Hair Care

Drunk Elephant TLC Happi Scalp Scrub Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ 4 Comments

This is a mini review/first impression of Drunk Elephant’s TLC Happi Scalp Scrub; I will update in 2 months (see update below). Happi Scalp Scrub is part of the new Drunk Elephant hair care line developed in collaboration with celebrity hair stylist, Chris McMillan. This product is an AHA/BHA blend that dissolves dead skin cells, oils and product buildup, while biodegradable exfoliating beads sweep them away. According to DE, the scrub should have about 36 uses. The hair line is color safe and is formulated for scalp health. Happi Scalp can also be used on the body and face. The hair and body lines seem more reasonably priced than DE skin care.

Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Cellulose Acetate, Glycolic Acid, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Coconut Alkanes, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Lactic Acid, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Seed Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Salicylic Acid, Sodium PCA, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Juice Extract, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, PCA, Alanine, Arginine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Valine, Citric Acid, Aspartic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Propanediol, Zinc Oxide, Polysorbate 60, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Hexylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Happi Scalp uses a 10% TLC Framboos AHA blend (I assume this is similar to the face serum of the same name, which I have not tried). Cellulose acetate makes up the biodegradable spherical scrubbing beads that are very, very fine. This has a number of plant and seed oils and amino acids that nourish the scalp.

Directions: Before showering, on dry hair, apply directly to the scalp. Massage and let sit for 10 or more minutes. Shampoo and condition as usual. Happi Scalp can be used 1 to 2 times a week. There was a clip on Drunk Elephant’s IGTV with Chris McMillan applying the product. He sectioned the hair into one inch sections, applying the product down the part of the scalp, then massaged each section. I think, if done this way, the product would not last very long. It looks like he applied a lot of product. I parted my hair into four sections, applying a thin layer and felt this was enough product.

The scrub has a fine tip nozzle that makes for easy application onto the scalp. This has no added fragrance and smells like sweet almond (quite like almond extract found in the grocery store and used for baking).

I have fine hair. My scalp and hair get oily quite quickly, my scalp can get a bit itchy and I have a few dandruff-like or product buildup flakes. After a hair wash, by the end of the second day/beginning of the third day, it is already pretty oily and in need of a shampoo. I wash my hair once to twice a week, use dry shampoo once a week and a clarifying shampoo once every 3 to 4 weeks. I’ll usually need to shampoo two times each wash to get rid of the oils and buildup.

I’ve used the same products in my hair and have used the same styling process for a few months now – shampoo and condition with Briogeo Banana and Coconut Superfood shampoo and conditioner, apply a leave-in conditioner and Olaplex No. 7. I then spray Briogeo Blossom and Bloom volumizing spray on the roots and blow dry the hair, applying a few more drops of Olaplex No. 7 to smooth any fly-aways.

I used on fourth-day hair. The scrubby beads are very fine and I can’t really feel them while massaging on the scalp. Above, the scalp got a bit reddened due to a combination of the chemical and physical exfoliants and the massaging. Many of the beads seemed to sit on the hair and dropped down onto my shirt and bathroom counter. My scalp got mildly warm for the first couple minutes while the scrub sat on my scalp. The product feels oily on the fingers and the hair. After leaving on the hair for 10 minutes, I rinsed well before shampooing. Despite my hair itself being oily and the plant oils from the scrub added on the hair, as I was rinsing, the hair got much less oily, so this product does dissolve and rinse away some oil buildup even before shampooing.

Usually when I wash my hair, I need two shampoos as the first does not really lather up because of buildup. While shampooing after Happi Scalp, the first application gets quite sudsy and I can use less shampoo. The scrubby beads rinsed well and I didn’t notice any left on the hair after getting out of the shower.

After doing my normal styling routine, the hair looked and felt lighter and seemed to have more volume than usual; same with my next-day hair (usually my next-day hair will be slightly oily and a bit limp). My scalp still had some itchiness, so I guess, depending on the cause, Happi Scalp doesn’t really help with that (at least in my case).

I used Happi Scalp as a body scrub while in the shower. I want to use this mainly for the hair, so just used on knees, arms, elbows, heels and underarms. The scrubbing beads do not dissolve in water and are very fine, so not irritating to skin but also not very effective to smooth the body. On rinsing, the skin does not feel much smoother, but had a bit more moisture due to the plant oils. A sugar scrub works better than this and the pumice scrub from First Aid Beauty works even better. Happi Scalp is not very effective as a body scrub.

