Finesse Clean + Simple, update

Finesse Clean + Simple Still Going Strong

So, I previously posted a review of Finesse Clean + Simple Shampoo. I have some updated information for you, my soon to be loyal readers.

So, after further use of Finesse Clean + Simple, I have discovered that it does foam up, just not as much as a normal shampoo. Due to the shampoo and conditioner's lack of chemicals the product is a bit thinner than standard haircare products. So, if you use this, be sure to be careful not to pour out more than you need.

I previously mentioned that I attempted a haircare regime of baking soda and apple cider vinegar. One of the issues with this regime is that during the first two to four weeks your hair may actually be greasier. I have always had a problem with greasy hair.

The reason for this is because our hair is so used to the harmful chemicals that strip the essential oils from the hair. After this stripping of oils the hair produces much more of the oils to try and compensate.

Our body becomes so used to producing this extra oil to keep hair healthy, that even though you may use a natural method which does not strip the oils from your hair, it takes your body a little while to realize this. So for those first few weeks of using the Finesse Clean + Simple you may experience greasy hair.

A way to cut down on this is to get a trim the day you plan to start this hair care system. This is not always a fool proof method. From my time using vinegar and baking soda to wash my hair I learned that after two weeks of using a natural method you should get a trim and this way your hair will be cleansed of the harmful chemicals in your old shampoo.

I'm not entirely sure of the reason that hair does this. I would guess it has something to do with the fact that when you get split ends your hair produces more oils because its growth has come to a near stop. When you cut your hair it will start growing again. So your hair will produce less oils. The change in your hair care regimen around this time combined with the new hair growth will help to signal your body to produce less oil.

Well...this is me...your humble average american woman...Deirdre Heart <3 

Review: L'Oreal EverStrong Sulfate Free vs. Garnier Fructis Pure Clean vs. Finesse Clean and Simple

A Review of Shampoo (and Conditioner)

Now, this blog is just information for the average woman, and man I guess. So, to help you all out I have done some research on so called "Pure Shampoos."

Now does anyone know what Sulfates are? Anyone, anyone? Well in Shampoos, sulfates are used as a foaming agent. So you know how when you rub the shampoo in your hair it gets all foamy. Well some common sulfates used for this are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, and Ammonium Laureth Sulfate.

Let me give you a hint, if you see Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate in any product that you are using, such as tooth paste or shampoo, stop using that crap. All four of these common sulfates are thought to be extremely toxic. For example, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate is linked to birth defects in our unborn children and organ failure. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is basically rat poison and has been linked to hair loss.

Do any of you ever get canker sores? Well some women are more prone than others, I am one of those women. So, an easy fix to reducing your chances of getting canker sores, just use an SLS free toothpaste. I recommend Tom's, it is entirely pure and if you go on the website you can find out the purpose of every ingredient they use in every product and where they got it.

But onto Shampoos...

In the past fews years I have become very conscious of the products I use on my body. I realized that my hair was not as good as it could have been. So I tried washing my hair with baking soda and vinegar. I eventually gave up because I don't follow things through.

So then I started using a simple sulfate free shampoo. I first settled upon L'Oreal EverStrong sulfate free shampoo. For an 8.5 Fluid Ounce bottle I paid approximately $8, at a cheap store. I used the product for a few weeks before tossing it out. One thing I learned is that it is extremely important to read the ingredients in these things. L'Oreal EverStrong may have been sulfate free, but it was far from safe. Instead of sulfate foaming agents there are sulfide foaming agents, which in my opinion are just as bad.

And after using this product for a few weeks, my hair did not seem any healthier, stronger, shinier, or more vibrant. I have quite lovely red hair and it has been lacking in luster ever since I used Pantene Products. I absolutely DO NOT recommend Pantene Products since their Pro-V formula is just a bunch of crap your hair doesn't need.

The next on the list was Garnier Fructis Pure Clean. I used this when visiting a friend. The few days I used it, it seemed very nice. But then I took a look at the ingredients. The second one on the list is the foaming agent Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate. I want to entirely rid my hair of sulfates and sulfides. So I am not using this product again.

Then yesterday I purchased a bottle of Finesse Clean and Simple shampoo and conditioner. I have always been a fan of Finesse since it has done such nice things for my hair. But I want to avoid the sulfates. A ten ounce bottle of Finesse Clean and Simple (available for regular or color treated hair) is between $2.99 and $3.99, but if you go online you can get a free mail in rebate for a refund of the full purchase price of your first bottle.

The Finesse Clean and Simple shampoo was not exactly what I expected. I looked at the ingredients, not a single sulfate or sulfide. It is entirely hypoallergenic, including being gluten free. When I first used it I was surprised that the shampoo did not foam up. This is due to the lack of harmful foaming agents. It may seem weird when you are first using it. Surprisingly you don't need as much as you would think. My hair has felt fantastic. It feels clean and it looks great. I think I am even starting to get some of the shine back after only one use.

I will have to give it a few weeks to see how my hair adjusts to this new shampoo. But so far I have the highest hopes for my Finesse Clean and Simple.

Well, this is me...your humble average american woman...Deirdre Heart <3

Who am I?

Who am I?

Well, you're probably wondering what this blog is about...Well so am I. I've never blogged before, but I thought it was about time. I've got a lot of opinions and I figured I would voice them.

I'd like to say a little bit about myself. I would consider myself an average woman. I'm a bit overweight, I'm a bit under active, I watch a bit too many movies, and I love it!

I guess I am here to give advice, what movies to watch, what hair cair products to use, what acne remedies work the best, what television shows in the fall line up might actually be worth watching. As I always say I am a wealth of useless knowledge, but out there someone has to be asking these useless questions.

I'd say I'm a woman of the world, well versed in knowledge that not everyone knows. Here's one for you? Did you know that Marilyn Monroe wasn't just a dumb blonde, she had an IQ of 168. She was by definition a genius. But as some may know, being a genius comes with a price. Most people with a genius IQ suffer from some form of mental illness. I myself have a genius IQ while suffering from Bipolar Disorder and ADHD. So I may be a genius, but my short attention span keeps me from working to my full potential. Marilyn Monroe came from a long line of women with mental illnesses. She was raised by her paternal aunt and an orphanage. Upon her death, her library with over 400 books, all containing her notes on subjects from gardening to psychology, was discovered.

Another interesting fact aimed towards those interested in the film industry: in the world of film lighting one of a gaffer's most important tools is a clothespin, also known as a C47. Why might you ask are clothespins called C47's. Well back in the Golden Age of Hollywood the studio executives were very particular, every expense had to be accounted for as a necessity. Well, studio executives would not pay for clothespins for a film shoot. So the name C47, based of the product serial number still used today, was taken to make the lighting necessity sound more official.

Well, this is me...your humble average american woman...Deirdre Heart <3