Three new products have recently been added to the Absorbine ShowSheen grooming product line.  Even at first glance you can tell that there are some big differences from other products.  I was excited to test them out and see how they worked.  The three products are the Finishing Mist, 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner, and Detangler Gel.  Read below to see what I like about these products.

The first one to be released was also the first one I tried, as well as my favorite of the three.  The Finishing Mist comes in a continous spray bottole which means it sprays for as long as you push the button.  Use just one finger, no pumping or sputtering.  The spray top is lockable so you don't have to worry about accidentaly spraying your tack trunk.  It is easy to push and sprays in a mousse like foam that gives you superb coverage and is very easy to work through all sorts of hair.  This Finishing mist has a great smell (jasmine and sandalwood) and detangles hair easily.  The first horse I used it on was a youngster that had never been sprayed with an aerosol can, and it was so quiet and smooth that it never bothered him a bit, I even sprayed his forelock!  My biggest surprise with this product was how well it worked on my long haired dog!  Skylar is a border collie/sheltie mix who was blessed (or cursed) with enough hair for any three dogs.  She is always fun to try to brush out.  I decided to spray the worst areas with the Finishing Mist and then I worked it into the tangled hair with my fingers.  After it dried, I was able to brush her tangles right out.  The difference was amazing.  This product has definitely earned a spot in my grooming kit!

Next up was the 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner.  I LOVE the bottle's top.  The larger pull up knob makes it much easier to open and close than other bottle designs.  It lathered up well and rinsed out super easy.  Even though I let it sit a little longer on the tail while washing the rest of the horse, it still rinsed out very clean.  It left my mare's body soft and shiny with a pleasant but light fragrance.  The Shampoo & Conditioner was perfect for this horse's body with no other product needed, but in the middle of our super dry Texas summer, I did feel my mare's mane and tail needed a little additional conditioning.  I would love to hear results from tests in a more humid climate, I think it might stand alone in different conditions, or if used on a horse whose hair was not quite as severely dry as this one was.  My verdict - this a great shampoo, but don't toss out your conditioner just yet.

ShowSheen Detangler Gel was the final product I tried.  This small bottle packs quite a punch, and seems to have been designed to help you use less (and save money!).  This gel feels 'slippery-er' than other products of the same type, and it works through dry hair much easier.  With some similar products I struggle to get a small amount applied evenly, and end up using too much unless the hair is damp.  This product went on easier and more evenly, covering more hair with the same amount of get.  The Infuser Applicator tip allows to to pinpoint the product at the base of the tail or mane, or into knots and snarls, without the drizzle and drip of other bottles.  I have a gelding named Remy with a beautiful and long mane, but he is horribly prone to witches knots.  After a week's vacation I came home to some really bad ones, and I used the Detangler Gel's applicator tip to put detangler right into the heart of the knots.  I mushed it around kinda from the outside, then put a little outside before I attempted combing him out.  I lost significantly less hair than I usually do and got rid of some really bad knots.  I  feel like I can use less product and cover more hair with this Detangler than others that I use.  Bottom line, this product may save money and hair at the same time!  Which is great news for me with Remy's 32" long mane!