Johnson’s No More Tangles

I’m always comparing products, declaring which ones I adore and which to leave at the store.  But while it’s easy for me to choose between drugstore mascara and my favorite not-cheap-but-worth-every-penny designer mascara, this week I tested two products that have a lot in common and won’t break the bank.

Tangle Out, the Detangler from FX Special Effects is an “Instant Conditioning Silk Detangler Spray” that promises to heal, hydrate and replenish hair and sells for about $6 for 6 oz. at Walgreens. Being a curly-haired girl, battling tangling and knotting is a constant struggle so a great detangler is worth its weight in gold. This product detangled my hair with ease… but was it better than the classic Johnson’s No More Tangles that I’ve counted on for years?

Johnson’s No More Tangles currently sells for about $3 for 10 oz. at Walgreens, and at about a quarter  of the price, detangled just as well as Tangle Out.  On the flip side, Tangle Out does boast some hydrating ingredients that Johnson’s No More Tangles lacks, including Coconut Oil and Vitamin E.  And as every woman with curly hair knows, our hair tends to get really dry, so added moisture is a plus.

So the question is, save or splurge?  Because, without an unlimited budget, every dollar spent or saved in the name of beauty adds up.

What bargain beauty products do you swear by? And which products are you willing to break the bank for?

First of all, I got a “gloss” yesterday (my stylist swears that this is the same treatment as a “glaze” although Oprah disagrees). It’s the second gloss I’ve gotten since the New Year and I have to say, the results are spectacular.

My stylist applies the honey colored gloss to my tresses and 30 minutes later my hair is shiny, smooth and –  dare I say –  commercialesque. I got a blowout as well before joining some old friends and my husband for dinner. For me, there’s nothing like a professional blowout; great hair can cure so many of life’s little ailments.  Don’t you agree?

An oh-so-easy good hair day

So while yesterday’s look was smooth and sleek, this morning I washed my newly glossed locks and applied a tablespoon of Thermafuse Heatsmart Serum  ($20 for 2 oz.) to the ends and roots.  I’ve been using this product for months and I’m ashamed to admit, I’ve been holding out on you, my pretties. This is the holy grail of hair care products.

Believe it or not, this dry oil treatment makes my naturally curly—and naturally oily hair—just gorgeous.  I’m talking about impossible to fake, I just rolled out of bed looking wavy and windswept hair. The product calls upon certified organic oils, thank you very much, and can be used on dry or damp hair to prep, style, finish or treat hair.   To get this wavy ‘do, I simply applied a bit of the Heatsmart Serum to my damp hair and twisted a few sections around my fingers.  Seriously.

Thermafuse, 6 oz.

Find a salon near you that carries this secret weapon here, then go and conquer the world.