I mentioned in a few of my
YouTube videos {
over a year ago!} that I was going to review L'Oreal EverCream Cleansing Conditioner… and I still haven't. I've been using this product for nearly two years, so I figured it's probably time!
I, just like any beauty product junkie out there, have spent many sleepless nights watching Chaz Dean work his magic on the Wen Cleansing Conditioner informercials. I was always curious, but never brave enough to pull the trigger and buy the $30+ non-shampoo… Then one day my mom purchased it. I tried it… once… and hated it. Mostly because (1.) I didn't really know how to use it and (2.) It had silicone in it.
Us fine haired beauties can't use products with silicone, nope, not even all those Frizz-ease products. While they're intended to make the hair look shiny… it just makes my hair look greasy. Anyway, my mom hated Wen as well. It's not a fair conclusion, especially because I only tried it once, but for $30 I expected it to work magic! I still loved the idea of Wen though...
I don't know how I even came across this L'Oreal Product, I never use "drugstore" shampoos and conditioners, so I can't imagine I was perusing the shampoo isle. I have fine hair, but because it's color treated, so I need a lot of hydration but not something that will make my hair stringy and flat. I've come to discover that
Pureology's Hydrate line is the only system that keeps my hair from becoming too dry or damaged. I've used it for years {
5+ years}, and occasionally switched to a Biologe shampoo/conditioner. I love Pureology products, so it was going to take a miracle for me to switch, but an inexpensive alternative would have done it.
The Claims
L'Oreal Paris' website has the following statement on their EverCream Cleansing Conditioner:
"Tired of dry hair? Discover a gentle, luxurious regimen to nourish and moisturize your hair without the weighdown. EverCrème Sulfate-Free Moisture System is free of harsh sulfates and heavycoating waxes. It uses botanical ingredients with Omega- 3 & 6 and a triple action conditioning system to moisturize naturally. Hair is left completely nourished for incredible hydration, softness and shine."
Ulta's Website makes the following statement:
"This one-step wonder product is an ultra-gentle, yet powerful combination of 1/4 cleanser + 3/4 moisture. It's low-lather cleansing that reduces friction of the hair fiber to help minimize breakage. This innovative, ultra concentrated triple action conditioning formula, with Omega-3 and 6, leaves hair super soft and nourished without weighdown. You're one step away from luxuriously soft, manageable hair. Perfect for all dry hair types.
Low-lather
Sulfate-Free
Triple Action Hydration
No harsh salts
Paraben-Free
Natural botanicals
100% vegan"
I purchased the cleansing conditioner at CVS for roughly $6.00. I was skeptical to say the least, but went home immediately to try it out… As you'll see in the claims made by manufacturers and sellers, this shampoo is "sulfate-free." I've heard all about the sulfate-free trend for years, but didn't know much about it. So I looked into it. Sulfate-free shampoos don't have foam producing agents in them, while these agents aren't "dangerous" as some reports claim, they do cause hair to be dryer and color fade more quickly. Essentially, a sulfate-free shampoo makes curls curlier, hair shiner, and color last longer.
But even with the sulfate-free claim, I wasn't sold… My Pureology claimed to be sulfate-free and the shampoo still created glorious suds in the shower {
sure to the Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate}! EverCream Cleansing Conditioner also claimed to hydrate hair without weighing it down, minimize breakage, and leave the hair soft and shiny…
The Process
To test it out, I first watched a Wen video on YouTube to get instructions on how to use a cleansing conditioner… This was SUPER helpful. Most shampoos, I pour in my hands, create a lather, and slapt it on my hair. I sort of just "gloss over the surface" without doing much work, and voila! My hair was cleaned. Cleansing conditioners however are SO different! Because they don't later, it feels like washing your hair with conditioner… No one conditions the same way they shampoo, they really have to work the conditioner into the scalp and hair instead of just "gloss over" it. The process is similar with a cleansing conditioner.
So to start, I parted my hair down the middle from forehead to scalp. I used one pump and evenly distributed it along the part. I then made another part 1/2 way between the center part and my hairline on the right side, and applied another pump's worth of product. Then I applied another pump Along my hairline. I repeated this on the left side. I then took another full pump and worked it into my ends. Almost immediately, I was amazed by how soft, de-tangled and manageable my ends became! It was like I was conditioning them!
I then started to massage my scalp along the crown, down the back, and the sides. I spent a good few minutes on this… Again, because it didn't lather, I wasn't sure I was getting all of my hair cleaned. I worked my scalp until I was sure I'd covered every inch. I ran my fingers through the first inch or so of my roots to make sure they were clean as well, and then I rinsed.
