Review: Oscar Blandi Raffinata Hair Straightening Balm

What They Say: “Raffinata is a hair straightening balm designed to calm and shape hair without weighing it down, particularly when using hot styling tools.
This straightening balm physically helps in straightening hair – it is not just a cream that sits on your hair shaft to give a smooth appearance. This product actually penetrates into the cuticle, providing smoothness to natural waves and eliminating any degree of curl.
This high powered straightener combats unwanted static and frizz, prevents hair from expanding in high humid conditions, protects hair while blow-drying and minimizes blow-drying time.”

Alissa’s Opinion: This is my new favorite hair product! It adds just enough weight to my fine hair to keep it smooth and it gives me plenty of moisture without greasiness. I didn’t find that it minimized drying time, but it was easier to get stick-straight locks with my flat iron. I even use this balm on my dry tresses on days when I go curly, as it adds a bit of definition and protection from humidity. This is a great, long-lasting product for anyone fighting their wavy hair genes.

Retail Price: $19.00 (at oscarblandi.com)

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Review: Oscar Blandi Riccia Curling Serum

What They Say: Oscar Blandi Riccia curling serum is the ultimate product for curly hair. It wraps perfectly around each individual lock and provides unmatched results for hold, shine and protection. Its perfect performance secures and defines curls naturally and beautifully. This curling Serum provides definition to curls and unmatched humidity resistance.

Benefits:

• Provides hold, shine and protection for curly hair
  
• Provides definition for even the curliest hair
  
• Moisturizes and fortifies hair
  
• Provides humidity resistance

Key Ingredients:

• Soy Protein, Wheat Starch
  
• Vitamin E, Olive Oil
  
• Aloe Vera and Tea Leaves

How to use:

• Shampoo and condition with appropriate Oscar Blandi products for your hair type
  
• Gently towel dry hair
  
• Working from bottom up, evenly distribute product
  
• Diffuse hair with low mild heat or dry hair naturally

What Lisa Says: I have lived in a humid region of Texas my entire life. I have also tried to tame my dark curly hair for a majority of that time by trying about every straightening product, curling iron and brush that I could find. It’s only in the past few years I decided to make peace with my curls and have begun a similar request for the HG of curling products. This one comes oh, so close! I really loved this Oscar Blandi product. It’s far and away, THE best curling serum I’ve used to date.

To begin with the packaging is simple and easy - a plastic bottle that locks with an easy twist. Going away for a weekend? Just toss it in your bag. The fragrance is light and pleasing – not the least bit overpowering. I followed the instructions and tried this product in several ways. I worked it in from the bottom up as instructed. It doesn’t take very much! Some days I would use my blow dryer on low heat with a diffuser and other days I’d just blow and lift & scrunch gently with my hand. Either way it came out lovely, soft without fly away hair or any frizziness. My favorite way to use this product is to apply and go! Easy as 1 – 2- 3. If used sparingly, my hair curled nicely and naturally without feeling crispy or stiff. The curl held up all day and stayed shiny and healthy looking. I was even able to handle my hair without ruining the shape of the curls. It’s just an all around awesome product.

While I don’t relish the heat that summer brings to Texas, I’m anxious to see how this product holds up in the heat and humidity that July and August can bring. If Oscar Blandi’s Curl Serum can fight that kind of humidity, it’ll be a staple in my basket o’ hair goodies! If I can find any flaw at all, it’s that I usually wash my hair every other day. After sleeping on my beautiful curls, I do find that they’re a bit frizzy the next morning. The answer? Lightly spritz with clean water from a spray bottle and use a very, very small bit of the Curling Serum and you’re done.

BTW, a peek at Oscar Blandi’s website reveals that, “Ricci means CURL in Italian”

Retail Price: $18.00/4.5 fl. Oz (at sephora.com, Bergdorf Goodman, Fred Segal, Jeffrey New York, C.O. Bigelow Chemists, The Oscar Blandi Salon, and oscarblandi.com)

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