by Nora Spero

Created on: April 03, 2009

Product Review Pantene Pro-Vitamin Blonde Expressions Shampoo & Conditioner

I have been hooked on Pantene products since the eighties when I used to be a demonstrator / floor model for their products. At the time, they were manufactured by Hoffman-Laroche, a drug company that since sold the line, but the standards of quality have remained. The new color-enhancing line is a welcome addition to it.

As a "bottle-blonde" for over four decades, I feel that the fact that I have a shiny, healthy head of hair today is due to my exclusive use of Pantene products over these many years. Like a lot of people, I have discovered that if one uses the exact same shampoo and conditioner all the time, your hair grows "used" to it and no longer responds to the specific qualities of a particular product (like thickening shampoos, for example.) Thus, you will get a better result if you switch your products around a bit. Pantene makes so many products that you can switch around in the product line to continue getting good results, and never have to sacrifice quality.

Since the Pantene products are largely acidic, they help (all types of) hair to retain the natural "acid mantle" that contributes to moisture retention in the hair. With color-treated hair, the products are fabulous because they help restore that natural acid balance, making chemically altered hair more "natural." That's one of the reasons they call it "daily" shampoo and conditioner, because you can use it daily without fear of stripping the moisture or color from your hair.

The color-enhancing line goes a step further. It contains color crystals which help to fill in porous color treated hair, making the hair itself stronger. This also helps artificial color "stay in" longer, and the hair doesn't get that drab, thinned-out look that demands a new coloring as often. My hair stays shiny and manageable much longer than it did before the Pro-V color products were available. I notice that I can go longer between coloring without my "roots" showing because of the color crystals which seem to keep each strand of hair filled with color so that it reflects light and looks thicker longer - like it was just colored. To me, that's worth its weight in gold! And speaking of value, the products, once considered high-end, are today one of the better buys out there, especially considering their effectiveness.

Do I sound like a "company girl?" Well, it's been a long time since I worked for the company, but when you find something good that really works, and it has stood the test of time, it's hard not to be a bit of a cheerleader.

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