Review (5/5): Excellent Product, but Be Prepared for Returns!
[[VIDEOID:490bf2309600ca6566a6e874452c0ef2]] I love this product (see below), but I have ordered from five different Amazon sellers and three provided good product and two provided bad product. I would list specific storefronts, but that is not allowed according to Amazon's review policies. My best guess is that the products that most negative reviewers are referring to as non-genuine are in fact just old and have lost much of the moisture necessary to function properly. A good product should settle to a flat surface within about about 30 seconds of being set down. If there are cavities in the product that haven't filled (see image) and created a flat, even surface when you first open the product, you should return it as defective.
Inspection #1, Settling: If the product doesn't settle evenly, return it.
Inspection #2, Flow (Viscosity): If the product doesn't flow when poured, return it.
In the attached image, there are cavities clearly visible in the old product on the right where the product hasn't settled and is clearly aged beyond usefulness, failing inspection #1.
In the attached video, one of the products still settles over time, but clearly does not flow, failing inspection #2 (note: the contents on the bad product are low because I used some while trying to get it to function with some, ultimately unsuccessful, experimentation).
In summary, do an inspection of the products you receive and be prepared to submit a return based on a defective product about half the time (given a sample population of twelve 2oz jars from five different storefronts). Is the reduced cost of buying online from third-party sellers worth the hassle of frequent returns? It is for me, but Amazon Prime makes that much easier to swallow.
Product review: I swear by this stuff. It's easy to use, emulsifies well, shapes well, smells good, washes out easily when desired, and has good hold without looking slimy or too glossy. One of my favorite parts for my hairstyle is that it maintains some level of hold for a very long time, such that I can put it in after a morning shower, have it in all day, go to sleep, then the next morning just run a comb through it and still have some casual hold without having to wash my hair again or add more product.