For a long time I thought PERT Plus was just for old people. I still remember seeing the crusty old green bottle in the corner of my shower as a youth. Nothing about it said “cool” or “refreshing” — it was sort of an 80s standard that my dad used religiously, right next to his ceramic bottle of Old Spice.

While Old Spice has recently rejuvenated and repackaged itself to much acclaim, PERT Plus is also attempting a comeback, like Newt Gingrich. But unlike Newt, being repackaged and reintroduced to the public is going to be good for PERT Plus because it has substance and has been developed further than its original incarnation.

Even though 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner products now proliferate the market, PERT Plus was actually the first one to ever hit the market, back in 1987. As a result, the product has had to progress and distinguish itself. Classic Clean is one of six different available kinds of PERT Plus 2 in 1, which now has specialized versions for specific needs: Volumizing, Classic Clean for general use, Moisturizing, Invigorating and Anti-Dandruff. There is even a 3 in 1 product containing shampoo, conditioner and body wash.

I received my bottle of 2 in 1 PERT Plus Classic Clean and immediately popped the lid to take a whiff to see what kind of a scent I was dealing with. I remember the PERT of my youth having a heavy chemical smell that singed your nose hairs and burned your nostrils, and the experience of using it on your head was not dissimilar to the scent. But I was pleasantly surprised, because the scent of the new PERT Plus was fresh and pleasant. The scent itself actually smelled the way the color of the bottle looked — clean, crisp and breezy.

I applied a pretty hefty serving, because the last time I used the original PERT Plus it was somewhat runny and you just needed to use a lot of it. (My dad was bald so maybe it didn’t matter to him/why he liked it.) But this time was different – I noticed I applied way too much as soon as I rubbed my hands together to apply it to my head. The soap foamed up immediately and you could feel the depth and volume of the shampoo, not just because there was a lot of it. It reminded me of that scene in “Star Trek” where Captain Kirk encounters Tribble” for the first time and they reproduce at an astounding rate — the minute he turned his head, their population had doubled. Nerdy example, I know, but it captures the essence of the way the PERT Plus seemingly multiplied.

Once it was on my head, it felt thick and substantial, not runny and ineffective. I worked it into my scalp and it actually felt really good. There was so much excess shampoo that I even used it as an overall body wash – it functioned effectively in that capacity as well. When it was time to rinse off, it came off cleanly and I didn’t feel any residual effects that were difficult to wash away. And I smelled great, in a very masculine “I forge things from steel” type of way.

Overall PERT Plus Classic Clean is something I would recommend. A bottle would last you longer than the average shampoo because it doesn’t take much to achieve the desired result. This is a new PERT Plus — it isn’t just for your dad anymore.