Here are some answers to your questions plus addtl info for you wenners out there, some of which I found surprising (eg, last year for these seasonal scents):
If you want the "today's special value"(known as tsvs in QVC- speak) you have to order today. Not sure if you are familiar w/qvc, but they also have OTOs (one time onlys) that are sometimes offered when Chaz Dean is on the air selling Wen.
I recently learned a lot about Wen, because a Cathelete on another thread mention that QVC has forums like this forum...turns out there's a Wen-specific forum and let me tell you, those folks are as passionate about Wen as we are about Cathe, so I learned a lot just by lurking (I found it by clicking on the "beauty" link at the top of the QVC home page, then off to left, there are more links...toward the bottom you will see "beauty banter" then again on the left you'll see more links, and at the bottom of the first group of links it says "wen" . click on that and you're there. I just spent some time lurking this morning and learned lots...see below.
Okay, to answer your specific questions, and to share some of what I learned on that forum:
1. I color my hair and Wen does not strip it at all. I used color protecting shampoos in the past, some quite expensive as shampoo goes (but not as expensive as wen, but more about that later), but Wen does a better job protecting my color than any of those others. Having said that, earlier in the year on another thread, a Cathlete said she was stopping Wen because it was messing with her hair color. If I remember correctly she's a redhead (odd, because wen is specifically marketed to redheads). I'm a brunette.
2. There are different formulations for different hair, but just because a formula is supposed to be right for your hair doesn't mean it will be what works best for you. The formulas are:
Sweet almond mint -the original and made to work for every hair type. Some say this smells like medicine. It doesn't smell like almonds like I expected, but I don't mind the scent.
Pomegranate - also made for all hair types, but unlike the other formulations, is wheat-free...it's soy based. Most of the wen scents also have menthol, so although this is called pomegranate, be prepared for a scent that's a little different from what you're thinking it will be (but I like this scent).
Cucumber Aloe - I've never tried this one. It's supposed to be more astringent and for folks with oiler hair.
Tea tree- this is for folks with scalp issues, which I'm assuming means dandruff, but there's lots at anecdotal comments about how it helps with hair growth, both volume and speed.. Smell is pure tea tree...I like it, bit it's not everybody's cup of tea
Lavender - supposed to be voluminizing and for fine hair. My hair is somewhat fine, but wavy. I love the fragrance, but it made my hair dry and frizzy...see what I mean about the formula thats marketed as the best for your hair is not always the right one? If this had been the first wen I tried, I would think wen is a rip off and not understand how anybody could like it. I'm using mine up by mixing it with other scents.
Fig - marketed for coarse hair...the most nourishing. I don't like the smell, but unfortunately for me, it works fantastically well on my hair. I used to hate the smell, and now only dislike it, so I guess my nose is making progress.
Okay, the above ones are the "original" formulas, and the ones that are usually offered in the special deals. The other available formulas are 6/13 and the seasonal scents. 6/13 only comes in the large 32 oz size, smells like vanilla/lemon wonderfulness, and is very moisturizing. My hair loves it.
Then there are the seasonals. They are all based on the same formula, with less menthol, so the scents are much more true to their names. Since the scents are all based on the same formula, technically your hair should react the same to each one, but that has not been my experience. The fall scent is ginger pumpkin...folks are mad for this scent. The winter scent is winter vanilla mint...I LOVE this scent and even though the fall scent was only ok for my hair, this one is excellent. I find it really moisturizing. The spring scent is green tea gardenia...lots of folks, including me, found it really drying...I actually sent it back. Folks thought that maybe the green tea extract was astringent...the only difference between the seasonal scents are the botanicals and expssences, so that's probably it. Summer is mango coconut...works really well for my hair, s,ells nice
3 TAKE NOTE: I just learned that this will be the last year for these seasonal scents...next year the seasonals will be new scents , so you might want to start with one of the original formulas v falling in love with something only to have it disappear, like me with winter vanilla mint. :-(
4. It's good to buy from QVC because if you try a formula and don't like it you can send it back within 30 days...yes, you're out the shipping, but at least you'll get some money back. There are lots of complaints from folks who bought through the infomercial company (gunther renny...something like that)...complaints that they can't get off the auto shipment plan, etc. I've only ever bought wen from qvc, but their customer service has been very good.
5. In my opinion, the absolute best way to get to try all the different Wen scents is the Decemer TSV...I got it last December, but apparently this same TSV has been offered the last few Decembers: it's 6 of the 16 oz bottles for $80 plus shipping (qvc shipping is expensive, sigh). In my package, I got one of each of the original scents except cucumber aloe...they gave a winter vanilla mint instead. They came in lovely boxes and I got lots of DVDs about how to use it...I think it was in case you planned to give them as gifts. I kept mine for myself. ;-) The only downside of doing it this way is that if one of the formulas doesn't work for you, you can't return it unless you return everything. That's how I got stuck with the lavender, but the price was so good (well...) I didn't mind too much.
6. In October they're introducing a children's line...with no menthol, so those of you who liked what wen did for your hair, but didn't like the menthol smell, you may want to check this out. The scents will be watermelon, apple and strawberry banana. I'm not a kid, but if they have a good deal, I'd like to try the watermelon!
7. Wen is expensive...hah, no news there, but I shampoo my hair less often with wen. At a maximum I wash every other day. Some women report that they can go 3, 4, 5 days or so, but I'm assuming they aren't working out as often or as hard as we are...even if it still looks clean, sweat takes its toll!
8. For those who love the fall ginger pumpkin, at some point in the next few days, maybe tonight?, the fall ginger pumpin is going to be offered with a 2oz ginger pumpkin replenishing mist. I'm assuming it will be offered for the price of the 16 oz alone, which is what theyndidnwhen the 6/13 replenishing mist was introduced.
Speaking of the replenishing mist, that product has been a bust for me....I can't figure out how to use it, I guess...seems to make no difference no matter what I do with it. Anybody love it? If so, why? What do you do with it?
Okay, so now that I've shared all that info with you I feel much less guilty about how much time I spent on the QVC wen board this morning!
