Pantene & TRESemme Hair Conditioners For Fine Hair

I've decided to review these products together as I think they would suit those with fine hair or curly hair that often get weighed down by hair conditioners.

I picked up Pantene's In-shower Foam Conditioner in Superdrug when I saw it on sale for 50p and decided to give it a go. The benefit of foam conditioners is that it won't weigh down fine hair like some traditional conditioners can do. There are four in-shower foam conditioners in the range: Smooth and Sleek, Sheer Volume, Colour Protect and Repair and Protect. I bought the Repair and Protect without realising it was specifically for fine and damaged hair. It promises "air-light conditioning without the weight." It is SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) free but it does contain parabens (Methyparaben and Propylparaben.) To use it you apply a palm sized amount and run it through the hair from the roots to the tips. You wait until it's absorbed into the hair and then wash it out. The light foam texture is like egg white whipped meringue or hair mousse and felt as light as air in the palm. It has a floral/marine fresh scent which smells really nice.

I have thick hair so I'm probably not the ideal candidate for this particular Pantene in-Shower Foam Conditioner for fine and damaged hair, but I did come across some very positive reviews by people who had thick hair and loved it. I found this easy to use, you could see the foam disappearing as it absorbed into the hair and there were no problems washing it out. It was great at de-tangling my hair in the shower or when I combed my hair afterwards. My hair was softer but it didn't feel that it was very hydrating or nourished. In fact my hair ended up quite frizzy both when I used a hairdryer or air dried my hair.

When comparing it to Pantene's 'regular' hair conditioner from the Repair and Protect range, I found that there wasn't that much difference between them. Both conditioners de-tangled my hair well and made my hair softer. However the in- shower foam conditioner did make my hair frizzy on top. When I used the foam conditioner I ended up using a lot more than my 'regular' conditioner.  Neither of the hair conditioners felt they were nourishing enough to 'repair and protect' my hair. Pantene's Smooth and Sleek shampoo range seems to work better for me- my hair feels moisturised and doesn't frizz my hair as much when I use it.

I may try the Smooth and Sleek in-Shower Foam Hair Conditioner from the range as it might be better suited to me. If you have dry or over processed hair you will need something else that's much more nourishing. If you have dyed hair go for the Colour Protect. Those with fine hair would benefit most from this Pantene's In-Shower Foam Conditioner, so it's worth checking out if you fall into this group.

TRESemme Beauty-full Volume Expert Pre-Wash Conditioner & Shampoo

The principle behind TRESemme's Beauty-full Volume Expert Pre-Wash Conditioner and Shampoo is co-washing or reverse hair washing. This is where you apply conditioner first followed by shampoo. Tresemme's Beauty-full Volume Expert Pre-Wash Conditioner and Shampoo are supposed to prevent flat, lifeless fine hair that is weighed down by traditional hair conditioners. It's also good for those with curly hair. The Pre-wash conditioner contains 'fleximax volumisers' to give hair 'bounce' and 'fibre polishing actives' that 'binds to the hair cuticle..leaving it smoothed and polished.' This conditioner does contain silicones (Dimethicone and Amodimethicone) as most conditioners do, however according to this pre wash conditioner it shouldn't have all the problems that regular conditioner can have (hair that is weighed down and flat.) It does contain two preservatives MCI and MI that can cause skin problems which isn't the greatest thing to have in the ingredients. Tresemme's Beauty-full volume Expert Pre-wash shampoo also has 'fleximax volumisers' to help 'control static, infusing your hair with volume.' You should apply the conditioner first along the length of the hair. Then leave on for 1 minute and wash thoroughly. Then you apply the shampoo. 

I absolutely love the smell of this shampoo and conditioner, it's perfumed and fresh but not overwhelming. You can smell the scent the day you wash your hair but after that it fades. Initially I used a lot of conditioner because I wondered why it wasn't lathering up- before I realised that it was conditioner so it won't lather-silly me! I found that this shampoo and conditioner doesn't control oil very well. My hair looked greasy the next day (day 2) and on day 3 my hair looked flat which is the opposite of what it claims to do. I'm not sure if co-washing works for me or if it's these products, but I suspect it's co-washing as my hair type is completely different from the one it benefits most. Instead of fine or curly hair I have thick, straight hair where volume or static isn't really a problem but I do get oily roots. Because it didn't work well for me I won't be buying it. However if you have curly or fine hair that doesn't get greasy quickly I still think TRESemme Beauty-full volume shampoo and conditioner are worth trying out.

Let me know about your experiences of Co-Washing. Has it worked for you? 

A 75p Shampoo and Conditioner? Aldi's Provive Vs Pantene Pro-V

As far as shampoos go, I've always been monogamous. For years I've been using Pantene ProV in Classic Clean and using either Pantene or Tresemme conditioner. The reason for this devotion is that it makes my hair shiny which I always get complimented on, but more importantly for me it makes my hair less greasy so I can wash my hair every other day instead of everyday.

