new thread
My Review: L'Oreal VIVE Smooth-Intense
First of all, I would like to say that my 'review' is based solely on what these products...
did for MY hair. In no way am I making any claims that it will work in exactly the same
way for you.
First of all, I want you to know that I have tried just about every 'major' hair product out there...
including 'salon exclusives.'
How many times I have been disappointed by all those product and the results they produced
on MY hair, I will leave up to your imagination...
As most of the regulars here know, I have been a fan of Aussie MOIST Shampoo & Conditioner
for many months.
Now that there has been some talk about some of the ingredients being changed, etc.
I once again found myself 'on the prowl' for new products.
And soon I started hearing things about this 'VIVE Smooth-Intense System' Shampoo & Conditioner.
Hmmmmm...was I setting myself up for a new disappointment, I thought to myself.
So, okay, I went out looking for those bright orange bottles that one could hardly miss and
found them without much trouble...
L'Oreal VIVE Smooth-Intense SHAMPOO. . . . L'Oreal VIVE Smooth-Intense CONDITIONER
My opinions:
* The Price: that was my first surprise. I was expecting a high price on these NEW products...
but found the cost to be comparable to Aussie...and much less expensive than many other brands.
* The CLAIMS:
1. This System (shampoo & conditioner are supposed to work together) SMOOTHS and TAMES DRY, FRIZZY or REBELLIOUS hair.
2. Hair becomes up to 3x smoother.
3. Provides lasting anti-frizz action that prevents stray frizzies and kinks.
4. Renews with softness & shine.
5. Cleanses gently (Sodium LaurETH Sulfate) to keep hair manageable.
That's a heck of a lot to expect from any product, isn't it? And I was already beginning to hear
good reviews about it. BUT WAS I GOING TO BE LET DOWN ONCE AGAIN???
The RESULTS: (on MY hair type only!)
*The minute I started using the SHAMPOO, I could definitely feel a *difference*...
(Yes, I do pay attention to all those suble differences). My hair separated into
nice, long 'segments'...that never happened with the shampoos I have been using up until now.
The scent is intense, but i suspect it is to cover up some of those ingredients like...
Camelina Sativa seed oil. Anyway, it is fresh & clean & I can live with it.
*Rinsed my hair and right away noticed a unusually MOIST texture... hair felt soft, smooth and relaxed...with less frizz.
* Now it was time for the CONDITIONER:
This stuff is thick, smoothing and slick to the touch. Has the same scent as the Shampoo...
and also contains that complex of Camelina seed micro-nutients.: Nutrilieum®
Wow! My hair separated in very LARGE sections. (perhaps better know as: detangling).
This is amazing to me because it is a fine test of just how well the conditioner is working as a detangler.
* Towel-dried my hair (mostly by pressing and gently squeezing) as usual.
In the mirror, the results (for ME) were DRAMATIC! Nice long tresses, nicely self-separating...
and yet the waves were still there.
My hair felt SMOOTH ...( I guess that's the best description I can think of at the moment), SOFT & MOIST!
Okay, there are many other little 'nuances' I noticed, but I will stop for now and give you...
My RATING: (on a scale of 1-5:☺) . . . ☺☺☺☺☺!
The shampoos & conditioners I have been using in the past are like'sugar-pill'
when compared to a 'real drug'...
Having said all of that, please remember that L'Oreal VIVE Smooth Intense
had this effect on my hair...and may not produce the same results on yours.
And for now, anyway, these are the products I will be using.
Thanx for reading my 'review'!
Nice review, LK -- thanks for sharing. I swear by the conditioner; have been using it for several months. I prefer the Curl Vive shampoo for my hair, but I'm sure it's they're just variations on the same formula for different hair types.
Forgot to mention this very IMPORTANT info:
I am still applying some: L'Oreal MELTing Gel and L'Oreal Liquid SPRAY Gel ...to my damp hair.
and ...as needed!
Sorry for not mentioning this in my original post...
Hello LucksKind,
I enjoyed reading your review and thank you for the info.
Did you, by chance, happen to try the L'Oreal Smooth Intense Anti-Frizz Serum as well...primarily in combination with the shampoos?
Yah, great review. For those out there who haven't tried it. I used it for the first time yesterday, and usually by now my hair is so dry, but surprisingly, it still feels great and very soft. I have curly hair so it tends to dry and crack easily, so i'm satisfied with this new line. Wonder what my hair will look like in a month with continued use??? Definitely recommend a go around with this product if your pre-disposed to dryness.
Wow, thanks LucksKind! I just happen to be going to the store today, so I figure I'll test these both out myself! I can't wait! I hope they work well for me like they did with you.
- Brian
Not to take any steam away from LucksKind's review, but here's mine.
I went to the store today and spotted the bright orange bottles pretty easily. The Smooth-Intense shampoo sort of resembled a baby shampoo. Anyhow, I waited a bit later to shower and couldn't wait to test a new shampoo out (Mainly because I've been running with Aussie Moist for about six months now).
The shampoo was thin and somewhat sticky. I like how it left my hair after I washed it out - not too dry. I didn't note any strong fragrance until I put in the conditioner (The conditioner itself is very creamy and slick). Thankfully I REALLY like the smell of it and I'm loving how it lasts well after drying.
And about the drying. It left my hair pretty much frizzless, and after setting I straightened it out a bit and looked in the mirror. WOW. My hair was so shiny and smooth. And the smell is top notch! It is also VERY managable.
