As a member of the BzzAgent website, I was recently sent samples of the John Frieda Full Repair Shampoo and Conditioner to test. This isn't a range I would have chosen to purchase myself - as I don't have much faith in hair products which claim to have an impressive effect on my hair, I usually stick to cheaper products. However I was happy to try the range, and as usual hoped it would do some good for my hair.

My hair is very long and fine, and really isn't in very good condition. It is dry and frizzy, quite flyaway and breaks easily. The John Frieda Full Repair range makes a claim of repairing damage caused by excessive styling, but also of preventing damage. I don't think my hair is damaged from excessive styling, but maybe the cause of the damage doesn't really matter.

The John Frieda Full Repair Conditioner comes in a dark red tube. The conditioner itself is white, and is very easy to dispense from the tube. It is fairly runny for a conditioner, but not so much that it escapes from your hand before you get it onto your hair.

I find it very easy to smooth the conditioner through my hair. It doesn't just coat the outside of my hair and then need working through, it goes right through my hair without much effort. This is a definite good point for me, as combing my fingers through my hair when applying products can result in quite a bit of hair coming loose in my hands.

The instructions say to leave the conditioner on for a few minutes. I don't time it, but I think I usually leave it on for about two minutes. It rinses out of my hair reasonably easily, but I notice a residue tends to need washing off the back of my neck. This happens with most conditioners, but most can be rinsed off easily, whereas I do need to use some shower gel to get the John Frieda Full Repair Conditioner off my neck.

The first few times I used the shampoo and conditioner, I didn't notice much difference in my hair. It wasn't having a negative effect, but it didn't seem to be doing much good either. Then on the fourth or fifth occasion, there was a sudden change, which has continued since. Once dry, my hair seemed much shinier than usual and also quite a bit less prone to tangles. It is easy to brush and style, and although there is no extra volume (something my hair badly needs), it really does seem to be smoother and shinier. I'm not sure this is classed as "repair" as such, but it was definitely a positive.

However I think there might be a slight negative as well. I keep my hair pleated at night, as otherwise I end up getting it stuck under pillows and pulling it painfully. Since starting to use the John Frieda Full repair range, my hair seems to be getting more tangled and messier on the top of my head than previously. I can't be sure if this is an effect of the conditioner, but I think it started around when I began using the products.

I've chosen to write this review about the conditioner, as I expect it is that which is making my hair shinier and smoother, but it could be an effect of using the shampoo and conditioner together.I'm quite impressed with the John Frieda Full Repair range, and it is refreshing to actually notice a difference in the condition of my hair which I'm certain is down to the products I am using. I can't say whether I'll buy it once my samples have finished, as the cheaper brands will probably win out due to price, but I'll definitely look out for offers.