Phyto Huile d'Ales Pre-Shampoo Intense Hydrating Oil Treatment

I haven't posted about Phyto in months now, I still love this haircare line however it is getting to the point where I own almost every single product in the line and I have reviewed most of the them.  I do wish that this company would release more new products than they currently do, I have loved lamost every single product that I have used from this French company and I would buy as many new products as they would bring out.  The other week in Sephora, I repurchased a product of theirs that I had first used in college and itis just as good as I remembered it from all those years ago.  Winter is the perfect time for me to use hydrating skin and hair products as this is when I will reap all the benefits that they have to offer.

The Huile d'Ales Pre-Shampoo Intense Hydrating Oil Treatment is actually the first product that I ever purchased from this company, way back in 2004.  I bought this hair treatment when I was an associate at Bath and Body Works and I visited the King of Prussia store for the first time and I got all the exposure to brands other than their house brands.  This was even before King of Prussia had a Sephora in the mall and this was one of the few stores that I could play with all kinds of beauty brands and find out all kinds of information about brands that I had never heard of.  I am still waiting for King of Prussia to get a Space NK or a Blue Mercury...

Huiles d'Ales is one of those products that you will either love or hate, it is one of the most intense hydrating treatments that I have ever used and is great for someone with dry, thick, and/or coarse hair.  If your hair is oily or fine, then this product will be the kiss of death for any volume that you are attempting to induce into your hair.  This is a product that is very similar to the Ojon Hydrating Treatment but without the awful smell...

"A moisturizing pre-cleansing ritual for dry hair.  Created in 1967, this original rejuvenating formula is named after the Phyto founder himself. Its unique blend of essential oils revitalizes the tresses, restoring healthy radiance to dry hair.  This water-soluble complex can be safely mixed into the coloring process to protect hair and scalp from damage."  I have never mixed this into any type of hair color but I will bring this product to stylist and see what she thinks about this and how/if it could be done.

I have used this product in two different ways.  In each case, I use one entire vial of the oil and pour it into the spray bottle that is provided with the product.  I spray the oil all over my hair (mostly from the ear level and down) and then wrap a towel around my hair and let it sit for about half an hour.  I have used it with the just the towel several times and other times I have used a hair dryer blowing directly on my head for most of the half hour in order to keep the product hot.  Most stylists and chemists believe that the product will penetrate deeper if continous heat is applied and then I reap more rewards from this product.  I prefer to use a hair dryer with this product but I haven't always had the time to simply devote half an hour just to my hair.  I am more likely to use this product and wrap up my hair while doing homework or blogging.

This product is a very intense hydrator and you will see results from it, my hair is much softer and very shiny after use of this product.  However, I do not recommend using this product right before you plan to go out, it left my hair worse before it started to get better.  Let me explain fully.  Right after I use this product, I need to wash my hair twice to get all the excess oil out and then I condition my hair like I normally would.  With this method, I usually cannot get all the excess oil out and my hair will look awful for the rest of the next/the next day (if I do it at night).  My hair acts like it is pouring outside and behaves like the humidity is 100%, lots of frizz and hard to style.  As soon as I wash and condition it again at night, it straightens perfectly the next day and garners me tons of compliments on how pretty it looks.  I prefer to use this product at night and then only before a day where I know that I will be going nowhere for about 24 hours.  I am going to try to get my hair into a top knot the day after using this product and see if I can improve the appearance a bit of my "day after treatment" hair.  I will report back as to how this works.

The smell of this product is so much better than the Ojon treatments, this product has a very strong herbal smell but it is still very pleasant and does not detract from the formula.  Everyone knows that I cannot stand the scent of the Ojon product and it is a trial for me to ignore it while it is working wonders on my hair, this product works the wonder but doesn't make me gag while it is sitting on my head.  I use this product once every two weeks, Phyto suggests using it once a week but with the time that it takes for my hair to improve after the treatment, I cannot devote one day every week to not leaving my home.  I really don't believe that it needs to be used once a week unless your mix chemical treatments and your hair is really bad, once every two weeks is enough to reap all the benefits without wasting product. 

