Well, I have been using this product on and off for about 5 years now. I had been living on a very hot and humid island so my hear was like a cotton candy, despite of all the other "good" hair products I used. When I started using this in my towel dryed hair my hair would be in control all day. I didnt need to touch or redo it, and could go on pursuing all my energetic daily activities. Though I have fine but slight curly hair. This is my rescue stuff for those warm hot and humid summers in Japan. The only problem is that when I only use a little too much, my hair seems to have a "grease spot". It will just look nasty, so when using it it is ultra-important to use only a tiny bit and to apply it super-evenly and to comb it through a few times. Allthough it's meant for course hair, i found that it works on fine hair that flies away easily too.

I deleted my original revivew from 2 years ago because I ***FINALLY*** figured this stuff out!!!

To air dry my wavy/curly hair:
*Towel then air dry until about 75% dry
*Separate my hair into 3 sections(2 in front, 1 in back)
*Apply a pea size amount of Universal Styling Creme to each section, brushing through then braid or twist loosely so it can air dry with some "control"
*Here's the important step for me - run wet hands back over my hair to smooth down any flyaways - Then let air dry the rest of the way.

Once I ran a little water back over my hair it seemed to make it work better to smooth it down and now I have no flyaways or frizz when I air dry this way and my hair is smooth, shiny, and moisturized.


To use with blowdryer:

*Follow the same first 3 steps above, except instead of twisting or braiding, I just put the sections I'm currently not blowdrying up in a ponytail until I'm read for them.
*I blow dry on medium heat using a brush and my hair only takes a couple of minutes to finish drying and ends up straight, shiny, and swingy! It also doesn't "revert" back to curly until I wash it again. I don't flat iron afterwards because my hair is straight enough just using the Universal Creme and blowdryer w/ brush.

Now that I know how to use it, I WILL repurchase. It beats having to use 3 different products for moisturizing, frizz control, and/or blow drying.

I love the combination of smoothing, shine, velvety texture and control this gives. Similar things I've tried succeed in some of those categories (B&B Brilliantine, for example, doesn't really control or help hold) but this is the only one that does it all. So why wouldn't I buy it again? It is heavy and very easy to overdo on my hair, which is thick and mixed coarse-fine, mid-neck length and very layered. Also, the spicy scent, while pleasant, is overwhelming. It sticks with you the entire day. I can see this being a holy grail for someone with long, thick, curly/wavy hair with long layers that can take a heavy amount of product. Try to get a sample or try it in-store and make sure you love the scent. continued >>

I'm still playing around with this. I find that it gives tons of moisture to my meduim-textured hair and keeps my curls clumpy, shiny, and soft. Unfortunately, I still get a halo of frizz. I think I will mix it with another lighter gel or mousse to get the hold I need, as well as definition. The smell is also strong and terrible and the consistency is thick like glue, but you only need a pea-sized amount and you emulsify it in your hands first before you apply it to your hair. For me personally, this is hard to do with such a thick texture. Still a ok product imo.

I've had my bottle for years, but couldn't figure out how to use this without either using too much or not using enough of it, but I wouldn't get rid of it because I love the smell - and it's STRONG - typical Aveda smell mixed with ginger. Every time I spread this on my palms, it was too sticky to get into my hair without causing fly-aways or over-use of product. I finally figured out how it works best for me: on days when I don't flat iron my curly hair, I mix a dime sized amount with a squirt of Confixor, which causes the Universal Creme to liquefy completely. This combo tames any frizz, gives me enough hold without being crunchy, makes my hair shiny, and smells fantastic. It's the perfect combo! l continue to repurchase.

Lots of shine and moisture. I like it alot for my 4 a/b curls.

I didn't really like the smell of this. I found it to be too strong and perfumey (it kinda smelled like Avon Imari.) I'm not too fond of the cream texture either, but I did find that when I applied a small amount to the ends of my hair it felt softer and the cream absorbed easily. I swapped for this, then gave it to my mom since I thought she'd appreciate the smell more than I do. (She likes floral scents.)

This product was just ok for me. Helped somewhat withy my fly aways and frizziness, but I don't think it did anything different from drug store varieties...not worth the extra money.

