Goth Juice?
Before you answer that, I’m referring to Lush’s Goth Juice ($16), a medium-hold non-sticky styling gel, and not a new energy drink for fans of The Cure.
Seems like noses either love or loathe Lush products, and even though they don’t always agree with my nose (I’m more of a fruity florals kinda girl than a hippy/pot brownie babe), some of their stuff just works.
Like Goth Juice. Sure, it’s got that eau de lemon and Pine-Sol thing going, but for fast, effortless, undone styles, Goth Juice gets it done.
Lush credits a mix of botanical oils (hemp and flaxseed), fresh lemon infusion, olibanum (a resin from the boswellia tree; also goes by the name frankincense) and oakmoss for making the magic happen.
I busted out a full on elle-oh-elle when I read the product’s description on the company’s website:
Olibanum and oakmoss leave your hair smelling like the deep, dark pine forest where Robert Smith goes to be alone.”
Haha! I happen to love both The Cure AND pine forests, so lucky me. I can see it now…ol’ Robby boy wandering into a secluded grove to write sad love songs in his Moleskin notebook. 🙂
Lush, you sold me. That’s it, I’m yours.
Once in my hair, the product smells more like lemons than pine (to me, a good thing), and it fades quite quickly over 2-3 hours.
Lush claims Goth Juice plays well with wet or dry hair. This morning I put a dollop (it’s a purple goo) on slightly damp tresses, working it from mid-shaft to the ends and lightly scrunching to bring out my waves. Then I let it air dry while I finished getting ready.
Bada-bing, bada-bang! — quick crunchless ‘do.
Goth Juice keeps my hair from misbehaving (i.e. from getting poofy) by adding a little weight to it, but not so much that it feels crunchy or looks heavy or overdone.
Stuff is REALLY easy to use, too. I would have loved it back in college when I was always often late for class.
If you like a soft, slightly messy hair look (but not total bed head) and don’t mind the scent, you might give Goth Juice a try.
PRICE: $16 for a 3.5-oz. jar
AVAILABILITY: Lush stores and online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-
Anyone down for some MBB karaoke? C’mon, I know you know the words. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Patty says
Oh man. “Pictures Of You” NEVER fails to remind me of this one really angsty guy I once dated. It’s also a really great song when I’m feeling super depresso. Which, thankfully, doesn’t happen all that often 🙂 Real curious about Goth Juice. And what a great color it is!
Karen says
Hi Patty,
Ah, that is a perfect song for angsty boys!
This stuff is cool, but seriously… try to give it a sniff before you buy, because the scent is STRONG.
Tania says
Karen,
Oh man I was hoping that there was a goth energy drink but nonetheless I’m interested. Too bad there isn’t a LUSH closeby. Have you tried the Herbal Essences Toussle Me Softly Spray gel? If so how do they compare?
Karen says
Hi Tania,
I have tried that Spray Gel, and yup, there’s a difference. I feel like Goth Juice is less crunchy and adds better definition — it’s better for getting a “piece-y” look to that hair. Also, I feel like I can use less (I can go through a bottle of Herbal Essences Spray Gel fairly fast).
Shasha says
I thought you were talking about absinth for a second, hehe…
Karen says
Hehe! Nah, this is the juice of the non-alcoholic variety, LOL!
How was your Tuesday? Good, I hope!
Shasha says
Well, it’s monday morning so I kinda forgot how it was last tuesday, haha!
No wait… I had a busy and yet very productive Tuesday.
Hope you’re waking up well, doll *hug*
Lisa says
Love the glasses and the color of that fancy goo!
Karen says
Hi Lisa,
Thanks! I like to call those my crazy Elvis sunglasses, LOL!
Are you a Lush fan?
Lisa says
I wouldn’t say I’m a huge Lush fan… I don’t even own any of their products :-\ I have sniff tested ’em though; the products smell OK at first, but I could easily see myself overwhelmed by the fragrances after a while.
Nina says
I love The Cure and I hate that when someone uses that against me =) Damn, I’m sold again.
Karen says
I love listening to their music when I run.
Have you Robert Smith lately? Homeboy has not aged well, yikes!
Elaine says
This looks awesome… But I have blonde hair – would this turn it purpley?!
Karen says
Hi Elaine,
I just tried it on El Hub, who has dark blonde/light brown hair, and it didn’t turn his hair purple. There’s very little pigment in the actual gel, so I probably wouldn’t worry about it.
