Some popular co-washing conditioner reviews.

 I have what I would consider long, normal to thinner hair that is color treated ( It's been every shade of brown,  and many years ago blonde, and now black). Its slightly wavy to wavy (in high humidity). I have hair with dry/damaged/fragile length and oily roots, otherwise known as "combination hair". If you have this hair type you know what I mean and what a bear it is to work with. Needless to say, co-washing has been a problem for me. However, I have been able to make it work and the following conditioners are ones I have used (so far, as I am always looking for the perfect conditioners) , along with there reviews (and know I am hard to please when it comes to hair care).


 Please keep in mind these reviews are for co-washing purposes only as I have found there are different results for these as used as a regular wash out conditioner following a shampoo.


  The cult favorite- 


Suave Tropical coconut conditioner-

 Smells great as we all know, slightly thicker than some and seems to somehow feel "rich" yet light and cleansing at the same time. Detangles well. My hair was left "fluffy" light, yet moisturized, maybe slightly "coated" but it loooked great. No leave in needed.  No wonder everyone loves this stuff. However, the next morning my hair felt really greasy/dirty I considered a shampoo but instead used a different co. The jury is still out on this one.



    VO5 conditioners-
 

 Strawberries and Cream-

  I love this smell! So yummy and creamy but may be cloying to some.
Light and creamy but feels "rich" like the Sauve coconut. Unfortunately, I needed to use 1/3 of the bottle for my hair to feel clean. Needed no leave-in. Left my hair nice but felt a little filmy. Don't think this will make the final cut.


 Vanilla Mint Tea Therapy-  light and cleans well. Loved the scent in the shower. Needed alot on my length to detangle. My hair was left feeling clean and light but my ends were a bit dry so I needed a leave-in while using this. I did like the performance but the scent lingers and it does not smell as good hours later as it did in the shower. Won't use this again, only because I don't like the scent.


Chamomile Tea Therapy- Performs just like the Vanilla Mint without the scent. The scent is light and calming. Hair was clean, but needed leave-in. This one is staying in rotation.


Extra Body formula-  WOW! This one was the closest to my Salon Grafix or L'oreal Evercreme cleansing conditioners. I don't care for the scent of this but it does leave hair fresh and clean.  Hair is moisturized from root to tip with no film. I'd keep this but due to the scent the Chamomile Tea wins.

Split Ends Formula- This is so, so hard to find in my area, fact is I have only found it at my Family Dollar. Not worth the hunt for it. Performs almost like Extra Body formula but leaves the slightest film , the scent is fresh but almost masculine and I don't care for it.

Blackberry Tea Therapy- Perfomers just like the other tea therapy conditioners (I mean they are basically all the same) . Has a soft berry scent that doesn't really linger. However, for me, the Chamomile Tea is my first choice.


Kiwi Lime- Another cult favorite. Performs well, for me pretty much identical to the strawberries and cream. I tire of the scent quickly. Again out off all the vo5 choices the Chamomile Tea is my choice

Making co-washing work for normal/thin hair types with oilier roots.                                      

Now, I have done a previous post about weather or not co-washing is worth the hype. I had conclude it wasn't for me. However, I believe my thoughts have changed.

 I had a bout of colitis that wrecked havoc upon my hair and skin. My hair went nuts. It seemed to beome thinner and just about every shampoo I used (except for a generic baby shampoo or baby body wash- both containing the milder sodium laureth sulfate and little to no conditioning agents) made my scalp itch and just about every conditioner left my hair feeling greasy, heavy or coated. (there was a few exceptions to that namely Sauve Naturals coconut which I did another post on.)

 I have been fasinated with WEN but am way to cheap to pay that amount for a hair product. My daughter had a cleansing conditioner by Salon Grafix which I tried on a whim, and was seriously impressed by (that is a future post) and I began researching again.

I have found that in all of these cleansing conditioners there is nothing special. They are basically just conditioners with little to no silicones, very mild, non-surfactant "cleansers" found in most conditioners anyway, and a bunch of herbal extracts. The process of how you wash your hair is much different than a traditional shampoo and condition, and there in lies the key to getting co-washing to work, especially if you have "normal" to thinner, straight to wavy hair with dry ends and an oilier scalp.


