Yes, this shampoo and conditioner from Alterna does contain caviar extract, which is something I’ve eaten in the past, but never put on my hair before. Happily they bear no resemblance in smell or texture to that fishy delicacy.
It is though equally luxurious. The fragrance is light and fresh, like expensive bubble bath, and the consistency is rich, so you don’t need to use much. The shampoo lathers up nicely under the shower, while the conditioner detangles and softens, but doesn’t cling to your hair when rinsed – a very good thing (conditioners that refuse to wash out are one of life’s little irritations).
The products are formulated to target dry, damaged and tired hair, a blend of marine botanicals working with the caviar to “repair the hair and provide exceptional moisture”, according to the company information. They are also sulphate and paraben free, and do not contain synthetic colours or petrolatum, which I know is important to many people.
I’ve been using the shampoo and conditioner regularly for a few weeks now and I’m impressed with the results. My hair has a natural kink to it and when left to dry on its own turns into a frizzy mess, rather than a mass of waves, which is why I tend to use straighteners on it most days. I’ve found though that with this shampoo and conditioner I can leave it to dry naturally and not end up looking like a throwback to the 1970s. Don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t walk into a meeting with it au naturel – it’s not a miracle worker – but my hair is less frizzy, soft, has a better shine to it and is fine for a day at home.
All in all these products make my hair happy, but they are luxury items and as such they come with a luxury price tag – around £25 each – that unfortunately is just too rich for my pockets at the moment. As a birthday or Christmas present though they would be ideal.