Garnier Fructis has been around for decades, providing the masses with affordable hair care products.
However, just because the Garnier Fructis line is successful doesn’t automatically mean that the products will be good for your hair.
In this article, we will fill you in on everything you need to know about the Garnier Fructis line of hair care products.
That way, the next time you see a Garnier Fructis product, you’ll be able to make an educated decision on whether to reach for it or stay far away. Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Is Garnier Fructis Good for Your Hair?
As beautiful as the packaging and commercials are, Garnier Fructis hair products are not the best brand for your curls, coils, or kinks. However, if you have a different hair type, like straight hair (type 1) or wavy hair (type 2), then Garnier Fructis has several great hair products for your hair types.
We don't recommend these Garnier hair products, including the shampoo and conditioner, for curly girls because of several ingredients that often lead to dry hair and a sensitive scalp with many women that have type 3 or type 4 hair strands.
The products commonly include drying alcohols, synthetic fragrances, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), mineral oil, propylene gel, salt, and parabens.
We recommend that curly girls avoid these ingredients when possible. In the following section, we’ll look into some of Garnier Fructis’s products for curly hair:
Garnier Fructis Curl Shape Defining Spray Gel
This is a curl-defining spray that you can use to boost the natural shape of your curls. It’s a water-based spray that contains some nourishing and protective ingredients, like shea butter and castor oil.
However, the second and third ingredients are PVP (protective film) and propylene glycol (ingredient dissolver and moistener).
The fact that these ingredients are listed second and third on the ingredient list means that they are present at higher concentrations than all the other ingredients (except water since it’s listed first). It also contains parabens.
Garnier Fructis Curl Nourish Shampoo
This is a curl-defining spray that you can use to boost the natural shape of your curls. It’s a water-based spray that contains some nourishing and protective ingredients, like shea butter and castor oil.
However, the second and third ingredients are PVP (protective film) and propylene glycol (ingredient dissolver and moistener).
The fact that these ingredients are listed second and third on the ingredient list means that they are present at higher concentrations than all the other ingredients (except water since it’s listed first). It also contains parabens.
Garnier Fructis Curl Nourish Conditioner
This is a curl-defining spray that you can use to boost the natural shape of your curls. It’s a water-based spray that contains some nourishing and protective ingredients, like shea butter and castor oil.
However, the second and third ingredients are PVP (protective film) and propylene glycol (ingredient dissolver and moistener).
The fact that these ingredients are listed second and third on the ingredient list means that they are present at higher concentrations than all the other ingredients (except water since it’s listed first). It also contains parabens.
Garnier Fructis Curl Nourish Butter Cream
This is a curl-defining spray that you can use to boost the natural shape of your curls. It’s a water-based spray that contains some nourishing and protective ingredients, like shea butter and castor oil.
However, the second and third ingredients are PVP (protective film) and propylene glycol (ingredient dissolver and moistener).
The fact that these ingredients are listed second and third on the ingredient list means that they are present at higher concentrations than all the other ingredients (except water since it’s listed first). It also contains parabens.
Many of the ingredients in Garnier Fructis products, even those specifically made for curly hair, are not suitable for your curls.
Even if your hair feels good and looks nice after using these products, you may eventually see some undesirable effects due to the harmful ingredients in them.
Based on the ingredient lists of the four products above (chosen randomly), we recommend passing on the line.
A Deeper Look at the Ingredients
Garnier Fructis products contain many of the ingredients that naturals avoid at all costs, and we’ll take a look at all of them below.
Taking a deeper look at the ingredients will help you see why each of them should never touch your hair:
Dry Alcohols
Alcohols like benzyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol have no place in curly hair products. The reason why is that these alcohols suck the moisture out of the hair, causing it to become brittle, dry, and prone to tangles. In the worst cases, the hair may weaken to the point of breakage.
Synthetic Fragrance
The issue with the term “synthetic fragrance” is that it doesn’t reveal what chemicals give off the fragrance. In the interest of looking out for your health and hair, it’s wise to avoid synthetic fragrances whenever possible.
If you want to buy Garnier Fructis shampoo because it smells fantastic, feel free, but we don't recommend buying shampoos, conditioners, etc. based on its fragrance. Read this article to learn how to make your hair smell good all the time.
PVP
PVP is an ingredient that leaves an artificial film on your hair and holds it in a certain state. Not only does it leave your hair coated, but it can cause respiratory issues and scalp irritation.
Mineral Oil
Mineral oil is one of the worst oils for curly hair. It sits on top of the hair and is difficult to wash away, which can lead to product buildup and clogged hair follicles. The oil can also irritate your scalp. Read this article to see a list of the natural oils that we recommend.
Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol is considered safe by the FDA, but it’s not the best thing to put on your hair. The problem is that it causes hair dryness in some cases. It can also cause scalp itching and irritation.
Salt
Salt absorbs moisture. And when it’s put in a hair product, it does the same thing to your hair. The foundation to healthy curls is moisture, so salt should never make its way into any of your hair products.
Parabens
Parabens have been linked to endocrine issues and have been suspected to be associated with cancer. Therefore, people tend to avoid them whenever possible, and we encourage you to do the same.
This is not a complete list of ingredients to avoid in your hair care products. For a more extensive list, read this article by Dr. Anzelone.
Should You Try Garnier Fructis Products?
The thing that you should be aware of when it comes to Garnier Fructis products is that every single one we reviewed had several ingredients that could harm your curls.
That’s why you should take an investigative approach while you’re shopping at your favorite department or beauty supply store. Take a good look at the ingredients and avoid any that have ingredients like the ones above.
Our Recommendation
Based on the above Garnier Fructis products, chosen at random, we do not recommend that you give them a try. There are much better options out there to care for and style your curls.
Curls require special care and avoiding products that sabotage your curls, in the long run, is one of the first steps you should take. It can be tedious learning about ingredients and their effects, but you and your hair will be much better off in the long run if you do it.
If You Must Try Garnier
If a product has just one or two of the ingredients to avoid, and you really want to give it a try, we’ve got a tip for you. Be sure to pay close attention to your hair before, during, and after using the products.
If you notice any negative changes, we recommend that you stop using the product immediately and switch to a better product to avoid damaged hair.
There are Better Options
Garnier Fructis products are cheap when compared to products created by OG curly hair brands, like Kinky Curly, Shea Moisture, and Carol’s Daughter.
Perhaps this is because you get much higher quality products if you spend a bit more on them.
All in all, Garnier Fructis products leave much to be desired. They do contain a few good ingredients, but it’s impossible to gloss over the many questionable ingredients in them.
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Given the many choices that you have for quality curly hair care products, we recommend passing on Garnier Fructis. If you have loose wavy hair or straight hair, these products could be more suitable for your hair care routine.
We hope that this article has given you the information you need to make the right decisions for your hair. We encourage you to continue researching curly hair care products and techniques to figure out what’s best for your hair. Good luck on your hair care journey!
