I posted this review on my personal blog. I use this product almost exclusively on my mini braids and with a combination of other products on my loose hair.

First Impression: The package is a soft squeeze bottle and it contains less product than the Direct Leave-In (6.8 oz vs. 8.5). This product is meant to be a deep conditioner/protein treatment. While thicker than the Leave-In, I didn’t think it was thick enough for a DC. It also says it’s meant for porous hair- which is a problem of mine. The smell is pleasant and very light- it’s the same scent as the leave-in but lighter.

Performance: This conditioner exceeded expectations. I became interested in the Giovanni line in an attempt to eliminate unnatural ingredients from my beauty products. This conditioner was a great replacement for Aussie Moist (a previous favorite of mine). I use it mostly as a cowash and I am able to detangle my hair fairly easily with it in.

Pros: The moisture and strength is balanced very well. My hair feels great afterwards and the ingredients are amazing. My porous hair needs protein and this product is able to provide that while still making my hair soft and easy to manage. I will have to use it as a DC and report back but for the time being it’s excellent as a cowash.

Cons: The bottle is small. It can be expensive if it’s not on sale. Whole Foods and Ulta have very good sales on Giovanni products so I usually stock up then. The consistency does not appeal to me. It’s too thick for an everyday conditioner and too thin for a DC- for my hair.

Verdict: I will repurchase this. I will most likely use it exclusively as a cowash when I run out of everything else. If I end up using it as a deep conditioner, as intended, I could possibly use it exclusively.

Here’s a link to the amazon page. This product is also available at big box stores (Target), health stores (Whole Foods), beauty stores (Ulta), and perhaps drug stores. It’s a great price on iherb.com check out other rave reviews here too.