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)

DeLush Rating:

Review: Curls Goddess Glaze

What They Say: "This frizz fighting, curl enhancing, shine promoting botanical gel is fragrance free therefore is great for layering over or under your favorite styler. It works great as a stand alone gel also.

Infused with Plumeria Alba Flower Extract and Aloe leaf juice, this botanical gelle imparts sheen, fights frizz, and creates popping curls!

The perfect product to use before traveling...to set and keep your curls in place!"

Toya’s Take: The Curls Goddess Glaze is supposed to work in the same way as Kinky-Curly Curling Custard. I decided to compare the products. Curls Goddess Glaze is thinner in consistency and pretty much odorless, as opposed to the Curling Custard, which is thick and has a coconut scent. I have to give the Curls Goddess Glaze the slight advantage. The Goddess Glaze works on defrizzing your curls – defining them and offering hold without adding stickiness or any white flaky residue, which I’ve found with the Curling Custard from time to time. I think it probably works best for women with looser curls, but it added hold and definition to my kinky curls, too.

Retail Price: $14 for 8 oz. (at curls.biz or go here to find a salon that carries Curls products near you)

DeLush Rating:

Review: Sunsilk Hydra TLC 24/7 Creme

What They Say: "Rough Ends & Hairs That Stick Out All Over? Get soft hair that flows together.

Pesky little hairs sticking out every which way? Put those messy, bothersome hairs back in place with Sunsilk™ Hydra TLC 24/7 Creme with Nutri-Keratin. It's not a conditioner, not a gel - it combines the best of both. So it tames unruly flyaways for softer, more manageable hair that flows together.

What to do:
It's easy - just smooth 1 or 2 dollops through damp hair and style as usual. If needed, re-apply on dry hair for extra TLC during the day. For maximum hydration start with Hydra TLC Shampoo & Conditioner (or Multi-Symptom Masque)."

Melissa Says: Wow. I truly was skeptical that something so inexpensive could have such an effect on my hair. I apply it before blowdrying and just use a paddle or vent brush and voila - supersoft! As you know, my hair likes to have unruly ends that do this weird non-curl, wiry flying in the air thing. Right now, my hair has many ends of different lengths that are growing out, and I love that this helps my hair look more smooth and flowing, with no wiry ends giving away the different lenghts. It feels amazing, and even though the scent is a quite prevalent, I personally like it. It's kind of...well, it's "fresh" and similar to another shampoo scent, but I can't put my finger on which one it reminds me of. My husband commented on it without realizing it was my hair product, saying I smelled SO good, and asking what it was. So while some may not prefer to have something that lingers in that way, I'm keeping this a 5-lipper because it really just has amazed me in all ways.

...Smooth hair that flows together...that's exactly what it gives me.

Retail Price: $4.43 (available in drugstores and superstores everywhere - and now ON SALE for $3.82 at drugstore.com)

DeLush Rating:

Review: Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave-In/Detangler

What They Say: "Can’t get that comb to glide through your hair? Well, KNOT TODAY!

A creamy herbal conditioner and detangler designed to smooth the cuticle and remove knots, snarls and tangles from kinky textured hair. Apply generously and work the wide tooth comb slowly through troubled areas. Our new thicker, richer formula can be used as a regular rinse out conditioner and also as a leave-in.

Contains extracts of wild cherry bark, marshmallow root and horsetail."

Toya’s Take: I have fallen in love with Kinky-Curly products! Of course, I am always on the hunt for the perfect products to use on my “kinky curly” hair. I think I have found them. They are the perfect products to loosen my curls and soften them, without using any chemical processes. Knot Today is part of a system of products designed to work together to achieve maximum curl length, looseness, shine, and frizz reduction. The Knot Today is odorless, which is nice – it won’t be offensive to those who have smell sensitivities. I have to apply it quite liberally – I goop a lot on to my hair and then comb it through. It detangles my hair easily, without lots of pulling and effort on my part. Love it! My only problem is that the bottle isn’t very big and I have to use a lot to detangle my mass of hair, so I feel like I went through half the bottle already! Kinky Curly, make bigger bottles of this stuff!

Retail Price: $12 for 8 ozs. (at kinky-curly.com or scroll to the bottom of the shopping page to see a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

Review: Alterna Hemp Straightener

What They Say: "A cream gel that effectively straightens both wavy and curly hair. Hemp seed oil increases elasticity, manageability and shine. Seaweed extract softens hair and decreases static. PVP/DMAP copolymer reduces frizz. Silicones for shine and conditioning."

