Aveeno Nourish & Revitalize Shampoo & Conditioner: Product Review

September 29, 2009 04:00 PM | Comments (0) | Posted in budget beauty, product review, shampoo, hair care, Product Review, aveeno

What: Angela trys to get healthy with Aveeno Nourish & Revitalize Shampoo & Conditioner
The Lowdown: Aveeno is one of those brands that’s just slightly more expensive, but comes with a reputation that leads us to expect good value for our hard earned buck. Since my hair is colored regularly and fried with blow dryer and irons (either curling or straightening, depending) daily, I’m always open to a product that will help compensate for some of the inevitable damage.
The Aveeno Nourish & Revitalize line promises to help “protect hair’s intrinsic moisture balance from everyday damage, invigorating it with new life”, and in just three washes to help repair damage and provide the “three key elements that give hair life — strength, softness and shine.” Sounds good.
So after three days use, any difference? Sadly, not so much. Yes, my hair was reasonably soft, but also weighed down which, when you have fine hair like mine, is a big drawback. As for strength and shine—not any more than what I get from my regular shampoo and conditioner (which, for the record, are Dove Go Fresh Energize Therapy Shampoo and Alberto VO5 Shower Works Hot Oil). Perhaps more than three days use would be in order to get maximum results, but with the conditioner being so heavy—and the fact that the shampoo has ammonium laurel sulfate which can strip color—I’m switching back to my regular tried-and-true routine.
The Verdict: Nay. Not terrible, but didn’t deliver the results I’d expect for around $7 a bottle.

Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion

August 25, 2009 06:29 AM | Comments (1) | Posted in product review, shampoo, hair care, Product Review, pantene

What: Angela smooths things over with Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion hair products
 
The Lowdown: Pantene is a name you’ll see at the top of a gazillion women’s magazine lists of drugstore beauty products. And like all other beauty products, with each new day comes a new line, new formula, the next big thing. Seems like these days we’ve come full circle—I remember years ago when the Aussie products came out, they had all kinds of “natural” ingredients—evolutionary at the time. The popularity of that waned, but with all our green talk these days natural is back in a big way, and Pantene is on it with their “Nature Fusion” line. Fortified with things like cassia, ginger, calendula, aloe vera, avocado, bamboo, and grapeseed (whew!), they promise smoothness, strength and softness. Well that’s all I’ve ever really wanted from my hair—but do they deliver?
 
In a word, yes. Now, I have no idea which of the aforementioned ingredients, or any combination thereof, does the trick, but having tried both the “Moisture Balance” conditioner and the smoothing creme, my blow-drying session ended with soft smooth hair that actually has body. And that’s quite a trick, seeing as I rarely dare to use a daily conditioner on my fine thin hair lest it wilt like last weeks lettuce. But the Nature Fusion not only did NOT weigh my hair down, it seems to have added a little life. Which, having lived with this dilemma my entire life, is priceless.
 
The Verdict: Yea. A product that lives up to its claims, for a budget price.
Buy It: Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Moisture Balance Conditioner, $4.99, Walgreens.com, and Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Smoothing Creme, $5.99, Drugstore.com

FREE Mani or Pedi from Herbal Essences

June 6, 2008 09:00 AM | Comments (0) | Posted in coupon, free, shampoo, manicure, pedicure, conditioner, herbal essences

The Deal: It’s simple: Purchase two specially marked Herbal Essences shampoos or conditioners or one of their hair coloring kits, enter the UPC codes online here, print out the redemption form, send ‘em in along with the receipts from purchase, and in 4-6 weeks you will get a voucher for a free manicure or pedicure at a participating beauty salon. 

The Lowdown: The wait seems long, but do it now and you’ll get your pedicure in time to go to the beach and not be afraid to wear flip flops. I wish the deal was for a free manicure AND pedicure—it’s going to be a difficult decision for me. Herbal Essences’ shampoos and conditioners have changed a lot over the years (remember those steamy shower commercials?) but their products are dependable, so at least you’re buying products you’re actually going to use.

Get more information here.

Product Review: Sulfate Free Shampoos

December 16, 2007 01:00 AM | Comments (2) | Posted in product review, shampoo, sulfate free shampoo, Product Review, organic shampoo, hair types

What: A review of the best sulfate-free shampoos for all hair types

The Lowdown: Learning about the ingredients in products we buy really empowers us to spend our money on things we will love. Countless products contain ingredients that are just plain bad or render the product useless for what it proposes to do.

A big example of that is the use of sulfates (sodium lauryl and laureth sulfate) in shampoos. This ingredient causes the shampoo to foam up, which we love, but it can also do the following:

1. Irritates the scalp
2. Dries out your hair and strips the color and shine
3. Causes your ends to split and the hair shaft and follicle to unsmooth
4. Instigates hair loss

Many companies are offering sulfate-free shampoos that clean your hair without all the harmful effects of sulfates. Three standouts on the shelves:

TiGi Bedhead Superstar Shampoo, $11.95
This shampoo is great for fine-haired gals. Pair it with the leave-in conditioner for soft hair that moves. (Sometimes leave-ins are better because you don’t have to depend on getting all of the conditioner rinsed out.)

Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Shampoo, $8.49
The perfect choice if you love organic products. This shampoo also garners huge raves from women with all hair types and those that experience hair loss after showering.

Healthy Sexy Hair Chocolate Soy Milk Shampoo, $10.99
Smells divine, and it’s perfect for those with long or dry hair.

Yea or Nay: It’s a yea to give up your addiction to foaming shampoos and trust that less foam means your hair is being cleaned the right way.