Haircare is one of those subjects I don't talk about enough, yet it is part of my everyday routine, whether I am washing, conditioning, using a hair mask, styling or depending on dry shampoo. Living in London has changed my hair, the hard water does it no favours and it is something I can tell the difference with when I visit my parents up north where the water is much softer. Here in London, I have to wash my hair every other day, up north I can quite easily not have to wash my hair for 3-4 days.
Living Proof is a brand I have seen people raving about all over my social media feed and it is one I have been getting to know over the past few months. Living Proof has taken it upon themselves to solve the root causes of everyone’s top hair concerns: frizz, damage, and fullness to name just a few and their team of stylists and scientists analyzed 100s of competitive products that have been on the market the last 30 years and what they found was that the traditional beauty industry relies on heavy silicones that mask hair symptoms but don’t really solve them. From these studies came three discoveries:
- Firstly there is ofpma aka the healthy hair molecule, a superior way to care for hair without silicones, instead this molecule creates a weightless, invisible shield over each hair strand meaning your hair stays cleaner for longer, eliminates frizz by blocking humidity, polishes and protects hair strands, smoothes the hair without weighing it down.
- Second, we have pabe aka the thickening hair molecule, described as being a better way to create thickness, body and fullness without stiff, sticky resins. This molecule creates a microscopic pattern of thickening dots on hair for long-lasting, touchable fullness, body and thickness. So if you have fine flat hair, this is definitely something to look out for.
- Finally, there is etas which is the volumising and texturising molecule, Living Proof have discovered a better way to create volume and texture on hair without heavy powders weighing hair down. It is almost as light as air and provides instant, weightless volume and texture that lasts, transforms fine, flat hair into voluminous styles and most interestingly it works on dry hair for results anywhere, anytime
Now my hair is best described as being combination hair. I have greasy roots and dry ends and when I am stressed, one of the places that will flare up is my scalp which becomes dry and itchy. So over the past few months, I have been using a whole host of Living Proof products to see just how good they are and whether they live up to my own expectations.
The first products are the Living Proof Full Shampoo and Conditioner. I don't use a conditioner every time I wash my hair, it is usually every second or third wash depending on how my hair feels at the time.
The Living Proof Full Shampoo is described as being a gentle, yet thoroughly cleansing shampoo that helps to transform fine, flat hair to look, feel and behave like naturally full, thick hair. Within this shampoo, you will find ofpma, so it works to cleanse the hair by effectively eliminates residue and build-up. Lightweight in texture compared to some shampoos I have used, it has a lovely citrus scent which I really like, it is one which you really notice. After using, instead of finding my hair feeling oily due to excess silicone, what I have soft, shiny hair which feels clean. The Living Proof Full Conditioner is described as being a lightweight conditioner that adds softness and shine while helping fine, flat hair to look, feel and behave like naturally full, thick hair. Again within this product, you will find ofpma and within this conditioner, it helps to detangle and smooth the hair. My issue with some conditioners is how thick they are, this one is lightweight and you need the smallest amount to make a huge difference.
At least once every three weeks, I use a hair mask on my hair as an extra treat and for the last few months, I have switched to using the Restore Treatment Mask. Described as being a deeply conditioning mask treatment, it uses the molecule ofpma and it works to repair dry, damaged hair by nourishing each strand, leaving hair visibly healthier, stronger, and shinier.
Without question, this is one very luxurious hair mask treatment and I love it so much, I have bought another as a back up. The formula is silicone-free and it works to repel dirt which gives you more time between washes. It uses Glycolic Acid which helps to smooth and soften each fibre for improved manageability. One the hair it isn't heavy, it doesn't feel greasy and nor is it a nightmare to wash out. Once removed, what I love is how hydrated my hair feels, how smooth it is to the touch and I also love the natural shine that comes back.
When it comes to styling my hair, depending on how much time I have and what I am doing that day, I will either have a ponytail which means I let my hair air dry as much as possible and then dry it off with a hairdryer if needs be. If I am going to an event or feel the need, I straighten my hair or I let the natural waves do their thing and only slightly run my hair straighteners through my hair to ensure there are no wild flyaways. To do any of these I either use a serum, a mist or a heat spray, but again, I have switched to using Living Proof for the past few months and there are two products that I have which are - The Instant de-frizzer and the Full Dry Volume Blast.
The Full Dry Volume Blast is described as being a weightless styling spray that adds body and bounce without crunchiness or stiffness and it uses molecule etas which are incredibly lightweight.
Back with the molecules mentioned above, within this product we have etas and what we have is a lightweight mist which creates instant volume, so if you have fine, flat hair, then this is the product you need. Silicone free and safe to use on colour treated hair. what I like about this spray is that I only need to use a small amount. I am conscious about using too many sprays on or near to my scalp.
Next is one of my favourite discoveries from Living Proof and that is the No Frizz Instant De-Frizzer. Described as being a dry conditioning spray that restores smooth, sleek strands from root to tip. Using the patented Healthy Hair Molecule ofpma which helps to seal the cuticle, tames frizz, and smooths hair without any build-up or residue.
Using a blend of 5 oil which mimic the oils naturally found in healthy hair, this spray is one of the best that I have ever used to tame frizz and flyaways, especially after you have dried your hair using a hairdryer and then used straightening irons. For me, this tends to lead to flyaways, a bit of static and often some frizz. Likewise, if I allow my hair to air dry, there is often some frizz, so this spray really does help.
The final product is a case of saving the best till last mixed with a bit of 'now I know why people rave about it' and that is the Living Proof Perfect Hair Days Dry Shampoo.
This Dry Shampoo is powered by the patented Healthy Hair Molecule ofpma and has what is referred to as a 'Triple-Action Cleaning Technology' which not only absorbs and removes oil, sweat and odour, it also makes your hair look and feels clean. One of the paranoias for me, when it comes to using a Dry Shampoo is that it actually does nothing other than produce white flakes of dried powder or irritates my scalp further. I don't get that with this at all. What I love is that it has a time-released fragrance to deliver a light, clean scent throughout the day, the scent is pleasant, my hair smells nice and most importantly, I am not sat wondering whether anyone has noticed I am on day 3 or 4 without washing my hair.
It is fair to say that I have really enjoyed getting to know Living Proof as a brand and there is so much more that I want to try. Available from Lookfantastic, Marks & Spencer and also John Lewis with prices starting at £8.
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