However when I spotted Carino Provive Shampoo in the aisles of Aldi I was curious to try it out, especially as it was only 75p! 75p has got to be the cheapest I've ever paid for shampoo! It's obviously branded as a cheaper dupe for Pantene and contains the same ingredient: Panthenol. The packaging is very basic, the white bottle and flip lid are the same as Pantene but I'm not into the yellow and orange circles it reminds me of those painkillers packaging and adverts which makes it look unsophisticated in comparison. There are 3 shampoos in the range, this one for normal and fine hair , one for dry and damaged hair and another for coloured/dyed hair. Carino's Pro Vive Shampoo for coloured hair came top in a test by the Daily Mail.

This shampoo for normal and fine hair, is dermatologically tested and is free of MI (Methylisothiazolinone) and MCI (Methylchloroisothiazolinone) two preservatives that can cause contact dermatitis (skin allergy) making it an affordable alternative to Pantene which contains these preservatives. Since I have sensitive skin and eczema, I'd rather avoid these ingredients whenever possible. Both shampoos have many ingredients in common. According to Aldi (Carino) this shampoo is ''Specially formulated for normal, fine or lifeless hair, to give added volume. The extra mild formula with it's special complex of uplifting ingredients and a hydrating complex including Pro Vitamin B5, B6 and B3 adds volume, whilst gently cleansing hair from root to tip, leaving it shiny and attractive'.

I've been using this for the last 3 and a half months. It has a really nice scent, very fresh and somewhat floral without being overpowering. The consistency of the shampoo is the same thick pearly white like Pantene shampoo. The Provive shampoo lathers well (but not as much as Pantene) and does a good job of washing my hair. However day 2 hair is a bit more greasier than if I use my normal Pantene shampoo. It does a better job than some shampoos I've tried though, and my hair was shiny afterwards and looked good. As my hair is naturally thick  I can't comment on how well it added volume but it didn't leave my hair flat. However with repeated use (from the third wash onwards) I've noticed a lot of dandruff and my hair itches in between washes. I occasionally get dandruff with Pantene but not nearly as much as every wash and my hair never itches between washes. This shampoo would be better for those with normal hair and maybe on rotation with other shampoos. Definitely not for sensitive scalps and those who are dandruff prone.

Looking at the price it's a bargain compared to Pantene. Pantene Pro V Classic Clean Shampoo costs £2.75 for 250ml and £3.25 for 400ml. In contrast Carino Provive Shampoo Volume and Protect is 75p for 300ml - under a third of the price.

Would I repurchase?  No. Although it washed my hair ok, it didn't really control my oily roots and  I felt it was drying my scalp and causing dandruff. It's definitely not a good dupe for the original Pantene shampoo. I would give this 1/5 and wouldn't recommend it.

The Carino Provive Conditioner Volume and Protect is for normal and fine hair and contains Panthenol, pro vitamin B3, B5 and B6. It claims to 'give added volume making it easier to comb, protect hair against stresses caused by hairdryers or brushing...without making it heavy and (with) great body and style to last.' Again the Carino Provive Conditioner has a lot of the same ingredients except that it is  MI (Methylisothiazolinone) and MCI (Methylchloroisothiazolinone) free. It's also dermatology tested. It has a very similar scent to the Carino Provive shampoo but a tad more subtle. It is an opaque pearly white and just as thick and substantial in consistency as Pantene. Unlike the Pantene conditioner the Provive conditioner says to leave the conditioner in for a few minutes before rinsing.

I've been using this for the last 2 months. I have greasy roots and dry ends so I only apply conditioner to the mid length and the ends of my hair. Currently my hair is long as reaches down to my chest and found it just as easy to comb afterwards as Pantene. I almost always hairdryer after washing my hair and my hair did not seem drier that usual or damaged by heat. My hair is normally quite thick with a lot of volume so I didn't notice any difference there. It definitely did not feel heavy after using this conditioner which is due to Cyclopentasiloxane a silicone that it doesn’t leave your hair feeling weighed down afterwards. It didn't feel like it heavily moisturised or softened hair but it doesn't claim to. Pantene's claims are slightly different from Carino Provive Conditioner in that it's claims concentrates on shininess and healthy 'nourished' hair after use. Those who find Pantene makes their hair feel too heavy may want to give this a go.

Pricewise Aldi Carino Provive Conditioner contains 300ml for 75p while Pantene give you 250ml for £3.75 (Sainsbury's.) Although the bottled amount is different Aldi clearly saves you more money.

 Would I repurchase? Yes, especially if I was skint towards the end of the month. It is not strictly a true dupe for Pantene Classic Hair conditioner, in that while it is easier to comb it doesn't moisturise hair as much but also doesn't weigh it down - it's sort of a lighter version of the Pantene original.
This would be good for bargain hunters and students. 4/5.

This post is not sponsored by Aldi or Carino and I was not compensated or given any free samples. I bought and compared these shampoo and conditioners with my own money.