Jen's Experience: Alterna Caviar shampoo and conditioner are still high on the list of my favorite hair products of all time, and after trying this one, I have another favorite from the Alterna line. Since my hair is already straight and flat on it's own, I was a little skeptical about using a product designed to straighten. The effects, though, were completely unexpected. It doesn't make my hair flat -- in fact, it gives it just a bit of natural volume that doesn't look fluffy, just healthy. It's great for rainy days as well to prevent the humidity from affecting my hair. This product makes my hair easy to style with the blowdryer so that I don't have to break out the curling iron just to have a good hair day. If you're looking for a little more volume in addition to the smoothing effects, you actually can combine it with other volumizing products. If you need another reason to give it a shot, I also love how shiny it makes my hair, and how amazing it smells.

I wish I could give you the curly hair perspective as well, but from the straight perspective, this product has made its way into my everyday hair routine.

Retail Price: $13.00 (See 4alterna.com for a salon near you)

Rating:

Review: Biolage Hydra-Seal Leave-in Créme

What They Say:
"• Luxurious styling creme that instantly moisturizes and seals split ends
• Softens, adds shine and controls frizz
• Shaping Polymers make dry hair easy to style
• Provides heat protection while styling
• Soft-to-medium hold"

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I have a new secret hair weapon. This is one of those products that I'm going to tell all of my friends about. The light formula doesn't weigh my hair down (at ALL), leaves my hair super-soft, and adds shine. My hair has a tendency to feel really coarse on the ends and frizz out, especially when I have multiple lenghts cut into it (as I do now). This smoothes my ends down and softens them better than anything I've tried.

User Tip: Apply this before blow-drying, making sure to distribute evenly with a comb.

Retail Price: app. $14.50 (at salons - find one near you here)

DeLush Rating:

Review: Creative Products of New York Conditioning & Smoothing Balm and Triangle Ceramic Brush

What They Say: (about the brush) "Triage Thermal Collection’s triangle brush is both unique, universal and can be used for all types of hair. The three flat surfaces produce a smooth line through the hair – the rounded edge provides a bend and a bit of soft bounce to the hair tips."
(about the Balm) "A rich, botanical, leave-in conditioner and smoothing/straightening balm."

Jamie’s Thoughts: My naturally curly hair is a challenge unto itself – straightening it takes patience, the right weather, and a sense of humor. I have tried countless potions, serums, you name it. Curly girls out there will know what I mean when I say, “I’ve finally figured it out, and they had better not discontinue any of these 9 products it takes me to get it done.” At this point, I’m better at blow-outs on my hair than any of my hairdressers have ever been.

Faced with a new brush and a new balm to use (the horror!), I waited for a dry weekend and got right to work. The balm is thin without being runny, and smells a bit fruity (in a good way). It is easy to work with, it works well, and a little bit goes a long way. I know a lot of straightening products claim to be this way, but this one actually makes good on that promise. I put a quarter sized dollop in my hand and moved it through my entire head. As each section came down for drying, I added a TINY bit more to the ends only. Be careful not to get this too close to the roots – you’ll lose volume.

(Click pic to enlarge.)

One interesting sidenote: Creative Products claims that the balm works better as you go – the more you blowdry, the better it gets. I thought this claim to be ridiculous, but they’re right. This is a great balm for those girls who just “have to get that piece one more time.”

The brush, as all super-grippy brushes do, took some time for me to master. I was impressed with the ease at which it turns the hair, and I only got the brush stuck in my hair once! (This is a good thing) I didn’t see the benefit of the triangular shape, but I definitely noticed the ceramic kicking in – I was done in 30 minutes, as opposed to my usual 45. That is a HUGE time savings, especially for anyone with long hair. I suspect this brush would make a difference in professional salons, where time management is crucial. It works well, but I don’t see enough improvement in bounce, shine, or shape to make me put my trusty paddle brush aside.

Retail Prices: Triage Triangle Brush $10.50; Conditioning & Smoothing Balm $14.95
(in salons and also online at www.creativetool.com, but double check pricing because right now their site is mostly for professionals and is a bit difficult to navigate)

DeLush Rating: Conditioning & Smoothing Balm
Triage Triangle Brush

Review: Curls Products - Curls Milkshake and Spiral Curls Cream

What They Say: (about the Curls Milk Shake) “The perfect 4-in-1 leave in for all curlies … especially for those with needy, dry curls. It is guaranteed to define, defrizz, revive, hydrate and soften dry, kinky curls. Derived from natural milks (coconut and sweet almond milk), this moisturizing cream will bring life back to your overworked tresses.” (about the Spiral Curls Cream) “For perfect curls with the hold you’ve been looking for! It performs like a gel, but with much more sheen and moisture. This miracle worker glides easily on the hair and dries without a producty feeling. Great for all hair types.”