Normally when I use shampoo, my hair becomes a big ol' tangled mess and feels a little bit dry. It's not until I rinse the conditioner that my hair lays down normally. After rinsing the cleansing conditioner, my hair laid flat against my neck/back and I could easily run my fingers through it without tangles or resistance! Uh.may.zing!
Now with this product, you don't "need" a conditioner. It says to just use the product from the nape of your neck to you ends a second time… so I did, and rinsed again. Another key to this product is in the rinse. It's important to rinse the hair until the "water runs clear." Originally the water will have a white tint to it, so really rinse and work your hands through your hair until the water is clear to make sure everything is out.
I got out of the shower, and used my tangle teaser to comb through my hair. Usually, after I shower, I spray my hair with a leave-in conditioner {Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In}, and my Agadir Argon oil before brushing it out. This time I didn't use either and I was dumbfounded at how easily my hair detangled.
After blow-drying my hair was soft, manageable, shinier than normal, and had more volume, even without mousse!! My ends were a little dry, so after that, I still used my Hydrate conditioner on the ends for extra moisture.
The Pros
It works! All of the claims proved to be true. My hair was shiny, soft, tangle free, my color has lasted longer, and I don't use as many moisturizing, de-taingling products as I did before. I don't use mousse anymore because I don't need to. I've also noticed that my hair is growing faster, probably due to the scalp stimulation from massaging, and my hair is healthier and has much less breakage than it ever has!
The Cons
The L'Oreal EverCream Cleansing Conditioner is amazing… but after two years of using it, there are some "cons," however none of them, {or all of them combined for that matter} are enough for me to stop using this product.
- Smell. The first time I used this product I was totally put off by the smell and figured maybe I got a bad batch. It smells like a cross between burnt snicker doodles, and formaldehyde (remember dissecting pigs in Science lab?!). It doesn't stay on the hair, but it's not pleasant. I with they would use essential oils like tea-tree or lavender {like Pureology does} to improve the smell.
- Time. Because this isn't a "slap it on, rinse it off" product like I've found most sudsing shampoos to be, I definitely spend more time in the shower. I HAVE TO take the time to massage my scalp and my hair to really "scrub" the dirt and oil out. Sudsing shampoos seem to just rinse that stuff away in their bubbles. Because it's so hydrating, I can go longer in between washes, so I take full advantage by only washing every other day or every two days to avoid all that extra time in the shower.
- Amount. I've discovered that I use more of the cleansing conditioner than I did shampoo. When I'd dispense my shampoo, one pump {or a quarter size} would be fine. However, with the cleansing conditioner, I use roughly 6+ pumps of product. Luckily, it's inexpensive and on sale a lot, because I go through a bottle roughly every month.
- Residue. when I first started using this product, I lived in an apartment where my bathtub and shower were combined… I want to preface by saying that now that I have a separate bathtub and shower, I don't notice this anymore… Anyway, my old shower/tub drain was a little wonky, and would fill about 1/2 inch with water every time I showered. I would notice that the cleansing conditioner would leave a pinkish-yellow spiderweb like residue on the walls of my tub once that water drained. It wasn't a big deal, I just had to clean my shower more often.
- WTF Factor. The last con, I like to call the "WTF factor." That's because about 1 out of every 10 times I use this product, after I've blow-dried my hair I say "WTF?! My hair looks more greasy than it did before I washed it!?!" This is 100% user error, and not a con of the product, but it's something I feel I need to mention. I mentioned in the "process" section that this is different than using separate shampoo and conditioner. So, the process for cleansing the hair is different. If I don't take the time to really clean my scalp and roots, if I don't use enough product, or if I don't thoroughly rinse the product out, my hair will end up greasy. It really does feel different even before I blow-dry. It's tangly, stringy, and feels heavier… it looks like I put conditioner in my hair and didn't rinse it… Ick.
Overall
I love this product! LOVE! I've used it for two years and don't foresee using anything else. Occasionally I'll shower knowing I don't have the time to use it, so I'll got back to my Pureology Hydrate. As amazing as that shampoo is, and as expensive as it is, it now makes my hair feel straw-like and tangled! I'm really not a fan! I've grown used to the smell, and if I know I have a quick morning, I'll wash my hair the night before to avoid the WTF factor. Like I said, there is nothing I mentioned in the "Cons" that will make me change my mind about it. It's amazing… My hair has never been healthier, longer or stronger, and I know it's because of the L'Oreal EverCream Cleansing Conditioner!
★★★★☆
4 out of 5 stars
Be sure to stay tuned for Part 2 where I review the L'Oreal EverCream Intense Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner!
