Cheaper Than Therapy, Not as Effective

Sep 26

Written By IMBHOMom

My hair has been through some things. Constant lightening and coloring from my cosmetology school days. Rough brushouts. Heat from the straightener or curling iron. A lot of dry shampoo abuse. And the occasional "let's see if scissors can fix this" mental health meltdowns.

So when I saw the Nourishing- Bulgarian Lavender scented shampoo and conditioner by

f.a.e. for $13.98 on Thrive Market,

I thought—sure, why not? At this point, my hair routine is basically group therapy with plant oils.

According to the bottle (and the marketing team that deserves a raise for making plant oils sound like a magical hair elixir):

Cleanse and moisturize with plant-based botanicals.

Argan oil adds shine.

Olive oil moisturizes

Aloe nourishes

Chamomile and vitamin E reduce frizz.

Calming Bulgarian lavender scent

Safe for all hair types, including color-treated

And of course, the free-from list: no parabens, phthalates, sulfates, gluten, silicone, synthetic dyes, or fake fragrances. Basically, they're telling me it's as pure as a baby angel and I should feel good about lathering it into my scalp.

The very first thing I noticed was the scent. Bulgarian lavender? More like walking into a high-end spa I can't afford, but at least in my shower I get to pretend.

It reminded me of a lovely Aveda set I tried at my aunt's house years ago—you know, the kind of shampoo you feel guilty using more than a quarter-sized squirt of because it probably costs more than your car payment.

The lavender is strong but not in a "grandma's perfume cloud" kind of way. The chamomile peeks through just enough to soften it, and every wash feels like a tiny spa moment wedged between the chaos of my morning routine.

And I will say—my scalp felt squeaky clean after every wash. Not stripped, not heavy, just refreshed. Which is basically shampoo's one real job, right? It checked that box.

Now, here's where I take issue with the label. It says "Chamomile to reduce frizz." Cute. Except my hair was frizzier than a poodle at a pool party. I gave it a solid two weeks of testing because sometimes hair products need a little "breaking in." Nope. Still frizz city. If you're buying this solely to tame the mane, keep your expectations in check.

Shiny?Yes. Moisturized? Mhmm. But frizz-free? Not unless you've got the patience to flat iron daily, and let's be real—I barely have time to brush my kids' teeth, let alone straighten my hair every morning.

Am I a fan of the wash? Yes. Am I a fan of the scent? Absolutely. Am I a fan of the frizz? Hard pass.

In my brutally honest opinion, this is one of those “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.

If you're in it for the lavender aromatherapy vibes and a clean-feeling scalp, you'll probably love it. If you're hoping it'll tame your wild strands like some miracle worker—save yourself the disappointment.