What: Alberto European Nourishing Curls Shampoo and Sleek & Silky Conditioner

Where: Big Lots

Price: $2.00 each

Image from Alberto Style.

Image from Alberto Style.

Now, I usually try to use matching shampoo and conditioners, especially if I intend to review them. My Big Lots didn’t have the Sleek & Silky shampoo or the Nourishing Curls conditioner, but the two products are identical in color and smell, and similar in what they’re supposed to achieve, so I figured I’d be okay reviewing them together.

Alberto European is a Canadian brand of the Alberto-Culver Company, which owns Alberto VO5 (as well as Nexxus, St. Ives, Noxzema, and other brands). I’ve actually never seen it in stores here in the U.S., so I’m not sure how it wound up in a Big Lots in South Carolina. I can’t guess at this brand’s availability in Big Lots elsewhere.

These are translucent white and similar in texture to Suave Professionals or other shampoos and conditioners in the same price range. They smell like boy. Really. Nothing on the bottle indicates that these are specifically marketed towards men, but they have a fragrance that reminds me of Speed Stick deodorant more than anything else. It’s not an unpleasant scent, and I would be quite happy to be around a guy who smelled like this, but it’s not what I want for my hair. The scent lingers, too. It’s not super strong, but it hangs on.

These claim to tame frizz and manage unruly curls. I know my hair is a challenge for any shampoo or conditioner, but these really made no noticeable difference. I’ve been using them for about two weeks, and I’ve even gotten a lot of the worst damage trimmed off, but if I skip any other products and leave it up to these two, it is Flyaway City and I am Mayor McFrizz. The Nourishing Curls Shampoo is at least not drying, but the Sleek & Silky Conditioner is disappointingly lightweight. About the best I can say for their effectiveness is they don’t exacerbate the problem.

If you are a guy, or buy hair stuff for one, or don’t mind smelling like one, I would recommend these products as long as you have well-behaved hair. If, like me, you need a conditioner that works a little (okay, a lot) harder, I would keep looking.

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