My Last Hair Care Product Review For A While: VO5 Normal 2-In-1 Shampoo & Conditioner Works!

The Good: Inexpensive, Decent conditioning properties, Cleans hair well!
The Bad: No recognizable scent.
The Basics: Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Normal Shampoo & Conditioner works surprisingly well for daily cleaning and conditioning needs.


Right before my wife lopped off my hair – 20 years in the growing! – I found myself tro save some time. To that end, I picked up a couple of bottles of Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Normal Shampoo & Conditioner. Unlike the moisturizing shampoo and conditioner 2-in-1 (reviewed here!), the VO5 2-in-1 Normal Shampoo & Conditioner actually works and it works pretty well. Instead of being ineffective, the Normal 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner actually cleans and it only truly suffers from not having a delightful smell to make it a slam-dunk.

I like products that produce a decent scent memory or trigger one that I already have. Alas, Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Normal Shampoo & Conditioner is not ideal for that. After a month, my hair was noticeably cleaner and more manageable than it was before, but it did not smell better (outside being devoid of any bad-smelling elements).

Using Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Normal Shampoo & Conditioner leaves hair without any heavy residue and each time I used it, I came out with my hair feeling very clean. The moisturizing properties of this conditioner are almost immediate. Within a week, I noticed my hair was more manageable as well as cleaner.

I tend to like shampoos that both clean and leave hair smelling good. The Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Normal Shampoo & Conditioner did the former well and the latter poorly. The Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Normal Shampoo & Conditioner has a mildly medicinal smell to it. The medicinal smell washes out after the conditioning is done and it leaves my hair without any scent in it.

Since I began washing my hair with the Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Normal Shampoo & Conditioner, my hair has never gotten back to dry and cracking, as it was when I was using just a shampoo.

With a cost of approximately $1.19 for a 15 fl. oz. bottle, Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Normal Shampoo & Conditioner is comparatively inexpensive. The bottle is smooth and is more flat than round. When wet, it slips out of the hands easily. The cap has a flip-top that makes it very easy to get the shampoo/conditioner out with only one hand. As well, the large cap makes it even easier, though because the hole is still fairly small, there is no waste from the bottle.

Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Normal Shampoo & Conditioner is a light green, opaque shampoo/conditioner that is creamy and smooth. It has a nonwatery consistency and while it is not especially thick, it does not need to be watered down to get the most out of the product.

Like most hair care products, there is nothing mysterious to using this product. You wet your hair, lather it up, let it set for a few minutes and rinse. Most VO5 products I can get away with using about a quarter-sized drop and that is so with Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Normal Shampoo & Conditioner. But while I quickly discovered that a quarter-sized dollop of the 2-in-1 in my hand easily lathered up to be able to work through all my hair, my hair never got clean on the first try; I always had to wash at least twice and for the duration of my using this 2-in-1. I had long hair and Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Normal Shampoo & Conditioner lathered up incredibly to condition all of my hair.

As a shampoo, this has an excellent lather quality. It took very little to work it up to a lather and that lather spreads into the hair and it cleans very well. Indeed, with average usage, the product was one of the easiest shampoos I have used to spread through my hair. This required very little agitation to lather it properly, especially for the minimal effort.

This 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner rinses out incredibly easily, as well. When I am in a hurry and can only wash my hair, the Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Normal Shampoo & Conditioner rinses out very quickly and leaves my hair conditioned. Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Normal Shampoo & Conditioner requires almost no effort to rinse out, making is a quick shampoo/conditioner to apply and rinse out. Since having my hair abruptly cut, the conditioner aspect of the Normal Shampoo & Conditioner, works because my hair has not developed any split ends!

Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Normal Shampoo & Conditioner makes my hair feel heavy when it is still wet, and when I only wash it once with the 2-in-1. Once dry, the shampoo and conditioner lives up to its promise of moisturized, healthy-looking hair. Moreover, it does not dry out my hair, nor does it leave it with any greasy residue (when I wash with it twice).

While this is inexpensive, Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Normal Shampoo & Conditioner cleans and conditions, without leaving any delightful scent in the hair or on the head.

For other shampoo reviews, please check out my analysis of:
Suave Refreshing Waterfall Mint Shampoo
VO5 Kiwi Lime Shampoo
Bigelow Mentha Hair Mint Shampoo

7/10

For other health and beauty reviews, visit my Health And Beauty Review Index Page for an organized listing of the products I have reviewed!

© 2013 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |

Protecting Well, Smelling Good: VO5 Free Me Freesia Conditioner Is Worth Getting!

The Good: Inexpensive, Intriguing scent, moisturizes hair very well, Scent endures
The Bad: Takes a bit to rinse it all out, Does not revitalize hair well
The Basics: A decent conditioner, VO5's Herbal Escapes Free Me Freesia Conditioner has an intriguing scent and protects hair well, even if it does not regenerate hair.


As it frequently happens, whenever I review a VO5 shampoo after a month of usage, I find myself reviewing the accompanying conditioner. Given that the other day I reviewed VO5's "Free Me Freesia Herbal Escapes Shampoo" (reviewed here!), it is largely unsurprising that I would now find myself reviewing Free Me Freesia Herbal Escapes conditioner. Fortunately, this is a conditioner that enhances the shampoo’s scent and works generally well, making it easy to as enthusiastically endorse it as the shampoo it compliments!

VO5 is fairly well known for having inexpensive shampoos and conditioners. In virtually every market in the United States, VO5 shampoos and conditioners may be found on sale for $1.50 for a 15 fl. oz. bottle. Free Me Freesia Herbal Escapes conditioner, like the shampoos in the line, is an attempt by Alberto VO5 to create products that make one’s hair smell amazing and make the bathing/showering experience feel and smell incredible. The Free Me Freesia conditioner actually succeeds admirably on that front. The 15 fl. oz. bottle is a fairly flat (with rounded sides) bottle with a flip-top lid that is easy enough to open with one hand. The bottle is not contoured and does get slippery when wet.

Inside is the Free Me Freesia conditioner and it is a light purple/lilac - almost white - opaque fluid. This conditioner has an asterisk; the conditioner seems designed to strengthen hair as it offers to double the strength of one's hair when used with the corresponding shampoo. Like most VO5 conditioners, this makes no claims for dramatic hair changes. This is not advertised as a "dry to normal hair" conditioner, nor a "normal to oily hair," so the assumption here is that it is designed for all hair types and will not so much change the composition of one's hair, but rather protect what one already has.

The scent is an intriguing blend of lilac and vanilla, which seems to be what Freesia is, though in the conditioner, the floral scent is definitely stronger than the underlying spice component of the aroma. When in the shower and one's nostrils are opened by the steam (I tend to like very hot showers) this conditioner effervesces its floral scent. It is a decent, inoffensive smell that is very relaxing and compliments the shampoo it is associated with perfectly.

