Head and Shoulders Refresh es My Lungs While It Relieves My Flakes
Written: Nov 04 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: It works, it smells nice, it is affordable for a specialized product.
Cons: Tests on animals.
The Bottom Line: Head & Shoulders works so that is what counts. Now if only Proctor & Gamble would stop testing their products on animals.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Head and Shoulders Refresh |
The second time I went to my new dermatologist and she commented on my flaking scalp, I asked for suggestions. She didn’t recommend any particular product but she did say to get a product that contains pyrithione zinc. I am reviewing Head & Shoulders Refresh.
About the product:
Before I went to the website: http://www.headandshoulders.com/usa/products/ I thought to myself how much Head & Shoulders has changed. I haven’t used it in 20 years. I have had a flaky scalp (ok, dandruff) for as long as I can remember and have tried Head & Shoulders years ago but to no avail and just stopped wearing black clothes. Then I went to the website and sure enough the company makes a statement of a change, “With an improved line of formulas in 2001, Head & Shoulders® still provides unbelievably beautiful hair…” Of course I wasn’t thinking a year ago – the change over 20 years is dramatic.
This 13.5 ounce plastic bottle cost me $4.59. Without going into all the details I will just say that I spent at least ½ an hour (and had looked at epinions reviews so I had a list in my hand) looking at dandruff shampoos. First of all Head & Shoulders makes about 8 different dandruff shampoos. For someone who has a hard time in the cosmetic department because of too many choices, this was a real challenge. I wanted to buy a Clairol dandruff control shampoo because Clairol doesn’t test their shampoos on animals and the makers of Head & Shoulders, Proctor & Gamble do test on animals, but Clairol’s only contained .5% of pyrithione zinc. Head & Shoulders contains 1% and I figured the more the better.
The final decision to buy Refresh was the statement on the bottle that it is pH balanced and “gentle enough for everyday use- even on permed or color-treated hair." I color my hair once a month so that was a concern of mine.
The bottle looks a lot different than I remember it. First, the H in head is not capitalized nor is S in shoulders. Then in a big circle are the letters h & s. I comment on marketing techniques because packaging is a major way companies get us to buy their products. With pretty blue and green colors, this shampoo didn’t look medicinal.
It has a flip-top cap, which opens easily but snaps shut securely. Still I would be careful traveling with it. The top can open.
The claims:
The website has a dermatologist offering her expert opinion on H & Ss. Although the bottle does not say that it is dermatolgist recommended, this is a bit of what Dr. Hilary Baldwin says, “ This well-known dermatologist offers her expert opinion on Head & Shoulders® — the #1 over-the-counter antidandruff shampoo recommended by dermatologists. A Testimonial by Dr. Hilary Baldwin "I've always recommended Head & Shoulders to patients who experience flakes because it's very effective in controlling dandruff and is gentle enough to use every day.....”
We are told that it is gentle and will leave my hair soft, manageable. Refresh offers clinically proven dandruff protection and a cool, invigorating sensation. It contains natural mint (Although I can't find that in the list of ingredients and did a google search on most of them.) that leaves your head feeling refreshed and your hair clean and manageable. Refresh is designed to help protect against flaking and itching.
Refresh, we are told has a cooling sensation. This is on the front of the bottle. More about that in a moment.
We are told that this has a breakthrough formula that delivers beautiful hair and effective dandruff protection. "Head & Shoulders Dandruff Shampoo helps prevent recurrence of flaking and itching associated with dandruff."
Directions:
For maximum dandruff control you should use the shampoo every time you shampoo. First wet your hair and then massage on to your scalp. Then rinse and repeat if you want. I usually don’t like shampoos that say repeat figuring that if it didn’t clean my hair the first time, what good is it? Since this is a dandruff shampoo I do often repeat. For best results use at least twice a week or as directed by a doctor. I have been using this for several weeks and still use it each time I shampoo (Which is not every day. If I shampooed my hair each day, by now I would be interspersing it with other shampoos because I don’t think I need to use it every day any more.)
Ingredients: Obviously the active ingredient is the most important and I do believe was not in H & S products 20 years ago.