My only thoughts on improving this product is the packaging, the vials are pre-measured as to the amount that Phyto thinks should be used.  The amount is best for medium hair, if your hair is long then you need about two vials and if your hair is short then you are wasting product by having to use the whole vial.  If it was up to me, I would prefer this product to be contained in a regular size bottle and the user can decide how much they wish to pump out.  This is my only complaint with the product and it isn't that much of one (at least for me).  One vial is pretty much perfect for my hair, I wouldn't mind using a bit more but two vials would be too much for it and I only use one. 

This product is a great deep treatment for dry or chemically treated hair, it will hydrate any dry areas and improve the shine factor and the overall appearance of the hair.  This was my first love from Phyto and continues to remain a favorite treatment of mine.  If you love the effect of the Ojon products but hate the smell, this product will be a favorite.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Phyto Plage "L'Originale" Protective Beach Spray

It may not be beach weather yet but I have already began to think about my summer haircare regime.  I have already started exercising outside and therefore I have to think about how the sun's UV rays are affecting my hair color and how the wind is adding to my split end issues.  I have brought out a product that I bought two years ago just for the beach and I have began adding it into my haircare regime to protect my hair from the outside elements.  My main concern in the summer months is how much more dry seems to be and the resulting frizz issues, I don't have any blonde in my hair yet so I don't worry about brassiness and the resulting color change associated with blonde.  But I am still looking at blonde highlights for the warm weather so it is never too soon to start thinking about protecting my hair color.

Phyto Plage is a line of four products that is made for protecting and hydrating hair at the beach and then replenishing it after the sun exposure.  The product that I using right now is the original product from this collection, the beach spray that was made for vacationers at the Riveria.  The Plage "L'Originale" Protective Beach Spray is used both during sun exposure and then after it to further replenish and hydrate the hair.  I spray it on before I go out running and then use it again after I wash my hair, the first time for protection and then second time for hydration and shine promotion.

This product was carried at Sephora when I bought it two years but I think that it is only available during the summer (at least in the stores).  To the best of my knowledge, it is available all year round on the Phyto website so this is where I am finding my information now.  "The original formula since 1974.  Create the ultimate beachy look with this original sun protection oil formulated to protect color and combat the effects of powerful UV rays.  Provide maximum sun protection with added moisturizing and softening benefits for ultimate sheen and shine."  Phyto recommends that you use this product before sun exposure and then again during the exposure (especially after any kind of swimming or exposure to water).  Since I am not at the beach yet, I use it before I go running to protecting my color.  I use it later then to help rehydrate my hair.

The active ingredients in this product are two hydrating oils and the UV protectants.  Calendula and Castor Oil are both very hydrating and help to prevent tangles and knots that are very common during a day at the beach.  The UV Filter and Anti-UVB Polymers help to protect color and help retain the moisture in the hair.  Since beginning to use this product again (about a week has gone by now since I began using it), I have seen that my hair is very soft and easier to style.  Even on days that I am not exercising outside, I use this product on my wet hair since the hydrating oils aide to moisture retention and have boosted the shine of my hair. 

I love knowing that I am protecing my hair even when I am running outside, this line of products is made for the beach but protects and hydrates well in any warm weather outdoor activity.  I haven't noticed any huge difference in the appearance of my hair color, however if I put blonde or red highlights in it than this product will become a necessity.  Currently, I love this product for how soft it makes my hair and for the shine finish of my hair.

photo courtesy of Phyto

Phyto Phyto 7 Daily Hydrating Botanical Cream

I have reviewed many Phyto hair care products on this blog and this is one of the few hair brands that I continue to repurchase products from over and over.  I have been using this line since I first got out of college in 2006 and still continue to faithfully use products from this line.  My favorites are the PhytoCitrus line of color care products and the Phyto 9 Leave In.  Phyto 9 is a god-send this time of the year, with the dry winter air sapping my hair of all moisture and luster.  The last time that I ran out to Sephora to replenish my supply of this leave-in treatment, I discovered that Sephora was sold out of it and I needed to try something else out until it came back in stock.
I thought that my safest bet would be to try another leave-in product from Phyto.  I choose to buy the Phyto 7 Leave-In treatment, a slightly lighter version of the Phyto 9 product that I had been using.  Phyto 9 has nine natural plant extracts and Phyto 7 has two less.  Phyto 7 is included in the collection for dry hair, where Phyto 9 is in the collection for very dry hair.  I expected this product to be a bit less hydrating and I was suprised at how much of a difference the two less botanical ingredients made.

