TIGI Bed Head Control Freak Extra Extra Straight Hair Straightener

.../> I had never used TIGI product and this was the first time for me. My hair dresser recommended the range so I thought I'd have a go, when I saw the straightening range at the Vitality Show for a special price of £15. In this special package (called straightening survival kit) I got:

All from Control Freak range (the 4 products from the right, on the main photo of this review page, I have put individual photos below as well):
...I sent an email to TIGI customer service. I put the correspondence for you to judge for yourself.....my experience..!

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Hello! I have always wanted to try your products and when I saw your stand at the Vitality Show in London earlier this month, I bought your Control Freak Set (Straightening - all 4 steps included in the kit.)

The shampoo and the conditioner were fine - very straight ... more

A little about me:

-Long hair (about half way through the shoulder blades)
-Brunette, but have been hgihlighting for ages, so quite damaged.
-I have fine hair, but a lot of it !!
-Dry hair (love John Frieda's serum) and really frizzy. If I let my hair dry naturally it looks like John Frieda's 'Before' photo.
-wash hair 3 times a week

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I had never used TIGI product and this was the first time for me. My hair dresser recommended the range so I thought I'd have a go, when I saw the straightening range at the Vitality Show for a special price of £15. In this special package (called straightening survival kit) I got:

All from Control Freak range (the 4 products from the right, on the main photo of this review page, I have put individual photos below as well):
1.Shampoo, 350ml (special large size, normally 250ml)
2.Conditioner, 250ml
3.Serum, - Frizz Control & Straightener, 250ml
4.Hair straightener - 'extra extra straight' mousse/finisher, 250ml

If you like the range, this package is an excellent value for money. The idea is, if you follow the steps 1-4, you'll have shiny, frizz-free hair that is ultra straight! Something I would love to have! Go on, let's try!

Packagings quite simple, playful and cool. Items 1,2,3 come in a transparent plastic bottle, pull-out nozzle. The item 4, is a spray can format. All light-green in appearnce, nice, fresh look.

1. Shampoo
Smells kind of nice - well, it's a nice pineapple scent but very artificial. It lathers up quite well, and as it rinses off very easily, it feels quite clean afterwards. OK so far. Though nothing to call home about, but it seems to clean away all the built-up residues. Thumbs up, this product is fine. If you like this smell it's an excellent product for you.

2. Conditioner
In my opinion, shampoo & conditioner should normally be chosen from the same range. As they are both designed to compliment each other. So the real test of the shampoo should be judged not only by its own performance but how your hair reacts when you use both shampoo and conditioner.

This conditioner, again, smells of artificial pineapple. And the texture is kind of weird - it feels like a face wash jel. I normally use creamy textured conditioner so it feels very odd to be using this. Besides, it lathers up like a face wash..! How weird... Anyway this also rinses very well, it doesn't feel slimey like many conditioners do. Feel nice and fresh. However, I prefer a little more texture - my hair is really quite dry, so I think I need a little heavier conditioner.

3. Serum and:
4. Hair straightener

Well well well...... totally disappointed with these products, so much so I sent an email to TIGI customer service. I put the correspondence for you to judge for yourself.....my experience..!

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Hello! I have always wanted to try your products and when I saw your stand at the Vitality Show in London earlier this month, I bought your Control Freak Set (Straightening - all 4 steps included in the kit.)

The shampoo and the conditioner were fine - very straight forward to use. However, I had no idea how to use the serum and the "Extra Extra straightener". It says on both the products, use on damp/towel-dried hair and that's pretty much it - but as to the amount, there was no mention of it. So I just had to experiment - and what an experiment it was! My hair came out like sticky sack of straw, this is no exaggeration!

I must have used too much of either the serum or the straightener (probably both), but from the instruction on the products there was no way to tell.. and what is the straightener anyway? Spray? Mousse? Am I supposed to put
some on my hand and spread all over my hair??

By the time I finished 'blow drying' it was time to go to work, so I had to face the worst hair day of my life!!!!!!

You must be laughing but it did ruin my day! Your items' fun, cool descriptions are all fine, but please don't skip the essentials.... I still don't know how to use your products!!!!!!!

I wait for your reply....
+++happysue++++ (unsatisfied customer)

>>>> Reply from TIGI >>>>>>>

Hi ++Happysue++++,

Thank you for your email and Im sorry to hear about the problems you'VE been having!! Let me xplain...

Control Freak Extra Extra straight is a straightening mousse and should be sprayed directly onto hair. Do this when hair is still damp. When you start using it, use small amounts and then build up as different people need different amounts due to hair length and type. Then blow dry hair straight.

When dried, straighten (if you use straighteners), then use control freak serum. This is a serum that smoothes frizz and straightens the hair.

You can also use the serum on the hair when wet for extra control.

I hope this helps!! Let me know if you need any further information...

Many Thanks

TIGI Haircare
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So there you go. I used these products a couple more times after my first incident, very carefully trying with the tiniest amount of the step 3&4, no success. My hair just turns sticky and loses all the shine there was left, as if I have put some diluted glue all over my hair, and I had to put my hair up with some hair clips - there was no way I could wear it down - with every bit of movement (me nodding, turn head to talk to someone etc...) each hair would stick to each other like some sort of uncontrollable static, thanks to this glueing effect of the Extra Extra Straight..!

Needless to say, I have given the products away to my friend. Please, if anyone likes these step 3 and 4, put your reviews up and explain what went wrong here!!

(I have put low rating on this - the shampoo & conditioner were not something I'd buy again, and the serum and the straighter have lowered the overall rating.) 

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