In Criticism of Giovanni Direct Leave-In

[sonce]

So, after learning from some enthusiasts on this board that one cannot be admitted to heaven without using Giovanni Direct, I went out and bought it, eagerly awaiting the effects of this holy balm. I slathered it on my braids and braided them up. And no, I did not use any more of this than I use of any other hair product.

All was well.

Until I started taking them down.

My hair was so hard, crunchy, and worst of all, TANGLED that I thought I might lose it all. I have found that soaking my hair in coconut oil greatly relieves the tangling and hardness, but why would God require us to use this stuff in order to gain admittance at the pearly gates when it is surely a leading cause of baldness?

Now, I have found that mixing the stuff with oil, preferably coconut, in about a 1:2 ratio (meaning twice as much oil as leave-in) relieves the crunchiness. But what good is it when it's eating up my coconut oil supply in order to be just ok as a leave-in? I would have just thrown out this devil's brew, but in my refusal to let the Giovanni Direct train pass me by, I bought 4 bottles (33.5 oz each) of the stuff. So, I look forward to years of using it on my body, sauteeing my vegetables with it, washing clothing with it, and using it as a mixer for alcoholic beverages in order to have any hope of gaining relief from the Scourge of Giovanni.

There's no real point to this post, except to complain and warn others. When the Giovanni Direct train comes into town, let it pass.

Oh, and if anyone can recommend a better leave-in (that isn't $65 for 2oz or some ridiculous price like that), please do.

Am I the only one dismayed by Giovanni Direct?

 

[Queen V]

This didn't work too well for me either. It wasn't disastrous, but it was one of my less-favored leave-ins that I've tried. It combs through okay, but then gives my hair a hard, brittle feeling.

 

[IntoMyhair]

My GD did this the first time i used it. It's one of those you only need a little to get the job done. lol
I am heavy handed with my products my rusk smoother did the same thing. It's also a protein product.

 

[adw425]

It has been over two years since I tried it, but it made my hair very hard and dried it out terribly. It was one of my biggest disappointments because so many of the ladies raved about it.

 

[Mook's hair]

LOL at your future uses for the Giovani.
I am transitioning.

I also bought it after reading so many positive reviews.
I like it. Don't love it. I do use it. But it's not my favorite thing to grab.

I use it in 2 ways mostly and these work for me.

I Use it on freshly cowashed hair it helps provide slip if I know I will be detangling.

I also use it when I'm braiding or cornrowing my hair and while I'm wearing my braids or cornrows (with no added synthetic hair).

How did you use it?

One thing I realized very early is...This stuff has high water content. So you cannot rub it on flat ironed hair . You might as well just walk out in the rain without an umbrella.

 

[IntoMyhair]

LOL at your future uses for the Giovani.
I am transitioning.

I also bought it after reading so many positive reviews.
I like it. Don't love it. I do use it. But it's not my favorite thing to grab.

I use it in 2 ways mostly and these work for me.

I Use it on freshly cowashed hair it helps provide slip if I know I will be detangling.

I also use it when I'm braiding or cornrowing my hair and while I'm wearing my braids or cornrows (with no added synthetic hair).

How did you use it?

One thing I realized very early is...This stuff has high water content. So you cannot rub it on flat ironed hair . You might as well just walk out in the rain without an umbrella.

LOL

 

[prospurr4]

I'm sorry that GD didn't work for you, especially since you bought so much of it. I'm 4b texlaxed, and it's my favorite leave-in. I use about a nickle-sized amount and seal with EVOO or EVCO. My hair loves this stuff.

 

[PaperClip]

I was advised to dilute this. I suppose this applies to both the creamy leave-in as well as the spray.

 

[sonce]

I was advised to dilute this. I suppose this applies to both the creamy leave-in as well as the spray.

Yea, that's what I'm doing--I'm cutting it with a lot of oil. That irritates me though because I wonder if the benefits of the Oil-Giovanni mix are just entirely due to the oil. What is the Giovanni Direct contributing, really?

Can any longterm user speak to its benefits?

 

[HAIRapy]

I've never used it before, I'm sorry that happened to you. *giggling* Please, from now on when you see people raving about stuff, start with one little bottle to make sure it works for you " You don't want to have "years of using it on my body, sauteeing my vegetables with it, washing clothing with it, and using it as a mixer for alcoholic beverages in order to have any hope of gaining relief from the Scourge of Giovanni." or any other products You got me over here cracking up!

 

[nycutiepie]

I'm relaxed and I don't use it anymore. I bought it when I first joined the board and I think it may have contributed to my earlier setbacks. It does not give me slip and I really wanted it to work since everyone raved about it.

 

[TheNewFine]

My hair loves it (3c natural). I generally use it on day two if I'm not going to CW and it brings my hair back to life. It's a great moisturizer for me. Never experienced the hard crunchiness - quite the opposite.

Had you clarified recently? That might make a difference.

 

[sunnydaze]

It doesn't moisturize my hair much and if I use more than a quarter size, my hair does end up crunchy. It does help though with straightening my hair out a bit. I probably won't buy another bottle though when this one runs out.

