | humectant | Pulls water into the hair | Moisturizes |
| Cocamidopropyl Betaine | amphoteric cleanser | — | Cleanses |
| Xanthan Gum | gum | Natural hold and clump definition | Holds |
| SilicaHydrated Silica | powder | Mattifies and absorbs oil | Stabilizes |
| Psidium Guajava Fruit ExtractPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract (Guava) | botanical extract | A plant extract, there as much for marketing as for function | Neutral |
| Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract | botanical extract | A plant extract, there as much for marketing as for function | Neutral |
| Acetic AcidAcetic Acid (Apple Cider Vinegar) | pH adjuster | Fine-tunes the pH | pH balancer |
| Turmeric Root OilCurcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Oil | essential oil | — | Fragrance |
| Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil | botanical extract | A trace plant extract | Fragrance |
| FragranceParfum (Fragrance) | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Menthol | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesThe list carries no sulfates, silicones, or drying alcohols. No protein: a moisture formula, not a repair one. Fragrance is on the label.
Full ingredient list (24)
In the US, ingredients above 1% are listed from most to least. Below 1% they can appear in any order. Each note keeps three things apart: what the ingredient generally does, its role in this type of product, and what its position can tell you.
-
1
Water
· Aqua (Water)
General function
The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- solvent
-
2
Glycerin
General function
Glycerin, also called glycerol, attracts moisture and mixes completely with water.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
Scientific ReportsMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairHigh-porosity hair loses water fast; a humectant holds some of it in place for longer than the wash itself would.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairBinds water into the outer layers of the strand, and water is what makes dry hair flexible again rather than brittle.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairWater moves both ways. Measured across concentrations, glycerin solutions give water up in some conditions and take it from the air in others. What it does for you depends on how much of it is there and on the air around it.
- humectant
-
3
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
General function
A mild coconut-derived co-cleanser that boosts foam and softens the effect of stronger detergents. It appears in most shampoos, gentle or not.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
Indian Journal of DermatologyMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairMild cleansing leaves more surface lubrication in place on hair that dries out quickly.
May not suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesThe mildest detergents are also the least complete: a routine that deposits films needs something stronger periodically.
DependsVery dry or highly damaged hairAmong the mildest detergents in use — it is what baby shampoos are built on — but it is almost always the second detergent in a formula. How much a wash strips is still decided by the primary detergent listed above it.
- amphoteric cleanser
- secondary cleanser
- cleanser
-
4
Xanthan Gum
General function
A fermented sugar gum that thickens water-based formulas and adds soft, natural hold.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitCurls or waves needing flexible holdA polysaccharide film stays softer than a synthetic one as it dries, which is what leaves a curl defined but still able to move.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairA soft film binds neighbouring strands together, which is most of what helps flyaways lie down.
May not suitMaximum-hold stylingGum films stay soft. A style that needs firm fixation usually wants a synthetic polymer doing the holding.
- gum
- thickener
- film former
-
5
Silica
· Hydrated Silica
General function
A fine mineral powder that absorbs oil and adds grip. It is what makes texture powders and matte pastes feel dry to the touch.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairA dry powder takes up oil and adds friction between strands, which is most of what root lift in fine hair actually is.
- powder
- thickener
- mineral
-
6
Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract
· Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract (Guava)
General function
An extract from the fruit of Psidium Guajava. Plant extracts are used across a wide range of levels, and label order is the best guide to how much is here.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
- botanical extract
-
7
Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract
General function
Ginger extract, a traditional scalp botanical used at low levels.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
- botanical extract
- ▾Below about here, the order stops meaning much. These are usually used at 1% or less.
-
8
Acetic Acid
· Acetic Acid (Apple Cider Vinegar)
General function
Vinegar acid, used in tiny amounts to bring the formula to an acidic pH so the cuticle lies flat.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemDependsFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairpH adjusters are how a formula is brought to a chosen acidity, and an acidic formula keeps the cuticle lying flatter than an alkaline one. Which way this one moves the pH depends on the formula, and the finished pH is not on the label.
- pH adjuster
-
9
Turmeric Root Oil
· Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Oil
- essential oil
- fragrance
-
10
Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil
General function
Tea tree essential oil, used in scalp products for its sharp scent and traditional clarifying reputation.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesEssential oils are fragrance. Several carry constituents on the EU list of declared fragrance allergens, so a label with no fragrance line can still be a scented product.
- botanical extract
- essential oil
- fragrance
-
11
Fragrance
· Parfum (Fragrance)
General function
An undisclosed blend of scent ingredients. Regulations let it stay unlisted, so a fragrance-free product is the only way to be certain what is not in it.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
12
Menthol
General function
Produces the cooling, tingling feeling on the scalp. The sensation is real; it is not evidence that anything else is happening.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
- active
- 13 Menthone
-
14
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
General function
Cornmint oil, used for a cooling sensation and mint scent.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
- botanical extract
-
15
Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil
· Mentha Piperita Oil
General function
Peppermint essential oil, used for scent and the cooling feeling on the scalp.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesEssential oils are fragrance. Several carry constituents on the EU list of declared fragrance allergens, so a label with no fragrance line can still be a scented product.
