We test out the latest way to make your blow-out last.
What it is:
Garnier’s Sleek and Shine Blow Dry Perfection Smoothing Kit, $12.99, is a two step kit that maximizes lasting results from your blow-dry. According to Garnier, your hair will be resistant to the frizzies for up to seven shampoos. The kit comes with two tubes (a wash-out smoothing serum and a leave-in sealing cream) as well as plastic gloves and easy to follow instructions.
How it works:
The first step, the Smooth-It Serum, is a chemical liquid formula that relaxes the kink or wave in your hair. The second step (ie, the Perfect-It Cream) is a leave-in conditioning formula made of rice oil and polymers to coat your hair so it resists frizz. The ingredients are heat-activated with a blow-dryer, so air-drying is not an option.
How to use it:
Once you shampoo, skip out on your regular conditioner and instead apply the Smooth-it Serum to your hair with the gloves provided. Comb it in for even distribution, then leave in for 20 minutes. Rinse out with warm water and towel dry your hair. Then apply a generous amount of the Perfect-It Cream based on your hair’s length; short-haired girls may not need the whole tube. (FYI, the serum has a distinct pungent smell, so if you have a sensitivity to scent, you might want to skip it. But the Perfect-It Cream smells fresh and citrus-like).
Begin blow drying sections of the hair with a round brush until hair is completely dry. For optimal results, after the first blow dry, use a flat iron for extra sleek hair. I found it easier to stretch out my hair with my brush and found it took less time to flat iron my troublesome, curlier layers that usually kink up unless I run the flat iron over them half a dozen times.
And the verdict is:
“I used Garnier’s Smooth-it Kit the Thursday before I flew out to a humid weekend in New York (temperatures soared 39 degrees celsius with the humidex!). Usually, my hair becomes a hot mess in extreme heat, but my hair was less frizzy and remained smooth considering the long days of sightseeing in the sun. As well, my straight style easily transformed when I used my large barrel curling iron for a night out with the girls. Although, I was due for a wash after Saturday’s wavy-affair (only a day longer than my usual shampoo schedule), on my next blow dry it still felt easier to smooth out my strands, so the kit does what it says.”
Is it worth the hype:
“Yes, I’d use the kit again, although I wish it took less time. I have long, thick, curly hair, so it took about 90 minutes from start to finish of the entire process. But, the results are worth the time.”
The results as I said are phenomenal, I live in Houston so the humidity here is terrible all year long so this product helps BIG TIME. °The only down fall is that my house reeked to high hell.
i JUS PURCHASED THIS PRODUCT AND NOW i HAVE FEARS ABOUT USING IT I DID OPEN THE BOTTLE AND THE SMELL IS DISGUSTING THAT IS WHY I DIDNT USE IT YET SO SORRY FOR YOUR EXPERIENCE….
Has anybody gone after them are is trying. I would love to talk with you
By the way, I have wavy, fine hair. Hair that curls/frizzes when exposed to humidity or wet. So, this definitely works on my type of hair.
The results as I said are phenomenal, I live in Houston so the humidity here is terrible all year long so this product helps BIG TIME. °The only down fall is that my house reeked to high hell.
i JUS PURCHASED THIS PRODUCT AND NOW i HAVE FEARS ABOUT USING IT I DID OPEN THE BOTTLE AND THE SMELL IS DISGUSTING THAT IS WHY I DIDNT USE IT YET SO SORRY FOR YOUR EXPERIENCE….
Has anybody gone after them are is trying. I would love to talk with you
By the way, I have wavy, fine hair. Hair that curls/frizzes when exposed to humidity or wet. So, this definitely works on my type of hair.
First off I just want to say sorry for the horrible experience you had with this product. I have quite thick hair and I only used this product the one time so I didn’t experience the same damage. As mentioned the smell was bad when I used it and I found that the most difficult thing about it. I have not used the product since, and I found my hair was fine when I used it the one time. If you have thin hair and find you experience issues with products with Thiol then perhaps you should stay away.
I hope you guys fare better with other products.Here are my two favourite smoothing products:
My favourite straightening balm is the Living Proof No Frizz Straightening Cream (which I reviewed quite a while ago and purchase on the regular now).You just apply it to wet hair and blow dry. Easy peasy.
I also like using botanical oil based products, just a pump or a few drops of them adds so much moisture an seals the hair shaft while retoring hair’s dryness (so great for winter)! Moroccanoil is a cult favourite, but Shu Umera’s Essence Absolue is my personal favourite as it has a nice fragrance to it as well (due to the Camelia oil).
Botanical oils are healthier for your hair than any straightening balm. They add a great amount of moisture to keep your hair smooth. Just be careful not to overuse either of these two smoothing products because then your becomes greasy and prone to buildup. Hope that helps!
I have to cut at least 3 inches off now as the ends are permanently stuck on this frizz condition. No amount of straightening, professional conditioning, curling, blow-drying, or humidity level will change the state. It just has to be cut off.
