I know people on Ciao absolutely hate shampoo ops (the shampoo contest really put paid to me writing another shampoo op for a while!). But…the time has come for me to tell you all of the best shampoo in the world….EVER! Yes indeed fellow Ciaoers, with the challenge of my knotty, thick and long hair, I have trawled all the shops and salons (purely for opinion research of course!) and found this! The King of shampoos!
Redken ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ok, I admit it, I’m a shampoo snob! We all have our weaknesses, be it fine wines or chocolates. My weakness is shampoo and in particular the Redken brand. This is only available in Redken appointed hairdressing salons or via specialist hair product websites. I find the cheapest place to purchase Redken products is Lookfantastic.com, and they have the widest range too (although you do have to pay postage). Redken have been around since 1960. They have been awarded over 60 patents for their products and ingredients used in their hair care products. I’m not going to bore you on any more of totally irrelevant info, but just to say that Redken are a well-known and respected American brand.
Price & Sizes
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Right, firstly you are all going to be horrified at the price! Its £17.04 (after member discount at Lookfantastic, which only shows up once you have logged in and added the product to your trolley). But for this you get a HUGE litre bottle – that is 4 times the size of your average shampoo bottle! So this shampoo lasts absolutely ages! Value for money is excellent. If you consider this is a salon quality shampoo, you are getting an average sized bottle (250ml) for £4.26. You pay around this (or more) for a bottle of Nicky Clarke or Vidal Sassoon and that’s not salon quality (despite what it says, you won’t get any hairdressers using it!). It probably seems one hell of a lot to splash out on shampoo at once, but a litre bottle will last me about 4 months so I consider the litre size to be extremely good value. You can get a smaller average sized bottle for £6.08 (300ml) but that works out more expensive in the long run.
Smell & Consistency ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
WOW! This stuff smells absolutely gorgeous! It smells like tropical fruit and has got to be one of the nicest smells ever! Its not citrus but like a blend of mango, peach and apricot. WOW is all I can say! The other positive point about the smell is, if used in conjunction with All Soft conditioner lasts. So you are left with really clean and fruity smelling hair for a couple of days. It’s a peachy colour and quite creamy in consistency. A little goes a long way as it seems quite concentrated.
The Science Bit ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This bit comes from Lookfantastic.com as I’m no scientist!
“With its unique formula Redken's All soft actually changes the texture of the hair by softening the cuticle, it does this by trapping moisture into the hair with Avocado oil, a natural ingredient, rich in unsaturated fatty acids which is essential for restoring moisture. All soft contains Redken's unique technology, the interbond Conditioning System, which simultaneously improves the hair's inner structure and its outer appearance and feel, providing a moisture barrier which combats frizz and leaves hair ultra soft and shiny”.
It contains Avocado oil, which as any dieter knows is packed with fatty oils! Not good for the diet but very good for your hair! It also contains wheat protein and glycerin which helps smooth the cuticle of the hair shaft. Hence the shampoo’s name – ALL SOFT!
Does It Work? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This has obviously got to be the most important aspect of any shampoo opinion. Does All Soft deserve its name? Well yes, it’s absolutely superb! I have the most challenging mop for any hair product and this is the best shampoo that I have ever come across. It lathers extremely well and quickly with the smallest amount (in the case of this shampoo, a 5p sized dollop is really all that you need, even for long hair). It rinses very easy and already you can feel the softness in your hair.
My hair is usually left with loads of knots when it gets wet, but after using this shampoo, I am left with softer, smoother hair – that sounds rather corny but its absolutely true! I cannot believe how good this stuff really is. A mate with shorter hair stayed over a few weeks ago and borrowed some of this, and without me saying anything, she commented on how much she liked it! I would urge anyone with difficult hair to try this shampoo, I bet you won’t be disappointed. My hair is now "All Soft"!!!
Suitability ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It says on the bottle that the shampoo is most suitable for people with dry/brittle hair and I would agree with this. People with oily hair may find the formula too rich for their hair, although I would say that it’s also suitable for normal hair too. My hair is normal to dry and it suits me fine!
Packaging ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The bottle is a metallic gold affair with the Redken logo in blue. It really does look like it should be in a salon. This is a plus, as it does look good on the bathroom shelf! It’s also unusual to see litre bottle shampoos so it does get itself noticed! The only thing I don’t really like is the fact that you have to pay £1.99 extra for a pump dispenser and its white which doesn’t really suit the bottle! But the pump dispenser does make it last longer as it prevents wastage so I suppose over the use of a bottle it probably pays for itself, and you can obviously use it again in your next bottle. I would like to see a free pump dispenser included. If you choose not to purchase one (which is only suitable for the litre bottle), then you get a push down cap, which is ok, but it’s so much easier to use the pump.
Ethics ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The bottle doesn’t state whether or not the shampoo is tested on animals but I am pretty sure that companies aren’t allowed to test cosmetics and toiletries on animals any longer by law – but feel free to correct me on that one. It does state that the bottle is fully recyclable.
Conclusion ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I love this stuff and will remain loyal to Redken unless someone else proves that there is a better product on the market! This stuff is absolutely amazing and lives up to the promise of its name. My hair certainly looks, feels and smells better thanks to All Soft. The price may be a shock at first but do your Maths and it doesn’t work out any more expensive (and is in fact cheaper) than many of the premium brands available in Boots. Superb! Can’t fault it!
Available at www.lookfantastic.com, www.hairstyling.co.uk or Redken appointed salons (the first comes highly recommended).
I was in two minds whether to try Redken or not but after reading your review, I think I'll give it a go :)
Soph.E. 27.12.2003 23:13
I never got on with Redken, it doesn't appear to make much difference to my hair except fot the obvious cleansing it! The smell is divine though...Soph x
CherylJ 28.12.2002 21:10
Very helpful, thanks. WIll definitely check out that website you recommend.
Redken All Soft Shampoo provides moisture and softening for dry or brittle hair. With a ... more
unique formula containing the Redken Silk-Luxe Complex, this shampoo delivers Gold Camelina, Avocado Oil, Olive Oil and Silk Amino Acid to provide intense softness,...
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