Beauty Review: Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Blow Dry Perfection Smoothing Kit

Beauty Review: Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Blow Dry Perfection Smoothing Kit

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."