We Tried It! – Just For Men Control GX 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner, 5 Fluid Ounce

Just For Men Control GX 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner, 5 Fluid Ounce

This is the newest product for those men that are very conscious of their graying hair, like myself. I started turning gray when I was 16 yrs old. I was salt and pepper in my late 20’s, and overly gray when I was in my 30’s. I hadn’t thought much about it at that time, and then I married a younger woman. Things change! At the time, several years ago, I started using Just For Men’s “Touch of Gray” product line. It worked great! And it will be the topic of another review.

This new product by Just For Men, the “Just For Men Control GX 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner, 5 Fluid Ounce” came out earlier this year (2017). It promised easier use, less mess, and fantastic results just by using this new product in place of your normal shampoo. Not only that, but they indicate that after several uses you can use it less frequently to maintain the look you want. Great promises, but do they deliver?

I tried the product. The promises for the most part are true! There are some details that aren’t disclosed quite so openly though. Read on, and keep these items in mind should you decide to give it a try:

It does work almost just like your current shampoo. Wash a small amount into your hair, let it sit in your hair for a minute or two, and then rinse thoroughly.
As soon as you start putting it in your hair.. the shampoo itself starts to darken. You will notice it dripping out of your hair as a purple color. Make sure to notice that some of it will get on the shower walls and shower base (shower surround). DO NOT LET IT STAY THERE.
Any splash, drip, or general messiness of the shampoo in your shower area needs to be rinsed thoroughly. It will stain many types of shower surrounds. The stains will become gray, or black, spots, or streaks, and they may be permanent. In my case they were able to be scrubbed off, and faded over time.
Once it is all rinsed out, and rinsed off, and you step out of the shower and dry your hair.. use a dark towel. A light colored towel may be obviously stained from the residual of the product.
I experienced this only slightly at the start, but the shampoo may stain your fingertips and fingernails. I found that if I put the shampoo in quickly, and rinsed my hands right away, this phenomenon was not an issue.
Once you remove the aluminum seal prior to first use, make sure you seal the lid completely after each use. The product is activated by contact with the air, and leaving it open can render the product useless.

Pros: Keeping all of the above in mind… the product works. After using it continuously for 2 weeks, my hair was noticeably darker. After the first couple of weeks, I was able to maintain the level of gray in my hair by using it 3 or 4 times a week instead of continuously. It was… almost… perfect.

Cons: Ok.. only one con really, once you get used to dealing with the bullet list above. The issue comes after you have been using it for a while. You notice that while on the surface your hair is darker and the gray is reduced, down at the roots the effect isn’t so great. This gives you roots that are much more gray than the predominantly visible surface of your hair. This is somewhat of a small issue, and I do not pay that much attention to it. However, every now and then it is very noticeable, if you look closely, that my natural hair is really much more gray than it seems. To combat this, I have used the Just For Men “Touch of Gray” treatment on occasion. It goes to the roots, but has it’s own bits of terribleness 😉

My conclusion? I still use it, and I like it. I will continue to use it until that perfect solution comes along. I do recommend it if you want to try to maintain some of your gray, but just can’t stomach looking older than you should. As always, follow manufacturer’s instructions for use.