Don't hate me because I'm reviewing this.
It had been more than 10 years since I last used a Pantene product, so when I crashed at a friend's house a few weeks ago, I was excited to try her Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo. It promises stronger, shinier hair, and so I immediately imagined myself having that glimmering hair that always shows up in the commercials.
Unfortunately, that is not what I got. Instead, after blow-drying my hair, I had a flat mess on my hands. And even though I'd rinsed well in the shower and skipped the conditioner, my hair just didn't feel clean—there was a slight coating on it. Oh, but that was only the beginning. As the day wore on, my scalp started to itch. During my flight home, I had to discreetly scratch the heck out of it, and—yech, this could be TMI—I had a waxy residue on my scalp. The next day, I used my regular shampoo, and the itching was gone. Sadly, this is not a product I'll be trying again.
Finesse
The one time I tried Pantene, in an attempt to be more economical, my hair was also flat and coated, dull-looking, and it stripped out my highlights within a week or two. So I went back to my expensive shampoo and conditioner and had to have my hair completely re-highlighted. Not a money saver in the end!
1I hate Pantene. It always leaves my hair oily and coated, which weighs it down. It's such a heavy product. I always get tempted when I see their ads but it's such a lie! I stick to Herbal Essences or SunSilk!
2Ewww, sorry for te bum luck. I know some people who use Pantene and rave about it, so I guess there are a lot of factors that could affect this outcome.
3I have had the same experience with flat, greasy looking hair after using Pantene. There are other great drugstore brands though - I like Herbal Essences and the Aussie line.
4I used Pantene years ago and stopped after a stylist asked me if I used it. I believe it coats your hair with wax and that is why so many people experience flat hair syndrome. I was shocked that a stylist could look at my hair and tell what I had been using on it.
The Pantene ads make is seem so awesome. I am always tempted to try it again. Thanks for your post.
5CJA1995- that happened to a friend of mine too! In high school, she went to her hairdresser and she told her to stop using Pantene- she could tell just by looking at it. She said the same thing about it coating your hair with wax and said it was super bad for it. I haven't used it since, and I never will. I switch between SunSilk, Sheer Blonde, Dove and when I feel like my hair's had too much, I'll switch to Neutrogena's Clean line for a rotation. I like to switch it up a lot, if I use the same stuff over and over my hair stops responding to it...
6This reminds me of an interview Bella did with a hair stylist (or someone in the field) a while ago. I remember them saying that a lot of drugstore brands who offer shiny, healthy hair due to the shampoo being "infused with vitamins" actually use waxes and not the vitamins or whatever they advertise. I had this same experience with L'Oreal Vive Nutri Gloss shampoo & conditioner and it was around the same time I read that interview so I tossed the stuff. I now use Treseme for colored hair and it works great.
7Same thing happened to me CJA - last time my friend did my hair she asked what I used and recommended I switch to Redken. No waxy residue anymore!
8It's funny that so many people have had negative Pantene experiences--I stopped using it years ago when (I believe) it started making my hair fall out. I always brush my hair before I shower but somehow I kept losing what seemed like a lot of hair when I washed it. It also made my hair flat--no thanks
9moreover they test on animals!
10I'm so with all of you! When I worked at Bath & Body Works, I soon learned about the "waxiness" of Pantene. Yeck. I'm all about Paul Mitchell! =P
11Ick! How awful! I use Sunsilk and John Frieda; I haven't used Pantene since 9th or 10th grade so I don't even remember how bad it was!
12I am a total TOTAL shampoo snob. Nothing but Pureology for me, thanks :]
xoxo
13PS - if anyone was interested in my opinion/experience, if you're looking for cheap shampoo/conditioner, L'Oreal makes really decent ~$5 products. The Vivepro line is definitely acceptable (ingredient wise as well as my personal experience with it).
14In high school I went to a fancy salon to have my hair done as a birthday present and the stylist told me that Pantene products are like putting Mop and Glow on your head! I had no idea and haven't used a Pantene product since. I will say, however, that my sister has very dense, coarse hair (unlike my fine, thin hair) and she swears by it.
15Bella, what kind of shampoo do you normally use? Just curious.
As far as the Pantene -- never tried it, so I can't really contribute to the bashing of it.
