Review: New Finesse Clean + Simple Shampoo & Conditioner for Dry/Color-Treated Hair

Back in January I posted about a new line from an old favorite of mine, Finesse, called Clean + Simple. The products in this line are free of parabens, sulfates, gluten and dyes (click here for detailed information ).

Today I'm going to review the shampoo and conditioner for dry/color-treated hair, which I have been using for several weeks now (these products were sent to me for review and I've literally been using them since the day they arrived in the mail at the beginning of February):

Finesse Clean + Simple Hypoallergenic Shampoo and Conditioner

for Dry/Color Treated Hair

(retail: $3.99 each, 10 oz)

I've had good and bad experiences with sulfate-free shampoos although, generally speaking, sulfate-free formulas have gotten considerably better over the past ten years or so. This shampoo lathers up rather nicely, although I do find that for a full, rich, sulfate-like lather, I required about 25% more shampoo in the palm of my hand than when I use a sulfate-based shampoo.

Another thing I noticed is that this shampoo works best when my hair is FULLY saturated with water before I apply it. In other words, I need to spend a bit more time getting my hair really wet, all the way down to the roots, before I use this shampoo. If my hair is even a tiny bit dry, it won't lather in a way that makes me feel like my hair and scalp are getting truly clean. So remember: get your hair sopping wet, all the way down to the roots, before you shampoo.

I find this shampoo to rinse quite easily out of my hair, and my hair does not feel dry, stripped or brittle after I rinse. It actually feels exactly the way I like for my hair to feel after shampooing--not heavily coated, yet soft and clean.

As for the conditioner, well, let's just say that I haven't wanted to reach for another conditioner since I started using this one. I love it that much. For my hair, which is fine in texture (although I have lots of it), oily at the roots, dry at the ends, wavy and color-treated, I find this conditioner to be moisturizing, but not too moisturizing. It doesn't weight my hair down in the slightest--in fact it's quite the opposite! My hair feels so light and bouncy when I use this conditioner. My favorite way to use it is to apply it after shampooing, and then go about my business in the shower (shaving, etc.). At the very end of my shower, before I wash my face, I rinse out the conditioner and my hair is nice and soft, yet it feels very clean. And this product really does a good job at detangling when I use this method as well.

The fragrance of both the shampoo and conditioner is sort of a modern twist on the old-school Finesse fragrance. I love the scent very much because it's soft and clean with just a bit of a floral note. It's not heavy or strong--it's nice and light and exactly as you would image it to be with a named like "Clean + Simple".

Final Verdict: If your hair is anything like mine, I think you might be pleasantly surprised with Finesse Clean + Simple Shampoo and Conditioner for Dry/Color Treated Hair. I am extremely pleased with the performance of these products and the clean, light feeling of my hair after I use them. Just remember to fully saturate your hair with water before you use the shampoo, and I don't think you'll run into any problems with building up an nice lather. For an extremely affordable sulfate-free drugstore shampoo, Finesse Clean + Simple is a wonderful new option.

I have spotted this Clean + Simple line at both Walgreens and Rite Aid in the past few weeks, so if you're interested in trying these products, check those retailers first.

Have you tried the new Finesse Clean + Simple line? Does this sound like a line that might work for your haircare needs?

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.