Please spread the word, text your friends. Put this on Facebook. Don’t let anyone use this if you care about them. You might as well just put NAIR ON YOUR HEAD as you will get the same result and it is a little cheaper!
yes step 1 stinks, but as soon as you rinse it out the smell goes away.
the directions say wash & do not condition. I used just a touch of condition before step 1.
I have a BOB ,so I only used 1/4 of each product.
Mine turned out nice, but after reading comments am concerned using a second time might be too much and ruin my hair. Yikes
-i love the smell
-i love the fact that my hair breaks
-i love the split ends
Just Kidding!!! Well i didnt use it but my sister did.
I am freaking out.
First off I just want to say sorry for the horrible experience you had with this product. I have quite thick hair and I only used this product the one time so I didn’t experience the same damage. As mentioned the smell was bad when I used it and I found that the most difficult thing about it. I have not used the product since, and I found my hair was fine when I used it the one time. If you have thin hair and find you experience issues with products with Thiol then perhaps you should stay away.
I hope you guys fare better with other products.Here are my two favourite smoothing products:
My favourite straightening balm is the Living Proof No Frizz Straightening Cream (which I reviewed quite a while ago and purchase on the regular now).You just apply it to wet hair and blow dry. Easy peasy.
I also like using botanical oil based products, just a pump or a few drops of them adds so much moisture an seals the hair shaft while retoring hair’s dryness (so great for winter)! Moroccanoil is a cult favourite, but Shu Umera’s Essence Absolue is my personal favourite as it has a nice fragrance to it as well (due to the Camelia oil).
Botanical oils are healthier for your hair than any straightening balm. They add a great amount of moisture to keep your hair smooth. Just be careful not to overuse either of these two smoothing products because then your becomes greasy and prone to buildup. Hope that helps!
I have to cut at least 3 inches off now as the ends are permanently stuck on this frizz condition. No amount of straightening, professional conditioning, curling, blow-drying, or humidity level will change the state. It just has to be cut off.
Please spread the word, text your friends. Put this on Facebook. Don’t let anyone use this if you care about them. You might as well just put NAIR ON YOUR HEAD as you will get the same result and it is a little cheaper!
yes step 1 stinks, but as soon as you rinse it out the smell goes away.
the directions say wash & do not condition. I used just a touch of condition before step 1.
I have a BOB ,so I only used 1/4 of each product.
Mine turned out nice, but after reading comments am concerned using a second time might be too much and ruin my hair. Yikes
-i love the smell
-i love the fact that my hair breaks
-i love the split ends
Just Kidding!!! Well i didnt use it but my sister did.
I am freaking out.
ALSO, it clearly states on the package to NOT use if you dye or bleach your hair…which is why some people have negative feedback about it.
JUST read the directions before you use it.
im 14 with natural curly hair .i always got comments on how soft and shiny my hair was when i straightened it for school. i wanted to try the product after seeing it on t.v to cut down the time in the morning. when i was using it the smell was disgusting! it took forever to get the smell to go away and it made my hair rough and not shiny. and my hair is falling out..this never happened before 🙁
My suggestion, if you want smooth and straighter hair than usual, find a salon that offers KERATIN EXPRESS. It is MUCH cheaper than the regular keratin treatment. At my salon it is 75$ compared to $300! It makes your hair silky and shiny! It last 4-6 weeks. It is not damaging AT ALL and will actually improve the condition of your hair. Also, some people noted the funky relaxer smell that the Garnier gives off… the Keratin express actually smells like tootsie rolls! After having it applied, you don’t wash it out- the hair stylist will straighten your hair and leave the keratin in. You can’t get it wet for 24 hours or put it in a pony tail or pin it– anything that will make a crease. That is the only aggravating thing. But it has amazing results — SO DON’T BE CHEAP PEOPLE! Get the Keratin and save yourself the STRESS of having dry, brittle hair!
Hope this helps!
ALSO, it clearly states on the package to NOT use if you dye or bleach your hair…which is why some people have negative feedback about it.
JUST read the directions before you use it.
im 14 with natural curly hair .i always got comments on how soft and shiny my hair was when i straightened it for school. i wanted to try the product after seeing it on t.v to cut down the time in the morning. when i was using it the smell was disgusting! it took forever to get the smell to go away and it made my hair rough and not shiny. and my hair is falling out..this never happened before 🙁
My suggestion, if you want smooth and straighter hair than usual, find a salon that offers KERATIN EXPRESS. It is MUCH cheaper than the regular keratin treatment. At my salon it is 75$ compared to $300! It makes your hair silky and shiny! It last 4-6 weeks. It is not damaging AT ALL and will actually improve the condition of your hair. Also, some people noted the funky relaxer smell that the Garnier gives off… the Keratin express actually smells like tootsie rolls! After having it applied, you don’t wash it out- the hair stylist will straighten your hair and leave the keratin in. You can’t get it wet for 24 hours or put it in a pony tail or pin it– anything that will make a crease. That is the only aggravating thing. But it has amazing results — SO DON’T BE CHEAP PEOPLE! Get the Keratin and save yourself the STRESS of having dry, brittle hair!
Hope this helps!