Toya’s Take: I am always more than happy to try a new product for my naturally curly/kinky hair. I have to say that I really like the Curls products. They smell awesome and are made from natural, moisturizing ingredients that work great on curly hair of all kinds. The Curls Milkshake made my hair feel instantly soft and supple and really made it much easier to detangle after washing. And the soft coconut scent is quite pleasing. I like the Spiral Curls Cream, too, but I don’t think the product is heavy enough for my dry, thick hair. However, I think it would work quite well on someone with a more fine hair texture. At these prices and with such good results, I will be making the Curls Milkshake part of my regular hair routine and will be trying other Curls products, as well.

Retail Prices: $16 (Curls Milk Shake) and $15 (Spiral Curls Cream) (at curls.biz or go here to find a salon location that carries Curls products near you)

DeLush Ratings:
Curls Milk Shake -
Spiral Curls Cream -

Review: Jonathan Serious Volume Shampoo and Create Smooth Anti-Frizz Volumizing Serum

What They Say:
(about the Shampoo) "Conditioning sugar foam gives hair body. White tea, papaya, and pomegranate extracts blended with Rosemary/Sage Essential Water™ gently purify hair while sweet almond protein helps strengthen. Anti-oxidant rich botanical UV filters shield hair from damage and color fade."

(about the Serum) "The sugar conditioner softens brittle, unruly hair. Lemongrass Essential Water™ adds shine. Body-building, conditioning extracts of almond, white ginger and watercress blended with sweet almond protein help improve the look of weak, damaged hair. For curly or straight styles, smooth styling polymer controls frizz - even in high humidity. Contains a potent, botanical anti-oxidant blend to help maintain healthy hair."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow:
(about the Shampoo) This is a very interesting product. I've never felt a shampoo do this to my hair while washing before. What am I talking about? That weird somewhat dry feeling (while wet!), with very little sudsing (which is not a bad thing) and not necessarily a feeling that my hair was getting "dirty", but not that it was getting clean as we normally like it to feel. It was a little tangly and wiry feeling in the water, as if I'd added something to it that made it change greatly in texture. It felt "roughed up" in a way. I definitely was in a hurry to add a mild conditioner to ease that tangling, which disappeared immediately. (Good thing, because I really was nervous about the state of my hair's knottiness up to that moment.)

It did seem that my hair had in fact gotten quite clean while I combed it out, but it also felt a bit more textured still. After blowdrying my hair had more volume, though not extremely drastic, with no extra weight AT ALL.

(about the Serum) This is perhaps one of my favorite serums among all I've ever tried up to this point. It's not very greasy-feeling when you dispense it and warm in your hand, and when you apply it you aren't made suddenly aware that you've may have accidentally made some very vital clump of hair near your face FAR too slick. You know, how lots of anti-frizz serums have a TEENY TINY line between the right amount and EW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WASH THIS GREASY MESS AGAIN TOMORROW? This one didn't do that. It soaked into my hair nicely (I used a little less than 2 dime-sized amounts on my not-quite-reaching-my-shoulders length hair). I of course made sure to concentrate it some on my ends and the ends of each layer, because that's where the hairs start to flip up and go crazy in humidity.

Let me just say this: You know how humid it's been in the Midwest and just about everywhere else, right? (If you don't relate please don't tell me. We don't want to hear about your fabulous temperate climate. It will only make us curse the humidity that much more.) Well, my hair stayed smooth but full of body when I was out and about on a particularly sticky day. And I had just washed my hair before heading out. Normally the first 8 hours after I do my hair is the most frizz-a-licious time until my natural oils kick back in and I've slept on it.

So, in other words? I loved it.

BONUS: For those of you interested, Jonathan products are vegan.

Retail Prices: Serious Volume Shampoo $20.00
Create Smooth Anti-Frizz Volumizing Serum $26.00 (go to jonathathanproduct.com and click "Where To Buy" to find online and local retail locations)

DeLush Ratings: Serious Volume Shampoo
Create Smooth Anti-Frizz Volumizing Serum