 First, I went out a bought a bunch of vo5 conditioners to try. In the past, I have used the ever popular Kiwi and Lime and Strawberries and Cream without much success so I bought the Extra Body, Split Ends formula, Blackberry Tea Therapy, Chamomile Tea Therapy, and Vanilla Mint Tea Therapy "flavors".  I also had Suaves Tropical Coconut on hand. ( I will do a future post and review each of these based on strictly a co-washing standpoint) I am cheap and  got each of these  (vo5) for less than a dollar (.66 to .75 cents) a piece on sale. Even at full price off $1.00 for 15 oz. it is much cheaper than the $8.00 for 12 oz. of Salon Grafix cleansing conditioner or $6.00 L'oreal Evercreme.

 Process:

   1. wet hair completely- not just a quick rinse- make sure it is soaking wet.

   2. Apply a palm full off the conditioner to your roots

   3. Massage it in very, very, very well.  I'm talking a few minutes. I actually turn my shower off during this process as it is lengthy and do not want to waste water.

  4. Add a tad more water if need be to make the conditioner "foam", it won't really foam per say but the water seems to help it "shampoo" better

 5. Add another palmful to the length of your hair, if your hair is longer than shoulder length

 6. Comb through with a wide tooth comb, starting at ends and working up to remove tangles, then comb root to tip.

 7. Do other shower duties, wash, scrub, shave etc.

 8. RINSE, RINSE, RINSE - I can't sress this enough you really do need a  long thorough rinsing, especially at the roots.


    Viola!!  you have just co-washed.

 Now, while this seems like a pain, and it does take longer, it is actually much, much easier than a seperate shampooo and condition once you have it down.

  I am still in the perfection process, but I have went 8 days till a shampoo, which is unheard of for me. Once I find the perfect combo of conditioners ( I still cannot use the same conditioner more than 2-3 days in a row as I feel its "building up") I may be able to go a month shampoo free which will be amazing.

            Homemade Laundry Powder

                       Ok, this post goes along with my homemade fabric softener post.

 I have made this before but sometimes get lazy and just go to the dollar store and buy SUN powdered laundry detergent which is a 1lb. box for $1.00 but honestly this, though a little time consuming, is better in my opinion.  While using this recipe my clothes just seemed cleaner and smelled fresher. There are many recipes floating around the net for laundry detergent and most call for 3 or more ingredients, usually including borax and washing soda. I do not have hard water so I donot think these ingredients are a must. Besides, for me, after buying all the stuff most recipies want its just as economical and easier to get SUN at the Dollar Tree. So, again, I have tweeked my recipe to make it super easy.



 Simple-


1 bar soap

2 cups baking soda

cheese grater  ( I got one at the dollar store for, yes, a dollar and it works fine for this)



Grate one bar of soap into a container with a lid, add the 2 cups of baking soda and mix well.  Use 1/8 cup (2 tablespoons) to 1/4 cup for heavily soiled loads


Grating the soap is the most difficult part of this whole thing. My cheese grater tends to get clogged up and my arm hurts after a while, especially if I'm making big batches (which I tend to do) I think if my grater didn't grate as fine as it does I wouldn't have an issue but then I'm afraid I might have little soap particals left on my clothes as I only wash in cold water. This little inconvience is not enough to stop me from making the laundry detergent but it is a head's up.

 I prefer Jergens soap. Many people use Fels Naptha, which is a laundry soap. It can be hard to find and runs about $1.00 a bar. Some people use Ivory but I am allergic to Ivory soap. I don't know what in it but whatever it is makes me itch terrible. I have heard Cashmere Bouquet works well but that is another hard to find soap but its only $1.00 for a 2 or 3 pack if you can find it. I like Jergens because its 3 bars for $1.00 at Dollar Tree or sometimes $2.69 for a 8 pack at Walgreens or Rite-aid. Plus I love the clean soapy smell to it and  I can also use it on my body with no problems. I do not recommend using "luxury" soap for this. Keep away from Dove and Caress and those types of moisturizing bars. They will not clean as well, plus they are way more expensive than the others which negates the whole reason to make your own laundry powder.


 My husband is a mechanic and can get very dirty.  This removes heavy dirt just fine, I just add a little extra. For my whites I add the dollar store version on Oxy clean- they are just a white as when I used bleach but don't have the bleach smell.

 Try it. If you don't like it use the remaining soap up in the shower and use the baking soda in your bath or as an occasional face scrub.

          HOMEMADE FABRIC SOFTENER



Now, I know this is a beauty blog,  and you may think fabric softener has nothing to do with beauty. However, this truly does deal with beauty products, so, here me out.


