YES IT PROVIDES 'LASTING HOLD' - BUT THIS STYLING GEL HAS NEVER BEEN 'INVISIBLE'! (Alberto Balsam Invisible Hold Styling Gel)

Member Name: totalserenity

Product:	Alberto Balsam Invisible Hold Styling Gel
Date:	31/05/09 (155 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: STRONG SOLUTION THAT SETS LIKE GLUE!

Disadvantages: A JELLIFIED FINISH IS LEFT UPON THE HAIR - NOT SUITABLE FOR SUBTLE STYLING, ALAS...

I have suffered two really serious muscular meltdowns this year which is directly relevant to the review subject in question today...

Back at the end of February I became very ill and unfortunately utterly bed-bound, as the whole of my back went into complete seizure after bending over the bath rinsing a hair dye off. Having suffered 4 prolapsed lumbar discs during my adult life (thus far) along with Osteoarthritis, my poor beleaguered back obviously decided enough was enough and literally locked to stop me doing more damage.

On getting tentatively back on my feet for a mere glorious few days, I managed to get out shopping again - for all of a heady six days before the rotten thing decided to pack in again!

During those treasured halcyon hours of freedom, one of the main things I looked for was a decent sized container of hair gel which I found for the amazingly low price of 99p at Wilkos under the well-known brand of 'Alberto Balsam'.

I required a strong holding, non-sticky and discreet-looking liquid, which would hold my tresses in place on the days I didn't need to - or physically couldn't, style my high maintenance hair.

Advertised as 'Invisible Hold Styling Gel', this 200ml clear plastic-tubed container seemed just the ticket for my grooming needs; as when I am quite literally 'off my feet', by the time I have managed to make it to the shower the last thing I can cope with is having to blow-dry, and then meticulously set my hair into its usual 'look'.

Plus, my poor mane is mis-treated enough, so when I go through my regular periods of ill-health, I tend to give my hair a much needed rest by just gelling - then scraping back into a no-nonsense ponytail...

As it happened this was one of my 'Star Buys' whilst temporality mobile - as my rotten muscles went into their second disabling muscular spasm; therefore I lost out another almost three weeks of my life bed/housebound yet again *Argh*!

'Alberto-Culver's' (the maker's) transparent gloop and I became very good friends on a daily basis at this point; as by following the: 'Apply to damp or dry hair. Work gel through the hair and allow to dry naturally or style as usual' directions, my auburn tresses were instantly tamed into submission by this ultra-thick solution's almost glue-like strength!

Now I have to be honest and say I was surprised by this formula's excellent adhesive powers as any errant wispy strands were soon slicked into place by this pleasantly perfumed goo!

Promising 'Performance you can trust', plus 'At a price that makes sense', this styling accessory according to Balsam is 'For creating unique styles'.

The simple black and transparent recyclable packaging and black screw-bottomed lid look both functional and neat; with all the plus points of this item - in addition to the ingredients list found on the back of the tube.
Standing around 6" tall, the blurb on the back tells the user the gel is of 'salon tested formula', leaves 'no residue' with its light application, as well as 'washes out easily' -which is a fact I do agree with.

Once open the recommended using time is a very reasonable 12 months too...

There is a whole host of chemical additives including Alcohol Denat, Glycerin and Glycol, plus Limonene; which, in my opinion you can definitely catch a whiff of something of citrus origin.
As I mentioned before the smell is pleasant - not over powering like some toiletry products; nor do the contents aggravate my ever-prevalent dermatitis, luckily.

Neither did I ever notice a distasteful after-odour - as can occur on using some more potent hair care lotions and potions.

'Long lasting hold' is quoted as a plus for this offering, which I can also completely vouch for.
My hair is very fine and quite lifeless I think; and yet a splodge of this gel can hold it in my desired shape for most of the day with no problem.
If the non-greasy clear gunk dries out then just carefully damp it down with a smattering of cold water and it soon sets into place once again...

On applying this somewhat slimy-feeling substance, the hair is definitely more malleable and controllable.

What I would contradict however, are the 'non-sticky' and 'invisible' claims the manufacturers make, for as much as I think this jellified gunk does the job, it definitely is very, very sticky to the touch and sets with a very shiny, almost plastic appearance upon the hair.
I sincerely doubt this creation could set without some visibility because I have never seen it do so on mine, although I purposely chose this rather than its blue-coloured 'Maximum Hold' counterpart sat by its side on the shop's shelf...

In truth it feels peevish to complain about these facts; but the invisibility factor is the premise of the product as much as it is true it does wash out easily, it is equally not true that this gel cannot be detected on the hair.

As far as the tackiness goes I have had less adhesion from Solvite Wallpaper Paste...and the last time I looked that was a market leader for its glue-like ingredients!

To be objectively fair in my Star rating today - despite the fact I do love this Alberto Balsam styling aid, I have to award 3 shiny sticky shapes to this just above average hair gel, fellow dooyoo'ers...and 'Yes' I would buy it again, as it did the job for me. :o)

Summary: CAN'T GRUMBLE FOR THE PRICE BUT NOT THE MOST HONEST OF PRODUCT TITLES OUT THERE, FOLKS.