I don’t know why but the ends of my hair have been dry and “crispy” since the end of the summer. I’ve had two hair cuts since then, and it makes a difference initially but the dryness returns. I try to wash my hair only every 4 days, but I guess blow drying it and using a flat iron plus the color take its toll.
During the sale events this December at Ulta and Sephora, I decided to give Living Proof haircare products a try. I’ve seen the ads, heard the raves, and I’ve always been intrigued by the company’s origins at MIT. The Living Proof haircare line is different from other brands in that it contains OFPMA, a molecule that creates a thin shield around every strand of hair, making it stronger and protecting it. This doesn’t happen with one use but occurs over time.
The Living Proof product line is extensive, with different lines for different issues. Of course, my color-treated hair has a couple of issues: dryness and frizz being the two most critical. Fortunately, Living Proof is sulfate-free and safe for color-treated hair so I didn’t need to worry about that.
At Ulta, I chose two products from the Restore line:
- Conditioner: “strand healing, tangle removing, softness restoring”
- Instant Repair: “complex breakage repair, instantly mends & transforms”
Instant Repair is a thick white gel cream that you apply a dime-sized amount particularly to the ends where it’s needed most.
There was a promotion at Ulta that if you buy two Living Proof products, you were given a deluxe sample of Perfect Hair Day Night Cap Overnight Perfector. Nice. A great way to get to try out one of the treatment products.
A couple of weeks later, I decided that I should have bought the shampoo too so I could try out the complete process. (I adore Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind Green Tea Shampoo, and I have a difficult time using anything else!). So with my Sephora discount, I bought a deluxe travel size of the Perfect Hair Day Shampoo that says “hair feels cleaner longer”.
Results? Living Proof Restore and Perfect Hair Day products definitely made my hair incredibly soft. So far, I have only used the Night Cap once, and it helped make my hair feel softer and smoother. However, without using Night Cap, the other three products give me a very good result. My hair is very soft, shiny and manageable. Once I dry and flat iron my hair, it’s very straight with no frizz and only a few fly-aways. Hooray!!
By day 4, however, I am more ready to wash my hair than I was when using Briogeo shampoo and my old standby conditioner, Infusium for Color-Treated Hair. I’ll monitor that and see if it persists. I guess I shouldn’t complain if my hair needs washing by day 4. 😥
Although my ends are very soft and not dry and crispy, when I run my fingers through the ends, they still are a bit tangled – not right after washing but after I’ve dried and ironed it and thereafter. Do any of you experience this? I’m wondering if trying a product with silicone would make a difference? I think I’m too obsessed with it. 🙄
I have only used Living Proof about 3 times. My assessment so far is that I need to continue using Living Proof and give the OFPMA molecule more time to do its thing! I will use the Night Cap Overnight Perfector again and perhaps put more of it on my ends. And I’ll stick with the shampoo-conditioner-instant repair for a longer period. For one thing, the softness of my hair is incredible! After the PHD Shampoo is used up, I’ll try a deluxe sample of the Restore Shampoo to compare the results with the PHD regular shampoo. I know this sounds like an equivocal review, but I do like and recommend the products I’ve tried from Living Proof. In fact, one of these days when I’m in Boston, I think I’ll make a pilgrimage to their “studio” in Cambridge and see what they recommend for me!
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo is $10 for 2 oz., $24 for 8 oz. and if you’re committed to it, you can buy 24 oz. for $59. Night Cap is $24 for 4 oz. Restore Conditioner is 2 oz. for $12, 8 oz. for $28 and 24 oz. for $59. Restore Instant Repair is 1.7 oz. for $17 and 4 oz. for $29. It is widely available: Living Proof website, Sephora and Ulta to name a few retailers.
Have you tried Living Proof yet? What do you think?
Ingredients:
Perfect hair Day (PhD) Night Cap Overnight Perfector: Water/Eau/Aqua, Octafluoropentyl Methacrylate (OFPMA), Ethylhexyl Stearate, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Isohexadecane, Quaternium-91, Isoamyl Laurate, Polyquaternium-4, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Isododecane, C13-15 Alkane, C10-40 Isoalkylamidopropylethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Linoleamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Cetearamidoethyl Diethonium Hydrolyzed Rice Protein,E58, Fragrance/Parfum, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Seed Protein, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Phytic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glycerin,. Sodium PCA,PCA Ethyl Cocoyl Arginate, Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Dipropylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Citronellol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Citral, Geraniol
Perfect hair Day (PhD) Shampoo: Water/Eau/Aqua, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycol Distearate, Octafluoropentyl Methacrylate (OFPMA), PCA Glyceryl Oleate, Behenyl Alcohol, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, IPDI/PEG-15 Soyamine Copolymer Dimer Dilinoleate, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate (Thickening Agent), PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Dihydroxypropyl PEG-5 Linoleammonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-47, Laureth-4, Laureth-23, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glyceride, Fragrance/Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Magnesium Nitrate, Magnesium Chloride
Restore Conditioner: Water/Aqua/Eau, Cetearyl Alcohol, Octafluoropentyl Methacrylate (OFPMA), Behentrimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Ceteareth-25, Quaternium-87, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Fragrance/Parfum, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Magnesium Nitrate, Magnesium Chloride
Restore Instant Protection: Alcohol Denat., Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, Water/Eau/Aqua, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Octafluoropentyl Methacrylate (OFPMA), Polyglyceryl‐10 Pentaoleate, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Linoleamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, PPG‐5‐Ceteth‐20, Panthenol, Fragrance/Parfum, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citronellol, Limonene
Ugh I wish my hair and scalp liked each other. They are in a constant battle. I can either get a nice, un-itchy scalp or soft, flowing hair. Never both.
