TSUBAKI Golden Repair Shampoo

Quick Summary: - I like trying out new shampoo & conditioners because my hair is something I take pride in. A shampoo & conditioner have to smell good no matter what and also need to live up to what it is being sold as.

Price: - The price of this shampoo varies from seller-to-seller, but it is most commonly around $20. - I usually get mine from Tokyo Outlets and physical stores like that (shh! ;] ) I even bargain/haggle with the store owners about how much the price is. They may or may not give in, but usually they will give me a pretty good deal on my entire purchase or a discount on a matching product.

Packaging: - The Tsubaki series is quite interesting because it (originally) can be bought in the bottle w/ pump form (think Tresemme, but more architectural) OR in a refill package (it's a tear-open packet with the same mL as the bottle) - The plastic bottle is pretty durable and the plastic pump is controllable. The only problem I had with the pump was that it fell on my bathtub floor and cracked. I have not seen a pump sold separately, but it is not a hassle to put it into another container.

Quality, Formula, & Results: - The Tsubaki products I get are usually written purely in Japanese. I like reading directions when using products, even if I don't follow them. I just used this the normal: Lather. Rinse. Repeat. - The scent of the shampoo has a very light scent of lychee, I feel. If you have never smelled lychee before it smells like grapefruit minus the citrus plus a little bit sweeter. Definitely not the strongest smell on a scale from Suave (not strong, but noticeable) to Garnier (very potent) it would be closer to Suave in scent denseness, but Garnier in lasting. - My friends/coworkers LOVED the way my hair smelled when I used this. - The shampoo looks like liquid pearl (like most moisturizing shampoos do), so it is moisturizing just in that aspect. (Think Pantene Pro-V look) - I feel, however, that this is a very hit or miss product. (reasoning in the Would I recommend this area) - It gets a nice lather and rinses off easily. - Does not make me feel like I need to wash my hair again. - My hair does not get noticeably greasy throughout the day when using any good shampoo/conditioner. This does not make my hair feel any more greasy than it already does. - I mainly use this throughout the winter-time because my region gets a very dry-cold winter instead of slush, etc. I do not usually blow-dry my hair unless it is cold outside, so the added weather strain & heat styling does affect my choice in hair-care.

Versus the Red Shining Tsubaki Shampoo & Versus the Gold Tsubaki Shampoo: - I, personally, do not need the extra moisturizing aspect of this shampoo. I think it is nice, but unnecessary for me. My brother, however, enjoyed that aspect and continues to choose the white one. - The White Tsubaki has a pleasant smell, as I mentioned before, but I prefer the sweeter, stronger scent of the Red. - The White Tsubaki was nice therapy for my hair, but I just prefer the Red Tsubaki overall. My mum liked how the White Tsubaki made her hair feel better, but does not continue to purchase or use the Tsubaki line at all. - The Gold Tsubaki Shampoo is supposed to be the most luxurious out of the three (?) or so I was told. My brother and I both liked it, but do not feel it is significantly better than the other two. - I think a purchaser should take into consideration what he or she wants out of the Tsubaki line when choosing. I do not believe the Tsubaki hair-care are the kind of products that work well over all and just happen to perform better than the rest at one specific thing. I believe it hits the target of what it is going for.

Versus American & Asian Pantene Pro-V: - Tsubaki, to me, is the Japanese High-End version of the American & Asian Pantene Pro-V. (side-note: American & Asian Pantene Pro-V have different formulas and scents than each other, but the formulas are pretty close to each other. The difference is not completely significant, but is noticeable.) - They all have the same formula consistency and weight (when it comes to amount put in hand. a quarter size of p-pv = quarter size of tsubaki) - The Asian Pantene Pro-V & Tsubaki smell very similar. - I prefer the overall look/feel of the Asian Pantene Pro-V to Tsubaki.

Would I recommend this? - For people who are lacking volume in their hair, I would NOT recommend this because it does weigh down hair because of how moisturizing it is. It does not leave my hair feeling greasy, it is just ... heavy. My mum has short, colour treated hair and likes the smallest amount of volume. She did not really enjoy this product (other than the scent) because it was TOO moisturizing. I feel that this may be too much of a hassle for people to put up with if volume is what they are going for.

- For people who are wanting some weight to their hair, I would recommend this because it does not totally flatten hair, but it does significantly flatten it. My mum, brother, and I have medium-thick, coarse hair and we all saw a change in volume. My brother and I liked this product because our hair needs the little bit of weighing down or else we look like anime characters having a bad day. O.O