Nuance Salma Hayek Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner – review

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And a look at the Volumizing Mousse and Firm Hold Hairspray

photos: we heart this

I am decidedly hair challenged. My hair is oily and baby fine. Curls don’t hold, bangs stick to my face. I’d just keep it in a ponytail forever if I could, but then my five-head just makes me look bald. Suffice it to say, I have to be very careful with my hair products since weighed down limp locks on a big face aren’t the best look.

Some hair products work for awhile, some don’t work at all. When I find something that works, I tend to stick with it until it doesn’t. Looks like I’m going to keep Nuance Salma Hayek hair products around for a bit, for more reasons than one.

Check out the gorgeous packaging!

My first introduction to Nuance was at the we heart this and CVS hosted Nuance beauty bloggers party. What a kick in the pants to see such elegant looking products produced for a drugstore line. What a bigger thrill when I found these products are worthy of the package. This isn’t just another celebrity-name-dropping product endorsement, these products are really good. Billed as a beauty line that “combines science with exotic, natural ingredients and personal beauty secrets passed down through generations” – you can count me impressed.

While Nuance is an affordable line sold exclusively at CVS, no one spying in your shower cubby will ever be the wiser. I tried the Argan Oil Glossing Shampoo ($7.99) and matching Argan Oil Glossing Conditioner ($7.99), both in elegant, tall, crystal blue containers featuring the lovely line drawings of flora present on all Nuance packaging. I’d be a liar if I said good packaging sold me on a product (especially with my hair challenges), but I’d also be lying if I told you it didn’t help.

Second, ingredients are important. Argan Oil is the hair care ingredient du jour and Nuance has it. Usually, I avoid any oil in my shampoos for obvious reasons but even I had jumped on the Argan Oil bandwagon recently after reading that it strengthens hair follicles and actually affects the way hair grows. In fact, I had switched from a high-end brand to a popular drugstore brand with Argan oil not so very long ago. Nuance surpasses that one; let me tell you why.

Foremost, the scent is fresh, fruity, floral and clean. This is how shampoo should smell. My last Argan oil shampoo (that I loved) had a heavier, musky scent. Nuance is far more appealing with its acai fruit and Passion flower oils. The conditioner smells a little sweeter (maybe it’s the coconut) but neither have a perfume-y scent that lingers past a head toss or two.

The shampoo and conditioner both perform well. The shampoo produces a nice lather and rinses clean, while the conditioner is thick and rich enough to actually use less than I normally do. You see, while my fine hair is oily, it also tangles easily necessitating extra conditioning lest I want snaggled knots and broken hair shafts. Yes, it’s a vicious cycle but Nuance has dealt with it better than almost any product I recall having used – certainly any I’ve used recently. A nickel-size amount for my chin length hair is perfect. The glossing conditioner contains Argan, avocado, coconut and Passion flower oils.

So, after all that oil my hair should be limp, right? Well, yes, a little but not oily – just not voluminous. Kind of swingy and silky, actually.

Lucky for me, Nuance has the awesome Lift & Shine Volumizing Mousse ($9.99). Again, packaging is consistently classy with the styling products housed in matte charcoal gray aluminum cans with flora in black silhouette. My only complaint with this packaging is more on the operational side – the nozzle stops working intermittently so that I have to fiddle with it. It happens with mousses.

The unique mousse applicator

It’s not a deal-breaker. The foam is thick but applies light. When it dries, it does not flake and it is easy to comb through. The body is natural, not excessive, and the polymers and humectants in its formula adds shine and strength to my weak strands.

Which brings me to the most awesome of all the Nuance hair products I’ve tried, the Style & Finish Firm Hold Hairspray ($9.99). The scent matches that of the mousse and is a light floral musk. I emphasize light for I am not a fan of musk. There is no butane-y smell (like Aqua Net) or overly fruity/sweet smell (you know, like the ones that attract all the bees and hummingbirds when you walk down the street). Light and balanced, this won’t compete with your own perfume or offend the nose.

that’s one gimongous hair spray!

As far as performance, this hairspray is tops. My hair stayed put but didn’t look stiff or feel sticky. Best of all, when I changed my mind about part placement or styling whatnot, it was easy to brush through and do again. The hairspray also enhances its shine rather than mattifying, as is often the case with firm hold sprays.

All in all, Salma Hayek’s Nuance hair products are beautifully presented and are great performers, just like their namesake. Even those of us born with less than stellar movie star hair can fake it. Thanks, Salma.

we heartsters – have you tried any Nuance Salma Hayek for CVS products? What are your favorites?

Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.