Artec (or other) Color-depositing shampoos

Hi Laura,

Here is my experience with color depositing shampoos..... I have used Aveda's Blue Malva, Chamomile and the Bixa (I wanted to see if it turned my hair red & it did add highlights). I also have used the ARTec Lemon Flower & ARTec Sun Flower.

I have the best overall results for my hair with the Aveda's Chamomile. It really enhances the blonde in my hair and gives it great shine. It does not really add much blonde but it does a great job enhancing and highlighting what I do have.

The Aveda does wash out after each shampoo. I have also used the ARTec and had less success. The first time that I tried the ARTec I did not realize that it is best to mix the ARTec color shampoos with one of the ARTec shampoos. In fact, it is best to mix the ARTec color shampoo with either ARTec Kiwi or ARTec Smoothing or Volume. In other words it is ultimately best if you don't use the color alone.

It is best to mix first.

I have used some other color enhancing products but they do not work as well...in my opinion. Of course that is just my opinion.

Best wishes,
Karen

Hi,

I have to confess that Paul Mitchell and I are not as well acquainted as I am with ARTec and Aveda. I will tell you a secret...right now I have a stack of the PM products sitting on my desk. I have been playing with the Awaphuhi Shampoo, courtesy of Barbara Lhotan (what a sweetie). Barbara sent me "one of everything PM" to try since I had been lagging in my evaluation of the PM products. I am not sure what I think yet because I just finished tesing some Redken and Mike Trobee's new Sunset line (great so far Mike). So bottom line I really am not sure how PM works when mixed.

I called a hairstyling expert and asked her. She said that you would need to experiment with the PM and that she would recommend that you mix with the Awaphuhi Shampoo since this is the most moisturizing and most gentle of the shampoos that PM has. She suggested that you try 1 part color and 1 part Awaphuhi to see how that effects your hair and if the color works for you.

Based on what I have researched you could probably try mixing with the PM Shampoo One which is designed for gentle cleansing and great for chemically treated hair.

Bottom line, you will probably have to experiment to find the right comb for your hair. I would personally try the blending approach first since if you skip color shampoo treatments you might lose some of the impact of the color deposits that are strengthened over time.

I can tell you that most people would probably not want to mix Aveda color shampoos with the Aveda Shampure since it would dilute the color impact of the color shampoo. I guess if someone had a harsh reaction from the Aveda color shampoos they could do the 1 part Aveda Shampure to 1 part color and see the impact and then experiment until the right combination of moisturizing and color were achieved.

As far as ARTec goes, the ARTec PR person explained that ARTec color shampoos almost always have to be mixed with the ARTec Kiwi shampoo (which is considered the best shampoo for mixing the colors with). I had a color expert who used the ARTec colors on my hair tell me that he starts with 1 part ARTec color to 2 parts of the Kiwi and then works up from there with great results.

ARTec is by far the most intense color shampoo and uses real color to coat the hair cuticles. I have rarely round anyone that can use the ARTec color shampoos without mixing with one of the ARTec shampoos. I tried it both ways and when I didn't first mix the ARTec color with a shampoo my hair was downright sticky and yucky. That is when I asked the ARTec color expert how to remedy the situation.

Hope this helps. If not please post again.

Best wishes,
Karen

PS. I am glad you are using the PM color shampoos. I have been very curious about their impact. They have some great colors.

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback. One thing that drives me crazy about consumer products is that sometimes they just don't do the best job in the world of telling us consumers how to use it. I remember how excited I first was about the new ARTec colors. In fact, I got a press announcement about it and immediately zipped over to the store to buy some (beauty supply store that is) and I loved the idea of the LemonFlower. Sounded really great and the color on the bottle looked really great so I was so bummed when I applied it (without mixing it with anything because I didn't understand) and it made my hair so sticky and so gummy. I was so upset.

I tried to make it work a few more times and the results were terrible and so I gave up.

The next time I was at the beauty supply store the clerk who knows me because I buy so much bizarre hair stuff there, asked me how I liked the ARTec. I told her I hated it and why.

Then she said...well maybe you didn't mix it right. HUH? She explained the whole process. I looked on the bottle, yes it does say to mix it, but no, I did not get the full impact until she explained it to me.

This is probably the number one complaint that I get in private email from people. They want to know how to use products because they aren't explained well enough.

ARTec makes great stuff. However, unless you know, you can get in the trap that I did. PM does great stuff too. In fact, the Paul Mitchell company is inspirational in how they got started (need to share that story some day) and I know that they try to do a good job of education. Unfortuntely the consumer sometimes gets lost in the shuffle.

Please let me know how your experiments go with the PM color and the mixing you do.

Best wishes,
Karen

Hello - I really love the Aveda line. I use it evry other shampoo. I have tried a lot of coloring enhancing shampoos and conditioners. Sometimes they go overboard and give too much color. If you use both the Aveda color enhancing shampoo and conditioner, I would reccommend this:

When using the Aveda conditioner, use very little at first and mix it in your hand with your everyday conditioner. Then apply it to the hair. This way it will not deposit too much. It will also not grab stronger to one spot if you have hair thats more porous in certain areas. You have to think of it as a stain.

If you like the results, then increase it. I have (processed) light golden brown hair with golden blonde highlights. I use the clove shampoo and conditioner. It tones the brassiness down and adds warmth. Very nice. It may seem like it is dark to you but apply it as I say. It really works.

Good luck..
Jackie