Active Ingredients: Pyrithione Zinc (1%) I think it is important to know what this is so I did some research:
It is a zinc derivative, which is an antibacterial and antifungal agent. It reduces the itching and flaking scalp, which is usually associated with seborrheic dermatitis as well as dandruff. http://www.totalskincare.com/library/totalskincare_p_pyrithione-zinc.html) (additional information is below*)
Inactive Ingredients: Water, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Fragrance, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocamide MEA, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Citrate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Citric Acid, Ext. D&C Violet No. 2, FD&C Blue No. 1, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, (Methylisothiazolinone is an antibacterial/antifungal ingredient used in many shampoos. (http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylchloroisothiazolinone)
Warnings and other information:
It is for external use only. Avoid contact with the eyes. If contact occurs, rinse eyes thoroughly with water. If condition worsens or does not improve after regular use of this product as directed, consult a doctor.
This product has an expiration date on the bottom and is coded #2 for recycling.
How did it do in my hair and what is it like?
Let’s start with what it is like: Refresh is a very light blue shampoo that isn’t too thick or too watery. It has a nice consistency. It does not lather like other shampoos I have used. In one review I quoted a website that said that lathering has no affect on cleaning one’s hair and that makes sense. It is just psychological I think. I probably use more than I need to because it doesn’t lather!
It smells nice! Sure it doesn’t smell like the Clairol dandruff shampoo, but the old medicinal smell is gone. It does smells a bit like mint in spite of not being able to find it in the ingredients. What I find really interesting is the cooling sensation. I don’t feel any type of tingling on my scalp at all. What I do smell, though, is a pleasant menthol smell not just in my hair but all around me as I wash my hair. I feel as if I were inhaling a mentholated cold medicine. This isn’t bad. I like it. It only lasts while I am shampooing. I don’t continue to inhale mentholated vapors!
My hair: Well this is another amazing thing. I have not been using a conditioner after I shampoo. If you read my other shampoo reviews you know I have thick hair that usually cannot be combed without a conditioner. I didn’t realize that H & Ss makes a dandruff conditioner (I was too consumed with just finding a shampoo.) and I was afraid to mix any of my regular conditioners with my dandruff shampoo, not wanting to take away any of the pyrithione zinc affect. In spite of not using conditioner, my hair does not feel like a rat’s nest. I am able to comb it after I use the shampoo and my hair does feel nice.
All the claims this company makes I have found to be true. I even sense that it is not as frizzy as it has been, but maybe my cheap Suave isn’t as good as I had thought!
Ok...so what about dandruff and itchy scalp that’s what this is all about? It is gone. I am not kidding. Just Friday I work a top with a black collar on it and never had to brush away any flakes. It works. I will keep using this but cut down to a couple of times a week and then perhaps just use it once a week as a preventative. In fact, from the website you should know that dandruff cannot be eradicated: "Many scientists believe a naturally occurring fungus residing on everyone’s scalp known as Malassezia causes dandruff. While the fungus can be fought with Head & Shoulders, it is nearly impossible to completely eradicate from the scalp. However, regular use of Head & Shoulders can help keep Malassezia under control."
My final thoughts:
I cannot give this shampoo 5 stars because they test on animals, but I will give it 4. It works and that is the most important in a dandruff shampoo. Not only does it work, it smells nice, I like the mint vapor and it leaves my hair looking nice. Also a very important piece of information is that is has had no adverse affect on the color of my hair. It hasn’t stripped the color or changed it in any way.
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Information from: http://home.intekom.com/pharm/stiefel/fongitar.html is the following...
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS:
Store in a cool place below 25°C. Keep out of the reach of children.
PHARMACOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION:
OTC preparation: Medicated scalp cleanser
PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION:
Dual Action- Medicated scalp cleanser with two active ingredients and added hair conditioner for the treatment or relief of itching and scaling scalp conditions. Removes pathogenic surface organisms.
INDICATIONS:
For scaling and itchy scalp
CONTRA-INDICATIONS:
{none given}
ADVERSE EFFECTS: Peripheral neuritis with parasthesia and muscle weakness in one patient was associated with the prolonged use of a shampoo containing pyrithione zinc 2%. The muscle weakness had disappeared 3 months after stopping the shampoo and 2 years later the paraesthesia had improved by about 75%.—J.E. Beck (letter), Lancet, 1978, I, 444. http://home.intekom.com/pharm/stiefel/fongitar.html
Please leave me a comment if you have any questions.
Recommended:
Yes
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Member: Jo
Location: On a bluff overlooking the ocean.
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Spent one glorious day on the beach. The sun came out!
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