Shannon says
mmm, sounds tasty! If I can make it inside the doors of Lush next time I’m in Seattle, I might have to grab a jar of this. I am all about fast n’ easy in the morning… my hair isn’t really curly, but it is scrunch-able (it waves up a lot better if I diffuse it) and it’s normal/fine. Do you think goth juice might weigh lighter hair down more than would be desirable?
Karen says
Hi Shannon,
It’s very fluffy for a gel — almost whipped. I’m betting the light texture will still allow you to retain good volume just as long as you don’t coat your hair in it.
Marian says
I want your hair!
Karen says
Are you in the Bay Area? I’d be happy to give you the name of my stylist!
Amy says
Wow, your hair looks gorgeous!
Karen says
Thanks, Amy. 🙂
Are you a Lush fan?
Lee says
Hey Karen, r u serious thats how ur hair turned out JUST from that stuff??? looks like ill be getting some!!! lol
Ive been looking 4ever 4 a product that will let my natural waves be wavey but not poofy lol
On another note, i have my second class at Napoleon Perdis Academy 2night yayyy 🙂
2nights class will be a demonstration makeover from our teacher ( who is this really awesome guy surprisingly! ) and the module is Complexion Perfection and Eyebrows which is great cos theres nothing better than a perfect mug! lol
Karen says
Hi Lee,
Yeah, it did! I was kinda surprised. It’s rare to find one product that just does everything ya know?
kayann says
I’ve always wanted to try LUSH’s stuff but never got the courage to try it!
On the other hand, I love your jacket!
Karen says
Hi Kayann,
Thanks! I got that a while back at the Nordstrom sale. 🙂
Hope you had a nice Tuesday!
AshBash says
am i weird for only wanting this because it’s purple?
Stef says
No! I thought the same thing. And that I wanted a matching eyeliner…
Karen says
I used to have a liner in this exact color when I was in eighth grade. 😀
Karen says
LOL, no! That’s part of the reason why I like it so much.
steph b says
Oh man….that is the look I’m always trying for. My hair is curlier than that so I’d have to straighten and then add waves. I wish I could scrunch and go and get that look!
Karen says
If you ever make it out to the SF Bay Area, let me know so I can give you my stylist’s number. She’s a miracle worker with curly hair, and if this is the look you want, I swear to you she’ll find a way to make it happen. She’s totally worth the trip across the Golden Gate, scouts honor!
steph b says
LOL- I just might do that!
Jessica says
Hey Karen! Have you heard of the British tv phenomenon The Mighty Boosh before? LUSH named their product after the Goth Juice on the goth episode. It’s a hairspray made with the tears of Robert Smith. Gotta love that Brit humor! Here’s a link if you want to see it in action:
http://video.adultswim.com/the-mighty-boosh/vince-is-fruit-salad.html
Karen says
Hey Jessica,
Okay, that is HILARIOUS! LOVE IT!
Jessica says
I bought this when it first came out- total Cure junkie back in the day LOL. I did really love it.
You look FAB in that picture!! I love your hair!!
Advah says
You were faster than me – love the Mighty Boosh! 😀
Advah says
Oy sorry meant to reply to the comment above !
Karen says
Hi Jessica,
It’s good stuff, right? Are you a Lush fan? What other products do you like from the line?
Lauren says
omg karen you look like such a rock star in the pictures. haha i love it! 😀
Karen says
Hi Lauren,
LOL, thanks! It’s the pseudo biker jacket, for sure. 😉
Happy Wednesday!
Jeni says
I really like your sunglasses! And I don’t normally use hair gel, but the color is so awesome that I want to try it!
Karen says
Hi Jeni,
The color moves my soul too. 🙂
Advah says
It looks fantastic on your hair (or your hair looks fantastic), I’m not sure I could get over the purple colour though..
Karen says
LOL, really? That’s one of my big draws.
How’s your day going?
Advah says
EH I’d too much food for lunch and feel funny! But I’d done with work in 5 mins 🙂
Yourself?
Karen says
Lucky! It’s still 9 AM in the morning here, so I have the rest of the day to go.
How’s the nose piercing? Do you still have it in, or did you take it out?
Advah says
It’s still there – too sore to take it out so I’d have to clip it, and I’m still too queasy to pull/push enough to do that (shivers)!
I’m a wuss.
Hope the rest of the day goes well! 🙂
mill says
wow karen your hair looks fab here! the electric blue sells me, haha
mill says
also HAHAHAHA pot brownie girl! i totally get that from some lush scents, im like, i know exactly who this scent’s made for
Karen says
Hehe! Yeah… some of them smell, um, earthy!
Michelle says
Love those pink sunglasses! Adorable.
I don’t have a Lush store by me, so I’ve never been able to try their products out. Maybe one day . . .
