First, yay!, because Sarah’s pregnant! Go tell her eveything’s going to be fine!
Now, do you remember when I asked for recommendations for 2-in-1 shampoo conditioners? Lots of you gave suggestions, and then I bought five to try. Three were from the suggestions and two were just There and so I bought them. One I wanted to buy but didn’t was the Dove 2-in-1, because I could only find it in a huge bottle and I didn’t want a huge bottle when I was only using 2-in-1s for the last weeks of pregnancy.
I may change my mind on that huge bottle, because I’m continuing to find 2-in-1 products helpful even now that I’m not pregnant. I usually shower at night (I prefer mornings, but geez), and I don’t like to go to bed with wet hair. Recently, I’ve been washing my hair in the morning, leaning over the bathtub. If I use a 2-in-1, this is pretty quick and easy, and makes me feel all fresh and shampooey-clean in the morning, which is a pleasant change from the stale, matted feeling of hair that was slept on while wet.
Of the five I tried, there were 2 winners, 2 losers, and 1 fine. The losers were a Suave 2-in-1 and a Target brand 2-in-1, both of them Pantene copycats (words on label such as “pro-vitamin formula”). They made my hair seem darker and duller and yuckier and frizzier. When I used those two, I liked my hair less. The Suave one was the best of all five for making my hair easier to comb, but that was its only good point.
The fine one was Garnier Fructis Fortifying 2-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner for Normal Hair. I liked it pretty well, but there were a couple of days when my hair looked like it needed to be washed even though I’d just washed it. Also, my hair was harder than usual to comb. The smell was pleasantly fruity, but I don’t usually like fruity scents.
The two winners were Pert Plus 2 in 1 Shampoo Plus Medium Conditioner for Normal Hair, and Herbal Essences Hello Hydration 2 in 1 Moisturizing Shampoo + Conditioner. The Herbal Essences gets an edge because of its cool bottle, pretty color, and yum coconut-y smell. The Pert Plus gets an edge for nostalgia (I used it in high school), and because I think it made my hair the softest and prettiest of all the kinds I tried. They both left my hair relatively easy to comb, and I didn’t think they made my hair look much worse than usual.
I am so bored with shampoo, it’s the little things in ilfe.. I want to try something else. Husband has been using pantene since I’ve known him and I just can’t stand it anymore. I am currently using suave (not 2 in 1) and I like it, especially the strawberry. In about 2 years when I finish this bottle I’ll try something else! (I am so. slow. to use shampoo and toothpaste!)
Since I’m home for the summer, I realize how tough it is to get a shower unless you set an early alarm (then truly, it is not summer vacation in my book) so I realize a daily shower is a luxury that is not to be. You have inspired me. A nightly shower, with morning hair-washing.
As I said when you asked previously, Pert Plus wins for me. Probably only because of nostalgia.
Thanks for the tips on a daily routine. This may save me a lot of time stinkin’ up the joint!
Thanks for the review. You’ve *almost* convinced me to give the Herbal Essence one a try. But my hair! It’s so frizzy! I usually use a regular conditioner and TWO leave-in conditioners and that just about gives it enough weight and moisture that I don’t look like a clown. But at 36 weeks pregnant, I am wishing that my shower had an automatic setting, like a washing machine: rinse, soap, rinse, shampoo, rinse. Why can’t showers do that?
I’ll have to try the Herbal Essence one… I don’t think I’ve even seen it. But, anything that could shorten the shower time could be a plus!
Try the Dove. You will love it!
I’m sitting here, unshowered even though we spent the day at the pool yesterday AND I worked last night w/o showering, and I’m wondering when I’ll ever get to shower again…ever.
Maybe I just need a good 2in1 to please the “gods of fitting a shower in”…
Given your pregnancy and fluctuations in your hormones, I highly recommend proanagen anti DHT shampoo. My sister and I use it for over a year and basically we no longer use conditioner. One nice thing is that they offer shampoo samples for $2! Not bad for at least trying it. On the other hand I’m hooked on it bad and it cost around 12 or more per bottle. Good luck. Their site is http://www.proanagen.com
I second Shannon- gotta try the Dove. Also, I like your idea of nighttime showers, except that it’s been so hot lately, plus the pregnancy hormones, that I’ve been waking up all sticky and clammy feeling. I’d feel like I needed another shower anyways.
All right, Shannon and Desperate Housewife, I’ll get the Dove! Fine! FINE!
Colleen: The Herbal Essences one is a purty purty blue color bottle.
Thank you so much for your words of encouragement, both today and earlier.
I do that too (shower at night and wash hair upside down under bath faucet in morning.) It is a good trick.
I LOOOOOVE the Hello Hydration stuff, but I haven’t tried the 2 in 1 yet. Maybe I will! Say Hello Bathtub Faucet!
I keep a bottle of Pert Plus 2 in 1 on hand for those I’m in a hurry days. It’s also nice to switch shampoos once in awhile.
My hairdresser however warned against using Pert and other 2 in 1’s as my every day shampoo because she said they leave a residue on the hair that can make it heavy and dull over time. She also warned me away from Pantene saying it opens the hair follicle and can cause damage to the hair over time.
She also told me to occasionally use a clarifying shampoo to cleanse your hair of residual build ups from shampoos, conditioners, styling products, hair sprays, etc. Aussie’s Citrifier, Herbal Essence’s Degunkifying Shampoo or Neutrogena’s Anti-Residue Formula are brands I’ve used and liked. Clarifying shampoos are good to use if you’re hair is exposed to chlorine often.
Someone up above mentioned frizzy hair. My daughter has a problem with this and she uses John Frieda’s product line called Frizz Eaze…especially the hair serum. A tiny speck combed through your hair and you’ll be amazed at how soft and manageable it becomes. Nexxus also makes a new product for frizzy hair. They seem a bit pricey…but if used in proper proportions they’ll last a long time.
I’m not a hairdresser I’m just repeating what mine told me. Maybe some of what she’s told me will help y’all :)