Sometimes you really think you are getting it right, just to find out a little later that you were totally wrong.
The thing is: I don’t speak Spanish.
I learned Latin at school, I speak French and usually I get around quite well whenever I try to order tapas, but I recently learned that I am in for surprises if I rely too much on that.
Garnier Fructis Hidra Rizos 3 Minute Hair Mask |
Whenever we are in France, we do a little shop-over in Spain. It is just about one hours drive from where we stay, and handbags, cheese and alcohol are way cheaper there than they are at home.
Now I don’t care about handbags and alcohol, but I do like to browse the stores there for a beauty bargain.
That was when I spotted the Garnier Fructis 3 minute hair mask in “Hidra Rizos”.
In my mind, hydra had to come from hydration and rizos would most likely be the hair, so I scanned the ingredient list and purchased.
Back home I found out what all my Spanish speaking beauties out there already know.
I had bought a hair mask for curly hair.
Now my hair is many things: Fine, damaged, greasy, but the one thing it is most of all is straight.
No lovely waves, no movement.
It is stick straight.
What Fructis claims:
Now that is a tricky one, because I don’t seem to find the mask in its English/German version. Watch me attempt to translate from the tub!
“For up to four days of perfectly defined curls. Lasting definition, noticeable elasticity and movement, anti-frizz and ongoing nourishment.”
Facts:
I seem to only be able to find that mask online for around 9 € at one retailer I don’t know and will therefore not link. It isn’t even listed on amazon.
But I remember I payed 3,95 € in store for a 400 ml pot. Quite a steal, even though Garnier Fructis isn’t an expensive brand overall.
The scent is fruity, I notice mango and a more citrus note, but it doesn’t linger in your hair.
Usually I scoop out around a walnut sized amount and massage it into my lengths, starting at ears height. (My hair is a little more than shoulders length, just for reference)
I guess 400 ml will last me a very long time!
Close up of the product. In the back you can spot some lovely macarons. |
This mask doesn’t leave my hair smooth and silky, but instead adds a lot of grip and body to my lengths.
Of course I don’t get defined curls when using it (now that would be a miracle!), but if I do curl my hair after using it, the curls stay in much better.
Just by letting it air dry I get volume and texture my hair usually lacks.
Now if I touch my hair, it feels a little rough in texture, not as smooth as I am used to, which is most likely down to the modified potato starch responsible for adding the body.
Favorable ingredients:
– Modified potato starch – adding texture and body
– Niacinamide – Vitamin B3, conditioning
– Sugar cane extract – adding texture and body
– Bamboo extract – rich in Silica, which increases diameter and resilience of hair fibre
– Camellia sinensis leaf extract – antioxidant
– Mango seed oil – moisturizing
– Apple fruit extract – antioxidant
Unfavorable Ingredients:
– Silicones
– Fragrance
– PEG
Does it live up to its claims?
How could I possibly tell?
I don’t have any curls that could be enhanced and defined for days. But it provides movement and definition to my otherwise lifeless strands, so I assume it will work great on actual curls/waves.
Will I rebuy?
Yes.
If I go back to Spain and have finished my 400 ml pot (which is probably in 2017), then I will happily rebuy.
Who do I recommend it to?