- botanical extract
- essential oil
- fragrance
-
16
Salicylic Acid
- active
- exfoliant
-
17
Dehydroacetic Acid
- preservative
-
18
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
General function
A coconut-derived emulsifier that softens a cleanser and reduces the stripped feeling.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- emulsifier
- emollient
- 19 Glycol
-
20
Polysorbate 20
- solubilizer
- emulsifier
-
21
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
- conditioning agent
-
22
Benzyl Alcohol
- preservative
- solvent
-
23
Citronellol
General function
A rose-like fragrance component named separately as a recognised allergen.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
24
Linalool
General function
A floral fragrance component listed separately as a recognised contact allergen.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
What the whole list adds up to
- 8 fragrances
- 5 botanical extracts
- 3 essential oils
- 2 solvents
- 2 thickeners
- 2 actives
- 2 preservatives
- 2 emulsifiers
- 2 named fragrance allergens
- 1 humectant
- 1 amphoteric cleanser
- 1 secondary cleanser
- 1 cleanser
- 1 gum
Ingredient list captured 2026-09-17. Formulas change, so check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.
Price · 6 oz
Commonly seen
$8–9
Good value under
$17
Usually a good value. Most stores sell it under the $17 line, and products that do this job typically go for about $29 at this size.
Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it4 listings · 4 stores
-
Shop Star Beauty
$6.996 oz · $1.17/ozSep 17Lowest per oz
-
Star Beauty
$6.996 oz · $1.17/ozSep 17
-
Care to Beauty
$8.546.09 oz · $1.40/ozSep 17Sale · was $10.04
-
PerfumesClub US
$8.496 oz · $1.42/ozSep 17Sale · was $11.46
Sorted by price per ounce. Dated observations from our research, not live prices. Direct store pages, no affiliate links. We don’t sell this product.
How we work this out
- 6 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
- Commonly seen is the middle half of current prices for the 6 oz at recognised stores. We leave out the cheapest and most expensive quarters, so one sale or one overpriced listing can’t move it.
- Good value under $17 comes from the 7 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $2.80/oz; at 6 oz that is $17. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
- About $29 is what those same products typically cost at this size: the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 6 oz.
Formula
5
Formula score
5 of 10
Not the most complete scalp treatment formula we have read, but it is under most of the range for scalp treatments per ounce.
How the score is counted
- Costs less per ounce than 98% of the 280 scalp treatments we’ve priced
- No conditioning agents up front in the formula
- Drugstore tier, sold at Grocery / mass and Specialty beauty
- Drugstore tier
- Conditioning agents up frontWhat makes wet hair comb through.3 pts
- Oils or butters in the working zoneSoftens the strand rather than just coating it.2 pts
- Slip for detanglingReduces the force it takes to comb wet hair.2 pts
- A humectantBinds water into the hair.1 pt
- A pH adjusterBrings the formula to the acidic pH hair prefers.1 pt
- Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt
The formula score measures completeness for the job: a weighted share of the systems this product type is usually built around that we find in this list. It does not rate how well the product works or its quality, and it never compares across product types.
Does the same job
Formulas that do the same things (cleanse, condition, coat or hold) for less per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy them can still differ.
Maria NilaClosest function
Purifying Cleanse Exfoliating Serum
$6.10/oz $4.70/oz more
- Protein-free
- Lightweight
- Silicone-free
- Function
- Also
- Wash day
- this one is not a before-shampoo product
Sun BumLowest cost per oz
Revitalizing Detox Scalp Scrub
$2.83/oz $1.43/oz more
- Protein-free
- Lightweight
- Silicone-free
- Function
- Also
- Wash day
- this one is not a before-shampoo product
CÉCREDClose function
Scalp Refreshing Spray
$4.75/oz $3.35/oz more
- Protein-free
- Lightweight
- Silicone-free
- Function
- Also
- Wash day
- this one is not a before-shampoo product
See more alternatives in the product library
These products do a similar job. We haven’t matched them to you. Find the one that fits your hair, routine and budget
Final decision
Should you buy it?
A solid pick for the hair it suitsBest user
Hair that stiffens on protein, looking for a protein-free formula and something that will not weigh hair down
Biggest tradeoff
Worth skipping for anyone sensitive to fragrance or very dry or very humid climates
Best alternative if not
Nothing in our library matches it closely at a lower price.
We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.
Claims check
What the brand says, and what the formula shows
Claims are quoted from the brand. We mark a claim supported, partly supported or conflicting only when the ingredient list speaks to it. Everything else stays "stated by the brand". That isn’t a criticism: most claims can’t be checked from a label.
1
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
4
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
Turmeric exfoliates scalp to uplift oil, dead skin, and impurities
It reads light on the strand, which is what volume claims depend on.
- Xanthan Gum
Supported
Leaves room for lift.
Stimulates scalp to foster healthy hair growth
Density and growth are cosmetic claims an ingredient list cannot settle.
- Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract
- Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract
- Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil
Stated by brand
Not something a label can show.
Formulated for all hair types and textures
No formula reads the same on every texture; our fit panel is the better guide.
—
Stated by brand
See the fit panel instead.
Helps soothe dry itchy scalp and promote length retention
No over-the-counter anti-dandruff active appears in the list.
- Menthol
- Salicylic Acid
Stated by brand
Soothing, not an active treatment.
How to read this
We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula, not at the marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.
More from Cantu
How this page was made
- Everything above comes from our researched product record: identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated prices and review themes our researchers wrote in their own words. No part of this page is written by hand for one product.
- The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
- Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
- The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
- 6 sources consulted for this product (1 manufacturer or regulatory, 3 retailer, 2 editorial), last checked 2026-09-17.
- Ingredient references are linked for 7 of 13 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are general formulation guidance. They aren’t a verdict on the finished product or on you.
- We haven’t tested this product in a lab, and we don’t physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list. Claims about how it behaves are labelled as the brand's.
- Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are what we saw on the dates shown and can change.
- Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
- This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
- Formula readings: derivation v23. Record last updated 2026-09-17.