Karen says
It took FOREVER and a day for SF to get one, so hopefully they’ll be in your neck of the woods soon. 🙂
Happy Wednesday!
irini says
you look pretty karen 😀
Karen says
Thanks, Irini. 🙂
How’s your day going? Good I hope!
Kim says
Oh, my. That’s an interesting color! I’m incredibly non-goth, but I loved the Cure back in the day (and still do). I also laughed at the vivid mental picture of Robbie-boy’s alone time in the forest. An excellent reference! 🙂
Oh, and it makes your hair look very nice too. I’m sort of stuck on Brocato Cloud 9 Miracle Repair Blow Dry Serum. Not so stuck on the name though. Geesh. 🙂
Karen says
I love them too (although poor Robert has not aged well; I think at a certain point in a man’s life one needs to let go of the white pancake theater makeup). What are your Cure faves? Mine are:
Close to Me
Mint Car
Boys Don’t Cry
In Between Days
And haha regarding the name of that serum. Could it be any longer?!
Kim says
I know! I had to google it before posting because it’s so darn long I couldn’t remember it! 🙂
Cure faves for me are:
Fascination Street
Lullaby
High
Lovesong
Wrong Number
I haven’t seen Robert in a long time but I always used to think he’d be so much cuter without all the make-up. 🙂
knownever says
Ohhh, yet another weirdly wonderful neon gel product.
Shannon Miller says
I remember seeing this and almost buying it because my favorite band in the world is The Cure. Doesn’t it say something like it’s made from Robert Smith’s tears? I have to disagree about the makeup 🙂 I saw them on their last tour about 2 years ago and he is still rocking the makeup. Did you know his lipstick color of choice is MAC Rubywoo! Love it. Favorite song is From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea.
lexi says
An old friend of mine came to the States by way of the Philippines in the 6th grade. I think the reason why I had a fat crush on him was because he like The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Smiths all the other weird English band I loved. He also made me mix tapes. SWOON!!! He was also a great artist. He once drew a picture of Robert Smith reading the newspaper while taking a dump in blue pen…it was brilliant!!! I still remind him to this day about that picture. Oh I wish I saved it.
Goth Juice – I wonder what it would do for my hair…growing out my LOB…
Hollie says
Been using this for years, its been out for quite a while in the UK. They got the name from The Mighty Boosh 🙂 x
Angel says
They’re discontinuing it….so buy up while you can! I’m sad about it, let me tell ya.
whitney says
I was told they are discontinuing it too, i went to buy it after reading this post and when i mentioned it the the saleswoman she told me they got word its being discontinued soon and there are no plans to make it a retro product. I bought it anyway but Im sure ill be sad when i cant refill it.
Nina says
i mean i like lush but sometimes the smell is a bit tooooo much for my sensiNOSE!
Kitara says
I love that lipstick color. Do you mind sharing the brand and name?
Thanks!
Deb says
When I air dry my hair, it has one wave. Literally. It always looks like I wore my hair in a ponytail all day and just took it down. Do you think a little scrunching with a product like this might bring out a little more wave?
MsJamie says
Hiya! Just wondering exactly how you apply it? I bought the goth juice after seeing your post and also bought the big tease…and I feel like it’s definitely does not look like your awesome hair! My hair kinda comes out crunchy (especially in the bottom) and just…strange! Here’s how I apply it –> After shower, I apply my leave in conditoner (argan oil) and then I take a dollop of goth juice and get it all over my hair with my fingers (I do not comb after applying the product) and scrunch. And then, I take a little bit of the big tease and apply it to my roots. My hair seems to come out kinda frizzy, shapeless and crunchy in the ends (which I wonder may be due to the big tease?) Anyway, please let me know exactly how you do it so that I can try to achieve the same results – ex: do you use any finishing cream or hairspray? Thanks so much!
Karen says
Hi MsJamie,
I really don’t put anything else in. I usually let my hair air dry overnight, and then in the morning I wet it with a little bit of water using a spritzer. Then I just a tiny little bit of Goth Juice (too much and things start getting crunchy) on my top layers and on the ends, scrunching *very* gently to not fuss up the curls too much.
How tight are your curls? Is your hair layered? All these things can make a difference. With hair products like gels sometimes it can take a little bit of experimentation until you get the right combo.
joann says
lush always gets me with the smell of their products. they have this incredible leave in conditioner that made my hair feel AMAZING but left it smelling like cloves. AND it wouldnt go away! my pillow smelled my cloves, my shirt, everything. i smelled like i smoked clove cigarettes!