Davines Nounou Nourishing Illuminating Shampoo with Chestnut Milk and Nounou Illuminating Cream Conditioner with Tomato Extract

Not long ago, Drugstore.com helped me "discover" two hair-care products that have turned into favorites. When they sent me an order a few months ago, they included in my box a generous sample of Davines Nounou Illuminating Cream Conditioner with Tomato Extract. How did I get so lucky? I'll take you on my Davines journey today.

My first thought when I saw the little tub was that someone had finally found the perfect way to package a thick conditioner. When I tried it, I fell in love. I ordered one immediately - thinking, "How on earth did this brand escape my notice?" I also ordered the Nounou Nourishing Illuminating Shampoo. I figured that the shampoo would be as good as the conditioner. I figured correctly. Davines deserves some serious recognition for these luxurious products!

Davines Nounou Nourishing Illuminating Shampoo with Chestnut Milk is available in two sizes at Drugstore.com, $18.80 for 8.45 ounces or $43.27 for 33.8 ounces. These are sale prices, which I discovered today. I paid more. There was no question I would order the value sizes since I knew the conditioner was fabulous. Nounou Nourishing Illuminating Cream Conditioner with Tomato Extract is priced at $20.00 for 8.45 ounces and $57.60 for 33.8 ounces.

Both of these are "salon" products, meaning they are only sold though licensed retailers. Drugstore.com discloses that it is not a licensed retailer. However, if you use Google to search the Internet, you will find several non-salon sources for these fabulous products. I discovered that Davines products are sold at Barneys.

A few years ago, I found a shampoo and conditioner I loved at CVS. My feature hadn't been posted for a day when a women representing the maker swooped in, leaving a huffy comment that her products were not available at CVS - or if they were, they had been diverted "illegally." She objected to her products being called drugstore treasures. I verified that they were on the CVS stock list and left up my feature. She may not have wanted the publicity, but I wanted to tell my readers how to find a great deal.

Anyhow, back to the business at hand. When I blind bought the shampoo, I had "visions" of the unappealing smell like roasted chestnuts. Fortunately, the scent is fabulous, but hard to describe. Allure likened it to eggnog. I don't smell eggnog or chestnuts - just a light, creamy scent that's gone as soon as I finish my shower. It's a very gentle shampoo, fabulous for color-treated hair. I like it because it cleans well and gently, and along with the conditioner, leaves my hair with volume and shine. Allure said, "It made our highlights look and feel shiny, not stripped, and our color didn't fade in the slightest."

The company targets this fabulous shampoo to color-treated hair. Color-treated hair needs deep nourishment to restore its strength, body, and shine. Chestnut milk is rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, mineral salts, and lipids and deeply moisturizes. Hydrocreatine adds strength and elasticity. Rice proteins condition and protect the hair from environmental damage, and silicone micro-emulsions illuminate the hair's natural tones.

The Nounou Illuminating Cream Conditioner with Tomato Extract is very thick, but dispenses easily from the wide top of the bottle. It leaves my hair, which normally tangles badly during cleansing, tangle-free and easy to comb out. When I use it with the Davines shampoo or any other shampoo, it gives my hair volume and shine.

The rich blend of interactive ingredients restructures, nourishes, protects, and restores body to color-treated hair. Sweet almond butter and vitamin F nourish, while hydrocreatine internally strengthens the hair and increases elasticity. Tomato extract protects from free radicals, and rhizobian gum maintains color's vibrancy. Naturally, the company recommends that you start your ritual with Nounou Shampoo for best results.

There is only one "but" that relates only to the containers, not the products. The large, value-sized plastic bottles are very heavy and difficult to handle in the shower. I've had them slip out of my hands more than once. I would imagine salons use pump dispensers so that the shampoo specialists don't have to pick up the plastic bottles. Working with the bottles in the wet shower is cumbersome. If you don't feel you can manage the gigunda bottles, which do not come with pump dispensers, you might want to try the "regular-sized" products.

As I researched Davines, I found that there are other formulations. One is Momo for dry and dehydrated hair. I'd like to try more - and most certainly will. Barneys doesn't offer the best prices - probably because they are authorized retailers - but I'm resourceful. I'll find the best price somewhere.

Have you ever seen Davines products in your salon? I haven't. There's more information at the company's Web site. Founded in Parma, Italy in 1983 by the Bollati family, Davines Group started as a research laboratory producing high-end hair-care products for renowned cosmetic companies worldwide. After a decade of honing its expertise, they began creating their own brand of Davines hair-care products exclusively for salons. I learned there about Davines' commitment to clean energy and sustainability. I like them even more now.

For now, since there is a sale, I'd recommend Drugstore.com. I don't think you'll regret a blind buy of any of Davines' extraordinary products.

Photos courtesy of Drugstore.com and Allure