Dessange VoxBox Review

I was lucky enough to receive another VoxBox from Influenster* (thank you, Influenster!) and, like my last VoxBox, I was super excited for this one, too.

The Dessange VoxBox came in the mail a few weeks ago, but I'm only just now getting around to reviewing it because, well, life happened.  So, let me start off by saying that I love this product!  My VoxBox contained the Oleo Miracle Replenishing Shampoo, Oleo Miracle Replenishing Conditioner, and Oleo Miracle Replenishing Oil.  Admittedly, I haven't used the oil yet, but that's just because I haven't had the time to do a second (or third) wash and rinse after I've used too much of the oil in my hair (yes, this will happen).  But I have used both the shampoo and conditioner, and I really like them!

As with my other boxes, Influenster seemed to know when I was running low, and sent the box just in time.
I'm going to start this review with the scent of the shampoo and conditioner.  I had read other reviews before trying the product myself, and what jumped out at me the most was the a lot of people didn't like the scent.  I did.  It wasn't too flowery or fruity, and it was strong without being overpowering.  It's definitely not a frou-frou frilly/girly scent, but I liked it.  Maybe "mature" is a good word.  In any case, I enjoyed the smell.

Now...suds-ing.  I might be in the minority here, but I want my shampoo and to suds up really well when I wash my hair.  It makes me feel like my hair is getting really clean, and I definitely don't like it when my shampoo doesn't do that.  Dessange had some awesome foaming action and I really felt like the shampoo was getting the job done.  Same with the conditioner.  It wasn't too oily or slick and, like the shampoo, I enjoyed the scent.  Everything rinsed out easily, and my hair smelled great!

One thing I didn't love about the Dessange products (and, honestly, this is such a stupid thing but it jumped out at me) was the lack of direction on the bottle.  The shampoo bottle simply said to use the product with the Dessange Conditioner and Oil for best results, and the conditioner said to use with the shampoo and oil.  When it comes to conditioners, I like a little more direction.  Do I rinse and repeat as needed?  Does it need to sit on my hair for 1-3 minutes?  I'm not vain, but when I take the time to actually blow dry and flat iron my hair, I want to make sure I'm doing it all right so that the finished product looks good.  That, however, was my only complaint.

 I started going gray at 22, and have been coloring my hair ever since.  Between color, highlights, and the ridiculous amount of blow drying, flat ironing, and styling I did in the years before I had kids and actually had 30 seconds to do more than throw my hair up in a pony tail, I've really put my hair through the ringer.  So a shampoo and conditioner that's made specifically to replenish damaged hair is definitely something I need and am willing to spend a little money on.  I wish I had thought to taken a picture after I finished using the Dessange Shampoo and Conditioner, because my hair looked good.  My hair is prone to flyaways and frizz, and I'll admit that there were a few flyaways after using Dessange, too.  But, it was all in my bangs and very well could have been because of my lack of flat ironing technique, and definitely won't stop me from using (or endorsing) this product in the future.  My hair was silky smooth, smelled great, and wasn't weighed down at all.  And, best of all, it felt clean.  All serious hair wins in my book.

Sooooo...all that being said, I highly recommend Dessange!  I'm not 100% certain of the price or where you can buy it, but I'm going to assume that Target, Walmart, and the like will carry it.  It's definitely worth giving a try, and definitely a product that I'll use in the future.



 *I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.


UPDATE: I should have done this before writing this review, but...hey, at least I did it, right?  These Dessange products are available at Target (man, I love Target) and run $9.99 each for the shampoo and conditioner, and $11.99 for the oil.  In my opinion, the price per bottle is a bit high BUT I don't spend a ton of money on myself and I'd be willing to pay it for a product that works.  And Dessange does.  Still recommended!

The Little Moments

Bailey and Gerry are 4 1/2 and 2 years old now, respectively, and they've become quite the affectionate kids.  I'd be lying if I said I didn't absolutely love it.  Like...LOVE IT.  In the midst of the craziness and the "pulling my hair out" moments in our day, it's these little moments that make me fall in love with my kids all over again.

Gerry is a whirling dervish of motion throughout the day.  From the minute he hits consciousness in the morning until the very last second before he falls asleep at night, the boy is just movement.  Always running somewhere, climbing on top of things and jumping off of things, opening and closing doors, inspecting all the little hiding spots he can find around the house, and playing like it's his job (because it is).  Most of the pictures I have of him in the last few months or so are just blurry because I can never get him to stay still long enough to actually get a good one.  He races his cars, builds (and subsequently destroys) elaborate and tall block towers, pushes Bailey's baby dolls in strollers, and finds different ways to get into things that never would have entered my limited adult mind.  He's motion, plain and simple.  But then, quite unexpectedly, there are these tiny little moments throughout the day.  Moments where he slows down and says, in his sweet little boy voice, "I yub you, mommy."  Moments where I can hear him searching me out from another room.  "Where mommy?  Sit with mommy," I'll hear him say and then a minute later there he is, climbing onto my lap, snuggling his tiny body up against mine and laying his head on my shoulder while he watches tv or plays on my phone.  There are moments where he leans in with his lips pursed and gives me a kiss and I swear a few wrongs in the world have been righted.

Bailey has never been an openly affectionate child.    She loves us, we know, and she always always prefers to be at home with us rather than sleeping over at a friend's house or spending the day out with someone else.  She gives hugs and kisses but, unlike Gerry, she keeps them reserved for special people and special times, preferring to show her affection in more subtle ways.  But lately even she has taken to slowing down during the day, to saying "Mommy?  I love you", to wanting to snuggle up in my lap, or wanting me to carry her somewhere.  There are times when she just seems so damn grown-up to me--when she bargains for more ice cream or tries to argue her point (any point, really...the girl's gonna make an excellent lawyer one day), or just stops and explains something about her day to us--and I feel like I'm literally watching her grow up and away from me.  But then there are those little moments where she's my baby again, when she wants to snuggle up, when she wants me to lay down with her until she falls asleep at night, where she throws her arms around my neck and refuses to let go.

And watching the two of them together?  Well, that's just magical.  Like any siblings, they've got their moments when they're at each other's throats and arguing.  But they have so many more moments where you can see how much they adore each other.  When they play together and one hands the other a toy and they say, "Oh, thank you!"  When they give each other a kiss before bed each night and say "I love you".  When they snuggle up together on the couch or in Bailey's bed and watch tv or play with my phone together.

And it's during these moments that I slow down, too.  I breathe in the scent of hers and Gerry's hair, I squeeze them tight and rain kisses down on them for as long as they'll let me.  I tell them I love them over and over again and I remind myself that this is what it's all about, that these tiny little moments in the middle of our often-times chaotic and crazy lives are all that matter.  I know that in the blink of an eye these two are going to be grown "for real" and that the affectionate displays are going to dwindle more and more as it becomes "uncool" (in their teenage minds) to show your family how much you care for them.  And I hope that they find their way back to this place as adults, and that they never stop showing how much they love us and each other.  Right now, I'm hanging on to these little moments.  And loving every single second of them.