When it comes to use, this is a versatile and standard conditioner and one need only flip the lid and dispense a small amount into the palm of the hand before applying it to the hair. The Free Me Freesia moisturizing conditioner requires at least a half-dollar-sized dollop to condition a full head of hair. I have long hair and as a result, conditioning can be an annoying expense as conditioner does not, traditionally, lather up to spread the way a shampoo does. As a result, I go through at least twice as much Free Me Freesia conditioner than I do shampoo.

Even used judiciously, the 15 oz. bottle lasted only two and a half weeks with daily hair washings and conditioning. One might want to keep that in mind when purchasing this combination if they have long hair. Indeed, my hair only comes down to the shoulder blades; people with waist-long hair will likely need even more conditioner to make this product work as it is supposed to.

And as a protecting and moisturizing conditioner, the Free Me Freesia works. The Herbal Escapes Free Me Freesia combination worked fine at protecting my hair. Usually, I get split ends within a week of trimming them off, but in order to do a thorough review of this product, I trimmed my hair and did a faithful regimen of using this conditioner and its corresponding shampoo and after two and a half weeks, there are still no split ends!

I tend to like shampoos that leave my hair smelling delightful, like whatever scent they have lured me in with. Given that the Free Me Freesia Herbal Escapes Conditioner barely smelled only mildly like lilac to begin with, I was a little surprised that it left such a strong floral scent in my hair after it was rinsed out. To be fair, the conditioner when used with the shampoo, seemed to eliminate other scents from my hair and made the slightly more complicated aroma of the shampoo endure better than the conditioner or shampoo alone. As well, the Free Me Freesia conditioner prevented the drying out of my hair, which most frequently leads to split ends.

With the corresponding shampoo, hair does appear to be protected. What it is not is changed at all in terms of body, luster or bounce. The Herbal Escapes Free Me Freesia wants us to believe it strengthens hair, but I am unsure how to judge that for effectiveness. I try not to pull things with my hair and the only reasonable condition I think day to day users might have as a litmus test would be in the amount of hair that ends up in the hairbrush. In this case, it seems about the same as before I started using this. My hair seems to detach with the same frequency as before, so if it is getting stronger, it's not happening in an easily demonstrative way.

But, at least it protects. The Free Me Freesia works fine as a day to day conditioner that holds the line against wear, tear and weather damage while making hair smell good, but for those looking for actual moisturizing qualities - something that will add bounce and make a noticeable difference in the quality of your hair - this is not the conditioner for you. But with its accompanying shampoo, this conditioner does seem to do its thing and well enough to be an inexpensive option for those who like their hair, but don't want to spend their whole budget on it!

For other VO5 conditioner reviews, please visit my commentaries on:
Shea Cashmere
Moisture Milks Strawberry & Cream
Nourishing Oasis Energize and Volumize conditioner
Honeydew Smoothie
Vanilla Mint Tea Tea Therapy
Split-Ends conditioner
Passion Fruit Smoothie conditioner
Blackberry Sage conditioner

7.5/10

For other health and beauty product reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2013 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |

The Embodiment Of Average: VO5 Shea Cashmere Silky Experiences Conditioner!

The Good: Conditions well
The Bad: Mediocre scent
The Basics: VO5 Shea Cashmere Silky Experiences Conditioner is as unremarkable, but not bad, much like the shampoo that is paired with it.


When it comes to conditioners, I tend to like conditioners that lock in the strong scent of a good shampoo. Unfortunately, if the shampoo is weaker in the scent department, the conditioner that accompanies it is often a tougher sell for me. Such is the case with Shea Cashmere Silky Experiences Conditioner, which is the conditioner equivalent of the VO5 Shea Cashmere Silky Experiences Shampoo (reviewed here!). There is nothing really bad about the Shea Cashmere Conditioner, but nothing superlative about it.

This Shea Cashmere conditioner comes in a 15 oz. bottle for $1.00 (on sale) and it is frosty and slippery when wet. The bottle tapers near the top to make it easier to hold, but the surface is fairly slippery when in the shower. Fortunately, the big cap is a flip open top that opens and closes easily with a thumb. It's very easy to use this product one handed (which is good because most people I know put the conditioner on their hand before applying it to their scalp and hair). As well, the top has a large, flat surface so when the user is getting toward the end, it may be easily left inverted to let the conditioner come to the egress without the bottle falling over.

This Shea Cashmere Silky Experiences and is a opaque light tan which is like a light almond color; the coloring is quite faint. It comes out fairly thick, causing the user to have to actually squeeze the bottle to get it out.

Equally faint is the smell. This Shea Cashmere conditioner smells faintly of vanilla and coconut. The scent is very mild and while it is very similar to the shampoo’s scent is it a little milder and it does not lock in the scent very well.

That said, this conditioner is a pretty standard conditioner. It is creamy, frosting-like fluid that needs to be worked into the hair a bit. The dollop of Silky Experiences I use tends to be fairly big, and the consistency of this conditioner is strangely reassuring; like it has presence.

As well, this is a nice option for those who do not like strong scents. In the shower, the scent is almost unnoticeable and it dissipates very quickly after hair is dry. Within five minutes, hair smells neutral after using Shea Cashmere conditioner.

As far as its conditioning properties, Shea Cashmere Conditioner does exactly what I expect from a conditioner: it prevents the spread of split ends and it leaves the cleanliness from the shampoo feeling like it is sealed in. It does what it promises as a conditioner, even though it does not especially volumize or prevent new breakage. There was no noticeable change in sheen or strength of my hair after a single bottle.

Outside that, this is a decent conditioner. It does moisturize some; my hair after a month is less limp than it was at the beginning of the month and the accompanying shampoo certainly cleans hair. For those who do not like to spend a lot on things like conditioner (after all, it does just go down the drain!) this is a nice, affordable option that does what it promises as far as protecting hair, if not truly revitalizing hair like more expensive conditioners.

For other VO5 conditioner reviews, please visit my commentaries on:
Moisture Milks Strawberry & Cream
Nourishing Oasis Energize and Volumize conditioner
Honeydew Smoothie
Vanilla Mint Tea Tea Therapy
Split-Ends conditioner
Passion Fruit Smoothie conditioner
Blackberry Sage conditioner

5/10

For other health and beauty product reviews, please visit my Health And Beauty Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2013 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |

Conditioning, But Not Cleaning, VO5 2-In-1 Shampoo And Conditioner Disappoints

The Good: Inexpensive, Decent conditioning properties!
The Bad: Poorly cleans hair, No recognizable scent.
The Basics: Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner is a disappointing hair cleaner, but a decent conditioner.


