TAKE TWO
We Tried This Scalp Scrub And Paste, And…
By: Haley Gaylor & Carrie Yotter
Let’s just say our minds – and heads – are shook.
Two fine-haired friends and “guinea pigs” – one 27, one… considerably older. One beauty aficionado, one a little more “crunchy.” One scalp scrub. One volumizing paste. One matching takeaway.
CARRIE’S PRODUCT:
THE SET-UP:
I hate brushing my hair.
That detest was born of the hard yellow comb that came at me from my Mom’s hands, like in a nightmare, to attack the nest of mats that would regularly take over my ultra-fine cornsilk kid locks. Yes, tortuous.
This ritual proved a vicious cycle. If I didn’t comb my hair, said mats would grow on the daily. But if I didn’t want matted hair, well… I wouldn’t have had much of an adventurous childhood to speak of.
To boot but equally problematic – I had (and have) oily, non-treated hair, with ends that remain somewhat dry and obviously prone to matting even more.
That detest was born of the hard yellow comb that came at me from my Mom’s hands, like in a nightmare, to attack the nest of mats that would regularly take over my ultra-fine cornsilk kid locks. Yes, tortuous.
This ritual proved a vicious cycle. If I didn’t comb my hair, said mats would grow on the daily. But if I didn’t want matted hair, well… I wouldn’t have had much of an adventurous childhood to speak of.
To boot but equally problematic – I had (and have) oily, non-treated hair, with ends that remain somewhat dry and obviously prone to matting even more.
I’ve tried more shampoos/conditioners than you might think is humanly possible to combat oily scalp and knots. So any time our beauty buyer hypes up a new product that addresses said issues, I’ve already got it in my cart. The same held true for Christophe Robin’s Cleansing Purifying Scrub. Though I had never considered a scrub before, this all-hair-types-welcome formula came highly recommended, so fast-forward to my shower that night.
THE TEST:
Truth be told, when I unscrewed the cap of this jar, I was nearly knocked out by the scent. Certainly not a bad smell – a punch of sweet florals – but, as someone who is fairly “scents-itive” to perfumes, I was caught off guard and lost in the waft of fragrance that now permeated the bathroom. I have a window in my shower, so after opening it and letting the smell dissipate, I went in for a dollop of scrub.
Before I even tried Christophe’s scrub, I learned of and appreciated the brand’s approach to scalp care, i.e. incorporating sea salt as a natural exfoliating option. So I made sure to apply it through my strands, and directly onto my head. It quickly morphed into a creamy, luxe texture that I could easily work into my entire scalp. (Meaning, a little went a long way.) As I massaged, I could hear my hair begin to “squeak” which signaled that Christophe Robin’s clarifying claims were indeed real.
Before I even tried Christophe’s scrub, I learned of and appreciated the brand’s approach to scalp care, i.e. incorporating sea salt as a natural exfoliating option. So I made sure to apply it through my strands, and directly onto my head. It quickly morphed into a creamy, luxe texture that I could easily work into my entire scalp. (Meaning, a little went a long way.) As I massaged, I could hear my hair begin to “squeak” which signaled that Christophe Robin’s clarifying claims were indeed real.
THE TAKEAWAY:
In the past, I often opted to do a double-wash to achieve this effect. But, for a true test, I opted to wash once, rinse and air-dry my tresses. And, I was taken aback by what happened. My fine and often “limp-ish” hair had VOLUME, like I had blown dry my hair AND taken a styling brush to it. Matting was minimal, and the gentle curl that sometimes makes a cameo after a fresh wash was on full display. It seems, somehow, that my nightmares are now becoming dreams come true.
HALEY’S PRODUCT:
THE SET-UP:
Growing up as an early 2000’s certified beauty YouTube connoisseur, I’d like to think I know a thing or two about hair. Through all the trends, brands, and mistakes (there’s still traces of Manic Panic in my locks), I have finally nailed my go-to hair routine at the sprightly age of 27.
I have naturally wavy, fine hair, but struggle with dry skin. I double cleanse, usually reaching for a clarifying shampoo for one of those rinses, but always end up with a stripped scalp at the cost of cleanliness (and not having to wash my hair for another 3-4 days).
Trying new beauty products is my love language, but I’m hard to please. It takes a lot to impress me and to knock one of my gold-star treatments from its well-earned place. For me, the perfect addition to my haircare lineup is effective, smells divine, has functional packaging, and doesn’t break the bank.
I have naturally wavy, fine hair, but struggle with dry skin. I double cleanse, usually reaching for a clarifying shampoo for one of those rinses, but always end up with a stripped scalp at the cost of cleanliness (and not having to wash my hair for another 3-4 days).
Trying new beauty products is my love language, but I’m hard to please. It takes a lot to impress me and to knock one of my gold-star treatments from its well-earned place. For me, the perfect addition to my haircare lineup is effective, smells divine, has functional packaging, and doesn’t break the bank.
THE TEST:
When unscrewing the powder pink lid off of the Christophe Robin Cleansing Volumizing Paste, I was shocked to see that it was brown, grainy, and bore a smell reminiscent of the 50’s. Giving it the benefit of the doubt, I started to apply on my single shampooed hair, and let the magic begin.
My mind has never been blown by hair products, but this did just that.
The once grainy paste transformed into the most luxurious lather that consumed my hair in a cleansing and hydrating foam. The scent quickly dissipated and the small exfoliating pearls dissolved, leaving my hair to feel the most voluminous it’s ever felt, even when wet.
To test the true effectiveness of this treatment, I blew my hair dry with only a heat protectant -- and my hair had never looked better. My scalp clean, but not stripped. My ends full, but still soft. Have my hair prayers been answered?
My mind has never been blown by hair products, but this did just that.
The once grainy paste transformed into the most luxurious lather that consumed my hair in a cleansing and hydrating foam. The scent quickly dissipated and the small exfoliating pearls dissolved, leaving my hair to feel the most voluminous it’s ever felt, even when wet.
To test the true effectiveness of this treatment, I blew my hair dry with only a heat protectant -- and my hair had never looked better. My scalp clean, but not stripped. My ends full, but still soft. Have my hair prayers been answered?
THE TAKEAWAY:
This will truly be a staple in my routine going forward, for weeks that I need a deep clean and lasting volume. Considering this was just one of the items from Christophe Robin’s Cleansing Volumizing collection, I can imagine the effects alongside its matching conditioner and leave-in mist will pack the ultimate volume punch.
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