~ Forget Goldilocks, think Greasy-locks ~ (Toni & Guy Funky Gum)

Member Name: blue_ashleigh

Product:	Toni & Guy Funky Gum
Date:	17/08/08 (320 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Does leave your hair shiny, and lasts

Disadvantages: Makes your hair look greasy

I tend not to style my hair (it's a wash and go job!), but sometimes I want to add curls, or shine, or have messy hair, or flick the ends of my hair... and so products are required. I was looking for some wax or paste that was light and tumbled across a small (25ml) tub of TONI&GUY Funky Gum for £1.99 (this was a few months back, but I think the 25ml tub is still going for around the £2 mark).


~ The claims ~

- Flexible separation with shine
- Remouldable gum
- Creates messy shine for hair of all lengths


~ Packaging ~

The 25ml travel size tub of Funky Gum is about 3cm tall and has a 5cm diameter. The tub is red with a silver trim around the edge of the lid. They also do a Texture Paste tub which is silver, so it's easy to differentiate if you have both and you're in a rush! The tub sounds like it's made of some type of metal - which is good because it won't squash and cover your things in a sticky mess!


~ The Gum~

The Gum has quite a strong smell, but it's neither a masculine nor feminine smell. It's quite a nice smell - it's a manufactured smell but it's not offensive in anyway! The Gum has quite a horrible feel to it. It's creamy coloured and is sticky, but a little runny - not pleasant! When it's in your hair though, it doesn't feel sticky, just a little greasy - but that's what gives the shine.


~ Directions for use ~

You only need a small amount of the gum (remember you can add more, but you can't take it out without washing your hair!). You should rub the Gum between your palms and then "clap [palms] together to activate fibres", whatever that means! To be honest, I haven't noticed any difference in the look of my hair if I clap my palms together or don't before running the product through my hair. I'd avoid using the Gum at the roots of your hair as it ends up looking like you've not washed your hair for a few weeks! I had to experiment quite a few times with the Gum to find a look that kind of worked rather than looked like I hadn't washed. So, I'd advise playing around with the Gum when you're not planning on going out immediately! You can use the Gum on dry or wet hair, but I find it works best on dry hair as you can really see where you're putting it and it's not quite so shiny. If you do want to a really shiny, wet look (think Ross in the first series of Friends!) then use the Gum when wet.


~ The Look ~

If you want really sleek, shiny hair, then use this Gum before using straighteners - you'll get very straight hair with a shiny, light-reflecting look. Be careful though, as your hair can look very greasy. This Gum is also good for curls as it holds the curl - and you can separate the curls, whilst leaving them looking shiny. If you're after a messy look then I wouldn't advise using this Gum as it just ends up leaving your hair looking greasy - I'd suggest using the Texture Paste which gives your hair a more matte finish.

I've found, with using this Gum, that after a few hours on your hair, even if it looked amazing when you styled it, that your hair looks greasy rather than shiny. For some reason it seems to separate the hair right up to the root. I think this may be because the Gum is mouldable, i.e. you can change your hair - it's not set rigid, and so it just ends up working it's way up your hair. Also, because the Gum is mouldable, if you lean your head on your hand etc. the Gum just squidges in your hair and your style is ruined. I think the Gum May work well on short hair where your hair is less likely to be touched, but otherwise I'd give the Gum a miss. For example, with curls, after a while the separated curls end up being no longer separated and it just looks like a greasy mess!


~ Overall ~

I'm not really a fan of this Gum as I think there are better products available. The Gum does last a long time though. You can keep remoulding your hair as much as you like until you next wash your hair.

However, whilst the tub is only small (25ml, there are 75ml tubs available) you only need to use a small amount at a time so it will last a long time (especially if you don't use it very often because it's a bit naff!). I wouldn't recommend this Gum, and would suggest using their Texture Paste instead.

Funky Gum did win FHM's Men'S Grooming Awards 2003 - so there must be something good about it! Like I said, it may work well on short hair (which I don't have) , but from my experience it just leaves you with greasy looking hair.

Oh, and don't brush your hair with this stuff in, it just exacerbates the greasiness!


~ Boring bits~

You can buy a 25ml tub for about £2 and a 75ml tub for around £8 (which is more expensive than buying 3 25ml tubs, but there you go!) from Boots.

Summary: If you want really shiny hair then this is good, otherwise it's naff