Review (5/5): Best value in $/oz for a true believer
I bought this giant pack after trying the 16oz tea tree oil cleansing conditioner and did some crazy calculation on the total/average cost of different ways of purchasing this really expensive hair cleansing product from multiple sources.
Obviously, you can tell I'm quite convinced by this product, or else I wouldn't invest so much work/resources into getting it. Because these things take a while to use, I will be updating my review as I finish each flavor included in this set. I will not be using the Sweet Almond Mint, which is too oily for me and I'm sure you can find plenty of review on other package sizes.
* Overall Impression *
1. Great reduction in hair loss
2. Great increase in manageability
3. Quite expensive for regular use
A lot of people say "this product changed my life!" I don't want to exaggerate my excitement. I think to be very fair this product made me discover something I never experienced with other commercial shampoos - "near zero hair loss after wash".
I was a heavy shedder and I was used to losing a lot of hair everyday. With this product, I hardly lose any piece of hair at all during the day, with everything else being the same as my old-shampoo days. I have to say I don't know how it will compare to shampoo during hair wash with an equal comparison (i.e. same washing technique). WEN requires you to comb your hair during washing, which causes hair to shed when I wash my hair. I did not comb my hair while I was using shampoos so I didn't know if combing in wash would be the same. All else being the same, I lose about the same amount of hair during washing using shampoo or WEN. The no hair loss during the day is amazing though. I might have been allergic to the commercial shampoos and never knew it. My hair now feels significantly thicker when putting into a pony tail.
Another great discovery is that WEN makes my hair very smooth, light but not necessarily shiny. It dries faster after wash. It also feels easier to manage - my hair now stays in the right shape - this is especially true after the 24 hours. My hair would have started to feel lumpy and oily if I had used shampoo, but WEN keeps my scalp evenly moist a little longer. With these two improvements, I no longer use styling products or a blow dryer.
* Impression on the Flavors I Have Tried *
Tea Tree 5 of 5
Fig 5 of 5
Cucumber Aloe 3 of 5
Very short, I would recommend people with oily/combination skin type stay away from the Cucumber Aloe. Somehow it feels more water-based I had to use more to wash each time. At the same time, even though I make sure to wash it off completely, my scalp/hair started to feel oily sooner than when I use tea tree and fig versions. Both Tea Tree and Fig are great for oily/combination type. They make my hair feel clean and refreshed. Fig makes my hair feels extra smooth and it is the richest/densest of the three.
* How Long Does a 32oz Bottle Last? *
When the WEN TV infomercial says the 12oz starter version is a "30-day" supply, you need to understand that it is for people with very short, thin, or little hair. For someone like me with long, very thick Asian hair going to mid back, the 16oz tea tree bottle survived barely one month with washing at least every other day.
Two other things to keep in mind:
The 32oz pump holds more than a 16oz pump, but less than twice the amount.
Each flavor varies in its moisture strength. As mentioned earlier, I had to use more Cucumber Aloe to achieve the same effect I can do with Tea Tree and Fig.
I made a chart documenting my process of finishing up the 32oz Cucumber Aloe bottle. In total there were about 250 pumps, which lasted me 50 days with 30 washes, average 8 pumps per wash.
* How Much Should You Use For Each Wash? *
I definitely recommend strictly following the WEN instructions when you begin. That is, use the large amount as instructed by WEN, follow the steps to rinse, massage, comb, leave in, rinse off. This will help you see how the proper use can really change your hair as they've claimed. However, this is an expensive product so we all want to use it efficiently. Once you have formed the proper washing habit, start reducing the pump number little by little until you find your optimal dose. I found my optimal to be about 1/2 of the recommended amount for my hair length. Given the amount of hair I have, I'm sure many people can save more once you've started using it.
On average I use:
Tea Tree 16oz - 15 pumps per wash (haven't started the 32oz bottle yet)
Cucumber Aloe 32oz - 8-9 pumps per wash
Fig 32oz - 7 pumps per wash