For a long time, just hearing the words “cleansing conditioner” brought out my inner Bob Wiley.

Though I’m no stranger to a sulfate-free formula (and vastly prefer one, frankly), I need shampoo on a psychological level. The suds aren’t as necessary, but two steps, one of them at least slightly foamy is just what I need to feel like my hair is clean. When I’d TRY to use one myself, I’d sneak in some shampoo around my hairline like an ADDICT. I just couldn’t be trusted to solely use a cleansing conditioner on my own. I just didn’t believe it’d get my hair grime-free. My surreptitious suds were the hair cleansing equivalent of Bob Wiley’s hanky he used when shaking hands.

Then, I attended a L’Oreal Paris blow-out event for the brand’s new cleansing conditioner, EverCreme and was forced to just use that as someone else applied it to my mane in public and it would be awkward for me to scream that I need something shampoo-esque at my roots, especially since this entire event was based on a premise antithetical to that. Right. So while I quietly had a “gimme gimme gimme; I need, I need” moment in my head during the wash sesh, when all was said and done post-blowout, my hair looked… excellent. Hydrated, bouncy, not stringy or greasy at the roots. It had a different spring in its step I’d attribute to the malleability of my hydrated strands. It looked shinier and was more flexible. I wouldn’t advise using it if you’ve gone extraordinarily long without washing (however long that may be for you–for me, it’s more than two days) but for curly or dry hair, it’s fabulous.

And the SCENT! It’s a musky vanilla olfactory experience and it has to be said–it warrants this kind of reaction.

The EverCreme suite of products includes

EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner ($7)
EverCreme Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner ($7 each)
EverCreme Intense Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner ($7 each)
EverCreme Deep Nourishing Masque ($9)
EverCreme Nourishing Leave-in Spray ($9)

Featuring Camelina, Apricot and Grapeseed Oils, the blend delivers triple action moisturization. My hair feels good. It feels great. It feels wonderful. This stuff is the Dr. Leo Marvin in a bottle to your follicular Bob Wiley.

L’Oreal Paris EverCreme products are available now at drugstores nationwide.

And tell me: What’s your stance on cleansing conditioners?