Garnier Fructis Curl Shape Defining Spray Gel Review

Years and years ago Garnier used to be a go to brand. They are easy to find and pretty affordable. These days I avoid silicone/dimethicone in my hair stuff so that limits some of the brands/products I am willing to plunk down cash for. This is one of the few products they make that does not have the cones in them. Although there probably still are some questionable ingredients. 

Garnier claims:

Fructis Curl Shape Defining Spray Gel provides shiny and defined curls with strong hold and no frizz.

Fructis Curl Shape Defining Spray Gel is a strong-hold spray gel for wavy, curly, and coily hair types. Infused with coconut water, it defines curls, adds shine, and helps control frizz without weigh-down, stickiness, or build-up.

• Mist-on spray-gel format coats strands evenly like a hair spray with the control of a hair gel.
• Shiny finish with defined curls that stay in place yet feel touchable.
• Works on damp or dry hair; great for day-2 curl refresh.
• Free from silicones, phthalates, and DMDM hydantoin; Leaping Bunny approved.

No silicones, no phthalates, and no DMDM hydantoin. All Garnier products, globally, are approved by Cruelty Free International under the Leaping Bunny program.

For best results, start with a curly hair shampoo, then layer over a leave-in conditioner for curly hair or curl cream for curly hair before styling.

For all curl types.

This is not my first time trying this product. I had this back in the day when I still had a relaxer. Why? IDK. I guess I thought I would create curls from straight hair. Of course, it didn't work. I don't know how I ended up using the rest of the bottle. 

We'll start with something easy. Scent. It smells nice- kinda a faint light apple/fruity type scent. It's very light though and I don't think it sticks to my hair. But I do like it. Garnier never misses as far as fragrance for their products.

As for the product itself- it is a "spray" gel. I don't know why. I'm not sure I think it makes any sense to have a spray gel. I think I would rather have a squeeze tube or a tub. Spraying it onto the hands seems to be tedious and makes application take longer. It does say you can spray directly into hair for even coverage- I don't think so. It doesn't diffuse- just sprays in a straight line so I do not think that's the best method of applying. 

It does have some crunchy hold that feels a bit drying. Even layering over a leave in conditioner. It kinda defines my hair- but I do feel there could be more definition/stretch. This seems more a product that encourages curls to shrink up rather than stretching them out.  I think I want something to define and weight down my hair just a little more than this does. 

I think shine and overall look just end up being "OK". 

No silicones- which I avoid.  But it does have "acrylates" and PVP which never sound like the best ingredients. 

Ingredients: 

454049 F8 AQUA/WATER, PVP, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, PEG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, PEG-70 MANGO GLYCERIDES, TRIETHANOLAMINE, POLYACRYLATE-3, LIMONENE, LINALOOL, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE, METHYL-PARABEN, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTER/SHEA BUTTER, HEDYL CINNAMAL, AMYL CINNAMAL. F.I.L.# D232780/1.

Overall, it's affordable but not something I would repurchase.