"A daily leave-in treatment for fine to medium-textured hair.  Infused with seven pure and natural plant extracts, this weightless cream instantly hydrates, smoothes, and protects tresses while preventing frizz, static, and split ends.  Hair is left shiny and managable."  The seven active plant extracts are: Mallow, Soybean, Burdock, Rosemary, Sage, Calendula, and Willow.  All of these extracts are used in the product to aid in hydration and helping the hair shaft to retain moisture.

Why the description of this product states that it is for fine to normal hair when it is in the dry hair collection is well beyond me, unless Phyto completely changed their product line around.  Aside from the labeling confusion, this product helped hydrate my hair but wasn't near as hydrating as the Phyto 9.  Phyto 9 is the better of the two products for my hair.  Phyto 7 has a lighter texture, it absorbs into my wet hair quickly and left no residue on my hair shaft.  It helped to hydrate my dry ends, of course it was better than using nothing in my hair but still left a bit to be desired.  I might use this product during the spring and summer months when ny hair isn't as dry and I am not fighting static and flyways. 

Someone with fine or normal hair isn't the target market for a hydrating leave-in, even one that is light and leaves no residue.  This product would be better marketed to people with dry hair as they are the primary purchasers of leave-in creams.  I hope that my Phyto 9 is available the next time that I go to Sephora, this version was a bit too light for my hair this time of the year.  I might revisit it next May since my hair will not be as dry that time of the year.

photo courtesy of Sephora

My Current Favorite Products

I have now completely turned my entire makeup and skincare regime around with the change of the seasons.  The last time that I did a write up on my favorite products it was firmly summer and of course all of them have changed by now.  What am I currently obsessed with (beauty-wise)?  Red lips, neutral eye shadows, and keeping my pale skin clear and bright.  One of the first products that I bring out once the leaves begin to fall is Clinique's Almost Lipstick in Black Honey and it is one of my favorite products this fall again.  That in itself is a huge feat considering that I have more lip products than I know what to do with.

My "fave five"...
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey - "Sheer, glossy slip of lightweight lip colour in our exclusive Black Honey shade.  This best-loved lip colour is universally flattering yet looks a little different on everyone.  Emollient-rich formula gives lips a sleek, moist finish."  This tinted lip balm is very hydrating and leaves a subtle berry finish.  I have a very hard time describing this shade, it is somehow the perfect natural reddish berry but it still comands attention every single time that I wear it.  This is one of this shades that is a Holy Grail for both myself and thousands of other woman, it is a consistent Allure Best of Beauty Winner and is one of the most unique products and shades that I have every seen, I will use this the rest of the season.

Urban Decay Eye Shadow in Midnight Cowboy - "This is the product that Urban Decay was born to make - their best-seller!  A pigment-rich eye shadow.  The shadow is loaded with color, with very few binders (the stuff that holds shadow together), resulting in beautiful color that blends easily and lasts.  Lots of finishes to suit your mood: sparkle, shimmer, duochrome, or metallic.  Professionals, celebrities, and makeup junkies swoon for the wide array of shades.  The subway token compact comes complete with window (see your shade without opening), and snaps shut with one hand which means no more lost lids.  All shades can be used wet for more intense color or try them as a liner!"  Midnight Cowboy is one of their best-selling eye shadow shades and can also be found in many different products since it is so flattering.  It is a "beige with silver glitter" and is one of the most flattering eye shadow shades that I have ever worked with.  The beige shade is subtle and the silver glitter makes my eyes look huge and very blue.  I pair it with dramatic lips, it helps to keep the focus on my lips and brightens up my whole face.  This is one of the few eye shadows that I can count on to work with almost any lip or cheek look and is one that I would rebuy the second that I run out of it.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum - "A highly concentrated oil-free serum that improves the appearance of dark spots, promotes even skintone, and boosts radiance.  Banish dark spots and achieve your most even, bright, and beautiful complexion.  Perfect for all skintones, this satiny complex offers remarkable results, helping to correct dark spots, acne marks, and scars.  Naturally powerful Viniferine, olive squalene, mint, caraway, and galbanum work to counter stretch marks, scars, and damage while bolstering collagen and elastin, for glowing results."  This serum has been favorite of mine forever and I got away from it a bit when I was trying out some new face care but I always return.  I use this serum twice a day and within a week it helps to brighten my whole complexion, hold moisture in, reduce acne dark spots, and reduce redness.  This is a miracle worker and one of my top five favorite skin care products of all time.