16When I first saw the review before reading it, I thought - Oh great, teamsugar is getting paid by Pantene to promote their stupid product. But I'm just glad you were 100% honest about it's real performance. Pantene strips the hair because it's detergents are more suitable to clean concrete than your head! I admit though, I read an article about Sharon Stone, and she said her stylist tells her to use the Pantene 2-in-1 shamp./cond. Stupid me, I went out and bought it after reading that. What a mistake! Don't let the commercials with the beautiful hair fool you. Expensive products are usually much more gentle. I hate when I see beauty mags try and promote this product - like the beauty editors really use this stuff!
17I second rumpel2~ They do test on animals, which is why I boycot them.
Does anyone know a good comprehensive list of drugstore shampoos/conditioners that don't?
18i used pantene a few years ago for a couple weeks. not only was my hair coated in wax (my hair stylist said they put wax in it to make it shiny but its super bad for your hair and scalp), but once i dropped a glob of it on the shower floor and it stained my tub!!! i still to this day can't get that stupid stain of the floor. grrr!
19My skin breaks out from using Pantene. When I was in HS I had breakouts on my upper back and it turned out it was from the Pantene not being rinsed well enough off my skin. After I switched, it cleared up. Haven't touched the stuff since.
20Pantene makes my hair feel like it hasn't even been washed. As far as drugstore brands go, I recently fell back in love with the Dove line. My hair's the softest its been in years.
21Thank you everyone! I was beginning to think I was the only one who loathes Pantene. I could never understand why it rates so highly in beauty polls. It always made my hair lank and gross.
22what are some good drugstore brands for hair thats not fine and thin? my hair is super thick and dense AND curly! i need something that will weigh it down without feeling greasy or gross or waxy...ick
23My friend/stylist told me that Pantene and Herbal Essance is the worst stuff you can put in your hair.
I haven't used it in years, but I have to admit, the smell of Pantene is so pretty.
24julieulie, I review a lot of shampoos, but lately I'm using Bumble and bumble Tonic. It's great because it cleans well but doesn't strip my hair and leave it dry.
25Pantene is an okay drugstore brand...not my first choice.
26That is pretty bad bellasugar! I defintly won't be using it!
27I never use Pantene; I stopped about 6 yrs ago. I had the same waxy feeling; my hair felt/looked greasey and weighed down. I got flakes because of product build-up; that happened within days of using it. I now use a few different shampoos: Ojon, Fredrik Fekkai, WEN, Nexxus. I mix it up every few weeks. I think if you have no choice but to buy a drugstore shampoo, go with Herbal Essences or Neutrogena.
28The couple of times I've used Pantene it just seemed to dry out my hair and make it frizzy. My favorite shampoos are Jonathan and Paul Mitchell.
29Oh my goodness. I'm so glad I stopped by to check out the comments. I've totally experienced the exact same flat, coated hair thing-y from using Pantene.
30oh my gosh. this happened to me too. i haven't had a chance to stop by a salon to pick up my usual shampoo and conditioner, so i decided to try the daily moisture renewal, since it promises what my usual shampoo and conditioner does. it's horrible, and after so many hours, makes my scalp unbelievably itchy. tomorrow, i'm FINALLY going to go back to my paul mitchell. =
31Sheesh, these comments make me feel like maybe I'm using the wrong shampoo for my hair. I've tried a wide variety, but my scalp is perpetually itchy, although I don't have dandruff. Lately I've been using Frederic Fekkai shampoo and conditioner, but even that leaves me really itchy. Anyone have any suggestions before I go bald?!
32Woah, I must be the only person who LOVES the stuff. I always get compliments on my hair, but maybe I'm just lucky, since it doesn't seem to matter what I use.
33But it's only Classic Clean for me. Smooth and Silky sucks, as does Ice Shine. Just my humble opinion.
34I like Pantene OK, but it's not a staple. It never makes my hair flat or greasy, but I have very coarse hair. I've NEVER had ANY shampoo alone leave my hair feeling greasy. Wow.
35wow...I was sitting here beside my boyfriend telling him, "Wow, I think I had the exact same experience with my shampoo-" And he was like, "We've already had this conversation." "No we haven't." "Yes, we have. Like, 2 years ago. You said you hated it and said it made your hair feel 'waxy'."
