What a bloody mess (Umberto Giannini Curl Wake Up Spray)

Member Name: xxfoxyredxx

Product:	Umberto Giannini Curl Wake Up Spray
Date:	27/11/07 (389 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Smell, if it wasn't so sticky I'd be tempted to use it as perfume

Disadvantages: Doesn't work being the main one

I first found this product years ago when it was called wake up curl, other reviews here were written a while ago so I thought I'd update the info for you a little!

It's now called curl & twirl curl reviver spritz and I found it in the the pound shop! I was shocked, when I'd last bought it (in London it was at least £6.00 and it was never on offer back then so when I saw it I was amazed and pleased, it was like meeting up with an old pal out of the blue!

A little about Umberto Gianni....

He's a hairdresser lol....
Basically he's dead now but he was incredibly famous, had loads of salons, loads of staff , lots of celebrity mates, worked flat out and got every award going and made plenty of TV appearances and as I say, he did die on the 11th January 2001. The company still runs with his name and the his creative team are still involved with it.

So to clarify.... the product I'm reviewing is called curl and twist curl reviver spritz.

It comes in a 200ml plastic bottle with a sprayer and a silver lid.
The whole thing is see through, with a big silver g on the front and black writing on it explaining what the product is.
Its very simple packaging but really nice and smart.
The liquid inside is a darkish pink.

The Promise....

Umberto Giannini has created a stunning range of hair products that make one claim... they do what they say.
So you want beautiful frizz-free curls and waves with incredible shine and a natural look? Curl & twirl is a regime that cares for and styles existing curls or creates amazing curls and wave to straighter hair for that cool catwalk chic. This never seen before range gives you the curls you desire.

My Hair...

Dyed jet black to just below the shoulder, I'm sure would be described as over processed hair having been blonde, red ginger, brunette and now black all this year. My hair goes greasy and flat at the root but has the appearance of frizzy and slightly dry towards the ends cos of the split ends and I try really hard to get my hair to grow long but my hairdressers always tuts and cuts off bout 6 inches wittering on bout split ends. When my hair is wet it goes quite curly but it doesn't hold that well. I used to use this product as I said, way back it worked a dream!

Most days I let my hair dry naturally or use a warm setting on hairdryer and then tie it back. If I'm going out I always blow dry and straighten. I don't use too much products, only really one at a time and I'm no fan of hairspray at all! My hair can curl or straighten its not fussy really but getting a nice curly look or a straight look that holds all night is real hard work!

Directions for use....

Use on wet or dry hair to revive curls and maximize waves. Spray lightly over hair and scrunch hair with fingers. Repeat as required. May be used between washes to revive tired hair.

My Experience....

Ok so this morning I get up, its mums birthday and she informs me we are going out with my step dads credit card (long story lol).
So I know that a bouquet is arriving from the florists and Mum wants to get out the house asap to spend, spend, spend lol so I had to stall or miss the delivery.

So I had a lovely long bath and wash and condition my hair and I decided to have a go with this product. Before spritzing with this product I read the instructions first so I'd give an accurate review of it!

My hair was soft and clean and I combed it through and opened up my spray. The first thing that hits you is the lovely smell. Its like a nice rich, deep designer fragrance. I'm thinking, well if I get some nice curls I'm going to need some hairspray to set it and I may stink to high heaven! So anyway I lightly spritz my hair making sure that I spray it evenly all over.

The trouble started when I ran my fingers through my damp hair. It felt like my hair had been sprayed with strong hold hairspray on soaking wet hair. It was wet but at the same time my hair felt incredibly dry and sticky and my fingers were sticking to the bottle and all sorts.

I used the diffuser on a cool setting with my head upside down. My hair got drier in more ways than one. When I tipped my hair over I was horrified! My roots were straight, my hair was big, no curls in sight just a giant frizzy mess! My natural shine had vanished and it looked dull. Granted as I dried my hair the sticky feeling did evaporate some what but the dryness didn't go. It was a mess and i knew I had 4 options....

Wash it and start again...
Try straighten it with my straighteners knowing it wouldn't work...
Tie it up in a pony....
Or shave my head....

Its ok pony it was! lol

This product makes all these claims and treats all us all the same , and this really didn't work for me at all. I remember looking in my full length mirror and thinking all I need in some hairgrips and I could easy make a bee hive to rival Amy Winehouses, no lie. It gave volume a thing the product didn't mention or I'd never have bought it, but my hair didn't feel like it belonged to me at all. It was crispy and gunky.

Following day I washed and conditioned my hair and blow dried it on cool. Not one to give up I tried again this time on dry hair. I sprayed it on my wavy hair and stuck rollers in it for a few hours. Oh my god no curls just loose waves that were sticky on the ends and limp. The middle bits of the wave were fluffy and I looked like I had rats tails! I was mortified!
On the plus point it does wash out easily lol

I think this product changed since I last used it, well it must have in come way because I'd of never been able to get on with this. I really really dislike this product. Whatever it costs it is a rip off. I'm not pleased neither that my packaging is not recyclable and no where on the bottle I have does it says not tested on animals.

Quick rundown of ingredients....

Aqua (water), glycerin, alcohol denat,polyvinlcapolactum, panthenol, parfum (fragrance), pvp/hydrolyzed wheat protein copolmer, dimethicone, copolyol, c117200 (d&c red no 33), c147005 (d&c yellow no 10)

Overall....

I'm not saying this product wouldn't work to define really curly hair I think it just depends on the curl you have. It also comes down to how you like your hair to feel. I mean if you have long tight curls this would act as hairspray to keep them in I guess but mine, I got the strong hold but it held nothing if you understand what I mean lol

If you are going to try this product, do test it, don't just think it will work and use in ten minutes before a hot date for heavens sake cos the worzel gummage look, so isn't in this season!

Product to be found in boots at £4.99 and other products in this range available! Good luck if your brave enough!

Summary: Give it a miss there's so much better on the market