Pantene Medium-Thick Solutions
$4.99 - $5.24
Available at: drugstore.com
As part of the metamorphosis, Pantene ditched a few old formulas, revamped and renamed a few more, and completely re-categorized their offerings into four full systems of hair care: Color, Fine Hair, Medium-Thick Hair and Curly Hair. But, they didn't stop there. To ensure that each person finds her ideal hair care solution, Pantene also created a new online Product Finder Tool that selects the ideal Customized Solutions set based on questions about how your hair behaves in its natural state and what you'd like your hair to do. I recently had the opportunity to try out the new Pantene Pro V Customized Solutions, from using the Product Finder Tool to actually using the entire Customized Solution selected for my hair, for a full month.
First, I was asked to use the Product Finder Tool to find the appropriate Pantene Pro V Customized Solution for my hair type. I was skeptical about letting a computer pick my hair care, but I gave in wholly in the name of shopping journalism. The Product Finder Tool chose Medium-Thick Hair Solutions for my hair type. Not what I would have picked for my long, curly (but regularly straightened) and highlighted hair. But, I took the computer's advice and used the entire Medium-Thick Solutions set -- Frizzy to Smooth Shampoo, Frizzy to Smooth Conditioner, Straighten & Smooth Creme and Anti-Humidity Hair Spray -- for a full month. This is my review.
Packaging and Instructions
The packaging for Pantene Pro V products is divine in its simplicity. The shampoo and conditioner come in large, easy-to-squeeze bottles that can be stood on their flat heads for getting the last drops out. The Straighten & Smooth Creme comes in a pump bottle that is easy to control and mess-free. The instructions are pretty standard. But, I would add that both the shampoo and conditioner require much less product than you would expect. The first time I used the shampoo and conditioner I used way too much product and ended up with a greasy mess that I could not get rinsed out. I quickly learned that a quarter-sized dollop of shampoo and a half-dollar-sized dollop of conditioner is all it takes for my mid-back length hair. You've been warned.
Texture and Feel
The shampoo lathers very well and rinses clean, assuming you don't use too much. The conditioner made the tangles fall right out of my hair. Both smelled amazing-- as we've all come to expect from Pantene. The Straighten & Smooth Creme wasn't at all tacky and was easy to distribute throughout my hair. Once I figured out the right amounts to use, which did take some trial and error, I found that the Pantene Pro V products were pleasant to use and had a great overall texture and feel.
Results
Over the course of the month I used the Medium-Thick Solutions products in a variety of situations. I diffused my curly hair. I straightened. I let it air dry. Overall, I got the best results from straightening, which is to be expected as that is what these products were designed to facilitate. My hair dryer-straightened easily and quite quickly. Diffusing left my hair a little limp and slightly greasy looking -- clearly not the optimum use of these products. Air drying produced loose, frizz-free ringlets.
My Pantene Pro V blowout lasted a full three days and remained frizz-free throughout. The frizz-prevention abilities of this solution set was way beyond my expectations and was significantly better than the results from my normal blowout products. Bottom line: the new Pantene Pro V Customized Solutions delivers on its promises, so long as you use the products sparingly and stick to their designed usage. This new line offers an affordable, easy-to-understand and easy to pick hair care solution and is worth trying out, particularly if you are not sure about which products will make your hair do what you want it to do.
Disclosure: A free review sample of this product was provided by Pantene via Glam Media.