The scrub can be used on the face, keeping in mind other acids and retinols used in the skin care routine, and using the scrub on alternating days. I applied to clean, dry skin; this was too harsh even massaging very lightly, so I added some water, rubbed gently onto the skin and let sit for about 5 to 7 minutes. My face did not sting or get warm, but my cheeks got a bit red. The beads rinsed well, but I was left with an oily layer on the skin, so cleansed the skin again before applying a hydrating toner. My skin was very smooth and had a bit of a glow. I think I will likely use this on the face again once a week, but would use on my skin in the morning (since the skin is cleaner than in the evening) before cleansing and continuing with the rest of my routine.

I’ve only used Happi Scalp once (I will be using once a week) and will post an update here in 2 months. Thus far I really like this product and it might become a favorite. Happi Scalp Scrub is not a shampoo and does not have surfactants like that of a clarifying shampoo, but I can probably do less clarifying shampoos since the scrub does a good job of removing oil and product buildup on the scalp and roots. I likely will not need as much shampoo when I use this product.

Update (June 9, 2020):

I have been using Happi Scalp for 2 months now twice a week. When zooming in on the photos, in the before picture, I have a few flakes and what looks like oil sort of attached to the hair follicle, both of which have improved over the 2 months. The hair has continued to have more volume and feels lighter on the scalp. I am not sure how necessary the exfoliating beads are to this product and I wish it was a little thinner or at least more easily spread. I did end up sectioning the hair into 1-inch sections and applying a thin layer, as the product does not really go a long way. My scalp still gets mildly itchy a few hours after washing.

I’m not sure I can call this particular product a favorite, given that I’ve not tried any other scalp scrubs, but rather more of a favorite concept to add to my routine.

I am still happy with the scalp scrub and my scalp health has improved. I would purchase again, but feel the formula could be improved a bit.

Thank you for reading.

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ 2 Comments

The Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo is color safe and safe for chemically treated hair. This is said to absorb oil, sweat and odor and makes hair look, feel and smell clean. This has time-released fragrance that delivers a “light” clean scent all day.

Ingredients: Isobutane, Propane, Alcohol Denat., Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch, Cellulose, Octafluoropentyl Methacrylate (OFPMA), Caprylyl Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Citronellyl Methylcrotonate, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Hydrated Silica, Cetrimonium Chloride, Zeolite, Ethylcellulose, Octoxynol-10, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Water, Fragrance, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Limonene, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citral, Linalool

This contains denatured alcohol which can be drying to skin and hair. OFPMA is in all Living Proof products and is said to repel oil and dirt by reducing surface friction on the hair. Zeolite is a clay-like ingredient that is an absorbent and a deodorant. Octoxynol-10 can clean skin and hair by helping water to mix with oil and dirt so that they can be rinsed away. Disteardimonium hectorite is a clay compound. This contains fragrance as well as hexyl cinnamal, limonene, citronellol, citral and linalool that function as fragrance ingredients.

Directions: Shake well. Hold canister 6 to 10 inches away from dry hair, then apply section by section in a sweeping motion to dirty or oily areas.
Wait 30 seconds for powders to activate and cleanse, then remove them by massaging your hair with your fingers or brushing your hair.

I have fine, dark hair that gets oily quite quickly. I try to wash my hair as little as possible so my keratin straightening treatment lasts as long as it can, but by the end of the second day/beginning of the third day, my hair feels like it needs a wash. I have tried a few different dry shampoos; Batiste being a long-time favorite. I have also tried dry shampoo powders.

Above is before and after third-day hair. It’s a bit hard to tell from the photos, but my hair is less oily, has more volume and more movement since it is not weighed down by oil. In the after photo, my bangs no longer have an oily, stringy look. Of course, this product does not make hair feel as though it is freshly washed, but it looks pretty close. On running my fingers through the hair, it does not feel oily, but feels like it has a bit of texture and feels a bit thicker. It is not sticky and does not make the hair clumpy. It does not leave a white residue on my dark hair. If I use the dry shampoo in the morning one day, the effect lasts into the next day as well.

The scent is similar to other Life Proof products. I have used the Perfect Hair Day Triple Detox Shampoo (which has a bit of a different undertone) but I have a number of minis I have not used yet, and the scent is the same as the dry shampoo; a sort of perfume-y citrus. On the Sephora website, it states the dry shampoo has a light clean scent – I would disagree. The scent is very overpowering and while it smells nice, I would not describe this as a clean scent. I think if this had a more natural clean scent (or was not so bold), it would not be so bothersome. I am not generally bothered by heavy scents and this does not give me a headache, but for someone who is sensitive to fragrance, this may not work. The heaviness of the scent starts fading after about 3 hours to a more acceptable level, but does last all day.