Phyto Phytocitrus Restructing Masque - "A rich treatment designed to extend the life of your color.  This decadent formula delivers in blend of citrus fruits and proteins that effectively lock in color, restructure the hair fiber, and boost radiance.  When used daily, in conjunction with Phytocitrus Shampoo for two weeks after color-process, it keeps color bright, vibrant, and illuminated with shine."  I recently got six inches off my hair and am focusing on keeping the new cut and style healthy.  This mask contains shea butter to hydrate and the grapefruit in it helps to maintain and brighten color.  I use this mask once to twice a week to maintain hydration and keep my color strong.  I found this to be the best Phyto mask since it contains ingredients to both hydrate and help color, it is a two in one product.

Tarte Eye Shadow in My True Death (from the True Blood Palette) - "Inspired by the hit HBO series True Blood, Tarte's limited edition palette is packed with 17 eye shadows,  a full-size EmphasEyes Aqua-Gel Eyeliner in Black, a deluxe Lights, Camera, Lashes! clinically-proven nautral mascara and a deluxe Lifted Natural Eye Primer with Firmitol.  Get glamoured with this limited edition palette packed with 17 killer new eye shadows and more.  Each richly pigmented shadow is softly milled and infused with Amazonian clay for pure color payoff, silky application, and long wear.  From ethereal goddess to vampy vixen, you can create countless looks using these shimmering, matte, and smoky shades.  Open after dark: Buried in this palette's pull-out drawer is a full-size EmphasEyes Aqua-Gel Eyeliner in Black,  a deluze Lights, Camera, Lashes! clinically-proven natural mascara and a deluxe Lifter Natural Eye Primer with Firmitol to help complete your look.  Turn into a real Truebie using the four 'get the looks' included with each palette, created with the help of True Blood's award-winning lead makeup artist Bridgette Myre-Ellis."  My True Death is the sparkling silver shade that I raved about when I did the reviews of the True Blood palette and it has quickly become my favorite shade in the palette.  I can't rave enough about the silky butter texture of this shadow and the pigment rich payoff.  I said before that this is the best silver shade that I have ever used and I still stand behind that statement, I have been using it with blacks and charcoals for the past few weeks and it has not failed me yet.

I have been loving the change over to fall products far!  I am always excited to get out my Almost Lipstick in Black Honey every year and to begin to embrace all shades of red lipstick!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Phyto Phyto 9 Leave In Treatment

Well the summer is over and it has had quite an impact on my hair.  Sun, chlorine, ponytail elastics...I often find myself trying to decide what season is the worst for my hair, the summer or the winter.  That being said, my hair has just survived three long months and while I have a hair appointment coming up, I still have some time to bid before it gets here and I am not going to wear my hair in tight bun every single day until I am able to get a nice cut.  Enter a routine of heavy conditioning and leave in haircare products for the next two or three weeks. 

When I know that I need a hydrating product that will work and work very well, I very often turn to the Phyto brand of natural haircare.  Started in the 1960s in the South of France, this line was one of the first to use plant extracts in a highly concentrated form.  A small amount of any of the products in this line goes a very long way.  I have used products from almost ever single line of this haircare collection at least once and I can say that every single one of them had great qualities even if they weren't my favorite products ever.  Phytocitrus is still my reining favorite group of products but I firmly believe that no matter what line you purchase products from, you will be happy with them and have a series of great hair days everytime that you use them. 

Since my hair is in post-summer mode, I chose a product from the ultra-day haircare line, the leave-in conditioner Phyto 9.  In the dry hair line, Phyto also offers Phyto 7,  a conditioner with seven essential moisturizers in it.  Since Phyto 9 is for ultra-dry hair, it is pretty easy to figure out that it contains an extra two essential hydrators than the Phyto 7.  Both of these leave-in conditioners are very targeted to toward only the driest and most damaged types of hair and are not for everyone.  If your hair isn't dry or ultra-dry, you won't need these products and they will just end up weighting down your hair.  Just some food for thought guys...

