A little goes a long way (plus a tale of $0.99 conditioner)
Many, many moons ago, when I was newly married and shopping on my own for the first time, I bought some inexpensive conditioner, and brought it home, pleased with my money-savvy-ness.
$0.99 a bottle was an awesome price, no?
Well, I thought it was until I used the conditioner for a few days. My hair became a total disaster...it was so dull and heavy, I looked a bit like I'd doused my head in candle wax.
Anyway, ever since then, I've been a firm believer in paying a bit more for decent hair conditioner and I've learned that a low price isn't always indicative of a bargain.
I don't at all mind using cheap shampoo or body wash, but I refuse to put $0.99 conditioner in my hair.
So, when BlogHer asked if I'd review a new conditioner from Dove, I was delighted to do so.
I've used regular Dove conditioner in the past, and I've always been pleased with it (no candle-wax effect!) This product is a little different than other Dove conditioners, though, because it promises to provide serious damage therapy without weighing down your hair.
I don't typically color or perm my hair, so it's not very damaged. However, just this summer, I'd noticed that my regular conditioner had been leaving a bit of a waxy buildup in the back of my hair (cue flashbacks to the $0.99 conditioner days!) So, I was curious to see if the Dove conditioner would be an improvement.
I've been using it for a week or two, and I'm pleased to report that I've had zero build-up issues (woo!)
Also, I'm pleased to say that this amount of conditioner:
(props to Zoe for being my hand model)
is enough to take care of my whole head. Have you ever noticed that with cheap conditioners, you have to use gobs in order to get it worked into all of your hair?
Well, the opposite is true here...I've never been able to use such a small amount and still get satisfactory results. My bottle of conditioner is going to last me forever this way (and that's a good thing!)
Oh, and the other day I was noticing that my hair felt a little more body-ful than usual, but until just now, I didn't connect that with this conditioner. It's a weightless formula, so no wonder my hair is feeling fluffier. 😉
This conditioner seems to run in the $4-$5 range, so it's not cheap. However, you should be able to find it on sale, and Dove coupons are available pretty regularly (there's a link to a $1.50 coupon later in this post, actually!) Plus, since you need to use so little, a bottle should last you for a good while, even if you've got longer hair than I do.
Ok. Giveaway time! There's a $1000 Spafinder gift certificate up for grabs, so pay attention. 😉 The entering method for this giveaway is a bit different than most of my other giveaways. All of the details are below.
What's your best frugal hair care tip? Answer that question at this link to be entered into the giveaway.
More entry options (and a printable coupon link!) are below, so read on.
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Enter to win a $1,000 Spafinder gift certificate!
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
COMMENTS TO THIS POST ARE NOT SWEEPSTAKES ENTRIES. PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR ENTRY METHODS FOR THIS SWEEPSTAKES.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Follow this link, and provide your email address and your response to the Promotion prompt (What's your best frugal hair care tip?)
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that Tweet.
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that post.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. Winners will have 72 hours to claim the prize, or an alternative winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 9/4/2012 - 9/30/2012
Be sure to visit Dove®Hair.com to get a coupon for $1.50 off Dove Hair Therapy products.
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Joshua's 365 post: Birthday Haul
I realize this comment is not an entry, but I just want to say that I used Dove everything because of their ads, which use all sizes, shapes, ethnicities and ages of women. The ads are tasteful and do not promise to make you into a movie star.
Zoe has a future as a hand model.
I appreciated her help...my big camera is too heavy for me to hold steady with one hand, so we'd have had a blurry picture otherwise. 😉
I get that build up at times too. I try and use sulfate and parabin free shampoos... they are okay but I definitely get better results from the chemicaly loaded stuff when it comes to silky softness.
My hair goes down to my waist and I do find that I have buildup on my hair and scalp after a few months with a shampoo or condition. I rinse with a diluted apple cider vinegar wash and ... it leaves my hair looking great! It strips it down to just hair again!
This also isn't an entry but I wanted to share a tip. I've been blessed (or cursed?) with thick/dry hair. It is neither curly nor straight - it's kind of frizzy if left to it's own devices. last year I started running a smidgen of pure olive oil through it after washing and before drying - just a smidge. It's worked wonders!
p.s - so indeed a little does goes a long way!
