Allergic Reaction
Reviewer:
AL from NC
from NC Fri Jun 29 2007
Finally after a year I traced my allergic reaction to the Grecian Formula. I thought it was anything and everything I was using, never thinking it was what I was using to cover my greying hair.
My lips would become severly chapped and the sides of my mouth looked like The Joker from Batman. I am not allergic to anything else but I now know it WAS the Grecian formula......stopped and started the use over and over. And each time the red chapped lips will return. Since the stuff stays in your hair folicles, irt takes about six months of haircuts before it all is cut out and the lips returns to normal.
I can never buy this product again......even if it did cover the grey.
Satisfactory results
Reviewer:
Dave
Mon May 28 2007
I am beyond the initial break-in period of 3 weeks, and I get tolerable results using it about 3 time per week. However the contents of lead acetate bother me. I might just give in to graying hair after this bottle is empty. I agree with other raters about the annoying smell and staining the pillow case.
Grecian/Formula 16
Reviewer:
Brian Taylof
from London, UK Wed Sep 13 2006
GRECIAN SORT IT OUT! PLEASE! I have used Grecian and Formula 16 (which I preferred) since 1970 and have always been well satisfied until now.
The sentiments outlined by previous 'reviewers' need to be considered by the manufacturers with further delay.
It works for me!
Reviewer:
Hugh
from Dublin Tue Sep 12 2006
They stopped selling this in my local Boots. However I picked it when in the US. I now order online (shipping costs are ridiculous though, nearly x3 more then the cost per unit!!!). However I find it keeps my hair the colour I want - which is dark with grey temples. I am 48 and after following the initial instructions about applying each day for three weeks - I now wash my hair twice a week and apply the lotion the other five days. Hair can look a little oily and the wife says it smells - but that only seems to be at breakfast time ie after I've just put it in. she doesn't make any comments in the evening - maybe she has lost interest at that stage! I must look into the lead acetate comment above - I have lichen panus in my inner cheek. I wonder is there a connection? Oh vanity, o vanity.
Why change a good product ??
Reviewer:
Ian Peel
Thu Sep 07 2006
I can only echo the views already posted.
I used to use this product but since the 'new formula' it has gone completely downhill. It simply does not work now !
It just covers your head, shirt and pillows in brown residue. As soon as you wash your hair it completely dissapears and you are back to square one....GREY again!!
SORT IT OUT GRECIAN !!
Grecian Formula 16
Reviewer:
Brian
from London, UK Tue Aug 15 2006
Formula 16 seemed to disappear from the shelves in the UK last year, regrettably. It was far superior to the present Grecian formula. I have used both products for years and always been well satisfied until the formula appeared to have changed. I get surplus colour on my hair, shirt, neck, etc., that I definitely do not need. Is there any hope of the manufacturers returning to the original product?
useless stuff
Reviewer:
J. P.
Tue Jul 18 2006
After using this product for a good month and a half, I found this product to be useless. I even used baby shampoo as recommended for my weekly wash. I had no color change whatsoever. Maybe a little copperish color, but did not go anywhere from there. I have noticed that for younger men ( i'm 29) these products maybe do not work as well. I am curious to see if this product has worked for anyone under 30. Maybe it is a change in hair structure. I don't know. But this product did not work for me.
It washes out!
Reviewer:
Steve
Thu Jun 08 2006
I started going grey at the age of 16 and since then ( i'm now 25) have tried numerous products to try and cover it - (sorry guys I just don't like grey hair - so shoot me). My problem is that hair dyes completely wrecked my hair turning it into straw and giving me the most disgusting dandruff, even making huge clumps of hair fall out. maybe I'm just allergic to ammonia or something but I would never use a hair dye again.
Now I tried the 'Grecian Formula' for about 3 months. I will say this about it and other 'color restorers' (as opposed to dyes)- it never caused any allergic reaction or dandruff - in fact it completely clears up dandruff even if you have a longstanding problem with that (some of these products advertise themselves as having an anti dandruff ingredient and they definitely work). Secondly these 'color restorers' don't seem to damage the hair at all - if anything seeming to improve its condition and making it feel more lustrous.
But there's a downside - yes it did color my hair but certainly nothing like the original color you're promised on the bottle - that despite using it virtually every day for weeks on end. The basic problem is that it just washes out! One wash and you're pretty much back to square one. In fact it seems to me that since they removed the 'lead acetate' from this product in 2005 it's now just a semi- permanent dye and a slow acting one at that ( when it washes out it even resembles a semi permanent dye). Their instructions have even changed since they changed ingredients - they used to say that you only needed to re-apply once a week, now they say re-application is neccesary two or three times a week.
I never got past a very pale blonde. On top of that you end up with brown crap on your neck and on your shirt collars (no matter how dry you ensure your hair is before putting on a shirt). You can tell the 'dye' has no staying power from that because it'll just wash right off with plain bar of soap. Worse, one time I bought a bottle of this stuff and used it every day for a week only to find my hair getting greyer and greyer - it turned out it was a dodgy batch that had no active ingredient in it whatsoever! the only positive thing I can say about this is that since removing the 'lead acetate' the overpowering chemical smell is gone.