Now my hair is thick, curly, and dry.  Not to mention chemical treated and heat-styled and I pretty much do everything that I shouldn't do to my hair all the time.  And no amount of hair stylists or beauty editors will ever change my mind.  If everyone saw my hair when it was dried naturally then they would understand my need for the blow dryer and flat iron before I leave the house in the morning.  So I won't change my habits but I will help stop my hair from becoming completely fried and looking awful. 

"Infused with eight plant extracts and macademia nut oil, this weightless leave-in conditioner instantly hydrates, smoothes, and protects medium to coarse tresses while preventing frizz and split ends.  Hair is left silky soft and illuminated with shine.", states the Phyto website.  The eight active plant extracts are as follows: Burdock Root Oil, Canendula, Rosemary Oil, Sage, Soybean & Protein Oil, St. John's Wort, and Willow.  All of the oils in this product are put in to do one major task which is to really hydrate hair and to help stop the cuticle from easily losing moisture. 

This product is a cream texture that is about medium weight, I have used thicker creams on my hair but they didn't always penetrate as well as thinner formula.  I use this product once a day on damp hair when I get out of the shower.  Phyto states that this product can be used as your regular conditioner however if I don't use some type of conditioner in the shower then I will not be able to get a comb through my hair so I use this in addition to my daily conditioner (which is exactly how I use every other type of leave-in that I have tried).  I have to use about a quarter size dollap of this cream in order to fully cover the last three inches of my hair.  This amount allows me to cover that whole area but isn't so much that is builds up on my hair.

When I first began using this product, I needed to use it every single night in order for the moisture to stay in my hair.  After about a week of doing this, I was able to use it three times a week and still get the exact same result.  It makes my ends much softer and smoother.  Since it helps to close the hair cuticle and smooth the surface, this product also helps to make my ends easier to straighten and therefore I have to spend a bit less time on them with the iron in the morning. 

I have bought many tubes of this product in the fall and winter months since I use it all the time.  Also, the tube is so small that if I know that I cannot get back to Sephora within the month, I end up purchasing two at a time.  I love the way that this product works and helps to hydrate and smooth my hair, my only suggestion to Phyto is to make this tube bigger since I burn through them in no time. 

My mission is to keep my hair hydrated and in good condition until I can get to my hair stylist and get the last remains of the summer season cut out of my hair.

photo courtesy of Sephora 

Phyto Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Shampoo

Since I love Phytocitrus, I decided that I might like their other shampoos just as much. Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Shampoo is one of their most famous products so I decided to try and start with this one. This is a favorite of Jean Godfrey June and she has written about this product multiple times in Lucky. So I must admit that she did help to push me to try this shampoo out before some of the other ones from this line.

This shampoo is based toward dry and moderately damaged hair. Sephora places that product in the following category - "A gentle, moisturizing cleanser for dry, medium-to-coarse hair". The Sephora website gives the following details about the product. "Nuture and soften distressed locks with this aromatic, coconut-based shampoo, formulated to cleanse while instantly rehydrating hair with jojoba oil, and a unique concentration of cornflower and mallow extracts (40%)".

This shampoo has four major active ingredients. Jojoba Oil moisturizes and restores the hydrolipidic film of the hair. Wood cellulose helps to retain moisture and detangle the hair. Both cornflower and mallow extracts help to soften the hair and rebuild elasticity. The coconut in the shampoo helps to cleanse the hair without having to use strong detergents to clean the hair. This shampoo has a very thick texture and produces very little foam. This shampoo has a similar texture to the other Phyto shampoos that I have tried so far.

I bought this product at Sephora and when I was there, I expressed the concern that this product has nothing about color treated hair in the description. The sales associate assured me that with the lack of detergents, the product would be color safe. She then proceeded to tell me that when using this product on color treated hair, best results would be obtained by alternating it with the Phytocitrus Shampoo. I want to try this combination out but I have to hit them up again and buy more Phytocitrus Shampoo to try this and see how they work together.

