Leave-In Treatments

Hi Kim!

Congrats on giving up BioSilk. While I know some people really like it, it does contain denatured alcohol as you pointed out, and this can dry out hair with repeated use. You sound like an educated consumer who doesn't buy into all the hype about miracle products that can alledgedly heat-proof hair. Good for you--your expectations probably aren't unrealistic and you sound willing to experiment. I too torture my hair with a dryer and consequently rely upon spray-in treatments for softness and shine. My suggestions:

KMS Daily Repair leave-in treatment: This is as close to unbeatable as it gets. It is a mix of sturdy conditioning agents (glycosaminoglycans, panthenol, hydrolyzed protein, acetamide MEA) and coats the hair shaft well. Unfortunately it's a little on the pricey side ($9 for 8.5 oz) but Trade Secret often has sales and coupons (their website offers $5 off a $25 purchase.)

Aussie Hair Insurance: This is an excellent (CHEAP) option. It is silicone and panthenol-based and has done a great job making my hair feel soft and refreshed. In my opinion it is one of the best leave-ins available in the drugstore.

Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Moisture Mist: This is not quite as moisturizing as the first two but it's still a great option. Sodium PCA is a powerful emollient agent and propylene glycol detangles hair and gives it a moisture boost. You might find this actually has a bit of hold since it contains polyquaternium-4, a hairspray-like ingredient that forms a film over hair.

Jhirmack HeatCare: Sigh. This was my favorite leave-in but I'm fairly sure it's been discontinued. I only found it at Wal-Mart but suddenly last winter it disappeared off the shelves and never came back. It might still be available in your area, and if so, I highly recommend it. It is mix of silicone, conditioning agents and panthenol (you've probably noticed I really like panthenol!) and had two layers you shook to mix up. It was less than $3. I did find it online on a couple sites: (http://www.medichest.com/jhirmackheatcarepump.html, http://www.americarx.com/product.asp?0=0&1=0&3=5080) but it's expensive to buy online!

I hope this helps you in your search. I hope others will offer you suggestions, and let us know what you try out! Good luck :-)

Hi, Lyris.

Thanks for the input. I'll definitely check out KMS Daily Repair leave-in treatment, as well as trying to hunt down the Jhirmack you like so muh. Hey, I know everyone's hair is different, but it's worth taking a shot, and I'd rather go with tried and true than a shot in the dark. (daggone typos)

I actually used to swear by Aussie Hair Insurance, but between the fact that they seem to have slightly altered the formular in the past several years, and the fact that my hair has been dyed since then, it just doesn't quite seem to do the trick anymore!

And whilst I normally adore Paul Mithcell products, I'm thinking it, too, may not be moisturizing enough. But, I may still give it a shot.

At any rate, thanks for the input. *s*


Kim

P.S. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage! Hope you have a great celebration, and at least you get more planning time than I did! (My wedding was planned and executed within a week...*L*...but if you want to talk more about that sort of thing, I suppose you could bMail me. )

Hey, Lyris. feel free!


Kim