 

[VinDieselsWifey]

sorry it didn't work for you. my hair LOVES direct leave-in. but just like any product i use, i have to switch it up after about 4 months.

you know can sell those bottles on the swap board! i'm sure there are plenty of people who would love to take it off your hands.

 

[Cien]

So, I look forward to years of using it on my body, sauteeing my vegetables with it, washing clothing with it, and using it as a mixer for alcoholic beverages in order to have any hope of gaining relief from the Scourge of Giovanni.


Am I the only one dismayed by Giovanni Direct?

CTFU!!!

Your post is too funny!

But anyway---I too, bought and tried Giovanni Direct Leave In also, after soley using Profectiv Breakfree as a leave in.

I am 4b texlaxed, and I loved the Giovanni at first--and my hair loved it, ONLY because I wore my hair bunned about 95% of the time.

However, when 'styling' or flat ironing my hair, it just didn't absorb like I wanted it to. It didn't make my hair dry,but it just didn't moisturize like I wanted it to.
Now I just use it sparingly mixed with my other holy grail leave-ins until I use it up. I won't be buying anymore.

 

[ravenmerlita]

I would have just thrown out this devil's brew, but in my refusal to let the Giovanni Direct train pass me by, I bought 4 bottles (33.5 oz each) of the stuff. So, I look forward to years of using it on my body, sauteeing my vegetables with it, washing clothing with it, and using it as a mixer for alcoholic beverages in order to have any hope of gaining relief from the Scourge of Giovanni.

Funny. I didn't like Giovanni Direct either. Thank goodness I only had one bottle and I was fortunate enough to find it a new home with someone else. I don't know what they did with it. Truth be told, I'm afraid to ask because I think they'll be like .

 

[Josie]

I bought GD months ago and only used it a few times--didn't like it and couldn't figure out why it got so many rave reviews. It just didn't work
for me. I'm natural BTW.

 

[MrsQueeny]

At the different ways you plan on using it. I have never used it before and don't plan on it. I have my staple products and I am too scared to try anything else. I am sure someone will buy them if you post it on the exchange board. Hope you find something that works. Take care Q

 

[brownsugarflyygirl]

Sonce, I would recommend diluting it with water. I cover the bottom of a regular spray bottle with giovanni direct and then fill the rest of the bottle with water. Shake and spray....Its probably like a 1:15 ratio...that stuff is potent. I find that even with that type of dilution I still have the slip and protection that I need and never the crunchiness or hardness. That is saying a lot because Im a straight up 4a natural and can detangle my hair with the slip it provides. You dont need oil to cut the leave in just water. I sometimes spike it with a little peppermint and rosemary EOs but thats for my scalp more than anything else. Hope that helps. It is definitely one of my staples....hopefully you will find a better use for it besides ingestion

 

[glamazon386]

I've used it. I didn't see anything spectacular about it myself. It didn't work any better than any of my other leave ins. I didn't get the crunchy feeling you describe though. Also, it doesn't really have a smell. I applied it to soaking wet hair. I used it up but I won't be buying it again.

 

[soonergirl]

Yep I got crunchy hair too!!! didnt like it.....

 

[atlien11]

I used mine for rollersetting lotion. It was great!

 

[mscocoface]

Does not sound user friendly, got enough to deal with the naturalness of hair want to keep the products as simple as possible that are being added to the mix.

Okay, watching the GD train come through town and waving at the passengers on board.

 

[Tallone]

Use it and love it.
I am a 4a natural and I generally put in on my hair wet. I love the ingredient list so if it works as well as the others without too much crap Im all for it. I bun most of the time and I get no crunchiness at all.

 

[Cheleigh]

Giovanni Direct worked great for my transitioning hair, but has too high a protein content for me as a leave-in. My hair prefers butters as a leave-in anyway.
I just use as a regular rinse-out conditioner and it works well for that.

 

[esoterica]

I found GDLI very hard and crunchy too. Thankfully I only bought one bottle. Their shampoos are good though!

 

[BrownBetty]

My hair loves this stuff, when I am about 7 weeks post relaxer. If I use it before then I use it very sparingly. This has been a staple for about 3 years. I usually rotate with other leave ins just because I have so many of them. If you are willing to part with one of your bottles shoot me a pm.

MV

 

[Sunshine0801]

My hair loves this stuff and I am a natural 4B. I apply it to wet hair after I DC, I use it in my daily spritz, and I use it on dry hair. It leaves my hair very soft, manageable, and tangle free.

 

[stargazer613]

My natural hair didn't like this leave-in either. I tried mixing it, diluting it, and it still made my hair super dull.

I think it might have been the protein.


My leave-in of choice is Karen's Body Beautiful hair milk....leaves my hair super soft! I seal it with sweet almond oil.

 

[shtow]

I went on a mission to find it and after looking every where to no avail I figured it was a sign that I didn't need it. I bought humectress that same day and I LOOOVE IT!