I went on a co-washing binge with cheap-o vo5 and suave conditioners and bought just about evry "flavor" but, I soon realized co-washing wasn't really cutting it for me (I found Salon Grafix cleansing conditioner which is like a miracle, but thats another post). Anyway, I had literally about a dozen bottles of conditioner that no one in my household was going to use up. So, what do I do with it all. I'm to cheap to throw it out and besides thats just wasteful. I don't use shaving cream, just my regular soap/bodywash so I wasn't going to use it for that. I use it to wash the dogs but at the rate they are bathed it'll take forever to use up and I hate to have unused stuff laying around cluttering up the linen closet.

 So why not make fabric softener?  Fabric softener is basically conditioner for your clothes right? So, I fished around the web and came across a few recipies. Now, all that I came across call for vinegar, and I 100% hate the smell of vinegar. I know it fades but I cannot bear the smell for even a little bit so I tweeked the recipe.

Simple:

     2 cups of  cheap hair conditoner

     6 cups of hot water


 Really thats it! Don't want to measure- fine

 To make it even simpler you can break it down like this-


 1- 15 0z. bottle of v05 conditioner, any scent you prefe,r to 6 cups of  hot water

 1- 22.5 oz. (family size ) bottle of Suave naturals conditioner, any scent you prefe,r to 11 cups of hot water.


 I dump the conditioner into a big pot on the stove and add the water. I generally make a huge (gallon or 2) batch at a time, its easier for me and I do alot of laundry. I heat the mixture a bit , stirring till the conditioner and water are completely mixed. Then I pour  it into old gallon milk jugs.

 You can then add this to your rinse cycle like regular fabric softener, put it in a downy ball or soak an old washcloth or microfiber cloth with it and throw it in the dryer. It works just as well as expensive fabric softener and you can customize your own scent!

  One gallon of farbric softener costs me $2.00 or less to make!!  You can't even get it that cheap a the dollar store.

 In my area the large Suave Naturals is only $1.50 at Walmart and Vo5 is sometimes as low as .69 cents on sale. Even after I use up my ton of conditioner I will never go back to store bought fabric softener! It gives me more money to spend on makeup or rationalize spending the $8.00 on my cleansing conditioner!!

                   Product review-- Covergirl Lipslick in

   "EDGY"

 When it comes to makeup, especially lipcolor, I am a junkie and very fickle. I am always looking for the perfect lipcolor, and usually tend to lean torward bright red or pink colors but this little purple baby in the lilac tube has changed my mind.

  Covergirl Lipslicks have been around for as long as I can remember and I can still pick them up just about everywhere, including my local grocery store for around three bucks or so.


  Lipslicks are what I consider a lipstick/balm cross. Covergirl markets them as a  gloss but they really have more of a balm texture with sheer lipstick color.   I have tried lipslicks in the past but always passed over this shade. Edgy is a deep plum, almost a blackened purple looking color in the tube. On my lips it comes out a sheer grape/ blackberry hue with a hint of brown. I think its neutral. I cannot see any orange tones nor can I see any true purple/ fushia tones. To much of either of these shades for me and this would have went to straight to the trash.  I have read posts comparing Edgy to Cliniques Almost Lipstick in "Black Honey", most posts say it's a great cheap dupe for Clinique.  

I have never tried "Black Honey" , which is  generally considered one of those universally flattering go-with-everything hues and I think Edgy would fit into that catagory. I think Edgy would work with most skin tones. On my fair/light skin ( that I think is really hard to find a great lipcolor) it works well, giving me a punch of color. Its dark yet sheer and dare I say "edgy".  Being dark it will not throw you into goth territory but it still has a bit of a rocker edge when paired with darker smokier eyes. It can also give a classic fresh faced look when paired with minimal eye makeup. No matter what your style I think you can pull of this shade. It would look good weather you were wearing a formal gown or sweats or jeans and a T. Plus its a shade that would work year round. Deep enough for fall winter, sheer enough for spring summer.

  Edgy feels light and smooth. Not heavy and waxy like chapstick. Also, I found it has no taste or scent. I have read many, many reviews saying it has an "old" lipstick type scent and taste but my tube does not. I do not know if Covergirl has updated the formula but my tube is scent free and tasteless. I found that the wear time is typical of a balm or gloss. It won't make it through a heavy meal  or a few drinks and you won't get more than a few hours wear out of it period, but its so user friendly you can apply it without a mirror. It leaves my lips feeling moist and does not dry them out like a typical lipstick can and it is not one bit sticky like glosses can be.

   I am truly impressed with this $3.00 lippy and think its worth giving it a try even if you think its out of your comfort zone.