For me, this shampoo/conditioner totally blows Aussie away. I'm thrilled I switched. My hair honestly looks a helluva lot better, which is good because I want it to appear neat and well kempt. This is a 5 Star product, no doubt, in my books. I have thin and wavy hair, which sounds like a big contrast to others that have used it and gained success. I was a tad skeptical, but that has long vanished now. At a mere $3.54 a bottle, you can definitely afford to at least try this one out. I'm glad I did.
Thanks LucksKind!
- Brian
EVERYTHING LucksKind claimed happened to his hair also held true true with me. Absolutely AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! And to think, when I saw this posting this AM I ran right out to Fred Meyer and almost couldn't find it because they had it stocked on the bottom shelf with an "Unadvertised Special" price of 3.49 for the Shampoo and 3.49 for the conditioner. Aussie (what I have that was left of it) was quickily dumped into the waste bucket. This product is DYNAMITE in my case. It won me over 1st try!
My findings? The Shampoo lathered-up so fast I couldn't believe it, and it actually felt like some kind of conditioner already.(Not the Aussie "dry-feel.") There were NO SNARLS..........just smooth and soft. Next the Conditioner. (Says to leave it in 1 min. before washing it out.) Because at that point my hair (even though wet) felt so good, The conditioner part was not as noticable as when done the "Aussie Way." I towel dried it and saw a much greater fullness HANGING STRAIGHTER THAN EVER BEFORE. And boy..........did it ever smell good to me and made my hair the best I have ever seen! After about an hour of doing some chores around the house the hair was just slightly damp and I tried the "COMB-TEST." NEVER ONCE was a pull, tug, snarled-up area. All fell into place with the utmost ease. Hair shines like never before and is as soft as silk. It has now been 4 hours and I have used NO gels. (And in my case it is apparent that I most likely won't be using gels again with this great stuff.)
So, just what did I notice as a now newly "Longhair infant" of mostly 9"? The Ponytail which used to flip-up has been tamed by at least 80% and hangs much straighter. Any slight waves that were higher up are not at all there......the hair lays "perfectly straight." Sure, the very bottom ends still curl-up because of not enough weight.....but L'OREAL has even put a great diminishment to this.
Because it was LucksKind who gave his finding..........(and he has so much wisdom).......I went to the store fully expecting a great improvement over Aussie. Thank you Luckskind for telling all of us about this new product line. It is a GREAT FIND! Much like Edison finding his way to the Electric Lightbulb for a "Longhair."
Now, for those of you out there into the Stock Market, you might keep a very cautious eye on Aussie because once the people find the new L'OREAL, you may suddenly be wiped-out! Luckily I have none of these worries as my faith is in Gold.
I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT! SINCE WRITING THIS OVER AN HOUR AGO I NOTE WITH ASTONISHMENT THAT THE PONYTAIL "FLIPS" ARE NOW GONE! SEEMS TO BE GETTING BETTER BY THE HOUR!
Glad the Vive system worked for your hair, Justin!
How long did you say you kept the conditioner on your hair?
I know it says 1 minute (many conditioners say that in their instructions)...
but I leave it on for maybe 4 minutes or more...
Actually, I apply it right away and rinse it out AFTER I have completed showering.
Then again, I've always done that with conditioners.
This product is great, and I don't see why it wouldn't help MANY DIFFERENT HAIR TYPES!
Thanx!
Hi LucksKind
I left the Conditioner in one minute. (Actually timed-it.) But today I will leave it in longer and see what happens.........just never even thought of it. And yes, I would almost think it would do lots on many different kinds of hair. Mine is straight to begin with and somewhat on the oily side. I notice the product says "For Dry, Frizzy or Rebellious Hair" and doesn't mention "Oily." (Well, "Rebellious" is certainly the Awkward Stage when the hair meets the shoulders for the 1st time and "flips-up" meeting this resistance.......and still a bit "Rebellious" at around 9.") Still, in my case it was the best ever. I think if this Product was offered in a Salon with a different label and name it would fetch 25.00 a bottle easy. I wash my hair 1st thing in the AM. When do you do yours? I notice after sleeping on it that there is much less disruption than ever before........so much to the better that I wouldn't really even have to Shampoo and Condition again today for it is STILL right now better than what Aussie results were like. There is "frizz" now however. (Big Deal.) But, I intend on washing right after posting this and will try the 4 min. Conditioner thing you mentioned just to test it. Hope you are having a nice weekend.
Well, I usually wash my hair in the morning...
because if I don't 'start from scratch' I'm just heading for a disaster!
You are correct...this product does not specify for 'oily, permed, etc.'
must just be an 'all around' good product.
Unlike you, I must use some MELTing Gel to give it a lasting 'finish' all day.
I forgot to mention that in the AM, my hair feels much less dry than it used to!
And if this product does not do much for *certain* hair types...one thing is for sure:
It's easy on your hair!!!
Several guys with varying degrees of GRAYing hair have told me that
L'Oreal VIVE has definitely affected their stubborn "grays" in a positive way: Those hairs seem more 'soothed' and relaxed.
Anyone with gray hairs (a few or a lot) knows that they 'act' differently
than the rest of their hairs: More stubborn, curly, wiry and dry...
Just nasty troulemakers, sometimes!
I have a few myself and I've noticed that the VIVE system of Shampoo & Conditioner
has had a positive effect on them: They seem to blend in with the 'other guys'
just a bit better...
Thought I'd let you know.
You are correct! I have some greys trying to "sneek-in" now. L'Oreal tames them but good!
Are these the same?
They are probably just updated bottles...they are using the FX name/line for that blue stuff.
hmmmmm...seems to me, that is the way they USED to look...
Well...this is how they should look now...
But different countries have different packaging, I guess.