A couple of years ago I was introduced to the range of Aveda (it’s German for wanky and expensive but environmentally friendly and rather nice and luxurious) hair care products. Well, one in particular: a leave-in conditioner thing which leaves my hair looking just slightly less daggy than it did before. I dab a little in each morning.
The bottle I’ve been using is about to run out. It’s at that stage where I’ve precariously balanced it upside-down next to the bathroom sink, just to coax those last few millilitres out of it. Anticipating its drying-up any day now, on Monday I moseyed on down to the Aveda shop to get another bottle.
I stood there in the brilliant light that pervades all such establishments, looking around to find my familiar bottle. They’d changed the colour slightly, but there it was. I was sure I’d paid about $25 for the last bottle, but I couldn’t remember what size I’d got. I looked at the two sizes, 250ml for $24.95 or 500ml for $39.95.
Yes, it’s exhorbitant. It’s at least 80 times the cost of petrol. Not that dabbing petrol in my hair would do much for my hairstyle, unless I was in the mood to burn it off, Michael Jackson-style. But dammit, I’m hopeless at finding products I like, so when I find something, I stick to it. And it’s not like I have the time or inclination to seek out certified organic aloe, lavender, rosemary or any of the other myriad of ingredients and mix it up myself.
On the other hand, the bottle had last me about a year and a half, so 5 cents per day is a small price to pay to have my hair looking less daggy than necessary. Doesn’t sound so bad now. That said, the US price is well below the Australian price, which could lead one to believe we’re getting gouged on the deal.
After a few seconds comparing the two bottles, I eventually concluded I’d bought the bigger bottle. Grumbling to myself about how the price had shot up since last time, I bought it, and took it home. Inevitably I discovered that it had been the smaller bottle last time. That being the case, I doubt I’ll be gracing Aveda’s door again until well into the second half of the decade.
4 replies on “Hair care”
Yes, the Aveda stuff is wanky and expensive but surprisingly good … I abhor most forms of skincare but am devoted to Aveda’s Moisture Rich cream, which is literally the only thing (medicinal or not) which relieves and cures my painfully dry skin. I lost my bottle in our recent house move and was too cheap to buy another (it dies cost $89, after all), and my skin started to look like a leper’s in the desert by the time I miraculously and joyously rediscovered it in an unpacked box. And OK, it might cost $89, but I’m only halfway through a tube I bought 2 years ago and I slather on a thin layer every day, so $89 over 4 years (projected) isn’t too bad.
In a moment of extravagance a few years ago, I bought a bottle of Issy Miyake after shave. $80 I think, outrageous. No regrets. I love it and so do others it would seem. It lasts me longer than a year, and friends buy it for me duty free when they travel. Just finished last bottle and new one is waiting for me. If something works for you, it is a life staple and part of the cost of living.
I use Aveda products too. It is nice to know that we are assisting the environment even though it may cost a little extra. Just think if everyone started buying more environmentally friendly products then the production would increase and the costs would go down (hopefully!). Same thing applies to organic produce, it’s outrageously expensive but obviously there is just not the demand and therefore the costs are higher. It’s just a pity that it has to be that way.
I also recently discovered to my horror that I was poisoning my body with aluminium every time I put on my deodorant. Now I buy Redwin deodorant in a pump bottle. Doesn’t smell as flowery or fragrant as other brands but at least it’s not poisonous.
I’ve also bought Enjo products but I am still having problems coming to grips with the fact that they say you can clean your loo without chemicals.
I’m not a tree-huggin hippy by the way – just trying to be a little more thoughtful about the earth for my future grandchildren, etc.
you should start saving for your next bottle ;)