FEED YOUR HAIR WITH FRUITS AND CROWN IT WITH PEARLS! (Garnier Fructis Long & Strong Shampoo)

Member Name: karimkha

Product:	Garnier Fructis Long & Strong Shampoo
Date:	04/08/09 (233 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Shiny, detangled hair and stronger with frequent use

Disadvantages: takes ages to rinse, split ends still there.

Having a very long hair has its benefits: some men find long hair very attractive! According to my experiences, I have found that women with longer hair have seem to be more alluring to men than those who have shorter hair (no offence to shorter-haired girls). We see on magazines, that many models with long shiny hair (even celebrities) grow their hair naturally or simply add extensions to look younger and more attractive!

That doesn't mean women with shorter hair are not sexy or attractive; on the contrary . . . I know a lot of women with short hair who are still as sexy as ever (like Sharon Stone used to be).

I've been growing my hair since I was around 6 or 7; I only cut it once and I've never done so again. I should be thanking my lucky stars for being blessed with long, dark and silky hair, but hey, like the rest of people . . . sometimes I do have a bad hair day as well!

Owning long hair does mean more problems and extra effort: washing and drying; and the biggest problem will be the styling and usage of styling products.

Excessive washing and drying your hair, and exposure to sun, can certainly weaken and damage your hair starting from its roots, down to the closing stage of the nice lovely hair ends, with the horrific scene of split ends!

Yes, I've been in that position! In fact, a couple of months back I have had every woman's nightmare: the split ends. In a mission to get rid of them (but without cutting a single inch of my precious hair), I looked for a decent hair shampoo that cleanses and moisturises, and which repairs split ends . . . and it wasn't easy to find one, believe me!

I've tried some very expensive brands; all of them gave the temporary shine and smoothness I wanted, but I never got the results that I wanted!

While I was looking for any fortifying shampoo (as usual!), I came across a Garnier kiosk where they had a special offer on their Garnier products (25% off the original price plus gifts and samples), so I bought a few things including Garnier Fructis Fortifying shampoo. Of course it's been on the market for ages; I have used it once or twice in England . . . having a closer look I saw the variety had a new claim . . . this time it was labelled ''LONG AND STRONG!''

Wow! A shampoo designed especially for split, weak and long hair which could be applied frequently! I purchased it and brought it home with me; I had nothing to lose as I had bought it 'on the cheap' . . . maybe it would work for me!

== Bottle it! ==

The bottle has nothing new added to it (it is the same plastic clear green flat container) except for a silver tag with "NEW" and a blue circle written off as LONG & STRONG.

It has a metallic green easy to open flip top ball lid, which can be very handy when using in shower with wet slippery hands, you won't struggle to open the top! On the front, the name of the shampoo is stated clearly; at the back you can read all the relative information about the actions of this variety, directions for use, and the ingredients.

== Smell it! ==

From the name Fructis you can guess it has fruit concentrates that contain vitamin B6 and B3, fruit acids, reconstructive lipids and A.H.A so obviously it should smell fruity!

Opening the lid to smell a sudden burst of sweet fruit: I can definitely detect a sort of peachy smell, although this wasn't a fruit mentioned in the ingredient list!

It contains lemon peel extract, and I can smell a faint citric smell; the strong sweet scent and citric fragrance fuse together to create an irresistible fruity aroma!

== So sweet baby . . . my hair is having its own pudding! ==

It had fructose and glucose (a simple sugar found in some ripe fruits), according to Garnier statement they help feeding with nutrients that help fuel hair cells to ensure healthy and shiny hair growth and well fed hair cells!

== Texture, thickness and look ==

Unlike some other Fructis shampoos, '''Long and Strong''' shampoo has colour and thickness. It is pearly white, with a magnificent glossy shimmer; looking closely I can see glittery particles that give the shampoo its extraordinary luminosity!

When I spread it on my fingers I could definitely see some sparkles and my figure was moisturised now as well, lol!