The Life Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo works very well (one of the better, if not the best dry shampoo I’ve used) in terms of oil absorption and volume and I will continue to purchase; I just wish the scent was less overpowering.

Thank you for reading.

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Densifying Leave-In Root Treatment Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ 1 Comment

This root treatment by Alterna Haircare is a daily leave-in scalp spray for thinning, fine and fragile hair. This product claims to stimulate the scalp and create a natural defense against DHT build-up and excess sebum, allowing healthy, thicker-looking hair to grow.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Butylene Glycol, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Oleth-20, Polysorbate 20, Rice Amino Acids, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Taurine, Hexyl Cinnamal, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Menthol, Limonene, Azelaic Acid, Calcium Pantothenate, Calphostin C, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Magnesium Salicylate, n-Carboxyethyl Butyric Acid, Niacin, Ornithine Decarboxylase, Phosphorus, Retinyl Palmitate, Threonine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Zinc Gluconate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Linalool, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cinchona Succirubra Bark Extract, Coptis Japonica Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Gastrodia Elata Root Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Extract, Robinia Pseudacacia Flower Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Methylisothiazolinone, Geraniol, Dextran, Citral, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower Extract, Panthenol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Apigenin, Oleanolic Acid, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Keratin Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Algae Extract, Polysilicone-15, Wasabia Japonica Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment, Pikea Robusta Extract, Polyquaternium-10, Silanetriol Melaninate, Superoxide Dismutase, Bromelain, Glycine Max (Soybean) Symbiosome Extract, Papain, Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Adenosine Triphosphate, Hexapeptide-11, Niacinamide/Yeast Polypeptide, Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Caviar Extract, Phospholipids, Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide, Pantothenic Acid/Yeast Polypeptide, Soy Amino Acids, Fragrance.

The third ingredient, serenoa serrulata fruit extract, also known as saw palmetto, is believed to block the conversion of testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone) which can bind to receptors in the hair follicles and cause them to shrink, weaken and eventually die, causing hair loss. The fourth ingredient, paullinia cupana (guarana) seed extract contains caffeine, which is also said to suppress DHT. This spray contains castor oil, amino acids, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Mint leaf extract and menthol can stimulate and soothe the scalp. Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate is a form of vitamin C. Red clover growth complex is said to help improve blood circulation, soothe irritated skin and eliminate buildup of DHT on the scalp, encouraging thicker, fuller hair that looks and feels denser. Fragrance is the last ingredient.

Directions state to spray on scalp in sections on clean, towel-dried hair and massage in twice daily. Do not rinse.

I have had thinning hair for a years now. My hair type is fine and wavy (though I had a keratin straightening treatment a few months ago). My scalp gets oily rather quickly. About a year ago I finished using The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density with some results, and wanted to try something else in hopes to increase growth and thickness of the hair, particularly at the edges.

Alterna Haircare’s leave-in root spray has a fresh, clean scent that fades once it dries. I used the root spray twice a day, not always on damp hair, as I wash my hair twice a week or so. I parted my hair into four sections, spraying directly on the scalp and massaging in, concentrating towards the front and edges of the scalp, as this is where my hair is thinning. It has a concentrated spray nozzle that doesn’t spread too much; good for getting the spray right on the scalp. One bottle lasted about 2 months; I got two bottles. This doesn’t leave a residue on the hair nor weigh the hair down. It doesn’t leave the hair feeling dry or textured.

Above is the center part and middle of the scalp. After 4 months, I do not see or feel any difference in thickness or growth of the hair.

This is the front hairline, also no change.

The above photo shows a before and after of the edges of my hair that shows no change.

The root spray didn’t increase the thickness, growth or density of the hair, nor did the hair feel any healthier or softer. I have a generally oily scalp that can get itchy and this helped with soothing a bit of the itchiness, but didn’t seem to help with elimination of oil buildup.

The Caviar Anti-Aging Densifying Leave-In Root Treatment has good ingredients, but gave no results in terms of thicker or stronger hair, and I would not repurchase. At this point, I’ll be focusing on the health of the scalp.

Thank you for reading.

Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ 7 Comments

The Color Depositing Mask from Moroccanoil is for all hair types and claims to deposit temporary color while hydrating, nurturing and adding shine to the hair.

Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Propoxytetramethyl Piperdinyl Dimethicone, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Parfum/Fragrance, Bis-Hydroxy/Methoxy Amodimethicone, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Algin, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Chitosan, Citric Acid, Acetic Acid, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, C11-15 Pareth-7, C12-13 Pareth-9, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyquaternium-70, Dipropylene Glycol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Quaternium-87, PCA, Sodium PCA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Trideceth-6, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, CI 56059 (Basic Blue 99), CI 12245 (Basic Red 76), Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool.

Directions state to start with clean, towel-dried hair, applying a generous amount of product on sectioned hair and distributing evenly with a wide-tooth comb. Leave on for 5 to 7 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

After a keratin straightening treatment lightened my newly colored hair to an auburn (which I do not like), then over time faded to an orange/auburn color with grown out grey hair, I wanted to give the Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask a try, hoping it would tone down the red/orange tones and cover the grey.

Based on the color chart on the Sephora website and my starting color (light brown to dark brown), bordeaux and cocoa are the only masks that would deposit color. I chose cocoa (the mini size). The formula was not too runny or too thick. It has a similar scent to the oil, a sort of musky, masculine scent (which I don’t particularly like) that fades throughout the day.

After shampooing and towel-drying the hair, I divided it into four sections and distributed using a plastic wide-tooth comb. I used the whole mini tube, putting extra on the grey hair. I found that the hair, once the mask was applied, was rather difficult to get a comb through. The hair felt almost sticky and stiff. Once applied, I wrapped a plastic bag over the hair so it would not dry out, and let sit for 10 minutes. This stained my hands and under and around my nails. It washed off okay with soap and a scrub from the palms of the hands, but the next day I still have staining on dry patches and around my nails.

While rinsing the mask, my hair did not have the silky feeling of a regular conditioner or deep conditioning mask (surprising since the Moroccanoil mask has a few different silicones and oils). On towel drying the hair and running my fingers through it, my hair did not feel very soft or smooth and I had to apply a leave-in conditioner. After blow drying my hair, the color looked a bit darker and more refreshed.

As above, the mask provided no grey coverage.

The red-orange in the hair is toned down and there is less of it. I was hoping for a more brown color, however, it’s not too bad. The mask color itself looks like it has red undertones.

The photo on the left is shortly after the keratin treatment faded my hair a couple shades and the right is after the Moroccanoil mask. So it looks like the mask sort of restored and refreshed my hair color closer to my previous shade before it faded to a more orange tone.

As for how long the color lasts, this would depend on the starting shade and condition of the hair; the lighter and healthier the hair, the longer the color will last. I have washed my hair four times so far, shampooing twice each time, and have had no fading yet.

As a hydrating, conditioning mask, I was disappointed. As for the color deposit, I was hoping for more of a brown and at least some grey coverage, but it did deposit and refresh color.

I would consider purchasing again to restore color, however, I wonder if a color refresh hair gloss might work better for this purpose. If the Moroccanoil mask covered grey, I would repurchase (edit June 30, 2020 – as per the comment above, the Moroccanoil website states the mask does not cover grey).

Thank you for reading.

Christophe Robin Regenerating Hair Ritual Travel Kit Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ Leave a comment

The Regenerating Hair Ritual line from Christophe Robin is a 3-piece kit containing, in a storage bag, shampoo, hair mask and balm that claims to moisturize, restore, repair and protect the hair from further damage while giving shine and color protection to the hair. All three products contain prickly pear seed oil, containing proteins, vitamin E and fatty acids for softness, protection and shine to the hair.

My fine, wavy hair is bleached, colored, dry and damaged and I’ve been looking for a product to smooth, moisturize and soften the hair. I wash my hair about once a week. Previous to this, I was using Briogeo’s Don’t Despair, Repair line, and I’ll use this as a sort of comparison throughout the review, as it is also SLS- and silicone-free claiming to provide similar benefit.

Regenerating Shampoo with Prickly Pear Oil:

This shampoo has a creamy formula made for daily use and all hair types. This is said to gently cleanse, nourish, smooth and restore shine to the hair.

Directions state to apply on damp hair, gently massage the scalp, lather well and rinse thoroughly.

Ingredients: Sodium Myreth Sulfate, Peg-18 Glyceryl Oleate/ Cocoate, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Opuntia Ficus Indica Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Fragrance, Glycol Distearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Laureth-4, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Geraniol, Linalool, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Coumarin, Caramel.