In trying to save a little money, my wife and I picked up a few bottles of 2-in-1s in order to save time and money on separate shampoos and conditioners. Unfortunately, the first one I have tried is Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner. And it’s not great. While before I have reviewed a shampoo and conditioner 2-in-1 (here!), the VO5 2-in-1 is nowhere near as effective . . . or as expensive. Unfortunately, VO5 seems to be proving that the expense of bigger brand name 2-in-1s might yield a better product.

The fundamental problems with VO5's 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner are that it does not clean significantly or have a strong scent. I like products that produce a decent scent memory or trigger one that I already have. Alas, Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner is not ideal for that. After a month, my hair was noticeably more manageable than it was before, but it did not smell better, nor was it significantly cleaner.

Using Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner leaves hair with a fairly heavy residue and each time I used it, I had to go through washing my hair with it twice. The moisturizing properties of this conditioner are almost immediate. Within a week, I noticed my hair was more manageable as well as cleaner.

I tend to like shampoos that both clean and leave hair smelling good. The Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner did both poorly. The Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner has a mildly medicinal smell to it. The medicinal smell washes out after the conditioning is done and it leaves my hair without any scent in it.

Since I began washing my hair with the Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner, my hair has never gotten back to dry and cracking, as it was a few weeks ago when I was using just a shampoo.

With a cost of approximately $1.19 for a 15 fl. oz. bottle, Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner is comparatively inexpensive. The bottle is smooth and is more flat than round. When wet, it slips out of the hands easily. The cap has a flip-top that makes it very easy to get the shampoo/conditioner out with only one hand. As well, the large cap makes it even easier, though because the hole is still fairly small, there is no waste from the bottle.

Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner is a light blue, opaque shampoo/conditioner that is creamy and smooth. It has a nonwatery consistency and while it is not especially thick, it does not need to be watered down to get the most out of the product.

Like most hair care products, there is nothing mysterious to using this product. You wet your hair, lather it up, let it set for a few minutes and rinse. Most VO5 products I can get away with using about a quarter-sized drop and that is so with Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner. But while I quickly discovered that a quarter-sized dollop of the 2-in-1 in my hand easily lathered up to be able to work through all my hair, my hair never got clean on the first try; I always had to wash at least twice and for the duration of my using this 2-in-1. I have long hair and Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner lathered up incredibly to condition all of my hair.

As a shampoo, this has an excellent lather quality. It took very little to work it up to a lather and that lather spreads into the hair, but it cleans poorly. Indeed, with average usage, the product was one of the easiest shampoos I have used to spread through my hair. This required very little agitation to lather it properly, especially for the minimal effort.

This 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner rinses out incredibly easily, as well. When I am in a hurry and can only wash my hair, the Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner rinses out very quickly and leaves my hair conditioned, if not clean. Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner requires almost no effort to rinse out, making is a quick shampoo/conditioner to apply and rinse out.

Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner makes my hair feel heavy when it is still wet, and when I only wash it once with the 2-in-1. Once dry, the shampoo and conditioner lives up to its promise of moisturized, healthy-looking hair. Moreover, it does not dry out my hair, nor does it leave it with any greasy residue (when I wash with it twice).

While this is inexpensive, Alberto VO5 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner Moisturizing does not clean well enough to recommend.

For other shampoo reviews, please check out my analysis of:
Suave Refreshing Waterfall Mint Shampoo
VO5 Kiwi Lime Shampoo
Bigelow Mentha Hair Mint Shampoo

3.5/10

For other health and beauty reviews, visit my Health And Beauty Review Index Page for an organized listing of the products I have reviewed!

© 2013 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |

Strawberries & Cream Moisture Milks Conditioner: A Fine Conditioner To Pair With A Mediocre Shampoo!

The Good: Inexpensive, Intriguing scent, Mildly conditions hair
The Bad: Takes a bit to rinse it all out, Scent does not endure, Doesn't significantly moisturize
The Basics: A decent, though unextraordinary, conditioner, VO5's Moisture Milks Strawberries & Cream Conditioner might not have the strongest scent, but it does protect.


So the other day, I was reviewing VO5's "Strawberries & Cream Moisture Milks Shampoo" (reviewed here!) when I noticed a little asterisk on the front of the bottle. The asterisk was next to the word "moisturizing" in "moisturizing shampoo" and I thought that was odd. So, I checked out the back of the shampoo and eventually found in the fine print, the asterisk and the information attached to it. It said "*When used with VO5 Strawberries & Cream Conditioner" and I was more than a little peeved about this. Why didn't VO5 simply release its Strawberries & Cream moisture milks line as a shampoo and conditioner two-in-one as opposed to trying to dupe its loyal customers with the idea that the shampoo might do some of the moisturizing work of the conditioner? I felt disappointed.

But then, I picked up my bottle of "Strawberries & Cream" Moisture Milks Conditioner and I decided I would ring in the new year with a review of a slightly better product.

VO5 is fairly well known for having inexpensive shampoos and conditioners. In virtually every market in the United States, VO5 shampoos and conditioners may be found on sale for $1.00 for a 15 fl. oz. bottle. Strawberries & Cream Moisture Milks conditioner, like the shampoos in the line, is an attempt by Alberto VO5 to cash in on the more trendy hair care crazes, in this case the use of soy milk protein to strengthen and moisturize hair. The 15 fl. oz. bottle is a fairly flat (with rounded sides) bottle with a flip-top lid that is easy enough to open with one hand. The bottle is not contoured and does get slippery when wet.

Inside is the Strawberries & Cream conditioner and it is a light pink - almost white - opaque fluid. And yes, this has an asterisk, too, and in this case the conditioner seems designed to strengthen hair as it offers to double the strength of one's hair when used with the corresponding shampoo. Like most VO5 conditioners, this makes no claims for dramatic hair changes. This is not advertised as a "dry to normal hair" conditioner, nor a "normal to oily hair," so the assumption here is that it is designed for all hair types and will not so much change the composition of one's hair, but rather protect what one already has.

The scent is an intriguing blend of sweet strawberry and a strong undertone of vanilla - which represents the cream. If one is looking for the scent of fresh fruit the Strawberries & Cream might disappoint. The smell is somewhat fruity in that generic strawberry candle way that we have - as a society - come to accept as the scent of strawberries. Most precisely, this smells like homemade strawberry ice cream when one has used vanilla extract instead of strawberry extract to enhance the flavor.

Even when in the shower and one's nostrils are opened by the steam (I tend to like very hot showers) this conditioner does not truly smell like strawberries. It does, however, smell inoffensive and generally like what it is supposed to. I have not noticed any improvement in the realism of the scent when shampooing with its corresponding shampoo. In other words, using it with the shampoo partner does not enhance the strawberry scent at all.

