Going bananas

A shampoo with this local fruit as its main ingredient ups Loong Wai Ting’s hair-flipping game.

WHEN a set of The Body Shop Banana Shampoo and Conditioner landed on my desk recently, I did a double take. Banana? In the form of hair shampoo and conditioner? Really? I couldn’t believe my eyes but after reading the labels twice and smelling it, yes — it does smell like banana but in a more bubble gummish, sort of way.

I’ve been told that this particular Banana Truly Nourishing Shampoo (250ml at RM39) is one of the all-time favourite hair products from The Body Shop. And I can see why.

A quick search on the Internet reveals that the majority who use this shampoo love its smooth and conditioning effect.

Indeed, after using this product for almost three weeks, my hair feels smoother and easier to manage. Not only that, it feels lighter, is less oily and smells good too!

I love how the shampoo doesn’t leave an overpowering banana smell, just a hint of it.

I also love how the smell comes and goes, so you don’t have to worry about the scent assaulting people’s noses at the office.

The smell reminds me of a certain Korean brand banana milk that I love so much.

Indeed, every time I use this in my shower, the entire bathroom smells like somebody spilled a carton of banana milk in it.

Some say that they notice lesser hair fall after using the product. I can’t say for sure how this has affected me but I do notice that my hair is less tangled and is easier to manage.

The shampoo lathers well and washes off easily. It doesn’t leave on any sticky residue like most shampoos in the market do.

CONDITIONING EFFECT

The Banana Truly Nourishing Conditioner (250ml at RM39) has a thicker consistency than the shampoo.

It’s almost like banana puree. If you have frizzy hair, you might want to give this amazing conditioner a try. It works well on dry hair as well.

The shampoo and conditioner are made from community trade banana puree from Ecuador.

It is formulated without silicones and is not tested on animals, so environmentalconscious individuals can have peace of mind while using this product.

The product comes in a non-fancy bottle: stiff transparent plastic with a flipopen cap. The Body Shop Banana Shampoo and Conditioner.

I prefer the pump bottle as it is easier to get the contents out.

While it’s easy to get the shampoo out of its bottle, it’s not that easy for the conditioner.

You’ll have to squeeze the bottle a bit harder just to get a dollop onto your palm.

Another downside: the price tag can be a bit high for such a small bottle.

But for the love of smooth and silky hair, I’d say go for it!