Review: Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Leave-In

New version vs. the old
Now has Argan Oil

Early on in my Hair Journey, I heard a lot about this product in the online Natural Community.  I decided to try the leave-in conditioner by Garnier Fructis because I liked the fact that it had a creamy consistency.  The spray formulas I used before just did not seem to work as well on my natural hair.  For a long time this product was my go-to leave-in on days when I did a roller set or straightened my hair because it gave my hair a lot of slip.  A few months after doing the BC, I started learning about silicones and how they can cause build-up that is only washed away by using a shampoo with sulfates in it.  At the time, I was trying my best to stay away from sulfates so I decided to stop using this product but still kept it in my product bin.  You know the one I'm talkin' about. . . that bin that holds all of those un-used products until you get around to using them again or trading with someone else.

Later, I went back to the product (saved from the bin!) after I found more information on silicones and how some are heavier than others.  The only silicone in this product is amodimethicone which is a light silicone that is actually considered (by some) water soluble because of the way it reacts with water.  Since I now like to use a clarifying shampoo to get rid of build-up occasionally, I know that this ingredient is not going to cause any problems for me.

Now, on to the product review.  Like I said earlier, the product has a light, creamy consistency.  It has a citrus scent with apricot which is pleasant and not overpowering.  Garnier Fructis recently introduced a new formula that includes Argan Oil which is a plus.  I would say the new and old forumulas have the same scent but the new one does seem to be a tad richer in consistency.  I tend to lean towards products that are affordable and easily accessible so this one fits the bill on both counts.  You can find it at Target, Walmart, Grocery and Drug Stores for about $5.00 USD.  This is one of those products where a little goes a long way.  I use it on wet hair as a moisturizer and then I seal it in with my Olive Oil/Coconut Oil mix before stretching my hair with braids or a bun.

Claims to give lasting smoothness and
frizz control

To apply it, I part my hair down the middle (front to back) and apply about a quarter size amount (sometimes more) to each side.  The product tends to last me a long time this way.  I like to use it when I blow dry my hair with the comb attachment because it has a lot of slip.  Using this also makes a big difference for those times when I want to pull my hair into a bun using my denman brush. . . believe me!  Please note that it does not play nice with Eco Styler or IC Fantasia gels (white flake reaction alert!).  For this reason, I use my Suave Naturals in Coconut flavor when I do wash n go's with gel.

The product claims that it can provide, "Intense smoothing for long-lasting frizz control & shine".  In my experience, I believe that it does give my hair a lot more manageability than when I style with another product.   I'm always surprised at how easy it is to smooth the product through my hair.  This is helpful when I'm trying to avoid frizzy hair because I don't have to manipulate my strands very much to apply it.  Overall, I think it is a great product for natural hair because it adds moisture to the hair while also making the hair more pliable.  It gets a two thumbs up and is a staple that I will not do without.