When it comes to use, this is a versatile and standard conditioner and one need only flip the lid and dispense a small amount into the palm of the hand before applying it to the hair. The Strawberries & Cream moisturizing conditioner requires at least a half-dollar-sized dollop to condition a full head of hair. I have long hair and as a result, conditioning can be an annoying expense as conditioner does not, traditionally, lather up to spread the way a shampoo does. As a result, I go through at least twice as much Strawberries & Cream conditioner than I do shampoo.

Even used judiciously, the 15 oz. bottle lasted only three weeks with daily hair washings and conditioning. One might want to keep that in mind when purchasing this combination if they have long hair. Indeed, my hair only comes down to the shoulder blades; people with waist-long hair will likely need even more conditioner to make this product work as it is supposed to.

And as a protecting and moisturizing conditioner, the Strawberries & Cream works. The Moisture Milks Strawberries & Cream combination worked fine at protecting my hair. Usually, I get split ends within a week of trimming them off, but in order to do a thorough review of this product, I trimmed my hair and did a faithful regimen of using this conditioner and its corresponding shampoo and after two and a half weeks, there are still no split ends! Given that I am working around a lot of fires these days, I take that as an effective endorsement of this!

I tend to like shampoos that leave my hair smelling delightful, like whatever scent they have lured me in with. Given that the Strawberries & Cream Moisture Milks Conditioner barely smelled only mildly like strawberries to begin with, it was little surprise that it left no scent on my hair after it was rinsed out. To be fair, the conditioner when used with the shampoo, seemed to eliminate other scents from my hair, but it did not leave anything remotely fruity in terms of bouquet behind. So, it being winter as I write this, my hair is often subjected to smoke from the wood stove I use to heat my house. It takes on the faint aura of smoke if it is not washed for a day and it tends to dry out quicker as well. The Strawberries & Cream conditioner prevented the drying of the hair, which most frequently leads to split ends, and it left my hair smelling neutral and like hair as opposed to strawberries or cream.

The hype about soy milk proteins may be more than just hype, but it is not evident by this product alone. With the corresponding shampoo, the hair does appear to be protected. What it is not is changed at all in terms of body, luster or bounce. The moisture milks Strawberries & Cream wants us to believe it strengthens hair, but I am unsure how to judge that for effectiveness. I try not to pull things with my hair and the only reasonable condition I think day to day users might have as a litmus test would be in the amount of hair that ends up in the hairbrush. In this case, it seems about the same as before I started using this. My hair seems to detach with the same frequency as before, so if it is getting stronger, it's being quite cagey about revealing that to me.

But, at least it protects. The Strawberries & Cream works fine as a day to day conditioner that holds the line against wear, tear and weather damage, but for those looking for a bold scent, actual moisturizing qualities, or something that will add bounce and make a noticeable difference in the quality of your hair, this is not the conditioner for you. But with its accompanying shampoo, this conditioner does seem to do its thing and well enough to be an inexpensive option for those who like their hair, but don't want to spend their whole budget on it!

For other VO5 conditioner reviews, please visit my commentaries on:
Nourishing Oasis Energize and Volumize conditioner
Honeydew Smoothie
Vanilla Mint Tea Tea Therapy
Split-Ends conditioner
Passion Fruit Smoothie conditioner
Blackberry Sage conditioner

6.5/10

For other health and beauty product reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011, 2008 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.


| | |

Nourishing Oasis Does Not Quite Energize As It Conditions.

The Good: Conditions well
The Bad: Mediocre scent
The Basics: More mediocre than inspiring, this conditioner does its job, but nothing more.


Every now and then, I stumble across something I failed to review and find myself quite surprised. So, for example, it was quite some time ago that I reviewed my VO5 Nourishing Oasis "Energize & Volumize" Shampoo (reviewed here!), but I had not actually reviewed the accompanying conditioner. As a result, I find myself today writing about that conditioner and the truth is, it is a remarkably average conditioner, with little to recommend or condemn it either way.

This Nourishing Oasis conditioner comes in a 14.5 oz. bottle for $1.00 (on sale) and it is translucent and slippery when wet. The bottle tapers near the top to make it easier to hold, but the surface is fairly slippery when in the shower. Fortunately, the big cap is a flip open top that opens and closes easily with a thumb. It's very easy to use this product one handed (which is good because most people I know put the conditioner on their hand before applying it to their scalp and hair). As well, the top has a large, flat surface so when the user is getting toward the end, it may be easily left inverted to let the conditioner come to the egress without the bottle falling over.

This Nourishing Oasis Energize and is a opaque white with a hint of peach color to it; the coloring is quite faint. It comes out fairly thick, causing the user to have to actually squeeze the bottle to get it out.

Equally faint is the smell. This Nourishing Oasis conditioner smells faintly of orange and grapefruit peels, like an olfactory aftertaste. The scent is not strong and it is barely distinct. It smells like the scent of citrus fruit peels left in a kitchen after one has just taken the waste out to the compost pile. You smell the citrus, but it's faint and the memory of the fruit, as opposed to the actual fruit scent. The scent is identical to that of the shampoo and I have noticed the conditioner does not seal the scent in any better than the shampoo did.

That said, this conditioner is a pretty standard conditioner. It is creamy, frosting-like fluid that needs to be worked into the hair a bit. The dollop of Energize & Volumize I use tends to be fairly big, and the consistency of this conditioner is strangely reassuring; like it has presence.

As well, this is a nice option for those who do not like strong scents. That's not me. I've products like the Bath and Body Works Cinnamon Bun Heaven 3-in-1 (reviewed here!) BECAUSE of their scents. Having a faint scent doesn't do it for me. Moreover, for this Nourishing Oasis known as "Energize and Volumize," I find the lack of scent causes it to fall short on that first premise. A strong scent can energize the user. When I use other conditioners with good scents, I look forward to opening them up and slathering them on my hair and letting the scent envelope me. With this, there's nothing. In the shower, the scent is almost unnoticeable and it certainly does not energize me.

Fortunately, while the scent is mild, so too is the effect on the eyes. Unlike the accompanying shampoo, this is very mild and does not sting the eyes. As far as its conditioning products, it does exactly what I expect from a conditioner: it prevents the spread of split ends and it leaves the cleanliness from the shampoo feeling like it is sealed in. It does what it promises as a conditioner, even though it does not especially energize. Given my more neutral reaction to this conditioner, I switched to other VO5 products, so I do not know how a regimen of it outside one bottle actually works toward nourishing hair. There was no noticeable change in sheen or strength of my hair after a single bottle.

Outside that, this is a decent conditioner. It does volumize some; my hair after a month is less limp than it was at the beginning of the month and this certainly does clean my hair. For those who do not like to spend a lot on things like conditioner (after all, it does just go down the drain!) this is a nice, affordable option that does what it promises as far as protecting hair, if not energizing the person showering.

