Hey darlings!

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Another (delayed) product review on one of the most common and inexpensive conditioners in the Natural Hair Community, let’s get to it.

THIS REVIEW IS ONE FOR ALL, THAT IS, SINCE I’VE USED OVER THREE ALBERTO VO5 CONDITIONERS, I WILL GENERALIZE BASED ON THE ONES I HAVE USED.

Product – Alberto VO5 Conditioner (split ends anti-breakage,  silky experiences island coconut, herbal escapes free me freesia, moisture milks strawberries and cream, tea therapy (vanilla mint tea, healthful green tea).

Product information for the split ends anti-breakage conditioner – Split ends require special treatment. This vitamin-infused formula with Panthenol will help rescue your hair and help color-treated hair maintain its vibrancy and color even longer.

Size – 15 ounce.

Ingredients – Water (Aqua, EAU), Cetyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Glyceryl Stearate, DMDM Hydantoin, Disodium EDTA, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Amyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Polysorbate 20, Blue 1 (CI 42090), Gelatin/Keratin Amino Acids/Lysine Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Steareth-21, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Biotin.

It says it is infused with panthenol to fight split ends but as we can see, panthenol is at the bottom of this product which denotes that it’s concentration is not as significant.

Water (Aqua, EAU), Cetyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Glyceryl Stearate, DMDM Hydantoin, Disodium EDTA, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Coumarin, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Stearyl Alcohol, Steareth-21, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Ascorbic Acid, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Niacinamide, Biotin.

The first ingredient list shown above is for the Split Ends Anti-Breakage conditioner while the second is for the Tea Therapy Vanilla Mint type. As you can see, little to no difference for the top 8 ingredients, just little additions and subtractions all at the bottom of the ingredient list. Most of the conditioners have the same chemicals/ingredients, just the ‘flavour’ differs. I’m explaining in full detail just so you know it doesn’t really matter which type of VO5 conditioner you buy because you’d reap the benefits if you still bought all in the brand.

It’s worth noting that this is a water based conditioner and it’s infused with moisturizing chemicals (some I’m familiar with because I’ve read on them e.g cetyl alcohol). However, the good stuff appears at the bottom of the ingredient list  and it has a hint of biotin but hunnay this doesn’t lead to hair growth in any way so if you’re buying this product because of the biotin you’d be disappointed.

Product promise – Protects against split ends and breakage.

Yeah right, with panthenol way down the ingredient list.

Smell – All the conditioners smell great except the Pomegranate & Grapeseed Strengthening Conditioner. There’s something off about that Pomegranate & Grapeseed I can’t place it, maybe I got fake? My favorite smell is the tea therapy vanilla mint as it lingers even after rinsing.

Consistency – Light with good slip.

Price – N350 – N500. I got a VO5 conditioner at a supermarket here in Abuja for… wait for it… N750. I was in total shock when I received my receipt. Ordinary VO5 conditioner? I couldn’t believe it because I’m used to buying it for either N350 in Lagos or N500 when I was in school and it was reasonable. I don’t like being ripped off, at all. Next time, I’d just ask and not assume, if it is more than N500, I’d just smile and walk.

Where to buy – any pharmacy/supermarket/local market. VO5 is everywhere, not hard to find at all.

I like to purchase easy to find products so when I’m running out I can conveniently walk into any store and be sure it will be there sitting on the shelf calling my name, lol.

How I use – 

Sometimes I detangle with a detangling conditioner first then use this conditioner, other times I go straight to cowashing.

– I part my hair into four sections, sometimes more, pour a generous amount of this conditioner into each section (scalp included), detangling simultaneously.

– Leave in my hair for 10-15 minutes, rinse then follow up with a DC.

Sometimes when I use a DIY conditioner of maybe avocado-honey mix, I add about two-three tablespoons of this conditioner into the mix.

I once wanted to use it as a leave in but my mind couldn’t get over the fact that this is a rinse out conditioner. I don’t use it to detangle, just to condition my hair, nothing extra.

The Good

– Although it is unfortunate that the good stuff in the product are at the bottom, it has good slip as well so it can pass for a detangling conditioner.

– Inexpensive and totally worth the price.

– I like how it can be infused in any mix and wouldn’t separate or spoil the mix in total.

– I use a bottle four to five times before it finishes completely which is great because it is cheap and can easily be restocked.

The Bad – 

– Alberto, please move those good stuff up the ingredient list especially the split ends anti-breakage conditioner, panthenol should be the second ingredient at least, so yes this conditioner falls into the group of advertisement scam.

– There’s something about that Pomegranate & Grapeseed conditioner that doesn’t sit well with my hair. I’ve used it twice or so and it has finished just because it doesn’t permeate my hair properly. It’s just all over the place, that’s my least favorite and I’d be sure never to buy again, others work well with my hair.

Will I buy again?

Hell yes! This is my staple conditioner and I’d always run back to it even if I buy others. It is affordable and does a good conditioning job.

Sidebar – I saw this type of VO5 conditioner and wanted to purchase but the small bottle discouraged me, it’s N500 at that same expensive supermarket but still has about the same ingredients as the regular VO5 conditioner talked about in this post. It also comes in varieties, it is a good buy if you get it at N500 or less.

Have a wonderful weekend guys. 🙂

Bey.