Update (06.02.11): They’ve changed the formulation slightly, it seems, beloved readers. Thankfully, for the better. It’s creamier (and more opaque) and moisturizes, defines, and adds sheen even slightly better than before. A definite #win! While I’ve moved on to lighter leave-ins, this will be a consideration in the future as my hair grows out (again).
Yes, beloved readers…I’ve finally tried it. Giovanni’s Direct Leave-in.
After lemming this product for several months, it popped up in my local health food store and I jumped at the chance to use it.
Reviews from this product vary from:
I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT YOU! MARRY ME DIRECT LEAVE-IN AND I WILL BEAR YOU MANY SONS!
To something more like:
I HATE YOU! DIE IN THE RAGING FIRES OF A THOUSAND SUNS!
…
Okay…I’m exaggerating…a tad, but reviews generally fall along the lines of Love and Hate.
Where do I fall?
Closer to Love <3. ^_^
That said, this isn’t my Holy Grail leave-in. It IS one of four leave-ins my hair actually likes, which is saying a great deal for my picky crop of cashmere.
Much of my love for this leave-in lay in its great ingredients:
Aqua (Purified Water), Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) Oil, Nettle (Urtica Dioica) Oil, Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris) Oil, Birch Leaf (Butela Alba) Oil, Chamomile (Anthemis Nobilis Flower) Oil, Clary (Salvia Sclarea), Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia), Coltsfoot Leaf (Tussilago Fargara), Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium) Oil, Mallow (Malya Sylvestris), Horsetail (Equisetum Arvense) Oil, Soybean Protein (Glycine Soja), Cetyl Alcohol (Plant Derived), Tocopherol (*Vitamin E), Trace Minerals, Citric Acid (Corn), Sodium Hydroxymethlyglycinate, Grapefruit Seed (Citrus Derived)
This list is a bit misleading. You would think this is oil-laden. Not as much as it appears. If it had as much oil in the product as the ingredient list makes it appear this would be a terrible mess. The cetyl alcohol is doing some heavy lifting in this silicone and paraben free product.
That said, this creamy, slightly tacky, fairly light and cloudy product spreads like a dream. It wraps around each strand, soaking in and getting right to work imparting plumping moisture, pretty sheen and uber softness. I was highly impressed with how fleecy and cashmere soft this made my hair, which is why it actually made it to my Leave-In list.
With this, beloved readers, it behooves you to only use what you need or you will have soft, shiny, slimy curls that take several hours to dry.
At $10, this’ll get pricey for me once I pass the 6″ mark which is why this is at the bottom of my leave-in is -for price alone, not quality.
This rinses cleanly, but I’d advise washing once a week at least (if you don’t use any other products or silicone heavy products in conjunction with this in your regimen).
I also appreciated its very subtle, slightly sweet and creamy citrus scent. Personally, I HATE citrus. When I write “appreciate” the scent, I mean it was subtle enough that I could ignore it. It DOES linger. It’s not unpleasant or strong…I just cannot stand citrus scents.
The fine-haired may find this is terribly heavy. The upside is that, as it rinses so cleanly, “a little dab of this will do you” for laying down edges for sleek looks relaxed (use a scarf) or braidouts (relaxed or natural).
Thick haired ladies, your hair will appreciate the moisture-kiss this’ll impart relaxed and natural alike.
This serves a variety of uses:
Taming fly-aways
Braid-out medium
Baggy aid
Laying down edges over night with a scarf
Keeping puffs and Wash n Goes flawless
I must give a warning about this product however:
IT DOES NOT PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS. Mixing it, even with the gel that is from this brand results in little ELMER’S GLUE LIKE GLOBULES up and down the ENTIRE length of your hair strand. You will need a CLARIFYING poo to remove them.
I speak from experience.
SIGH.
Any who!
Beloved readers, this would not be a Little Golden Lamb review if I didn’t whine…er…comment…on the packaging.
It’s very chic. ^_^
The shape, font, clean layout, well placed graphics and simple color scheme get the point across. The cute, skinny, flip-top is well adorned with a raised, silver-trimmed leaf design. I would prefer a push tab. Also, the plastic it is made of makes squeezing out the last half of the product torturous. Add to that a design that cannot be inverted and you’ll be working for the last bit.
Thankfully…it is absolutely worth it. ^_^
What are your other favorite leave-ins?
I responded to your comment with a post. It will be in the Q and A Category with your SN in the title if you miss it on the home page. Thank you for stopping by! ^_^
Good afternoon! What oils do you think could be added to create an angelic leave in conditioner in this here product? Would that be a terrible idea to add to it?
I responded to your comment with a post. It will be under the Q & A Taglist if you miss it on my Homepage, with your screen name in the title. BAA! ^_^
I can’t live without this leave-in (well, I choose not to). It has always mixed well for me, except with Cantu (which, for me, doesn’t play well with anything but coconut oil). I make a great hair lotion with Giovanni + Carefree Curl Gold + EVCO + shea butter. Keeps my 4a/b hair soft and moisturized!!!