I’ve never been one to put a lot of stock in hair care products. This is probably because I’ve been blessed with hair that just never had many issues; it’s thick, straight and healthy with little to no frizziness – the definition of “wash and go” hair. I’ve always chosen my shampoo based largely on how it smelled in the bottle, and if the accompanying conditioner made it extra soft, that was a nice bonus. But, as I mentioned in my recent love letter to beauty supply stores, an impressive review on Nouveau Cheap made me rethink my approach to shampoo. Apparently, Queen Helene’s Mint Julep Shampoo is some sort of unassuming miracle product – who woulda thunk?

While I dig the mint green, super retro bottle, I think it made me underestimate the potential greatness of this shampoo. But now I realize that Queen Helene has never revamped this classic bottle because they didn’t have to - the product speaks for itself! First of all, the price: The shampoo is meant to be diluted in 1-2 gallons (!) of water, and it costs around $4 a bottle at Sally. That means you’re paying $4 for 2 gallons of shampoo! Next, the smell: Just like spearmint gum. JUST LIKE IT. If you’ve ever wanted your hair to smell like minty gum without actually having minty gum in your hair, you will love this.

Actually using the shampoo was an interesting experience for me. Ignore what it says on the Queen Helene site – this stuff doesn’t lather. (That’s because it’s free from lots of nasty additives that can damage your hair, but still.) Instead of diluting it in water, I used a really small amount – like a few drops – and applied it directly to my wet hair, scrubbed and rinsed. Immediately, my hair and scalp felt extremely clean, and my hair was soft and manageable, even before conditioner. (Note: I used a random Herbal Essences conditioner I had in my shower, since I don’t think there is an accompanying Mint Julep conditioner.) My hair even dried extremely fast – something I thought I imagined until I revisited the aforementioned post on Nouveau Cheap and found that the reviewer had noticed the same thing! Once dry, my hair was shiny, with an almost absurd amount of bounce and body.

So what can I say? This is my new favorite shampoo. What’s yours?