'''The texture''' is very smooth, thick, gooey and sticky as well. When I tried to use my fingers again, they stuck together and the mixture was like a gum between my fingers, I started to wonder about how easily I would find rinsing the shampoo out of my hair!

== About The promise, Nothing makes your hair stronger . . . Ok . . . I have to try it first . . . ==

They promised to leave my hair radiant; stronger from the inside and shiner from the outside.

I liked the idea of using fruit concentrates, fruit extracts and oils; fructose and glucose as ingredients grabbed my attention, too, so I was very interested to try it for myself.

== In the shower . . . Trying it for the first time! ==

Washing my hair is such a big chore for me and picking up the right shampoo is vital for me, I don't want to end it spending the whole night detangling my hair, do I?

I have learned from previous experiences not to use too much the first time; in some cases, less is more. I poured about a walnut-sized portion on my hands, and massaged the lather into my wet hair, paying extra attention to the roots and the dry split ends.

I didn't believe how much it lathered up . . . I thought I would need another application, but surprisingly, it was more than enough. In fact, the more I massaged it, the more the white foam lathered . . . I was covered in foam. The aromatic fruity smell was even stronger and the bathroom was all fruity!

It was all going well but wait . . . a tiny problem has appeared . . . I've been rinsing my hair for few minutes now and I can still feel something in my hair! The lather residue had gone, but after however many rinses, I could still feel something in my hair, like another coating of oil or moisture has been added to my hair; it's a bit heavier (probably because the moisture is locked inside?) . . . I'm not sure but it definitely feels heavier, and I'm not very impressed (particularly with the weightiness and the slippery feeling).

However, the smell was gorgeous and my hair was dazzling with shine and seems to be tangle-free! I reminded myself that this was still in WET status; I should wait and see what it will be like when it dries.

== Instant results ==

When brushing, I saw less fallen hair; my hair was tangle free, it had a stunning smell and had instant shine.

When dry: it still has the incredible shine and lovely smell (of course the smell had faded a bit) but it lasted until the next wash, which was brilliant.

Oh, and I nearly forgot . . . '''what about the dry split ends?''' They were, without a doubt, still there, but they were less obvious and much smoother to the touch.

== A few weeks later . . . still waiting for a miracle to come about! ==

You can't judge a product from only a single use so I waited until the bottle was finished before deciding my verdict. I bought the 250 ml and it lasted for 6 weeks with everyday washing, so I guess it's a long lasting shampoo. What are the results? There was certainly a change. My hair was shiner, smoother; easier to brush and style. On the other hand, my split ends were still there. They certainly didn't disappear, although maybe a little faded out, so probably I should pay the hair dresser a visit soon. Also I have noticed fewer hairs falling out in the brush which means stronger hair for sure.

== Will I recommend it? ==

I would highly recommend using Fructis long and strong for men and women, whether your hair is long or short, BUT only if your hair is natural. I recommend DON'T use it with dyed hair . . . especially if you are blonde . . . my mum used it and her blonde highlights were changed to a much darker shade! So keep that in mind when purchasing Fructis Shampoo. If you are interested in the Fructis range, they have a special shampoo for coloured hair.

It won't demolish your split ends, but it will give you mirror shine hair; it will give you smooth, silky hair with less and less falling hair which insures a healthy looking head of hair. Now as to the vital question, Will it make the hair longer for real? Well, our hair grows about 1.5 cm every month so I guess it won't make the process of hair growth faster, but it will make it grow healthier, stronger, and less breakable. As a result, it will help it grow appropriately and it will show.

== Prices and availability ==

It is available nearly everywhere, in all good shops, supermarkets, chemists, beauty shops . . . even at the corner shop!
The product is reasonably priced; prices are varied between £2.18 - £2.48; it can be available in special offer or discounted price.

Thank you for reading.


© Karimkha ~ ~ ~ August ~ ~ ~ 2009

Summary: A fruity shampoo!