For other VO5 conditioner reviews, please visit my commentaries on:
Honeydew Smoothie
Vanilla Mint Tea Tea Therapy
Split-Ends conditioner
Passion Fruit Smoothie conditioner
Blackberry Sage conditioner

7/10

For other health and beauty product reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011, 2008 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

| | |

It's The Bland Conditioning The Bland - VO5 Honeydew Smoothie Moisture Milks Moisturizing Conditioner

The Good: Moisturizes hair, Smells good, Inexpensive
The Bad: Smell does not endure, Tough to rinse out, Does not give significant body
The Basics: This perfectly average conditioner disappoints as it only adequately preserves hair as opposed to truly revitalizing and conditioning it.


When it comes to health, beauty and personal care products that I review that I generally do not like, the only reason they usually come in groups is because I've purchased them at the same time. So, it makes some sense that when I purchased the VO5 Moisture Milks Honeydew Smoothie shampoo (reviewed here!), I purchased the corresponding VO5 Moisture Milks Honeydew Smoothie Moisturizing Conditioner as well. While the shampoo was underwhelming and fairly bad, I found the conditioner to be slightly better, though not worthwhile enough to recommend . . . at least not in tandem with the shampoo this is supposed to go along with. It might actually work better with other shampoos, but in combination with its mated shampoo, this conditioner underwhelms.

Honeydew Smoothie Moisturizing Conditioner is part of the Moisture Milks line of VO5 hair care products, shampoos and conditioners that have soy milk protein that supposedly helps revitalize dry and damaged hair and protect it from the elements. It comes in a 15 fl. oz. plastic bottle and has an opaque minty green color. In most retail outlets, it may be found for $1.00 when on sale. VO5 has a strong reputation (well deserved) for providing inexpensive hair care options and the Moisture Milks line seems to be their attempt to capitalize on the niche market that surrounds such trendy things as organics, soy milk, etc. in hair care products.

The bottle is a simple soft plastic bottle with a hard plastic flip top lid. I've discovered that this bottle slips quite easily out of one's hands, especially if they have either shampoo or conditioner still on one's hands. Fortunately, when this happens, the bottle does not split or crack. The top can crack if it's dropped too often, but most people are not as clumsy as me, I suppose. The flip top bottle is very easy to open with one hand if need be. It may, similarly, be closed easily with just a thumb.

Despite the fact that it does not say it on the bottle, the Honeydew Smoothie Moisturizing Conditioner is a dry to normal conditioner (at least that was my experience). In the winter, I tend to a fire and also am often outdoors in the wind and cold. This takes my normal hair and often strips it back to dry. I get split ends more in the winter under these conditions than at other times of the year.

The Honeydew Smoothie conditioner did a fair job of preventing some of the damage I am accustomed to suffering through this time of the year. The bottle claims that the rich formula will result in two times stronger hair, but I found that even when applied generously and thoroughly, at best the conditioned held the line as opposed to truly revitalizing my hair.

I have long hair and in order to get enough of this conditioner to adequately coat my full head of hair, it took at least two dollops of conditioner, half-dollar sized each. This is a lot of conditioner and the problem I soon ran into was that while the shampoo lathered up (eventually), conditioner, this one included, generally does not. Instead, this conditioner requires almost four times as much product to cover the same area as the shampoo. This means that as far as usage goes, the $1.00 value shampoo and the $1.00 value conditioner just became a $5.00 hair care regimen, though that's not bad considering it can be stretched to last approximately two months.

The real problem is that the results are merely adequate. Unlike many conditioners that actually add volume, shine and bounce to hair, the Moisture Milks Honeydew Smoothie moisturizing conditioner merely prevented split ends and drying after about a week's use. There was a mild improvement in hair shine (luster), but nothing in the way of body.

Like most conditioners, this requires a thorough rinsing in order to get it all out. I discovered very early on that this is not something that may be rushed with this product as it becomes a very heavy wet/waxy coating when it is not properly rinsed out. This is problematic for those who are on-the-go and eager to get out of the shower (especially if one has a lot of hair and doing a proper washing means finishing up as the hot water runs out!).

So, on the conditioning end, this is - at best - adequate. It lives up on the most basic conditioning functions, but it is not much of a moisturizer or bodybuilder. This is the most subtle conditioner I've encountered that still actually works. It might only be ideal for maintaining low maintenance hair. Indeed, shorter hair where body and luster are not as important, this conditioner may well meet the needs of the person using it. But for longer hair, hair that is exposed to many elements, this is not the ideal product for.

Neither is it the ideal product for those who want to lock the scent of honeydew into their hair. Indeed, perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this product is how wonderful it smells in the bottle versus how little it leaves the hair smelling that way after it is applied. Instead, the scent of honeydew melon fades by the time the hair is fully dried. One of my favorite shampoos I've used had a scent where the overt scent faded, but if one were to bring their hair to their nose, it still smelled gorgeous of the scent of the shampoo/conditioner. Not so with this product. Within two hours of washing and conditioning with the Moisture Milks Honeydew Smoothie, the scent is irrevocably gone.

At least it smells good while being applied; not all products may say that. And, it sort-of works, not all products can say that. Unfortunately, for the amount of product to make it adequate, there must be others that will do more for the same price.

For other VO5 conditioner reviews, please visit my commentaries on:
Vanilla Mint Tea Tea Therapy
Split-Ends conditioner
Passion Fruit Smoothie conditioner
Blackberry Sage conditioner

5/10

For other health and beauty reviews, please be sure to check out my index page for a complete listing by clicking here!

© 2011, 2007 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

| | |

Perfect Conditioner For The Perfect Shampoo: VO5's "Vanilla Mint Tea" Conditioner Works And Lasts!

The Good: Moisturizes hair, Smells good, Inexpensive, Smell endures, Washes out easily, Gives body and bounce
The Bad: None that I can find!
The Basics: A surprisingly amazing conditioner, VO5's Vanilla Mint Tea Tea Therapy conditioner is the perfect companion to the perfect shampoo with the same scent!


For those who might not follow my reviews, it takes a lot for me to rate something with a perfect ten out of ten (or zero out of ten, for that matter): I tend to be ruled by the law of averages and most things I encounter, especially in Health And Beauty tend to head toward the average. As a result, when I do find something that truly impresses me, it is often worth noting and taking advantage of. I recently had that experience with VO5's Vanilla Mint Tea Shampoo (reviewed here!). The truth of it is, though, that I've been using the Vanilla Mint Tea Shampoo with the Vanilla Mint Tea conditioner almost without deviation. And they make for an amazing combination, with the shampoo cleaning and the conditioner conditioning well and sealing in the wonderful scent to boot!

