Review: Acure Organics Lemongrass + Argan Stem Cell Shampoo and Conditioner

I tend to be loyal to certain hair products. I have long hair that has a tendency to tangle, so I am particular about my conditioners. I was excited to try Acure's Lemongrass and Argan Stem Cell Shampoo and Conditioner, as I'd heard good things about the line.

Pros:

• Vegan and gluten-free
• Safe for color-treated hair
• Shampoo lathers well
• Conditioner leaves hair soft
• Fresh, lemony scent suitable for men or women
• Made with many organic ingredients

Review: Shikai Color Reflect Daily Moisture Conditioner

In recent years, hair products designed to for specific colors have gained popularity. ShiKai jumped on this trend by creating its Color Reflect line, which has shampoos to bring out one of four hair colors and a conditioner that works with them all. The conditioner is called Color Reflect Daily Moisture Conditioner.

Pros:

• Creamy texture
• Helps detangle hair
• Mild scent
• Suitable for all hair types
• Safe for color-treated hair
• Retail availability
  

Review: Jason Revitalizing Vitamin E Conditioner

When I first wanted to switch to cruelty-free products, my mom kindly took me to the health food store to try a new shampoo, conditioner, and toothpaste. One of the first brands I tried was Jason, which helped ease my transition greatly. Their hair care products are similar in scent and texture to many drugstore products, leaving me with a positive impression of cruelty-free alternatives. Jason's Revitalizing Vitamin E Conditioner is no exception, offering a product with a great texture in an eye-catching bottle.

Pros:

• Helps detangle hair
• Great, creamy texture
• Left hair soft and manageable
• Avoids harsh chemicals
• Affordable
• Retail availability

Cons:

• Moderate EWG rating

Summary:
This conditioner performs very similar to conventional alternatives. The texture is creamy and the product helps detangle my hair. The scent seemed a little artifical to me, but it was a pleasant fragrance nonetheless. I was disappointed to see that this rates a 6 on EWG Skin Deep database, mainly due to the use of fragrance and vitamin A. While these "hazards" may be exaggerated, this is still a little higher than I'd like to see in an everyday product. Otherwise, this is great-performing alternative to conventional products, and I'd recommend it for anyone looking for products to ease the transition to cruelty-free in a convenient and affordable way.

Also available on Amazon.com.

Product Ratings (out of 5)

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Performance
Presentation
Purity
Value

Disclosure notice: This product was sent to me free of charge by the manufacturer for review. No additional compensation was accepted and the opinions are my own. Please verify any claims with the manufacturer, especially if you have any allergies or concerns.

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Review: Jason Super Shine Apricot Shampoo

When I first switched to cruelty-free products, Jason Apricot Shampoo was the first shampoo I tried. Why? It was the best-smelling shampoo in my local health food store. I was excited to have a chance to try it again after all these years and see if it still held the same charm.

Pros:

• Yummy apricot scent
• Lathers well
• Contains organic ingredients
• Affordable
• Available in many retail stores
• Left hair clean and soft

Cons:

• Could be more natural

Summary:
Jason's Apricot Shampoo still has a great scent. Oddly enough, the scent is part of the reason why the EWG Skin Deep rating gets dragged up to a 4. I'm not sure how much weight this ingredient should have, but it is worth noting. Ratings aside, this shampoo still seems to offer the same great performance. It is much like conventional shampoos and was a great product for me to use to make the transition to cruelty-free shampoos. I love how it is relatively affordable, especially since it is available in many retail stores. If you love the scent of apricots and want a nice shampoo that performs like its conventional alternatives, Jason Super Shine Apricot Shampoo is a fun option.

Also available on Amazon.com.

Product Ratings (out of 5)

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Performance
Presentation
Purity
Value

Disclosure notice: This product was sent to me free of charge by the manufacturer for review. No additional compensation was accepted and the opinions are my own. Please verify any claims with the manufacturer, especially if you have any allergies or concerns.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, why not sign up for our email list and get posts by email? Or if that's not your style, stay in the loop with an occasional newsletter instead.

Review: MOP Extreme Moisture

I've had long hair almost all my life, which means I can be picky when it comes to conditioners. Run-of-the-mill drugstore conditioners often leave my hair soft by tangly, making combing a painful an unpleasant process. I've sought out more specialized products such as intensive conditioners to use simply for their detangling properties. MOP (Modern Organic Products) makes a hydrating conditioner that is light enough to use 1-3 times per week: Extreme Moisture.

Pros:

• Left hair soft and easy to comb
• Creamy texture
• Light enough to use a few times per week
• Contains organic ingredients
  

Review: Tate's The Natural Miracle Conditioner

When I first heard about Tate's "miracle" conditioner, I had to smile. It was some slick marketing for sure, but I made the mistake of assuming that this was just like any ordinary conditioner. Boy, was I in for a surprise when I tried Tate's the Natural Miracle Conditioner.

Pros:

• Multi-tasking product (conditioner, lotion, makeup remover, etc.)
• Helps detangle hair
• Left hair smooth
• Very simple ingredients
• Safe for many with allergies or sensitive skin

Review and Giveaway: Wen Cleansing Conditioner

I'd heard of Wen before, and I was skeptical of it because it was marketed as a type of miracle product. The website is full of before and after images similar to makeover shows or weight loss programs. However, it was also marketed as a natural product, so I wanted to see for myself if it was worth the hype.

Pros:

• Best shampoo/conditioner I've used
• Actually detangled hair
• Cleansed hair as well as conditioned
• Nice texture (resembles a conditioner)
• Lovely almond mint scent

Review: Abba Firm Hold Hair Spray

Volatile Organic Compounds (or VOCs) can be emitted from many household products, including aerosol hair sprays.  They can be hazardous to your health and the environment if not treated properly.  However, many natural hair sprays have taken steps to reduce or eliminate VOCs.  Abba caters to professional stylists by continuing to offer an aerosol hair spray, but they have taken steps to reduce VOCs to 55%.

Pros:

• Light, pleasant fragrance
• Low VOC levels for an aerosol
• Will help tame flyaways
• Helps hold styles in place
• Ingredients are gentler than most aerosol hair sprays