While spending so much time at home during the course of this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I've grown more conscious over time about arising issues such as rubbish disposal, and sustainability.
The first topic became noticeable since discarding rubbish in canton Vaud, Switzerland costs around 2 CHF per bag -besides the regular taxes. So, the modality of plastic-free products just caught my eye. Since all shops were closed, and before ordering an unknown product online, I was lucky enough to be selected to try the new solid shampoo from Garnier through the site GoFeminin.de.
Some of the outstanding claims on the packaging were:
- Stronger hair, full of vitality.
- The hair is easier to comb.
- Rinses off quickly to save water.
- Plastic-free packaging.
- Made with plant-based ingredients.
I started using the ginger and bio sweet almond oil shampoo bar on November 23, 2020. One of the attributes that I enjoyed the most about it was the scent. Oh my! I could also use it as a room fragrance while letting it dry.
So, here are my thoughts regarding the claims:
- I was assigned this particular shampoo because of my chemically-treated hair. It tends to break, get split-ends and easily dry out. I got a very good impression after the first wash. At this point, it's a bit early to say something definitive about stronger hair but it is indeed full of volume, which I do love.
- Having curly hair is never an easy task when it comes to using a comb, so I tend to brush my hair as little as possible to avoid breakage. Yet, fulfilling this point for my personal review intrigued me the most. And I was amazed! The shampoo was so kind to my curls that I had no knots, suffered no pulling and, therefore, breakage, etc. It was indeed a relief!
- This point needed some protocoling. So, I compared the rinsing time of using fluid shampoo against the Garnier solid shampoo. The first one took me about 16-20 seconds to wash off, while the second one was about 10-12 seconds on average. Please note that my rinsing times are based on mid-long hair.
- The whole product and packaging were completely free of plastic. No plastic tape to secure the box, and no plastic foil covering the bar. Also, the cardboard came from a Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC® C095159) certified source.
- 97% of the ingredients are biodegradeable; it might not be a perfect score, but at least they're on the right track. Moreover, the shampoo is free from animal cruelty (testing and derivates).
The silver lining of the testing experience: sustainability. Altogether, I think it couldn't be more perfect! Every little aspect was carefully thought through, and I truly believe that this product has a huge potential. Besides, the size is great for frequent travellers, a.k.a. digital nomads, and an extra point worth mentioning would be pricing; which compared to competitor brands, Lush for instance, definitely makes it win by a long shot!