Vanilla Mint Tea Clarifying Conditioner is part of the Tea Therapy line of VO5 hair care products, shampoos and conditioners that has tea infusions that supposedly help revitalize dry and damaged hair and protect it from the elements. It comes in a 15 fl. oz. plastic bottle and has an opaque white color. In most retail outlets, it may be found for $1.00 when on sale. VO5 has a strong reputation (well deserved) for providing inexpensive hair care options and the Tea Therapy line seems to be their attempt to capitalize on the niche market that surrounds such trendy things as organics, soy milk, tea infusions etc. in hair care products. The thing is, this one actually works, which puts it ahead of the curve, as far as I'm concerned!

The bottle is a simple soft plastic bottle with a hard plastic flip top lid. VO5 has recently redesigned their bottles to be a little wider and flatter, which is good for holding onto them in the shower or tub. The bottles no longer slip as easily out of one's hands and that is pretty nice, especially for clumsy people like me. The flip top bottle is very easy to open with one hand if need be. It may, similarly, be closed easily with just a thumb.

The Vanilla Mint Tea Clarifying Conditioner is a wonderful conditioner that revitalizes dry and damaged hair when used in combination with the Vanilla Mint shampoo. As winter approaches, I tend to a fire and also am often outdoors in the wind and cold. This takes my normal hair and often strips it back to dry. I get split ends more in the winter under these conditions than at other times of the year. I've been using this conditioner for a month (a full bottle for me) now and as the weather has turned, my hair has not!

The Vanilla Mint Tea conditioner did an amazing job of preventing some of the damage I am accustomed to suffering through this time of the year. Despite being called a "clarifying" conditioner, which seems to make it sound like some new-age ineffective conditioner, this is a wonderfully moisturizing conditioner that has not only held-the-line against damage with my hair, but actually made it more manageable and bouncy. This is the conditioner I have been waiting for as it truly revitalized my hair!

I have long hair and in order to get enough of this conditioner to adequately coat my full head of hair, it took at least two dollops of conditioner, half-dollar sized each. This is a lot of conditioner, but I have come to accept that while shampoo lathers up and can be stretched, conditioner cannot. Instead, this conditioner requires about twice as much product to cover the same area as the shampoo. This means that as far as usage goes, the $1.00 value shampoo and the $1.00 value conditioner becomes a $3.00 hair care regimen, though that's not bad considering it can be stretched to last approximately two months.

The Vanilla Mint Tea actually added volume, shine and bounce to my hair, after only two or three uses! Vanilla Mint Tea moisturizing conditioner also prevented split ends and drying right away. The thing is, I've never had a conditioner that was both affordable and did so much for conditioning my hair. Most inexpensive conditioners seem to work as a preventative, not a restorative. This one does both!

Like most conditioners, this requires a thorough rinsing in order to get it all out. I discovered very early on that this is not something that may be rushed with this product as it has a fairly wet/waxy coating when it is not properly rinsed out. This is problematic for those who are on-the-go and eager to get out of the shower (especially if one has a lot of hair and doing a proper washing means finishing up as the hot water runs out!). But so long as one rinses it out properly, this is fine.

So, on the conditioning end, this is pretty incredible. It lives up on the most basic conditioning functions as well as that of a moisturizer and bodybuilder. This is the great conditioner that actually works.

Vanilla Mint Tea conditioner is also the ideal product for those who want to lock the scent of vanilla into their hair. I quickly came to love the vanilla scent of the Tea Therapy Vanilla Mint Tea shampoo. While this conditioner does not have as strong a vanilla (or mint or tea, for that matter) scent, it does do a pretty amazing job of sealing the shampoo's scent in so it lasts a full day. Indeed, I washed and conditioned my hair yesterday morning and woke up this morning and smelled my hair and it still smell delectably vanilla! Without the conditioner, the shampoo's scent fades pretty quickly, but with it, it lasts quite well!

In other words, this might well be a perfect conditioner and it does all it promises and more, which is a nice change from many conditioners I have tried that simply protect. This one revitalizes and it does it in a way that leaves hair smelling great!

For other VO5 conditioner reviews, please visit my commentaries on:
Split-Ends conditioner
Passion Fruit Smoothie conditioner
Blackberry Sage conditioner

10/10

For other health and beauty product reviews, please be sure to visit my index page on the subject by clicking here!

© 2011, 2008 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

| | |

Despite The Smell, VO5 Split-Ends Conditioner Is Worth Stocking Up On.

The Good: Softens hair well, Seems to prevent split ends
The Bad: Medicinal smell.
The Basics: Not my favorite VO5 conditioner by any means, the V05 Split-Ends Treatment Conditioner is average-at-best and is a decent basic conditioner only.


When it comes to hair care products, conditioners often are the ones which leave me feeling most ambivalent. After all, I can understand the purpose behind shampoo just fine: it cleans the hair. But with conditioners, the principle and the practice do not seem to mesh. After all, the idea is you put the product in your hair and it helps to protect hair and rejuvenate it over time. It’s a solid idea, but when it comes to the practice, reason says if you rinse the product out of your hair, it’s not likely to keep working on your head! So, with conditioners like the Split Ends Treatment from V05, I’m left more skeptical than pleased.

In the case of Split-Ends treatment, I purchased this with the accompanying shampoo (reviewed here!) and I’m long past the time when I’ve had split ends to worry about. Since getting married, I’ve paid more attention to my haircare and as a result, I’ve been much more careful about letting my hair get brittle. I’ve also been experimenting with so many different shampoos and conditioners and not doing such things as blow drying my hair, so I no longer have split ends. Fortunately, VO5’s Split Ends treatment conditioner does not cause split ends, but the claims to help restore hair that has split ends is somewhat questionable. Given how many different conditioners I’ve used of late without seeing any resurgence of split ends myself, I was rather unsurprised when this adequately protected my hair against splitting ends. This, however, seems more a basic function of conditioners these days as opposed to a genuine selling point of a conditioner. As such, the VO5 Split-Ends Treatment Conditioner stands as a decent basic conditioner, but nothing more.

Split-Ends Treatment Conditioner is part of the basic line of VO5 hair care products, shampoos and conditioners that supposedly helps revitalize dry and damaged hair and protect it from the elements. It comes in a 15 fl. oz. plastic bottle and has an opaque light aqua (blue-green) color. In most retail outlets, it may be found for $1.00 when on sale. VO5 has a strong reputation (well deserved) for providing inexpensive hair care options and this more medicinal product seems to be their attempt to capitalize on the fear that comes from having hair that is damaged from coloring and styling products. The Split-Ends treatment conditioner is remarkably average, but is not bad. It may often be found bulked together in packages of three, the standard 15 oz. bottles connected by an outer shrinkwrap. This is not the most incredible way to bulk hair care products, but it does seem to be the standard.

The bottle is a simple soft plastic bottle with a hard plastic flip top lid. Recently, V05 remade their bottles to prevent slippage and the flatter (instead of tapered) bottles seem to be more slip-resistant when wet. The top easily flips open with a single thumb and makes it very easy to dispense the conditioner from inside. Even so, the top can crack if the bottle is dropped too often, but most people are not as clumsy as me. As well, this new bottle design may be closed easily with just a thumb.