I have long, thick, naturally curly/wavey hair. I cannot live without this product. It's amazing on my hair, and leaves it shiney, smooth, and so managable! I use a probably a quarter sized amount of it, but I have a serious amount of hair, but I think if you have normal hair, a pea sized amount is great. My hair stays soft, but has control and isn't 'fluffy' at all-anyone with curls/waves knows some products leave your hair fluffy!
One trick I learned was to rub it all over your hands, then run them thru your hair, so everything gets coated, works good!
I used it on damp hair after I shower, but it's great on dry hair and after styling. Sometimes if it's humid, it might have issues helping to tame frizz as fab as it normally does, but on days like that, very little does help my hair.
Smells lovely too!

good product, i use it on my ends to keep them nice and frizz free. my cousin loves it on her curly hair. I wish i had known about this product when I had a perm because it would have been perfect! My hair stylist says she uses a little bit of this mixed with everything, her go to product for literally all kinds of hair styles. A little bit goes a long way.

This is a great product for dry hair, just DO NOT use too much of it! I relaxed my already highlighted hair last week and it was simply "DEAD DRY". I am using Extreme by Redken a really good line, but it is a protein treatment to reconstruct hair no to add shine or softness so my hair was still dry and was getting a little dull and even stiff. Then, I tried Brillant from Aveda. Finally, a little shine and softness. The first time I used it on dry hair and was just ok. But applied on damp hair before blow-drying or air-drying it is simply great. You just need to learn how much product is enough before getting you hair to greasy and oily. It takes a little practice. Highly suggested! I am going to try also the shampoo and conditioner from the same line that I just bought today. I hope they will work as good.

Excellent product! Perfect for my long, wavy hair. It IS expensive (esp. in Cda) but a little goes a long way. I make sure I get every bit out of the tube by cutting the top off - lasts another month for me. Want to try the companion shampoo/conditioner too, for the full impact of the wonderful scent (the hair spray is awesome).

I LOVE THIS STUFF... you only need a little bit and it gets rid of frizzy hair miraculously. You can use this on dry or damp hair and blow dry hair and you will see no frizz..at least I don't!!! Smells great to!!!

My hair: thick, coarse, dry, frizzy, super curly and loads of it! Serums just sit on my hair, making it look greasy. But Aveda's Universal Styling Creme actaully moisturises my hair and imparts a lovely shine to it. I use it after stlying it straight to calm the top layer down, to make it flatter and glossier. Yes expensive but I have wasted a lot more on mediocre products from Boots! The tube does last and remember to layer small amounts so that you don't over do it and make your ahir look greasy.

This is truly my HG hair product. I love it and it makes my hair soft and shiny, which is a miracle! I am mixed race (black and white), so I have coarse thick curly hair that gets dry pretty easily. In the morning after I shower, I mix this with some Biosilk Silk Therapy. I need to put a little Aveda Humectant Pomade on the ends by late afternoon but it's amazing how soft my hair is now. I'll never stop using this!

If you have thick, wavy, curly, or coarse hair, this is your product. If your hair is fine, thin, or easily weighed down, it's not. My hair is super thick and wavy, and has a tendency to sort of fuzz outward when it's humid, and this product is a godsend. I always make sure I have it onhand because I cannot style my hair to my satisfaction without it. I either rub a bit on the ends of my almost dry hair when blowdrying,r apply to my already dry hair before straightening with a flat iron, or run a tiny bit through my hair when it is staticy and flyaway. I keep it away from my roots, where I like a little more volume, and basically apply a pea size dollop from the ears down on each side (my hair is fairly long, just below my shoulderblades). A little of this product goes a long way and overdoing it will make your hair greasy. Start very small, adding more if necessary. It is a bit pricey but a little goes a long way so the tube lasts much longer than you might expect. Overall, I love it, it's one of my favorite hair products, hands down.

If you have thick hair that is hard to keep smooth or straight, you will love this product. I have been using it for about 7 years and it is my miracle product. Seriously. I hate paying $20;, however, it does last a long time. THe comments about it leaving hair greasey, sticky, etc., ate correct BUT ONLY if you use too much. It lasts a long time because you use about a nickle size amount for short-ish (chin or shorter) hairstyles. The stylist will tell you to use a pea sized amount but that is not enough. Again, those negative reviews described exactly what has been the result when I have used too much. I just finished the bottle that I bought in August. If you hair that you can't ever find the right product for, I strongly suggest you try it. My hair is night and day when I don't have it with me to use after washing my hair. I feel homely without it. There is something about the fact that it is a cream that makes it differ from gel or mousse formulas. It is a little weird in consistency but just shake it before you squeeze it out and it will obviously be creamier!

This smells great, but really left my hair feeling coated and completely dulled the shine. Too bad, it smells wonderful. However, my pocketbook is happier; this stuff is expensive!

A tacky pastey cream that is supposed to smooth, but it just weighed down my hair and didn't do anything for frizz after an hour had passed. Aveda is completely overrated and I'm through with trying to make their products work.

Gentle, effective, smells fab. But tends to make the hair oily.