things that make you go ohhhhhh (Timotei Conditioner)

Member Name: pixie1965

Product:	Timotei Conditioner
Date:	29/11/08 (186 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: nice smell

Disadvantages: chip pan look

Timotei Conditioner
Revives Cherry Extract & Cotton
Coloured Hair Range
Timotei are owned by Unilever. They first launched Timotei shampoos in Sweden in the 1970's and then came to the UK in 1983. They started producing products mainly aimed at Blonde hair, you may remember their first advert featuring a young lady with beautiful long blonde hair walking through a summer's meadow, but now make shampoos and conditioners for all hair colours and types.
Timotei have an extensive range of Shampoos and Conditioners for every hair type. They have suggested which conditioners worked well with which shampoo and are a well established brand name.
I have used many of their products and have always been very pleased with the results. As I have highlights in my hair and am now being classed as 'middle aged' (although I still feel 21) I have noticed my hair needs a very good conditioner to keep the smooth, silky feeling and shine to it.
So when I noticed this new range of Timotei Conditioners in my local supermarket I decided to give it a go. I also liked the 'buy 1 get 1 free' offer on this product. I purchased the Timotei Strength and Shine Shampoo that was the suggested match to use alongside the product at the bargain cost of £2.40.

The Bottle
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Both products were the larger 400ml size in the light green bottles. The conditioner had a Cherry Red base (or in conditioner bottles the top which the bottle stands on, so does that make it the bottom, any way the end that the liquid appears from)/ This is obviously the advertising companies idea to draw you attention to the 'cherry extract' that is meant to be within the ingredients. There is a lovely large photo of cherries splashed with dew on the front of the bottle, with a smaller cotton bud at the top. A delicious picture that I feel would look much better on a Mr Kipling's Cherry Bakewell box. Oh, I forgot to say for those who need it - top right hand corner is a little 1 min timer to let you know 'it only takes a minute girl', sorry, to the Take That fans - had to be done.
The Ingredient
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Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethiconol, Cetrimonlum, chloride, Edylhexyl, Methoxycinnamarte, DMDM Hydanton, Disodium EDRA, TEA - Dodecylbenzensulfonate, Gossypium Herbaceum seed oil, Propylene glycol, BHT, Silica, Prunus Avium Fruit Extract, Polysorbate 60.....
I am going to stop listing the ingredients here because, as you can see, unless you've got a masters degrees in chemistry none of these will make any sense whatsoever. I will tell you about a few of these ingredients as I feel they will shed some light onto why I have stopped using this product.
The Meaning of some of the Ingredients
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The Prunus Avium does indeed mean Wild Cherry. However, how much of the fruit from this tree is used is not stated. (Apparently birds adore this small fruit so you need to get to the tree before they do !!)
Cetearyl Alcohol is a white, waxy, solid material, which comes in the form of flakes. It doesn't dissolve in water, but readily dissolves in oil. (hmm I feel one of 2 things could result in this - either dandruff or a greasy residue) However, most conditioners do contain this ingredient.
Gossypium Herbaceum is the cotton extract and is widely used in Homeopathic remedies. However, it is used to relive cervical, menstrual and pregnancy problems, so I am not sure of its function in shampoo or conditioner.
Propylene Glycol, known also by the systematic name propane-1,2-diol, is an organic compound that has a faintly sweet, odorless, and colorless clear viscous liquid. This is basically a moisturizer used in medicines, cosmetics, food, toothpaste, mouth wash, and tobacco products. It is also used as a medical and sexual lubricant (A.K.A. "personal lubricant")
This later ingredient is obviously the stuff that gets the girl in the advert groaning with pleasure, over another well owned brand of shampoos and conditioners. So that's the secret ingredient that gives you the organism whilst in the shower. I always thought you needed something a little firmer than a shampoo or conditioner to get that sensation.
The Instructions
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The instructions come in English, Spanish and Greek. I like the catching 'unleash the beauty of nature' quote just before information about how this product restores softness and shine to coloured hair. It also boasts of having a 'luxurious and aromatic blend if ingredients, including fresh cherry and cotton...' So what else does it claim to do for you?
1. Intensively revives and enriches hair from root to tip.
2. Leaves your hair soft, silky and vibrant.
The Directions
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These are the usual directions you get on any conditioner, however unlike some you don't have to leave this on for 3 mins, only 1 min for a more intensive treatment. So apply evenly to wet hair after shampooing, rinse thoroughly.
The Aroma and Texture
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When opening the bottle there is a lovely smell of warm fruits. However, it's more of an almond smell than cherries. I believe this to be the Propylene glycol not the Prunus Avium. It also reminded me of a fabric conditioner but I can't remember which one. It is a lovely smell but doesn't have the freshness I was expecting.
The texture was thick, creamy and soft, although a little greasy.
Its pale white colour wasn't what I was expecting either. I don't why but I had imagined it would be a pale pink / red colour - maybe something to do with the cherries on the front and red base.
Using the Product
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As I mentioned earlier I had been using this alongside the shampoo suggested (Timotei Strength and Shine) so believed I was onto a winning combination. The shampoo had left my hair feeling really clean (almost squeaky clean in fact). I followed instructions on both products and after 1 min washed the conditioner out thoroughly in the shower. I could feel it detangling as I massaged it into my hair. You don't need a great amount of the product as it does cover really well and when combing through it spreads and covers well. I always part towel dry and leave for about 20 mins before blow drying, as it tends to stop my hair dry too quickly and looking as if I just stuck my finger in the electric socket. As I brushed my hair through it did feel really soft and had a good shine to it. Even after straightening my hair felt lovely. I did also notice that it gave my highlights a bit of a boast. Something to do with the Cetearyl Alcohol waxy substance maybe?
I continued to use this product over the next few weeks. However, after about 10 days I noticed my hair was becoming greasy. I lessened the time I left the conditioner on but it made no difference. My hair was just becoming greasier. I also noticed that the bottle opening became blocked quicker than most conditioners I have used. I had to wipe it off or lay it on the side to stop the conditioner blocking the hole.
The Conclusion
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I have not used this product any differently to other products and had kept to my usual hair washing routine. Because of having highlights my hair tends to be drier rather than greasy, so I was really surprised how greasy my hair became. I have stopped using this conditioner and have returned to my usual brand. Within a week, my hair is back to being lovely and soft without the chip pan look to it.
I am going to give this Timotei product a wide berth in the future. However, the shampoo is still a great buy and I am continuing to use this. I am a regular buyer of Timotei products and have been for many years, but recommend you choice a different conditioner if your hair is prone to being on the greasy side.

Also published on Ciao under name pixie65
Thanks for reading guys x

Summary: a bit of a let down