When it comes to what I put on my hair, I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a bit of a hair product snob. I’ll drop dollars for anything hair and skin related–if is works. Admittedly, I’m a little reluctant about shampoos and conditioners you can buy at the grocery store, because I know that with stiff competition, store brand cosmetics have improved their formulations, and many of you guys swear by brand names like Suave and V05. So when I tried Dove Damage Remedy for this review, I was a bit skeptical, because the only Dove product that comes through this house is used by The Hubster during his night-time face-washing routine. But big claims like, “INTENSIVE REPAIR!” and “PREVENTS SPLIT ENDS AND BREAKAGE!” I was intrigued. So I tried the product on wash day and my first thought was how pleasant the smell was. It’s sort of fruity. The second thing I noticed is that the cream conditioner isn’t very thick.  The third thing was that according to the directions, this “deep” conditioner need only be in your hair one minute. But hey, I guess that’s about all the time you need when you use a product with Dimethicone listed as the third ingredient. Dimethicone gives the hair incredible ‘slip’ and makes detangling easy, but over time, silicones (otherwise known as ‘cones) can build up on the hair and cause it to become dull and brittle as the coating tends to preclude the penetration of more nutrient-rich and moisture giving solutions. On the other hand, silicones can help offset some damage from heat styling, so when used occasionally and using a clarifying shampoo once a month should minimize any potential build up.

Dove claims that the conditioner has a patented technology to repair and nourish dry hair with a “Micromoisture Serum” that targets damage, repairing the surface of hair by sealing lifted cuticles. The product does also contain lactic acid within the first five ingredients, which is often used in hair care products as a humectant with an ability to relax and smooth the hair. So what’s my final word? Since my hair is sensitive to silicone buildup, I probably won’t use this product again. However, I did used it on Clo Clo, who has loosely spiraled curls that tends to get on the wrong side of dry. It worked GREAT for her. Her hair came out shiny, bouncy and soft. She’s hooked.

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