Apparently, this is Jennifer Aniston's favourite shampoo & conditioner.
And I can see why.
It's expensive. It has sleek packaging. And does exactly what it says on the 'tin'.
So why did I buy this shampoo & conditioner?
Honestly, my hair is knackered. Well, kind of. It's dry, lacks shine & no matter what shampoo & conditioner I use, I can never get the 'swish' effect. And Pantene certainly does not give me the 'swish' effect
I've used so many shampoo & conditioner combos it's unreal. I've spent a small fortune on them and I've never really been fully satisfied with the results I'd been having.
I came across Alterna while I was watching an old episode of 'Friends' on E4 and was in awe at Jen's hair. So I asked my friend Google what hair products she uses and lo-and-behold, it turned out to be Alterna's 'White Truffle'.
Google also told me the shampoo costs £28.25 for a 300ml bottle and the conditioner costs £30.50 (also 300ml) from SalonSkincare. I don't know about you but £60 for 300ml of shampoo & conditioner really hurt my (husband's) wallet!
Here's what Alterna have to say about White Truffle:
"This extravagant formula combines European White Truffle Oil, the planet's richest sources of the B Vitamins, known as "the beautifiers," Caspian Sea Caviar Extract and Mediterranean Arnica Flower with a phyto-organically derived surfactant system, which is the most effective natural cleansing system obtainable.
White Truffle has nutrient activating enzymes and the world’s most expensive haircare ingredients combed from the farthest reaches of the globe infuse the scalp and hair for added conditioning moisture, elasticity and extraordinary shine.
Ideal for daily use and safe on your chemically treated hair. White Truffle contains a full spectrum UV protection to guard your locks against sun damage."
Niiiice.
Packaging
The packaging is so important as it is always the first thing people see. It can leave a lasting first impression and in Alterna's case it is definitely the SEX! It manages to provoke curiosity from those that lay eyes on it, when people see it the first reaction is something along the lines of: "Wow, what are those expensive looking bottles in the bathroom?!" It does look expensive and luxurious.
Usability
After gawping at the bottles for ages, I got down to the real business of actually using the stuff! It squeezes out easily from the bottle and allows you to control exactly how much you take out. The shampoo lathered pretty easily. The smell was quite odd, not in a bad way. I can't really describe what it smells like but it was pleasant and doesn't linger on the hair after you've blowdried.
Once I rinsed away the shampoo, my hair felt clean and not squeaky. Next, the conditioner was super creamy & thick, thicker than your average deep conditioner so I used a small amount of it. My hair felt weighed down because the conditioner is quite heavy. But once rinsed off, the heaviness had gone down the plughole, and my hair had the 'slip' effect. Yay! :)
Results
Detangling was not a problem which is definitely a plus point. I blowdried my hair without my usual Toni & Guy 'Boost It Mousse' & GHD Smoothing Balm to see if Alterna had made much of a difference to the condition of my hair. The result?
ZOMG!
My hair felt super soft and bouncy, looked sleek and incredibly glossy which is a rarity for me. My ends felt a lot of smoother and less rough when I felt them between my fingers. And last but not least, I had the 'swish' effect! :D All in all, my hair looked and felt FABULOUS!
Would I repurchase?
Maybe. I know, this is definitely a HG for me, but it's waaay too pricey IMO. If I came into a bit of extra cash then I would definitely re-purchase. But doubt that will happen any time soon! :( In the mean time, I'll be saving the rest of my Alterna for special occasions.
Have you used any products by Alterna? What's your HG shampoo & conditioner?
17 comments
I'm having a real "can't find anything I actually like" phase with shampoo and conditioner and my hair is a bit blah too. The only thing I'm really loving is the John Frieda Miraculous Recovery Mask. Not sexy, but I do get that swishyness from it.
ReplyDeleteI'm SO tempted by this, because quite frankly your hair looks bloody gorgeous, but I'm not sure I can spring £60 on shampoo. Even for me, a girl who wastes money on crap on a near daily basis, its quite a lot.
Oh, I don't know why but I can never take John Frieda seriously. Maybe because they greatly exaggerate the description of the product at the back, haha, it does sounds good though. :) xx
ReplyDeleteOmg I wish you did this review a couple of days ago as I really want to try it now but just bought Nioxin to try! Your hair looks so gorgeous, shiny and swishy...!! What does it smell like?
ReplyDeleteHmm, the smell is quite a strange one. It's pleasant, doesn't smell cheap at all. Slightly musky, but I could be wrong. Haha!
ReplyDeleteOoh, do let me me know how you get on with Nioxin?
xx
Sounds like something I'd need to smell?! Lol!
ReplyDeleteYeah sure, I'll do a review of it on my blog :D
xxx
Oh wow! £60?! I personally couldn't justify that on shampoo and coniditioner. But thats purely because im jobless. If a was a millionaire i'd be picking that stuff up like it was penny sweets.
ReplyDeleteYour hair does look amazing though it looks so super soft and lovely :D . I use Pantene's Aqua Light shampoo and coniditioner at the moment and it's doing a pretty good job, but when I have a sudden windfall, i'd definitely give it a shot :)
ooo now i want this, ur hair looks 'swish - a - licious' but damn i must admit i spend alot on hair care but that is damn expensive!
ReplyDeletewow never heard of this.... looks awesome .... ill keep iT in mind
ReplyDeleteMaricela
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Hey never heard of this but looks really great...Your hair looks gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteur hair does look gorgeous and sleek =S ... mashallah .
ReplyDeletewow if this wasnt so pricey I'd need to try it! my hair is in an awful state! yours looks wonderful! xx
ReplyDeleteHow posh are these? Good results though!
ReplyDeleteI've tagged you in a post i've just done for blog awards! x
wow your hair looks amazing! it really made a big difference :)
ReplyDeletei gave an award to you on my blog btw :) http://paperrheart.blogspot.com/2010/10/awards-awards-awards.html
<33
hey i have never used alterna products...but the results surely does look tempting........
ReplyDeleteo wow ur hair looks great! i love ur blog too! iono if i told u before. thanx for the sweet comment u left on mine !
ReplyDeleteas for the shampoo/conditioner. no i've never tried this brand but ur review is definilty tempting me to give it a try. I've got platinum blonde hair right now so my hair needs all the nurishing it can get!! trust me. not pretty when i use just plain ole pantene.lol.
I do suggest trying Shikai organic products though. they are great and are all natrual and they come for different hair colours.
Also try organic/natural solutions like whipping an egg into your hair for 5 min before showering. its makes a terrific protein mask. or olive oil and vinegar for clarifying and nourishing shine.
love
anya
Awesome review! Never even heard of this brand before but if it's good enough for jennifer aniston...
ReplyDeleteI'd love to be able to splash out on this but £60 is just waaay out of my price range esp cos I have to wash my hair every day! I'd probably end up working just to pay for my hair products :)
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Hey its really nice
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this
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