conditioner

A couple of weeks ago, Kérastase sent a package of its new Nutri-Thermique hair care collection. Naturally, the first thing Mr. Bella did was put his nose by the shampoo.

"This smells like Holiday Inn stuff," he said.

"But it's French," I harrumphed. "They don't even have Holiday Inn in France!" (Not true.)

Fast-forward to our next date. I show up after using the shampoo and conditioner, then blow-drying my hair without any products. At one point, Mr. Bella smells my hair and says, "Wow, your hair smells really good." Sigh.

At any rate, he's right: the shampoo leaves a beautiful, soft floral scent. More importantly, it cuts down on frizz and flyaways, plus I can go one extra day without washing. At $34 for the shampoo and $38 for the conditioner, these items are definite splurges. But if it fits into your budget — or you merely seek great-smelling hair care — it's worth a look.

If you find the eternal sameness of the Pantene bottle comforting, then you're in for a rough time. The brand is giving all of its packaging and marketing an overhaul. The new bottles will be shinier, more colorful, and differently shaped than their predecessors.

What's more, they won't be arranged in the usual way on store shelves. Instead of having all the shampoos and conditioners together, all the products for a given hair type will instead be in the same area, including styling products like mousse. Pantene is the most popular shampoo brand, and it's been Bella readers' favorite in the past. Do you think this change was necessary?

If you've ever battled insomnia, you've probably seen late-night infomercials for stylist Chaz Dean's Wen haircare line. The idea is to ditch shampoo altogether and wash with a conditioner ($29.95/set). Because it's free of harsh detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate, the conditioner promises to cleanse without stripping hair of its natural oils. It doesn't lather, but does it clean? To find out what I thought, keep reading.

This morning on my way to work, I was talking to my dad, who, bless his heart, is always reading the Sugar sites. While discussing what makes a good conditioner, he suddenly said, "You know, for years, your grandmother used ferns and milk as a conditioner." Say what, Daddy? "She'd go out and pick fern leaves, boil them, then mix in whole milk. And that's what she always conditioned her hair with."

My dad grew up on a farm, and his childhood was spent learning ways of doing things that city slickers lost a hundred years ago, so he comes out with stuff like this every once in a while. I understand the milk part — it has tons of great softening proteins — but I'm a bit mystified by the ferns. Were they in there just for shakes, or do they have some great conditioning property? I'm thinking of going home and trying this out, but I'm wondering: Have any of you ever heard of this recipe, or something like it? Or did my dad just tell me a family hair secret?
Source: Flickr User Randy Son of Robert

I like so many Burt's Bees products, but I'd never even heard of Burt's Bees Shea and Grapefruit Deep Conditioner ($8) until reader Yogaforlife reviewed it. It sounds great, though, and I'm really glad she mentioned it. She says:

"I normally use Pureology shampoo/conditioners to protect my color-treated hair in between salon visits, but I noticed that my hair felt really dry lately. I wanted to try a hair treatment and a friend recommended this. I shampooed like normal and then put this conditioner on. I left it on for about 20 minutes and then rinsed it using cold water. When my hair was wet and I tried combing it, I must admit I got a little scared that it didn't feel super slick like most conditioners leave my hair. Once my hair was dry, though, it felt incredibly soft and shiny and smelled so good. I now use this once or twice a week, and it's made such a difference."

Got a product you don't hear about much that's actually really great? Want to know what other readers' hair, makeup, and skincare saviors are? Just pop over to the Product Reviews pages, then. We have more than 50,000 products up for review, and we're adding new ones daily. It's a great way to inform others and learn a little yourself.

When you're on crutches, even the smallest tasks can be daunting. (You just try to carry a glass of water while carrying yourself. Can't be done.) In the name of simplicity, I've minimized my grooming routine, which means that I haven't been blow-drying my hair. Normally, letting it air-dry makes it flatter than Flat Stanley under a steamroller. And yet, I've been getting compliments left and right on my hair. What gives?

Then I realized that it had been about a month since I'd switched my shampoo/conditioner combo. Since then, I've been using John Frieda Luxurious Volume shampoo and conditioner ($5.99 each). They promise to make hair look fuller, and, well, they deliver. Even without using a hair dryer, my hair is bouncy and shiny, and the products smell good, too. I know I might seem like some crazy shampoo proselytizer, but it is always pleasing to stumble upon a product that does what it says it'll do. And it's even better when it's reasonably priced. So while my body may have limited mobility, at least my hair has body. (It's the little things that make my day.)

You might know that I'm a huge proponent of colored conditioners as a quick, inexpensive way to keep color looking fresh. Whether it's your natural shade you want to highlight, or your professionally dyed locks that need a boost, a good colored conditioner once or twice a week will perk your style right back up — or will it? Recently, reader Gooz1231 tried out John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Shine Release Daily Conditioner ($7), and wasn't too pleased with the results.

This conditioner did nothing for me. It left my hair coarse and rough, and it certainly did not make my hair more "brilliant." You should pass up on this one!

Have you found the perfect colored conditioner? Tell us all about it on our Product Reviews website. Heck, tell us what you hate, too. We love to hear your unbiased opinions and humorous beauty tales. Better yet? You might even be featured here on this daily post.

The season is just under way, but your locks don't have to look abused by heat, chlorine, and/or windy days. Reader Jjasinsk gave Redken Extreme Anti-Snap Leave-In Treatment ($18) a whirl after experiencing some damage to her hair, and here's what she thought:

I've never had much faith in products that claim to repair damaged hair, but this product has really performed. After compulsively using Sun-In on my hair for a year, the front sections were broken, matted, and elastic. This product didn't fix my hair immediately, but after a week of use I can definitely see an improvement. My damaged hair no longer tangles and the actual texture seems to be improving. Worth the extra money!

Do you love certain products during these warm-weather months? Tell us all about it on our Product Reviews section and perhaps you'll be the next featured reviewer.