Beauty Review: Aveda Rosemary Mint Conditioner

I can't say I've ever been a big fan of Aveda. I appreciate that they're making serious efforts at offering environmentally-friendly and sustainable products, but I hate that many still contain irritating ingredients. Just because an ingredient is "botanical" or "plant-based," doesn't make it good for you. As a lot of people point out, poison ivy is totally natural and plant-based, but you won't catch me smearing it all over my face.

I once had a facial at an Aveda spa in Irving (TX, where I grew up), and loved it, but I think it had more to do with the facialist herself and her expertise than with the products. That can make a difference.

Anyway, I'm so not loving Aveda's Rosemary Mint Conditioner. I like the smell, as I'm a big, big fan of anything to do with mint (which annoys B. to no end, as he's the exact opposite and hates mint), but even liberal applications of the product left my hair dry. I left it on for 3-4 minutes, and even after washing it, I could feel the hair squeak in complaint. Once out of the shower, running a comb through my wet hair was the usual ordeal of detangling -- so much for Aveda's claim that the conditioner detangles and smooths hair. I used Hairplay's SEAL to calm my strands once I'd carefully combed out the tangles, and my locks finally sighed in happiness.

Price: $9.50 for 8.5 fl-oz bottle. Available at Aveda spas and salons as well as on their Web site.