The shampoo is silicone-, SLS- and paraben-free. It has a heavy, fruity, baby powder scent. It lathers well. I got 12 uses with this bottle (6 washes; I always shampoo my hair twice in one wash). My hair does not get as tangled or dry-feeling while washing as with other shampoos (Briogeo’s Super Moisture shampoo) and it rinses well, but by the end of my 6 washes I felt like I wanted the deeper cleanse of the Briogeo shampoo.

Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil:

Ingredients: Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Inula Crithmoide Leaf/Flower Extract, Opuntia Ficus Indica Seed Oil, Behenyl/Stearyl Aminopropanediol Esters, Opuntia Ficus Indica Fruit Extract, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Hydroxycitronellal, Coumarin, Limonene, Caramel, Tocopherol, Evernia Prunastri (Oakmoss) Extract, Linalool, Geraniol.

This is a conditioning mask, also silicone-, SLS- and paraben-free. This claims to repair, smooth and protect the hair.

It has a thick, rich, creamy texture and has a heavy, flowery, baby powder scent.

Directions state to apply a small amount after shampooing, massaging from scalp to ends, add water to lather the product and rinse thoroughly.

I got 7 uses from the jar. It detangles well. I need to apply more than the “small amount” as stated. Comparing this to Briogeo’s deep conditioning mask, the hair feels smoother and softer while rinsing, but as I work it into the hair, doesn’t seem to coat each strand as I’ve found with Briogeo. This doesn’t weigh the hair down and leaves no residue on drying.

Intense Regenerating Balm with Rare Prickly Pear Oil:

Ingredients: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Opuntia Ficus Indica Seed Oil, Opuntia Ficus Indica Fruit Extract, Inula Crithmoide Leaf/Flower Extract, Lecithin, Fragrance, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Coumarin, Amyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Benzyl Salicylate.

The Intense Regenerating Balm contains a number of butters and oils for a multi-use product for hair and body. This claims to be a non-sticky formula to nourish, protect, repair and soften skin and hair. This also has the powdery, flowery scent.

This can be used on damp or dry hair as a styling aid for a messy look or tousled waves, can tame fly-aways, define curls, and can be used on dry areas of the body; knees, elbows, lips and cuticles.

This balm is quite heavy on the hair, especially my fine hair. A little goes a long way. I scrunch a bit through the hair for some texture and definition and it feels like a sticky oil – this provides a similar result and feel on the hair as the John Masters Organics Bourbon Vanilla and Tangerine Hair Texturizer (which I also don’t like the feeling of). The Christophe Robin balm works well for protecting the ends of the hair and is likely a good preventative for split ends. For curl and definition, I’d stick with Briogeo’s Curl Charisma Custard. For fly-aways, I like Olaplex No. 7, but a small amount of any other oil would work as well. I prefer to use the balm on my feet and hands, particularly the cuticles. It is not sticky or greasy on the skin (it needs a minute to absorb) and provides moisture, softness and protection, especially when used over a lotion.

Above are the results of using the Christophe Robin Regenerating Hair Ritual travel kit after about 2 months. My hair is air dried with no product. I don’t see any difference in the photos. It doesn’t look shinier or the color more vibrant. I don’t really feel a significant difference to my hair either; it was perhaps a bit softer.

I generally like this line of products, though probably not enough to justify the expense. Of the three, I like the mask the most. My hair felt really smooth and silky on rinsing, probably the closest feeling to a mask containing silicone, but once the hair is dry, there is not much difference to how my hair felt previously. I like the richness of the texture. While I don’t think it out-performs similar hair masks, it would likely help prevent damage. The shampoo was not drying, but not super cleansing. The balm was too heavy and sticky for the hair, but I like using it on dry areas of the skin.

The heavy baby powder scent of the products leaves much to be desired. It doesn’t bother me too much (though I’m not sure I actually want to smell like baby powder). It does linger until the next wash, and it is noticeable to other people. If sensitive to smells, I can imagine this could cause headaches. If using other scented styling products, the scents might interfere with each other.

Since the “star” of this line is prickly pear seed oil, one could purchase the pure oil and add to any other shampoo or conditioner, or add a few drops to the hair when damp or dry.

Perhaps once damage is done to the hair, there’s not much one can do to repair it, with the hair being dead once it grows out of the scalp. I have since gotten my hair cut to above my shoulders to get rid of the damage and start growing my hair out healthy again.

Thank you for reading.