DAVINES MELU SERUM for HAIR STATIC CONTROL

Those of us in NYC have been experiencing a very cold and dry winter this season. Many have been reporting dealing with a lot of static in their hair with the most complaints coming from those with fine hair.

When asked what people can use, I’ve been recommending the ever versatile Melu Serum by Davines. It’s a light weight cream serum that can be used on both wet and dry hair. For those looking to reduce electrical charges, I suggest rubbing about a dime size in your hands then applying the product on the surface of the hair when the hair is dry by either scrunching (for curly or wavy hair) or gliding it on (for straight hair). Those with very fine hair can start out using a little less, about a pea size. However the cream is incredibly light so it’s easy to safely continue layering the product.

What’s great about Melu serum is that it also helps prevent breakage to damaged hair. It helps keep split ends together preventing them from traveling further up the hair shaft causing even more damage. It’s also a great heat protectant shielding the hair from blow drying and irons over 400 degrees (!). The cherry oil also helps keep curly, delicate/fine hair hydrated and protected from breakage that’s caused from combing.

This is one of my all time favorite products because it’s so versatile and I always make sure to have one in my kit.

FREE STYLIN’

Recently I helped provide ten days of free hair styling to the general public at Proctor & Gamble’s Pop Up store in Midtown, Manhattan. Styling up to eleven clients a day, I learned a lot about quickly manipulating and controlling various hair textures through product.

As we were only allowed to use Proctor & Gamble Pantene products, I figured it would be a good idea to share what I discovered about these particular products and using product in general.

A lot of clients I worked on had very fine, delicate hair and were looking for volume. For these clients I used ceramic round brushes, a Denman paddle brush, and sometimes a 1” curling iron. I found that layering Pantene’s Fine Volume Mousse over a little of Pantene’s Fine Heat Protection Spray managed to give the hair enough lightweight substance to support a voluminous blow dry. When using the curling iron, the Classic Touchable Hairspray did a great job providing a light brushable hold with some shine.

For those looking to smooth their hair out, Pantene’s Curly Anti Frizz Straightening Creme did a decent job. It definitely relaxed the curl while giving it some shine and blow drying the hair straight with any brush was easier. To diffuse curly hair, I applied it to the hair before twisting curls into place and it rendered smooth, shiny and defined curls. It only performed okay when using it as a finishing cream to smooth out fly aways and give a little extra shine.

The stand out product, however, was Pantene’s Relaxed and Natural Daily Oil Cream. Every stylist working the event commented on how much they liked it. I worked a pea size between both hands and then blotted my palms on dry hair. It gave a lot of shine and definition to curls and waves on dry, frizzy hair. I even used a very tiny bit on the ends of dry, fine hair and it did a fantastic job at making hair look shiny and hydrated without looking greasy. I did notice, that applying too much to fine hair could create a greasy look if not careful.

Is Pantene the best product line I’ve ever used? No. It was, however, pleasantly surprising. If my luggage gets lost on my way to shoot, I know that I’ll be able to walk into a drugstore and get the job done with the these products. I’ll probably be adding the Classic Hairspray and the Relaxed & Natural Daily Oil Cream to my kit.

BUMBLE AND BUMBLE SURF SPRAY

This product really blew me away when I tried it on my friend today. He has very limp, fine hair, and not a lot of it. Everything he uses just makes his hair look greasy and weighs it down even if it’s meant to be light. Bumble and Bumble’s Surf Spray, however, gave it so much substance and natural volume with a matte finish. What was great was that he was able to move his hair around so it never left it feeling stiff and always looked natural. It gave it so much substance that it could support a little Arrojo Texture Paste for hold.

This is a great product to layer underneath other products for hair that’s easily weighed down but needs a little substance. It makes the hair look and feel thicker. Great Stuff.

Cost: $23 for 4oz

ARROJO TEXTURE PASTE

I’ve tried a number of Arrojo’s new hair products but out of all of them I’ve been most impressed with their Texture Paste. Despite feeling like a heavy cream, the Arrojo Texture Paste is extremely light and workable providing just the right amount of hold and moisture. I noticed that it doesn’t get greasy on finer textures and on my own coarse and naturally dry hair it provides a conditioning effect and is easily reset by wetting the hair.

The paste provides a medium, workable hold and gives the hair a natural look and feel. I’ve tried this on a few of my friends with fine to medium hair and they love it, especially men. I totally recommend this product.