I already own all the matching conditioners to this product and will finish trying them out very soon. I think that I prefer the Phytocitrus since I always color treat my hair but I am willing to try the combination of the two shampoos to preserve my color. This product is a fantastic hydrator and is recommended for those with dry and coarse hair.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Phyto Phytosesame Conditioner

This is yet another product from Phyto that feeds my loyalty to this wonderful French company. However, this must be one of their less popular products since everyone that I have met that uses this line has either never heard of or has ever tried this product. It's not had to find, it is available any place that Phyto products are sold and is one that I have purchased quite a few times over the past few years. This conditioner is called Phytosesame and is part of their collection aimed at dry hair.

Sephora places this product in the category of "fast-acting, lightweight conditioner for dry hair". Further details about the product have been provided. "Packed with exotic ingredients to ensure optimum hydration levels, this formula fortifies hair and adds body. Sesame oil, and cocoa and shea butters hydrate, nourish, detangle, and impart luminous shine. Hibiscus flower strengthens and adds body." This product comes in a pump bottle for the perfect application.

What do I love about this product? This is my favorite conditioner that I ever used, followed by the Smoothing Conditioner from Oscar Blandi. This product hydrates really well, rinses clean, and hasn't caused any problems with build up. I do feel that I burn through this product, but I don't know if that's because I love it so much or because I am using slightly too much. I think it is that I love it so much since I have gotten much better at rationing exactly how much I need to cover my hair. I am fine with a pump and a half for my thick, medium length hair. My hair is really soft and shiny and I get lots of compliments on it when I go back to using this product.

What do I not love about this product? I have a love/hate relationship with the pump bottle. I have to put it all out and shake the bottle to get the last few uses out of it. Usually the pump goes when only a little bit of product is left and I have learned to shake it all out and I can get about six to eight more uses from it. The other aspect of this product that I don't love is the scent of sesame oil. It is really strong in the shower and it does tend to linger in my hair after rinsing. It's not as bad as the Ojon but I have found that it lingers longer. However, these are not serious enough to make me not want to use this product.

I really recommend this conditioner to anyone how has dry/color treated hair and doesn't want it to be weighed down. I have used this conditioner following the Phyto PhytoCitrus Shampoo in the first four weeks after I color my hair and following the MOP Gisten Shampoo anytime after the first four weeks.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Phyto Phytokarite Ultra-Hydrating Masque

I really should have just stuck to my original favorite masque from Phyto, the PhytoCitrus Masque. But no, in my quest to find and try nevery beauty product on the planet and especially every product for my hair type from Phyto, I decided to give this masque a shot. The Phytokarite masque is specially formulated for ultra-dry and unruly hair so I thought that this product would be a god send for me. Ignoring the rather lukewarm and somewhat negative reviews on Makeup Alley, I decided to purchase this masque and I had very high expectations for it.

"Phytokarite is an intensive that helps rejuvenate and repair very dry, damaged hair by providing it with the essential elements it lacks. Brimming with naturally rich agents, including Shea Butter, Cashew, and Pastel oils, filled with essential fatty acids, Phytokarite nourishes the hair from within. A wood-cellulose derivative with water-binding properties helps maintain the hair's moisture balance. Hydrolyzed keratin coats the hair and makes it easier to detangle, while Tocopherol (Vitamin E), a known anti-oxidant, helps protect hair from external stress factors. The hair is replenished from within, regaining its original softness, suppleness, and shine."

Phyto classified ultradry hair as hair that has been weakened from within with both a dual deficiency in both mositure and lipids (sebum). This dual deficiency alters the hairs' elasticity and suppleness. As a result, it becomes porous and loses certain elements, such as keratin (amino acids). Ultra-dry hair becomes difficult to detangle, is coarse and brittle, and requires replenishing with both nourishing and restoring agents.

The reviews on this product from Makeup Alley are very divided, some love it with a passion and others hate it with equal passion. I really thought that I would love this product for my dry and damaged hair. Well...first I totally hated it but over time, I grew to a slight like and tolerance of it.

