When I spotted Charles Worthington hair products on the shelves of Watson’s in Gurney Plaza a few months ago, I was immediately transported X years back to when I was an impoverished student (not telling you how many years ago innit?!). I used to pick up Charles Worthington shampoo and conditioner from the bargain bins at Boots and Superdrug or bargain pharmacies. I think they were something like £1 or £2 when on sale? Something ridiculous like that anyway.
So naturally, when I was offered the chance to try Charles Worthington shampoo and conditioner again, I didn’t bat an eyelid and said yes immediately. It worked for me as a student (although I probably didn’t know any better) and there was no reason why it wouldn’t work for me now either.
My first thought when I saw the bottles were “OMG! They haven’t changed the packaging!” Yes children, this oval bottle is the very same as the ones I used to buy! The packaging has been updated though to look more modern. I did a quick check on Boots and they are now £5+. Yikes! Far cry from the £1 days.
I was provided with the Charles Worthington Frizz Free range. Let me quickly run it down for you how I thought it fared.
Charles Worthington Frizz Free Shampoo
The shampoo is clear and I don’t need very much for my short hair because it lathers up quite well. I actually like how this cleans my hair and scalp and isn’t drying for me. I have since cut my hair short, so frizziness isn’t so much of a problem now. What’s important is that it does not weigh my hair down, does not dry out the skin on my hands and is all in all, a perfectly decent shampoo. I like this.
Charles Worthington Frizz Free Conditioner
The conditioner is a bit strange to me. It feels a lot better now than it did back in the day when it was just crap for me 😛 Its not super heavy considering its meant to be for frizzy hair, but it isn’t super silicone-y either. It does detangle my hair, but it does not make it smooth like those hair models you see on ads (which I don’t believe btw). Because it doesn’t make my shower floor slippery after use, I quite like it. But I’m a little on the fence, because I do have to use quite a lot of it despite my short hair.
Charles Worthington Frizz Free Serum
The Frizz Free Serum makes up for the silicone content where the conditioner is lacking. This is just pure silicone and I hate it. Ok no. Hate is too strong a word. I dislike it. It weighs my hair down, even with just the tiniest bit of use and it feels icky.
Pros: Affordable, Shampoo and Conditioner worked well for my hair although I’m not sure if it tames frizzy hair
Cons: Did not like the serum
Charles Worthington says the products will offer you salon results. I’m a bit sceptical about that statement. This range works for my hair. It leaves it clean and the conditioner does what it does. It is by no means a replacement for a salon treatment (nothing is really) but it is a decent enough home hair care range and that’s what it really is.
Have you tried this range yet? They have been out at the local pharmacies for a while now. Or perhaps you too remember using it from the days of yore when you can get it at £1 😛
Paris B
Charles Worthington hair care range is available at Watson’s and retail between RM9.90-RM32.90
S says
May 27, 2011 at 8:39 amHello Paris!
I quite like the frizz-free shampoo but I’ve never liked any of their conditioners! I currently use the brilliant shine shampoo and conditioner (got them at BOGOF) and the conditioner just makes my normally manageable hair a complete, tangled mess! I am amazed you used to get it at £1! Nowadays it would be a bargain if you can even get 3 of these for £10!
Have a lovely weekend! =)
ParisB says
May 28, 2011 at 1:39 amAgh so the Brilliant line is worth trying? I’ll look into that when I’m done with this 🙂 and yes sadly I used to get them at £1 from Superdrug when Superdrug wasn’t as fun as it is now bit was like a discount store then 😛
Mrs Top Monkey says
May 27, 2011 at 10:01 amThanks for the review, I am STILL hunting for an affordable shampoo and conditioner for my fussy scalp. At present, I have to use the expensive Keratase lines as they’re the only ones that don’t make me break out. Will try these out.
I remember when I was a student (also many years ago… hehe..), Watson Malaysia used to carry Umberto Giannini (sp?) and John Frieda which Boots carries. I remember the Umberto packaging looked just like something you erm… put batteries in and then it vibrates with erm… good vibrations… erm… Kinky stuff to be placing in a Malaysian pharmacy!
ParisB says
May 28, 2011 at 1:42 amOh God! I remember the Umberto Gianni ones! haha!! I’m not sure how good this is for very unruly hair though. Sort of glad i don’t need Kerastase yet um dying to try it 😛
domncroxd says
May 27, 2011 at 10:10 ami saw this at watsons klcc and was so tempted! but expensive for my budget la 🙁
ParisB says
May 28, 2011 at 1:45 amIf it’s a consolation you don’t use ver much for the shampoo but you will end up finishing the conditioner quite quickly if you have long hair.
xin says
May 27, 2011 at 12:59 pmsomehow the products just don’t trigger my interest to try (for now) despite the hype. but well, who knows i might in another month or two?
ParisB says
May 28, 2011 at 1:47 amHaha is there a hype? My next experiment is the Pantene one. That makes me curious 😛
Jess says
May 27, 2011 at 1:44 pmI am like xin, this brands have trigger my interest to try for now.. hmm.. and I dont quite believe that any home care can offer salon results especially drugstore brands.. maybe i will try it one day
ParisB says
May 28, 2011 at 1:48 amNope. No home care product for skin or hair can ever replace a salon. But perhaps it just helps prolong the salon effects 🙂
yuki says
May 27, 2011 at 10:04 pmI might try this after finishing my bottle of Vidal Sassoon shampoo n conditioner I bought in Guangzhou… hehehe… but before that, gotta finish up my swarkfphoff ??? conditioner… hahaha…
if it makes my hair frizz free, it’s definitely going on my list of things to try^^
ParisB says
May 28, 2011 at 1:58 amTry to wait till it goes on sale so even if it doesn’t make your hair frizz free you won’t feel so bad lol!
Tine says
May 28, 2011 at 8:45 amI’m so glad how you said memories are made of this, because this really brought me back to my days in the UK. I’ve only been able to buy a couple of bottles back then ‘cos for some reason, they were more expensive than the 99p Salon Selectives (I was a tightwad student back in the day :P). When I managed to get some on sale at Superdrug, I used them so sparingly. I can’t remember which ones it were that I used; I reckon it came in yellow bottles.
Ahh memories 🙂
ParisB says
May 29, 2011 at 11:00 amAhh yes I remember those Bargain Bin 99p days of Salon Selectives! I couldn’t even afford regular brands like Pantene or Dove. They were so pricey back then 😛 And yes I used them in yellow bottles too. This was one of the “luxury” purchases haha.
lyn says
May 29, 2011 at 3:28 amI saw this when I studied in England and yes, it used to cost £1-2 then. Never tried any of their products though.
ParisB says
May 29, 2011 at 11:16 amHaha same generation that! 😛
Paul Cavanaugh says
January 27, 2019 at 3:29 amI live in the USA and Charles Worthington products are not carried on the open market. I bought some through a drug store in London that no longer carries them. I can find them on places like Amazon but they are priced to exorbitant that I refuse to pay crazy prices for them. For example the mouse , which sells in the UK for about 7 pounds, sells for $80. here in the US. So be very glad that you have access to the wonderful products.