Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

A few years ago I was diagnosed with a slow progressing form of leukemia that has left me with a weakened immune system. I started researching ways to keep myself healthy, and began a campaign to eliminate the chemicals in the shampoos, deodorants and cosmetics that I was using every day. It's a school of thought, some people don't believe it, but if there are organic, healthier options with less chemicals, that's the direction for me. So I started reading labels. One thing I know to avoid is sulfates, which are in most shampoos, it's what makes them lather. Lather is unnecessary to clean your hair, and the sulfates are one of those things that are a questionable chemical. So my search for a sulfate-free shampoo took me first to Pureology Hydrate, which I liked very much, but after several months I noticed that my hair, when it was wet, felt like wet cotton. A little research on protein shampoos revealed that while using a protein shampoo is ok for most people on occasion, using it daily is overkill and will lead to the type of cotton-batting feel I was experiencing. I have Pureology Hydrate shampoo and conditioner that I purchased in gallon jugs, so I still use it once in a while. Next I tried Wen Pomegrante. I ordered both the Cleansing Conditioner and the Styling Creme, though the Styling Creme had not arrived yet. I used the Cleansing Conditioner for the first time on the first day of a long weekend, as I had read that it can take a while for your hair to adjust and I didn't want to go to work with greasy looking hair. To my surprise, the very first time I used it, my hair did not look greasy. It didn't look great, it looked a little frizzy, and less manageable, kind of like I didn't use any conditioner. But I was pleased that it didn't look greasy. A few days later the Styling Creme arrived and WOW. My hair looked great. The Styling Creme made all the difference. I liked the Pomegranate, but I had also purchased other varieties to try. I love the Mango Coconut, probably my favorite. I did not like the Sweet Almond at all, I have tried it several times thinking I tried it early on and maybe didn't use enough, whatever... my hair always felt sticky when I used the Sweet Almond. I like the Cucumber Aloe also. And the Lavender, but the lavender has protein in it, so I limit use of that one. So I continued using Wen for about 8 months, and started to notice one undeniable fact: while my hair looked great on a daily basis, overall the condition of my hair was NOT improving, it was becoming dry and brittle. Because Wen is pretty expensive, and I need to wash my hair everyday, I would switch off occasionally to a different shampoo, like Sebastian Light or Artec Kiwi. The days I'd use either of these shampoos my hair was like straw. Closer examination of the ingredients in Wen explains why. In addition to avoiding sulfates, you also want to avoid or at least limit 'cones'. Cones are silicones, a form of plastic, that cosmetic manufacturers have been putting in products, particularly conditioner, to coat the hair shaft and make it look shiny and healthy. Depending on the type of cone, you may be doing your hair more harm than good. Some cones are water soluble and will rinse out fairly easily, so it's ok to use these, which are listed in this article by Pink Sith (http://www.pinksith.com/2013/05/silicones-in-hair-care-what-you-need-to.html). But some cones are very difficult to remove and will build up on your hair, filling in any damaged spots and making your hair look better, but creating a non-removeable barrier that basically prevents any moisture from getting in, resulting in increasingly dryer hair. Dimethicone for example, very common in conditioner, adheres to the hair shaft and is difficult to remove, creating a build up. Sulfates in shampoos can sometimes help to remove dimethicone, but it is better overall to use one of the water soluble cones. Wen Styling Creme contains dimethicone. Since Wen shampoo does not contain sulfates, you are layering dimethicone (plastic) onto your hair when you use the styling creme and there is no easy way to remove it. I stopped using Wen and started using the products in the Living Proof Restore line. My hair will not be back to normal overnight, but at least I know that I am using products with no sulfates and no cones, and although it's expensive you need only a small amount to shampoo, rather than the handfuls needed of Wen for each cleaning.