Despite the fact that it does not say it on the bottle, the Split-Ends Treatment Conditioner is a dry to normal conditioner (at least that was my experience). I came to this conditioner with pretty strong hair to begin with. Still, the bottle claims that the rich formula will result in two times stronger hair, but I found that even when applied generously and thoroughly, at best the conditioner held the line as opposed to truly revitalizing my hair. My hair looked good from using this conditioner, but it did not improve in condition in any way.

I have long hair and in order to get enough of this conditioner to adequately coat my full head of hair, it took at least two dollops of conditioner, half-dollar sized each. This is a lot of conditioner and while shampoos lather up, conditioner does not. Instead, this conditioner requires almost four times as much product to cover the same area as most VO5 shampoos. This means that as far as usage goes, the $1.00 value shampoo and the $1.00 value conditioner just became a $5.00 hair care regimen, though that's not bad considering it can be stretched to last approximately two months.

The real problem is that the results are merely adequate. Unlike many conditioners that actually add volume, shine and bounce to hair, the Split-Ends Treatment conditioner merely prevented split ends and drying after about a week's use. There was a mild improvement in hair shine (luster), but nothing in the way of body.

Like most conditioners, this requires a thorough rinsing in order to get it all out. I discovered very early on that this is not something that may be rushed with this product as it becomes a very heavy wet/waxy coating when it is not properly rinsed out. This is problematic for those who are on-the-go and eager to get out of the shower (especially if one has a lot of hair and doing a proper washing means finishing up as the hot water runs out!).

So, on the conditioning end, this is - at best - adequate. It lives up on the most basic conditioning functions, but it is not much of a moisturizer or bodybuilder. This is a rather subtle conditioner, but it works. It might only be ideal for maintaining low maintenance hair. Indeed, shorter hair where body and luster are not as important, this conditioner may well meet the needs of the person using it. But for longer hair, hair that is exposed to many elements, this is not the ideal product for.

Neither is it the ideal product for those who want to lock a scent into the hair. First, like the accompanying shampoo, Split-Ends Treatment has a terrible, medicinal smell and for those who like hair care product which smell good, this is not it. While it is cone-free, this smells like ammonia and it locks its own unpleasant scent into the hair, in addition to making a shower smell like a trip to the hospital. Within two hours of washing and conditioning with the Split-Ends Treatment, the scent is gone from the hair. This, I found, was a relief to me given I was not a huge fan of the scent to begin with.

VO5 Split-Ends Treatment holds the line, at least and not all products can say that. Unfortunately, for the amount of product to make it adequate, there are others that will do more for the same price. Even so, this becomes a very good basic conditioner for those who do not like strong scents of anything other than hair on their head.

For other VO5 conditioners and other hair conditioners, please check out my reviews of:
Passion Fruit Smoothie
Blackberry Sage
Tigi Curl's Rock Leave-In Moisturizer

5/10

For other health and beauty product reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011, 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.


| | |

Passion Fruit Smoothie Conditioner Is One Of VO5's More Average Products.

The Good: Softens hair wonderfully
The Bad: I'm not wild about the smell.
The Basics: Not the very best offering from VO5, Passion Fruit Smoothie conditioner is, at its worst, adequate, and it is hard at the end of the day to argue with that.


It is a rare thing that I will try a conditioner without trying the accompanying shampoo. And yet, a recent sale at Rite Aid on VO5 shampoos and conditioners left me with a ton more conditioners, many of which went unaccompanied by their appropriate shampoos. As a result, I ended up picking up a few bottles of Passion Fruit Smoothie Moisturizing Conditioners without any of the same shampoo, though I later got some (and reviewed it here). It behooves me to mention right here - up front - that I am not a big fan of the whole recent obsession with passion fruits and pomegranates. Still, when I tried the Passion Fruit Smoothie conditioner, I was pretty excited. I had had generally good experiences with other VO5 products in the Moisture Milk line. Passion Fruit Smoothie Conditioner is a pretty average conditioner, though, with just enough to recommend it.

Passion Fruit Smoothie Moisturizing Conditioner is part of the Moisture Milks line of VO5 hair care products, shampoos and conditioners that have soy milk protein that supposedly helps revitalize dry and damaged hair and protect it from the elements. It comes in a 15 fl. oz. plastic bottle and has an opaque light orange color. In most retail outlets, it may be found for $1.00 when on sale. VO5 has a strong reputation (well deserved) for providing inexpensive hair care options and the Moisture Milks line seems to be their attempt to capitalize on the niche market that surrounds such trendy things as organics, soy milk, etc. in hair care products.

The bottle is a simple soft plastic bottle with a hard plastic flip top lid. I've discovered that this bottle slips quite easily out of one's hands, especially if they have either shampoo or conditioner still on one's hands. Fortunately, when this happens, the bottle does not split or crack. The top can crack if it's dropped too often, but most people are not as clumsy as me, I suppose. The flip top bottle is very easy to open with one hand if need be. It may, similarly, be closed easily with just a thumb.

Despite the fact that it does not say it on the bottle, the Passion Fruit Smoothie Moisturizing Conditioner is a dry to normal conditioner (at least that was my experience). As Spring bloomed, I first encountered this conditioner at a time when my hair was pretty strong anyway. Unlike prior winters, I did not strip my hair back because of problems in the environment - either workplace or multiple washings because of a smoky smell from a woodburning stove I was trying to get rid of - and as a result, I came to this conditioner with pretty strong hair to begin with. Still, the bottle claims that the rich formula will result in two times stronger hair, but I found that even when applied generously and thoroughly, at best the conditioner held the line as opposed to truly revitalizing my hair. My hair looked good from using this conditioner, but it did not improve in condition in any way.

I have long hair and in order to get enough of this conditioner to adequately coat my full head of hair, it took at least two dollops of conditioner, half-dollar sized each. This is a lot of conditioner and while shampoos lather up, conditioner does not. Instead, this conditioner requires almost four times as much product to cover the same area as most VO5 shampoos. This means that as far as usage goes, the $1.00 value shampoo and the $1.00 value conditioner just became a $5.00 hair care regimen, though that's not bad considering it can be stretched to last approximately two months.

The real problem is that the results are merely adequate. Unlike many conditioners that actually add volume, shine and bounce to hair, the Moisture Milks Passion Fruit Smoothie moisturizing conditioner merely prevented split ends and drying after about a week's use. There was a mild improvement in hair shine (luster), but nothing in the way of body.