There is another product on the market called 'Restoria' which has also changed its formula since last year (it used to also have lead acetate). This definitely at first trying seems to work better tho it does still have that pretty strong chemical smell other people have talked about ( this may be because the manufacturers have worked out a way to make a satisfactory alternative to lead acetate which actually works or it could just be because they're useless).It definitely has different ingredients than the 'Grecian' product in any case. Anyway it does initially seem to have a few advantages - firstly that it doesn't seem to wash out or come off on your clothes like the Grecian crap. However whether it'll actually work to color hair in anything like a satisfactory way I'll have to reserve judgement and get back to you. One thing I will say if you're worried about the smell this product is also available in a cream which lacks the smell - the disadvantage being that it's only really useful on short/spiky hair - having the consistency of hair wax when applied - not much good on long hair obviously (unless you like a greasy look - unlikely).
I'd be absolutely amazed tho if any of these products have ever actually turned anyone's hair much darker than blonde
The other big problem is actually finding any information on these products - there doesn't seem to be any independent review sites - nothing except the manufactures limited (and out of date websites) which don't even mention the fact that they've changed formulas or why they had to - bizarre.
Anyway, i'd be interested to hear other people's experiences with this stuff.
Color is off
Reviewer:
Bill
from Jacksonville, FL Mon May 01 2006
I've used this product now for about three months and have seen some of my white hair turn a copperish color, which is not good since my hair is black. I can stand the smell as I usually use this product at night. What's with the copper color?
Use with Extreme Caution
Reviewer:
Greg
from Portland, Oregon Sat Apr 01 2006
Yes, this product will color your hair. Whether it is safe or not is another question entirely. Grecian Formula contains lead acetate. From my research on the web I discovered that for that reason, Grecian Formula is banned from being sold in Canada and the European Union. I used this product for over 3 months and developed excruciating and persistent headaches before I finally made the connection to my use of Grecian Formula. If you use this product and experience headaches, STOP USING IT IMMEDIATELY!
awful smell
Reviewer:
sam
Fri Jan 20 2006
I used this crap one day,the odor is very strong. The directions suggest washing your hair only once a week,what a mess that would be. 7 bucks down the drain.
Excellent results
Reviewer:
Bob
from Salt Lake City, Utah Thu Dec 08 2005
This is a great fix for an annoying problem/gray hair. At first the metallic odor is strong but with continued use it is barely noticeable. It works great! The gray is gone and my hair has never been in better condition! I believe that I am more particular and demanding than the average guy, and I am delighted! I've tried it all, complete dye, highlights, "just for men", Grecian Formula 16 beats all the rest-hands down! Thank you!
FORMULA 16
Reviewer:
GUY GRIFFITHS
from wolverhampton england united kingdom Sat Nov 26 2005
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS PRODUCT ? UP UNTIL TWELVE MONTHS AGO IT WAS EXCELLENT. USED DAILY OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT ONE WEEK MY HAIR GRADUALY RETURNED TO ITS ORIGINAL COLOUR. I WOULD TOP IT UP MAYBE ONCE EVERY WEEK OR TEN DAYS. THE CURRENT PRODUCT CALLED GRECIAN FORMULA 16 IS A SHADOW OF ITS FORMER SELF. IT LOOKS THE SAME COLOUR LIQUID WITH A SIMULAR RESIDUE AT THE BOTTOM AND STILL REQUIRES A SHAKE BEFORE USE, BUT IT TAKES WEEKS TO GIVE HALF THE EFFECT AND IT WASHES OUT IN THE SHOWER. SURELY I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO BE DISSATISFIED WITH THIS PREVIOUSLY EXELLENT PRODUCT?
Grecian Formula when you can't use dyes
Reviewer:
Andrea
Mon Feb 28 2005
For me this product is a miracle since my hair lost it's outer shaft due to a chronic disease and so I'm totally unable to useproducts like hair color no matter how gentle. This provides me with the ONLY way to get rid of the grey-for me it is untrue that the claim that once the hair has darkened, it will not need to be used again (directions said only on the new growth) but for me without almost daily use, the grey always returns. so i use it daily. if you use the small amount that can dry quickly as recommended the smell is minimal or none when dry - but I've also learned a new trick-an enzyme mix as in Fabreze or those type products for removing smelss, also works on hair- I buy a "natural" type de-odorizing product from the health store but i think they're all similar. I've been using it over a year now and it's a lifesaver for someone like me! I have dry hair too and the glycerine in it is great for dry overcurly hair.
smells bad , works almost as bad as it smells
Reviewer:
Taylor
from california Tue Oct 19 2004
I have to agree with the other reviews about the smell (not very pleasant, not totally awful but would not attract a lot of women for sure). After using half of a bottle (applying daily) a very slight coloring is noticable. So if you don't want to shock people with instant color it might be worth trying. Just don't apply it if you are about to leave the house.
This product stinks
Reviewer:
JH
from Nebraska Sat Sep 18 2004
The smell is awful. I trashed it after only 2 days. I just couldn't stand the smell.
smell
Reviewer:
Randy
from Oregon Mon Aug 16 2004
The smell is so bad one would trash it after little use. Makes ones head smell. The long on the worse the smell.
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