Day 4 hair with the Living Proof Curl System |
A few weeks ago Living Proof contacted me asking if I would be interested in giving their new line, Curl, a try. I have always wanted to try their products, but wasn't sure if they had something for my type of hair. In all honestly I so strongly associated Jennifer Aniston with Living Proof that I wasn't sure if the brand was all that familiar with my type of curls. So when I was offered the chance to give their new line a try, I jumped at the opportunity. And oh man...I am so glad that these products have come my way!
The Curl system is made up of 4 products, with a 5th "honoree" product: the Curl Conditioning Wash, Curl Detangling Rinse, Curl Defining Styling Cream, Curl Enhancing Styling Mousse, and the No Frizz Leave-In Conditioner. Of all the products in the system, the Conditioning Wash and the mousse were the most familiar to me. Having previously been a long time user of Wen, I was very adept to using the "conditioning cleaner" as a one step cleansing system for my hair.
However with Living Proof I had some learning to do. Firstly, the Curl Conditioning Wash is a one step cleansing/conditioner. It's a thick, super creamy, non-foaming cleanser for your hair that smells amazing. It's the Curl Detangling Rise that needs some explaining. Firstly it is not a conditioner. It's a clear glaze-like product that is put over the hair after the Conditioning Wash. It's water activated, and will often create a bit of foam. When I first used the system I honestly thought that there had been a major production error, and that the bottles had been mislabeled. After some online research and a couple of emails I learned that it was neither a shampoo nor a conditioner. Rather it is a crazy unique product that detangles the hair and defines the curl on contact. After using it several times, I would argue that this product is the most important step in the system.
The Curl Defining Styling Cream is a thick, almost elastic product. When squeezing it out of the bottle, it actually stretches..I don't know how to explain it...For example, when squeezed out of the bottle into my hand, I can pick up the product with my fingers, and it will still be able to unravel itself. However once rubbed between the hands it becomes creamy and can be applied throughout the hair. It's thick, but doesn't tug on the curls.
The Curl Enhancing Styling Mousse is great in that a little bit goes a long way, and it's virtually impossible to use too much (at least for me). Just two quick pressings of the mouse give me enough to work through all of my hair. The No Frizz Leave-In Conditioner is a cult product. If you've heard of Living Proof, you've heard of this leave-in! It's perfect for all hair types, and works in high humidity. I wore my 3rd day hair (three days since having washed/styled it) to San Francisco on a warm and windy day: and returned home with a perfect head of curls.
So what did I think?
I actually really truly love this system. In the last couple of years I have tried Wen, DermOrganic, and Deva Curl products. The Living Proof Curl system is unlike anything I have tried before. More importantly, it works better than anything I have ever tried before. I have beautifully defined curls for 2-3 days longer when I use the Living Proof Curl products. My hair doesn't mat or tangle as easily. Before this system I actually would shower with scissors (so embarrassing): the reason being because I would literally have to cut out the little knots that would form. It was the most frustrating thing. I "pineapple" my hair when I sleep (a super high ponytail that pushes the ends of your hair towards your forehead), and sleep on a satin pillowcase, and yet still the knots and matting was something I struggled with whenever I detangled my hair. Since using the system (two weeks now) I haven't had to reach for the scissors once. My hair loss is down to almost nothing whenever I detangle. Also - detangling; what used to take me 30-40 minutes in the shower now takes me 10! Ten minutes. I'm not kidding.
2nd day hair
Any product that can keep my curls defined for 4+ days, decrease my detangling time, and prevent matting and knots has my lifetime devotion. I am completely blown away by this system!
Is there a catch? Maybe. It's the price: the average price of each product is $27. I use all 5 products each and every time I style my hair, which means the entire system if purchased would be $132-$135 (although the system can be cheaper if purchased through Amazon). The site says that you'd most likely only need 3-4 products, but through experimentation I found that I liked my hair best when I used all 5. However these products are something that I would gladly save up for and/or skip purchasing a pair of shoes for.
One thing I do wish the Curl system had is a deep conditioning treatment. I have heard of their Perfect Hair Day night cap overnight product, and that might be their stand-in for the deep conditioning.
Overall, I am so thrilled that I got to discover the Living Proof Curl system! I am hooked. Have you noticed a difference in my curls over the last couple of weeks? (Some of you have! On my Facebook and Instagram people were noticing the difference.) Have you tried Living Proof products before? If so what was your experience? If not, will you try it? I hope you do!