Redheads are literally defined by their look-at-me, color. But all good things come to an end, some more quickly than others. Unlike a fine red wine, red hair doesn’t get better with age. If you are a redhead, natural or not, you already know that red is fickle, and sometimes, quite fleeting. You need help to keep red, vibrant.
There is help in terms of shampoos and conditioners with UV protection and anti-fade formulas, but few are specifically for red hair. There are also some color-depositing products on the market that supposedly are for maintaining red, but they’re usually a not-very-subtle, tomato (and redheads come in a virtual rainbow of different shades).
Now Pureology has produced line of products specifically for redheads of every type called Reviving Red. This is not just a new and excellent hair care system for redheads, both color-treated and natural, but it is also unique in it’s ingredients. The Shampoo features a “Shamp’Oil” formula that helps to keep color vibrant, while delivering a load of actives into the hair. It will protect it and seal the cuticle ( so color doesn’t get stripped out of your hair and down the shower drain), up to 30 shampoos. It also delivers nourishment deep into the hair. The shampoo and conditioner are backed up with Reviving Fred “Reflect” Enhancers in red or copper. These “Reflect” Enhancers deposit a bit of color in the “right” tone in-between salon visits and they make your hair really shiny, too! Use the Enhancers in place of conditioner, once a week. There is also a Reviving Red Illuminating Caring Oil that smooths and shines after shampooing and in-between for a pick me up. The key ingredients are Lycopene Extract, Fair Trade Jaljala Oil, and OleoAntifadeComplex. Lycopene is a bright red carotene and carotenoid pigment found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, and it is also a powerful antioxidant. Lycoene extract helps prevent color bleeding. Jaljala oil nourishes and replenishes and deflates the hair cuticle to seal and anchor pigment. The OleoAntiFadeComplex is an oil based formula that replicates the way your hair absorbs nutrients what Pureology guarantees is four times the active ingredients into your hair, for longer lasting color.
As a child, my hair was a soft, strawberry blonde with lots of copper that literally glimmered in the sunlight. It was pretty exceptional. When I became a teenager, my own mother asked from time to time if I had done something to get that color. It was 100% natural. But over time, that strawberry faded until it was more “sad” than strawberry. Thanks to the skill of master colorist David Stanko at Cutler Salon, that strawberry is now a more sophisticated ginger. But the red that David re-introduces into my hair every other month or so, doesn’t really remain strong, despite his best efforts to make it so. Pureology is one of my favorite hair care lines, beloved for their formulas that have anti-fade ingredients, and are silicone and paraben-free. They are biodegradable and vegan, and have earned the prestigious “Green Seal” certification. The Reviving Red line is brand new and only the second line featuring an oil-based formula (we reviewed Pureology’s Precious Oils last year) and I was eager to try the line.
You might be wondering how that is oil based can cleanse hair. I admit I was wondering the same thing. But as it was explained by Ruth Roche (also a redhead) and Pureology’s Artistic Ambassador, to editors at the launch, the oil is absorbed into the hair fiber and doesn’t just lie on top of it. A quarter sized amount of the Shamp’Oil ($29.00 8.5 oz.) is all you need to replenish hair and seal the cuticle so the color stays on your hair longer. The lather is a burst of suds, not a bulbous balloon of suds, but it is enough to thoroughly cleanse. Repeat if you wish. Then leave the Reviving Red Conditioner ($29.99 85 oz.) on 1-2 for minutes and rinse.
I was surprised at how clean my hair felt, but it was also really nicely de-tangled. I had just colored my hair, so I waited on trying the Reviving Red Reflect Enhancer ($40.00 4. 2 oz.) . When I finally tried it, I used the Copper. Since my hair is already newly colored, I didn’t see a lot of a color boost, but the shine was the same as if I’d just had my hair colored at the salon. On faded or lighter hair, the enhancers will add a subtle amount of either red or copper onto your hair. Pureology suggests wearing gloves, working one tube from roots to ends on damp hair, leaving it on for 5 minutes, and then rinsing. You can see the color tint your hands and when you rinse you’ll see some color go down the drain, but it wasn’t messy. Still, I’d suggest not applying it over a porous surface that might absorb color (e.g. a stone sink that isn’t sealed correctly). The color boost is not going to make you into Lucille Ball, or a glowing copper, but it will perk up red color that is fading. If you are a natural redhead, it will boost your color as well. But even those who aren’t redheads who might want a bit of subtle red highlight, can use it, from brunette to blond. The copper or red Enhancer will add some highlights and have the benefit of covering some greys. If you want to try it and you are not a redhead, ask your colorist or stylist first.
Everyone can also use the Reviving red Illuminating Caring Oil ($32.00 5.2 oz.) in a pump bottle. This product adds shine and makes hair look smoother. You don’t need a lot, just a tiny amount worked through clean dry or damp hair will add some shine.
After trying the Reviving Red Shamp’Oil, Conditioner, and Caring Oil, my hair was very soft, smooth and shiny, but not at all heavy, coated or greasy. That was a nice surprise. Depending upon your activity level, the weather, and how polluted the air is where you live, you might find that you don’t even need to cleanse as often.
I have already mentioned Pureology’s vegan and natural formulas, but the products also feature zero waste shampoo and conditioner packaging. The concentrated formulas are sulfate-free with 70+ shampoos per bottle. The bottle are a new design introduced last year that let you get every last bit out of these precious products. the bottles also are made from 50% post-consumer recycled HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) with less cardboard in the other boxes that are also made from 100% recycled fibers. Pureology also encourages consumers to recycle the box, and provides conservation tips.
When you add up the cost of the system, it’s an investment, but it is worth paying a bit more to protect what you value. It is more costly to have to go to the salon more often to have your hair colored more often, both in terms of money and time. On a personal note, since I got the Reviving Red products, it is all I’ll use. I’m loving them! The benefits of better looking red for longer, plus healthy hair, and a company that cares about the environment and your well being, is priceless.
Visit www.pureology.com to find an authorized salon selling these products, near you.