Like most conditioners, this requires a thorough rinsing in order to get it all out. I discovered very early on that this is not something that may be rushed with this product as it becomes a very heavy wet/waxy coating when it is not properly rinsed out. This is problematic for those who are on-the-go and eager to get out of the shower (especially if one has a lot of hair and doing a proper washing means finishing up as the hot water runs out!).

So, on the conditioning end, this is - at best - adequate. It lives up on the most basic conditioning functions, but it is not much of a moisturizer or bodybuilder. This is a rather subtle conditioner, but it works. It might only be ideal for maintaining low maintenance hair. Indeed, shorter hair where body and luster are not as important, this conditioner may well meet the needs of the person using it. But for longer hair, hair that is exposed to many elements, this is not the ideal product for.

Neither is it the ideal product for those who want to lock the scent of Passion Fruit into their hair. First, the scent is not one of the best ones I've smelled, so the fact that it washes out easily is not much of a detraction to me. That said, when one sniffs the bottle, they get the rotting floral scent that defines the sour-sweet of passion fruit and the scent is accurate and potent. In the shower, the conditioner's smell does not exactly permeate the shower, but it does smell accurately (and unfortunately) like passion fruit, with a subtle, but biting scent. Within two hours of washing and conditioning with the Moisture Milks Passion Fruit Smoothie, the scent is gone from the hair. This, I found, was a relief to me given I was not a huge fan of the scent to begin with.

VO5 Passion Fruit Smoothie holds the line, at least and not all products can say that. Unfortunately, for the amount of product to make it adequate, there must be others that will do more for the same price.

For other conditioner reviews, please check out my takes on:
VO5 Blackberry Sage Conditioner
Suave Juicy Apple Conditioner
Bigelow Mentha Hair Conditioner

6/10

For other hair care product reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2010, 2009 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.



| | |

A Wonderful Basic Conditioner, VO5 Tea Therapy Blackberry Sage Conditioner Revitalizes Well!

The Good: Inexpensive, Great restorative powers, Nice aroma, Easy-to-use, Cone-free
The Bad: Weak scent on its own.
The Basics: A surprisingly good, inexpensive conditioner, the VO5 Tea Therapy Blackberry Sage Tea revitalizing conditioner is a great way to protect and restore damaged hair!


Virtually every month, I try a different shampoo and conditioner combination, both because I enjoy variety in my life and because I am not above altering my body in limited ways for the purpose of having more things to review. Two months ago, I bought a very harsh local generic brand of shampoo and it left my hair brittle and unmanageable. So, at the beginning of the subsequent month, I needed something that would revitalize my hair and I turned to my trusty VO5 conditioner line. This time out, I tried the Blackberry Sage Tea Revitalizing conditioner in the Tea Therapy line and I was pleasantly surprised to discover it did everything it promised, at least when used in conjunction with the same shampoo.

In the case of Blackberry Sage Tea, I purchased this with the accompanying shampoo (click here for my review of that!) and this conditioner worked within three applications to make my hair less brittle, stronger and more manageable. In addition to repairing the damage done by the harsh shampoo, VO5’s Blackberry Sage Tea conditioner truly stopped the split ends I had from getting worse and when I trimmed the ends, this conditioner held the ends nicely to prevent further split ends from forming. As a fan of VO5 conditioners, I was rather unsurprised when this adequately protected my hair against splitting ends. This, however, seems more a basic function of conditioners these days as opposed to a genuine selling point of a conditioner. But when I consider how this conditioner truly did restore my hair - I no longer found hair breaking off when I brushed in in large amounts - the VO5 Blackberry Sage Tea Conditioner is one of the best, inexpensive conditioners on the market.

Blackberry Sage Tea Conditioner is part of the basic line of VO5 hair care products, shampoos and conditioners that helps revitalize dry and damaged hair and protect it from the elements. It comes in a 15 fl. oz. plastic bottle and has an opaque light lilac color. In most retail outlets, it may be found for $1.00 when on sale. VO5 has a strong reputation (well deserved) for providing inexpensive hair care options and this fruit-scented product lives up to its promise to revitalize hair. The Blackberry Sage Tea conditioner is quite good, though it has a weak scent on its own.

The bottle is a simple soft plastic bottle with a hard plastic flip top lid. Recently, V05 remade their bottles to prevent slippage and the flatter (instead of tapered) bottles seem to be more slip-resistant when wet. The top easily flips open with a single thumb and makes it very easy to dispense the conditioner from inside. Even so, the top can crack if the bottle is dropped too often, but most people are not as clumsy as me. As well, this new bottle design may be closed easily with just a thumb.

Despite the fact that it does not say it on the bottle, the Blackberry Sage Tea Conditioner is a dry to normal conditioner (at least that was my experience). I came to this conditioner with pretty weak hair and it made it stronger and less fragile to basic grooming regimens. My hair looked better from using this conditioner, both compared to the last conditioner I used and to not using a conditioner at all.

I have long hair and in order to get enough of this conditioner to adequately coat my full head of hair, it took at least two dollops of conditioner, half-dollar sized each. This is a lot of conditioner and while shampoos lather up, conditioner does not. Instead, this conditioner requires almost four times as much product to cover the same area as most VO5 shampoos. This means that as far as usage goes, the $1.00 value shampoo and the $1.00 value conditioner just became a $5.00 hair care regimen, though that's not bad considering it can be stretched to last approximately two months.

The Blackberry Sage Tea conditioner added body and luster to my hair while making the strands of hair stronger. This truly lived up to the promise of being a revitalizing conditioner.

Like most conditioners, this requires a thorough rinsing in order to get it all out. I discovered very early on that this is not something that may be rushed with this product as it becomes a very heavy wet/waxy coating when it is not properly rinsed out. This is problematic for those who are on-the-go and eager to get out of the shower (especially if one has a lot of hair and doing a proper washing means finishing up as the hot water runs out!).

This product is not ideal for use with other shampoos for those who want to lock a scent into the hair. Unlike the accompanying shampoo, Blackberry Sage Tea has a very mild fruit scent to it that is not at all as distinct as that of the shampoo. When used with the appropriate shampoo it locks that scent into the hair, but with other shampoos, this conditioner's floral and fruity smell is lost, as it is very mild. This conditioner is cone-free, for those who are concerned about such things. Within five hours of washing and conditioning with the Blackberry Sage Tea shampoo and conditioner, the scent is gone from the hair. When the conditioner is used with other shampoos, the scent seems to dissipate within minutes after drying off.

VO5 Blackberry Sage Tea conditioner truly does revitalize hair, which is a real boon for those looking for an inexpensive conditioner that does what it promises. As one who loves richly-scented hair products, this was a little underwhelming, but easy to recommend and one I will use again!

For other conditioners, please check out my reviews of:
Suave Professionals Rosemary Mint Conditioner
Mentha Hair Conditioner

7/10

For other hair care product reviews, please check out my index page!

© 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

| | |