The first time that I tried it out, I still had my long hair. It didn't rinse out fully and left me clumpy, tangled hair. I decided to give it another shot. The second time I still had issues with the rinsing and my hair was never improving. I pretty much gave up on the product then. Several months later, I decided to retry the product with my shorter hair. It was much easier to rinse out and made my hair softer but was no miracle product. I didn't notice any real difference in the feel of my hair or its shine level. This deep conditioner isn't the greatest but I like it enough to finsh up the tub that I have and just not repurchase it. I still prefer and would recommend the PhytoCitrus Masque instead.

photo courtesy of Beauty.com

Phyto Phytodefrisant

Quick...what haircare product has recently been introduced into the Allure Beauty Best of Hall of Fame and is touted as one of the most amazing products ever introduced into the market by tons of women?! Fekkai? Jonathan? SLS free products that actually clean hair? Well not quite...it's Phyto's Phytodefrisant, a product that is most likely the most amazing hair straightening balm ever. Now, you may all remember how much I like the Jonathan Silky Dirt. That is my second favorite hair straightener, but Phytodefrisant is the gold standard and Holy Grail for turning my thick curly hair into thick supersleek hair.

This company has been a favorite of mine for quite a while and many people are quite aware of this, especially anyone who has been reading this blog from the beginning. This product belongs to their "anti-frizz" line of products, along with Phytobrush shampoo and Phytolisse smoothing serum (neither of which I have had the opportunity to work with but would love to). This is their philosophy behind controlling frizzy or hard to maintain hair, "Naturally frizzy hair is generally dry and difficult to style. It may even become ultra-day after straightening and heat styling. Highly sensitive to humidity, frizzy hair needs to be relaxed with moisturizing and coating products that will gently smooth the hair fiber while protecting it from breakage. Naturally curly hair will also benefit from these hydrating and shielding properties".

Here is some information on the product itself from the Sephora website (not sure why the Phyto website wouldn't let me see the individual product), "Phytodefrisant is a relaxing balm for all hair types, naturally curly, or permed hair. Ferula, horseradish, and garlic extracts coat and straighten hair without any chemical action. The non-oily formula won't weaken hair. Imparts shine as hair is blow-dried to smooth, straight perfection".

One of my favorite things about this product is the texture. I squeeze a little bit out from the tube into my hands and then I rub my hands together to melt the product. After that, the producty turns into the same consistency as water, so it is very easy to get through hair and evenly coat every strand. It never weighs my hair down but still manages to get it straight and smooth. This product is unique in that it claims to have a cumulative effect on hair, every time that it is used, it becomes easier and easier to straighten hair. I don't quite know of a quantitative measure to judge this but I do know that I used it for two years and I never really saw that much of a change in styling or the time it took. That being said, it still helped me to get much better results than I ever would have without it and it fully deserves its place in the Allure Hall of Fame.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Phytocitrus

My favorite hair care line is the nature based line, Phyto. I have dry, color treated hair that I straighten every single day. So, I am always interested in new hair products and consistently try almost every new product that comes out on the market. I have very few hair products that I am loyal to. As far as I’m concerned, something new will always come out at the beginning of every season and usually it will be comparable or better than something that I have previously used. Phyto is one line that has done almost the impossible…make fantastic products that I repurchase over and over again.

Everyone knows that if a woman colors her hair, she must begin to use products made specially for color treated hair. Products for color treated hair are meant to protect the new hue and to help treat some of the damage that occurred during the dyeing process. The dyeing techniques are based on based on chemical reactions that modify the hair structure, and despite careful neutralization, alkalinity can remain. The scales of the hair can remain open, which leads to a loss of radiance and poor color function. The above explanation I found on the Phyto site. I choose to find the explanation on this site because it reflects what the Phytocitrus line is trying to heal.

There are three products in the Phytocitrus line; a shampoo, a mask, and a leave-in spray. The shampoo contains grapefruit extract to neutralize the alkalinity. Alkalinity occurs when the chemicals used in the procedure change the hair follicle’s chemical makeup and the pH of the follicle is no longer neutral (as unprocessed hair is). The grapefruit is very acidic and helps the follicles to go back to their neutral state.

The mask contains grapefruit extract and plant butters to hydrate. The leave-in mist contains lotus flower to hydrate and protect the hair. The leave-in is not hydrating enough on its own, so I do have to put a separate leave-in on my ends.

My hair and I love the products from this line. I have been able to extend the time between my colorings with the regular use of this line and I have even had someone ask me if I had freshly dyed my hair after one night of using all three.