cr01's Full Review: Schwarzkopf OSIS Mess Up Matt Gum Medium Control 3...
I remember when life was simple with hair products. In my halcyon teenage years, about the only choice I could afford was a chemist shop own brand - a sloppy luminous green jell, laughably called "country born". In those days, part of the attraction of hair jell was to make it look as obvious as possible that you had "used something" to stick your hair up on end rather than simply looking like you have tumbled out of bed.
Of course, fashions change over the years, and that manufactured "bed head" look now has to look natural rather than synthetic. While I do have a head start on the "bed head" style with my naturally wavy hair that sticks out at all angles, I retain my lifelong habit to "use something" just to pick up the day.
My most recent purchase is Osis+ Mess Up, a matt gum available only at hair salons, and umm places like e-bay over the internet. My average sized 100 ml plastic pot (bizarrely moulded into a red coloured tin of fish) cost £10 ($13). As this is approximately double the price of my usual wax, I was in high anticipation of good results. Fortunately, I got it.
The gum looks like and is the texture of fresh tiling grouting. Fortunately, it isn't sticky, and if I am in a rush can get away without washing my hands after applying it. I can apply it with my hair dry or slightly wet, which with my chaotic morning routine is a huge bonus. I tend to just spike my hair up, and then let it settle a little (the lazy option), and the gum copes with this well. If I'm feeling a little fey (heh "fey" at my age indeed), I might fashion my hair into a mini Mohican, which also works well.
While my hair might flop a little during the day (and I have a nasty habit of gently tugging and messing my hair around anyway), the gum is malable enough for me to reshape it well enough. It also washes out easily enough, and I don't usually have to trouble to grab the shampoo twice while I'm in the shower.
The most noteworthy thing about the gum is the bergamot barbershop smell. While I'm comfortable with the smell, I can picture it clashing with some aftershaves and perfumes. Overall, in terms of the actual product, I'm happy with its performance.
One downside of the pots design is the wide opening edge, which means that after a few uses the tub lid is rather flimsy. This means I have to pack it carefully while on my travels. Considering how often I'm on the road, using Osis+ makes it seem like I'm playing a dangerous game of white gunk roulette in my suitcase. I guess it all helps keep life for a middle-aged fatty exciting.
Manufacturer details
Osis is branded as a Schwarzkopf product, today owned by Henkel (a company of over 50,000 employees, based in Dusseldorf, Germany). Hans Schwarzkopf opened a pharmacy in Berlin in 1898. Hans soon developed his own shampoos, including the world's first liquid shampoo in 1927. In a nod to green credentials, Schwarzkopf was also the first large manufacturer of cfc free hairspray in 1980.
Henkel (famous for Persil soap powder (in Europe), Pritt glue sticks, Dial and Duck tape) took over Schwarzkopf in 1995. Fritz Henkel started business in 1876, and it remains a German company today. In the early 1900's Henkel became a model employer looking after their staff with subsidised housing and gifts at weddings.
Unfortunately, while Henkel have a good history of staff care, according to PETA Henkel animal test even where it is not required to do so by law. Anyone that uses and kills animals for profit gets a black mark from me. It seems patiently unnecessary to animal test (because there are enough tried and tested products around for manufacturers to use without creating new ones), not to say unsafe (because animals react differently to us, and they still don't test the different combinations of chemicals that we spray, smear or rub into our skin on a daily basis).
Although I like this product a lot, it loses both couple of stars from my rating and my custom for the unethical practices of the manufacturer.
OSIS by Schwarzkopf Mess Up Matt Gum Paste is a matt styling gum. Rub it in. Smooth it down. A trendy matt appearance. No mess. No fuss. A fibrous fin...More at Shampooline.com
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