I simply have never used conditioner! I wash my hair and that's it.I even color now (I am in my 50's) but there is a tiny tube of conditioner that comes in the color box,I use that a few times till it is gone, that's all. My Mom never used conditioner either,so maybe I just grew up not thinking about it! My hair is fine without it.I guess if you have curly or frizzy hair it helps. ? Of course I grew up in the 60's when a 'fro" was okay if that's how your hair fell!
Totally agree here. I have never used conditioner, but occasionally the absolute tiniest dab out of the hair color box. But I have very fine hair, not coarse or curly. Perhaps that makes a difference.
I also use the cheapest shampoo in the store. I have purchased expensive brands but notice no difference. I sometimes wonder if women are seducing themselves into thinking they are getting a better result from the much more expensive brand of makeup/hair care etc. because they paid so much.
Just my humble opinion. Don't wish to offend.
Me too! I never get through the conditioner that comes with the hair dye before the next time I have to dye it. Its the good stuff though. If you use proper conditioner (the really thick stuff you're meant to leave in for a few minutes) you don't need to use it very often. If you use the thin stuff, cheap or expensive, it just coats your hair to achieve its effect. Over time, all that type leave a build up. When you change product there is momentary lull, as there are slightly different ingredients, then the build up effect comes back.
Cheap or expensive, check the ingredients list! There isn't much difference. When you find a set of ingredients that work for you, shop around.
I've been using coconut oil for the last few years. I was told (so don't know if this is true or not), that coconut oil has smaller molecules and can penetrate the out layer of the hair shaft better than many other oils. Again, this may just be myth. But, and big but, coconut oil makes my hair behave in ways it never, ever did before. I have dry and very think hair. Drug store conditioners are too wimpy to handle my hair. But coconut oil does wonders.
Also, am aware that this is not an entry.
I use coconut oil when my head gets really dry...like the beginning of the winter. I slab it on my scalp before bed and then wash twice in the morning (once doesn't get all the oil out). Then I don't need conditioner after the coconut oil treatment!
Do you leave the coconut oil in when you use it as a conditioner, or do you wash it out? I sometimes use it as a mask before I wash my hair, but then wash it out with shampoo.
Economies, I wash my hair in the sink, then towel dry. In my hands I put a really small dollop (about a 3/4-inch in diameter, it's really a small amount). I rub my hands together to get it all melted, then coat all my hair with it, as best as I can. I put a plastic shower cap on over it and leave for 1 hour. Then rinse in warm water, really well. I do this once a week, and that's it.
Some people develop an allergic reaction if they use it as a leave-in. just an FYI.
While I realize this is not practical advice for most people - I found that I reduced a lot of haircare related costs by having dreadlocks. Where I used to have many different kinds of shampoo, conditioner, brushes, and haircare products in my bathroom, I now have ONE bottle for both myself and my husband for all of our showering needs. We use Dr. Bronner's soap (diluted 50% even!) for hair and body wash in the shower. Nothing more. Dr. Bronners is residue free, so it works really well with my dreadlocks.
We do not own a single hairbrush and the hairdryer no longer gets any use. There are no other haircare products whatsoever in my house (besides hair ties) and that is a beautiful thing.
Also, there are no more haircuts since my husband prefers a simple buzz cut that he can do himself. I haven't been to see a stylist in over 8 years and its been fantastic 🙂
Another source of information when considering a chemical product that I like to use is the GoodGuide (www.goodguide.com). It provides information about the health, environmental and social performance of products and companies. It helps to decipher those complex ingredients on the back of the bottle that we usually know little about. For example, your reviewed Dove product rates 6.0 out of 10, which although not the best, is still above average. Anyway, I thought this may help people when they are contemplating, which products they wish to use especially when the product contains chemicals.
Thank you for posting that website.
I found out that Suave has a higher rating than Organix. I love this site.
Thanks!
I use the http://www.ewg.org/skindeep website to check out the chemical toxicity levels in toiletry products. All the chemicals that are used in products really concern me, especially since the industry "regulates" itself, and is not overseen by an outside agency.
Apple cider vinegar. It clears up my flaking better than any product I've used and removes residue without overly stripping my hair. A flat beer is really good for conditioning baby fine hair as well.
I wanna try 🙂
I let my hair color grow out, and now have white/gray hair. A couple of years ago, I got a short haircut (like Dame Judi Densch) and now I don't use conditioner at all.
I do use purple shampoo, though, and it keeps my white hair nice and white (no yellowing there!).
I have a full head of ridiculously thick, curly hair. It's not tight spirals or long loose waves. They're sort of in-between....