I remembered instantly and my jaw dropped! I can't believe you used the same word as me. What horrible shampoo!! Thanks so much for this review, esp since I like to
jump around in shampoo/conditioners and I wouldn't have remembered otherwise.
36WOW! Great reads, you guys! I thought my hair stylist was trying to sell me product when she told me that Pantene was all of the above. Now I know. I'm going to throw it in the trash.
37My teacher at Cosmetology school is completely against Pantene. She uses it to clean her toilets and the rust around her house. It's great for that and way too harsh on your hands. After using professional products I'll never go back. They are so much better for your hair and you can tell just by touching them because they're thicker and richer.
38Actually, Head & Shoulder is pretty good for a drug store brand, I'm surprise that no one mention it on here yet.
39My scalp is extremely sensitive, I have tried many brands including two organic brands. So far, Head & Shoulder's Refresh is doing a good job for my hair and scalp~
That's really interesting to know, since I've always had amazing results with Pantene (except now I know they test on animals booo).
Is it the same for Herbal Essence?
I'd love to hear about good and affordable shampoos, other than L'Oreal.
40Wow, I had the same experience with Pantene the first time It tried it - my scalp was so itchy. As soon as I switched shampoos the itch went away. I have never used any Pantene products since!
41I don't like the way Pantene products smell - to me, very heavily scented. I have been loving the Lush shampoo Rehab. Not tested on animals. I have a tiny bottle and it's lasted forever!!
42Pantene for Curly hair works for me ..well i do see an increase in curls as it says but i have never been a fan before it dries the hair ..I was pleasantly surprise when my curls look nice and springy..
43I used to drink the Pantene Kool-Aid and my hair was beautiful. But then it's like the formula changed overnight and I couldn't get a good hair day if my life depended on it. After hopping from brand to brand, I settled on Dove. I tried a sample and that very same day, I went to Sam's and bought giant pump bottles of the Shampoo and Conditioner. I do switch it up depending on my needs and what samples I get to try, but I don't think I'll ever go back to Pantene (but I do love their silicone serum, if it's on sale and I'm out, I'll buy it).
44I used to use Pantene when I was a teenager. Then, as I got older, my selection in beauty products seemed to grow up too.
Just this past week, I ran out of my favorite Matrix shampooo and conditioner AND the backup Redken Extreme. So I grabbed the Pantene from the guest bathroom to tie me over until I went to Trade Secret.
UGH. My hair has been SO waxy and my scalp has been itchy too!!! It's ridiculous! I am so going to Trade Secret. I don't think I even have the heart to leave the nasty Pantene in the guest bathroom.
45Hmm now that you mentioned the itchyness and flatness results after using the product, I think I have had my share of that experience too. I bought the "volumizing" shampoo+conditioner in one bottle thinking that it would give me this voluminous and "un-flat" hair. What I got was flatness and constant itchyness. Any shampoo out there that has been known to give hair volume?
46Wow, I'm really shocked to hear all this. It's really weird because I tried a lot of shampoos and now stick with pantene. I heard its bad to skip around and if you have pantene you hafta stick with it..
47I used the volumizing one when I cut my hair shorter and it definitely worked. I have VERY fine hair. My hair is usually dry, frizzy, and weird and before I tried sammy, which left my hair dry, sunsilk which made my hair sticky and weighted, and herbal essences dried it out. I use the daily moisture renewal w/ the conditioner and use loreal heat straightening cream after I towel-dry. I blow-dry and straighten with Sedu and I have to say my hair comes out really nice. I use the Pantene shine shampoo, which really doesn't live up to that promise but works as a clarifying shampoo, once a week. I like the restoratives line too my hair used to be RIDICULOUSLY damaged and frizzy so to be honest this is a shock to me.
I might try more expensive brands later on when I'm not sucha broke college student but for now pantene really works for my hair.. It probably depends I guess.
bella, can you make a list of good and bad shampoos? thanks mucho!
48Pantene is a shame.
49concon, great rec. I'd also love to see a list of the best and worst. I'm especially interested in drugstore brands. Yes, I'll splurge on the occassional Matrix, which I'm using now, but drugstore brands, please.
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