Destany recently posted…Random Mani Wednesday!
Oh, boo, Destany! Why are hair issues so difficult? Good luck with yours!
I’ve had my eye on the Living Proof line for some time now. Glad it made your hair soft and management. The dryness is going to be rough since the cold weather is approaching but as long as you stay on top of it like you’re doing you should see improvement
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Kara, I definitely think Living Proof is worth trying! The geniuses at MIT invented the molecule and develop the line so I’ve got high hopes for it helping me long term!
I have been wanting to try Living Proof for quite a while. I seem to recall having used a sample packet or two some time back, but have no memory of what I used or how it performed. I love that it made your hair so soft, and am very curious to see how you feel about the line once you have used it longer.
Lola’s Secret Beauty Blog recently posted…VENeffect Firming Neck & Décolleté Creme | Review
Yes, I am curious about the longer-term effects. Today is day 3, and my hair still feels silky soft. 🙂
I haven’t tried this brand before. The cute packaging is drawing me. Great post!
sharonbeautyprime recently posted…Highlights of 2015
Living Proof is the haircare line developed by MIT scientists, and Jennifer Aniston is their spokesperson. I have been putting off trying it, but my hair needed something extra and so far so good!
I spent a lot on Living Proof in the last month. I mostly use the No Frizz line and I’m loving it. My hair is soft and I feel like my hair is staying cleaner than ever. I get a great deal from their website during the holidays so I’ll be trying another line of theirs too. Now will I look like Jennifer Aniston??
MarciaF recently posted…Soft, swingy, sweet smelling hair with Carol’s Daughter Mirabelle Plum Shampoo and Conditioners
I was trying to decide between the Restore and the No Frizz line. Once my hair is doing better, I’ll try NF next! And thanks for the tip about sales on the website. I’ll keep an eye out.
It’s a great haircare line!
Cindy (Prime Beauty) recently posted…My Struggle With IBS
Glad you’ve had good experiences with it too!
I love Living Proof, my fave is the overnight cap.
Kath TheFabZilla recently posted…PANTONE 2016 ROSE QUARTZ & SERENITY | Makeup Look Feat. Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics
It’s time for me to do it again. Definitely worked!
Living Proof is such a great hair line. I love their Perfect Hair Day.
Phyrra recently posted…Beauty Splurge or Steal
Living proof is hands down one of my favorite haircare companies!
I’ve been curious about this brand but have yet to actually try it. I’ve recently started reverse washing (using conditioner first) and have noticed a great change in my hair.
Bailey recently posted…Bioderma Sensibio (More than Just Micellar)
Living Proof is one of my favorite hair brands! I love it!
I’ve heard such great things about Living Proof! I’m glad it’s made a difference to your hair so far. 🙂 Maybe you could try a leave in conditioner or hair oil to combat the tangles that still happen?
Jodi recently posted…Best of Beauty 2015
That’s what the Instant Repair that you leave in is supposed to do, and I can see that the tangles today are better. Maybe it’s a time thing, like the more I use it! My hair is amazingly soft though
I don’t have a single Living Proof product dislike. My favorites are the Dry Shampoo, their Full Thickening cream (good for thin hair styling and updos) and what I personally use is the Perfect hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment, since I blow out myself and don’t wash for a few days. So glad you tried this brand!
NORAH recently posted…The Road To Self Discovery By Traveling The World
Me, too, Norah. And it appears to work more, the more I use it, yay!
You look just beautiful, Allison! Your hair is SO beautiful! <3 Happy New Year to you! <3
Shipra recently posted…MAC Cosmetics Tailored to Tease, Dance With Me, Oh Lady, and High Drama Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour Swatches and Review
Thank you so much, Shipra xoxo Happy New Year to you too!
You look so fresh faced here and your hair looks lovely too!
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Thank you so much, Justina xoxo
If I could afford it, I’d use Living Proof all the time! I jealously meter out just a little bit of their hair mask for special occasions, and the 5-1 treatment is a fave. Works so well on my naturally dry curls.
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Thank you for the recommendations. I will look into the 5 in 1 treatment next. I too wish Living Proof was more affordable. Marcia, I think, said they have sales on the website so I’ll be keeping an eye out
I loved Living Proof products for my hair which made my relaxed, dry hair feel baby soft and helps with detangling of my hair! I love Night Cap and their dry shampoo spray! Happy New Year to you!
Ursula
http://www.blueridgebeautyblogger.com
I’m glad you’re a Living Proof fan too 🙂
Hey Allison! Have you tried the restore shampoo? I have been wanting to know how different it feels when compared to the perfect hair day shampoo?
Hey Amy, I was surprised that you asked me a question but checked off “no” you didn’t want a response, lol! I’m responding anyway. I did purchase the Restore Shampoo and Conditioner, and they are richer than Perfect Hair Day. My hair is color-treated, somewhat dry, thick and coarse and must be flat-ironed or it looks huge and awful. The Restore line was better for my hair than Perfect Hair Day, and I do like them. But truth be told, my favorite shampoo and conditioner are StriVectin Smooth Anti-Frizz haircare line that was launched a couple of months ago. Is your hair like mine or do you have different issues?