That said, I can't use a brush with it (don't own a brush or comb, actually), and shampoo only once a week. I do try to condition everyday. Am finding that most regular brand-name conditioners don't work well for me. I need something ridiculously thick that I can leave on for a while. And then rinse out. Wonder how this one would hold up...
I do tend to have some residue on my scalp from the product I put on after shower. So I'm going to try the diluted apple cider vinegar wash that your reader suggested. We'll see how it works for me!
(I'm sad that we don't get to see the frugal suggestions that everyone has been leaving at Dove. Sounds more like a marketing research tactic rather than a good giveaway. And none of us are benefiting from that! Just one (or two? It says winners..plural) reader. And because it's such a large amount for a gift certificate, more people will be drawn to entering for a chance to win... It almost feels...icky and makes me think less of the brand 🙁 ).
Reese,
I felt the same way about Dove's marketing on this. Just rubs me the wrong way.
Hmm, that's a good point. The entries for this go into a form, not into the blog comments, so yeah, we can't see them all. That is kind of a bummer, because you all have left some really interesting comments here.
I appreciate the feedback, because I always take that into account when I'm deciding whether to say yes or no to an opportunity (although when I said yes to this one, I had no idea the entries would work like this.)
I quit using shampoo and conditioner about a month ago and now exclusively use baking soda and apple cider vinegar.
I LOVE it and it's so, so much cheaper than buying shampoo and conditioner. It's even cheaper than the icky $.99 conditioner, but it makes your hair NICE and not waxy!
I stopped using shampoo about 2 years ago and used both baking soda and vinegar for the first few months, but I found that with the hard, hard water in my area, skipping the baking soda part and just using the vinegar rinse was better for my hair. I only use baking soda if I used any styling product in my hair (followed with the vinegar rinse, of course!)
Hm thanks for the tip, I may try that.
I typically wash my hair after going for a run or other work out, so I'm gross and sweaty and my hair NEEDS cleaning more than just a rinse, so so far the baking soda seems necessary still.
Intrigued by the baking soda... how do you use it? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!
I'm obviously not going to enter but going bald sure saved me money. Of course it did make me less of a hit with the ladies but since I'm married now it's no big deal. 😛
I only wash my hair about once a week, so don't use a lot of shampoo and conditioner. Sometimes I put coconut oil into my hair before I wash it, to make it super-soft. I also rinse it with plain white vinegar after rinsing out conditioner. I find that this removes any of the build-up you were talking about, and also makes my hair softer.
I use all the Garnier Fructis products for curly hair. I've tried other brands but these are the best for my hair. They smell fruity without being perfumy and overpowering, and they leave my hair feeling healthy, not stiff or crunchy. Plus they are really inexpensive!
I love Dove products. Good to hear that this new product is just as great 🙂
Wishing I wasn't Canadian at the moment to enter.
Dove has decent hair-care and beauty products.
I wish share my hair-care frugal tip which might not be that great but I box-colour my hair and I make sure that I put all of the contents of the little conditioners I get into my much larger container that never seems to run out in the shower. I also use a sparing amount and let conditioner sit in my hair 5mins+ or so that that it gets a chance to do it's job as I work it through well as opposed to glob it on so that that I can be lazy and have the sheer amount do all the work.
Another thing... I don't go to a fancy-dancy hair stylist. My hair cuts only cost $20 and if you had a friend who loves you and knows how to cut hair they coudl maybe do it for you!
Keep up the awesome blog Frugal Girl!
Yep, that's exactly how I get my hair cut. Love it...inexpensive and all the money goes to the stylist.
Great comments! I switched to "cheaper" drugstore products years ago when I stopped working to stay home. I used to wear a foundation every day! Now only a couple of days each week on date night and ,yes, even if I'm just going out for coffee with galpals ..I like to look nice as I can! But it's covergirl with a coupon or a two for one offer.. NOT LANCOME!
I stopped using eye liner (I'm in my 50's it simply doesn't look good anymore!) and grew my bangs so I don't have to pencil in my eyebrows either!
Shampoo:I found if I only use shampoo every other day my hair color lasts longer.I just rinse it and blow dry on the no shampoo day-- it actually styles better! I keep my hair pretty short these days.
Beauty products could break the bank if we listen to the advertisers I also quit reading a lot of women's magazines! They foster SPENDING !!!!!
I love the brand Dove.