Living Proof, Do We Love or Like?

Living Proof- Instant Texture Hair Mist

My monthly spending “necessity” column includes; bills, bronzer, booze, Burt’s Bees and vaingloriously Living Proof Instant Texture Hair Mist. That may sound excessive, but believe me; once you use this gift from the heavens you too will include it in your must-haves. I fell in love with this a couple years ago when I felt like my hair was flat, lifeless and simply boring. I was recommended this product and although I scoffed at the hefty price tag ($36.00 for a 5oz bottle at Sephora…!)  I laid down my credit card and gracefully accepted what I thought to be very expensive hairspray. Oh was I wrong. This was not “hairspray.” Hairspray is tacky and stiff this was some kind of wonderful weightless liquid. It’s a light mist that magically creates body and texture to otherwise limp hair. Sometimes I spritz it on after a shower for polished well-groomed hair, and other times I put it on dry hair, for messy, yet oh-so-sexy bed head hair. The effects are always beautiful and long lasting.

The first time I used this heads turned as one shy boy looked at me and said, “What is that smell!? Is that your shampoo?” It was then that I knew money was no object if a boy notices and complements the scent of your hair, especially when it smells like a super expensive hotel lobby. Albeit if I had to complain to the experts at Living Proof, I and perhaps many other women would love…LOVE if the nozzle was created a wee bit better. Halfway through the product, without fail, the nozzle gets jammed with hardened product and what was once light and delicate mist turns into a thick opaque squirt. Other than that, month after month after month, I will swear up and down for this product!

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo

I admit that I was willing to succumb to being a sucker for the entire line of Living Proof products based alone on their signature scent. My absolute favourite product will by far always be the Instant Texture Mist. Since I love that one so much I decided to give the dry shampoo a try. I usually use Batiste, and I don’t mind it, but every now and then a girl needs to splurge on a bottle of dry shampoo, at least for the sake of testing it out and reviewing it…FOR YOU, you’re welcome. A 1.6oz canister of this will run you $16, and for a full size 4oz you’re looking at $29.00. OK, I take it back maybe a girl doesn’t have to splurge on dry shampoo.

I used up my 1.6oz (in about two weeks I may add) and TBH I wasn’t tempted to repurchase it. I liked that it absorbed my oils, but after a few hours I kind of hated that I had to keep reapplying it. That can be tricky if you’re on the run and don’t have a hairbrush or towel to soak up the whiteness. Leading to my next point, I didn’t like that it left a cloud of visible white powder. Unlike other dry shampoos like say Batiste, it’s normal to see a bit of white, but then it usually isn’t visible after patting it off.  However with this, unless I dabbed some water over the product and on my hair, the white just wouldn’t fade.  Still, I’d be willing to forgive all of this and give this a decent review except for one annoying and impossible-to-overlook-thing… residue. U.G.H. Dry shampoo should never ever leave you with tangible residue that is exactly the point of using it in the first place. When I ran my fingers through my hair it felt thick and heavy and I ached so badly to run home and stick my head under the faucet. Ironically, this dry shampoo that was intended for tricking people into thinking my hair was clean left me feeling very, very dirty. No thanks LP your gorgeous scent won’t work on my wallet this time!

Living Proof Prime Style Extender

This product is a must-have for someone who has trouble styling their hair. It’s super creamy and just a little bit sticky. Smells like the signature LP smell that makes anyone fall in love. This style extender was first recommended to me by my stylist when I had trouble trying to get my bangs and layers to cooperate. What I love most about it, is that it doesn’t change the texture of the hair or add any extra weight to the style. It’s light. It’s fresh. Sometimes I question if I even really need it, but I still use it out of fear of what my hair will look like if I don’t. All I do is put a small dollop in my hand and run it through towel-dry hair, and then style as per usual. I do wake up with perfect hair after I use it… so maybe that’s the proof? A 5oz tube will cost you $26.00 and I’m still using mine from September 2015 (although not religiously cuz I’m trying other products in between and hate blow-drying my own hair).

Living Proof Full Thickening Cream

I have pretty normal fine hair, not super fine, but you know not thick and dense, just vaguely wavy if it style it, but if I comb it out when wet and let it air dry it will be flat. Therefore I usually don’t just let it air dry without adding a little product in it or setting it in a topknot while it dries.  I’m not 100% sure if this product is suited for me, I honestly just bought it on a whim because I was at the mall and wanted something expensive and new. (HELP!) Nevertheless, I wondered what something like a Full Thickening Cream would do for my hair. Well, it added some bounce, and a bit more of a wave; it made my hair full but the next day all signs of applied thickening cream ceased to exist. Not to say that my hair was flat, but it’s not a long-term solution, not for me anyway.  According to some other girls I’ve spoken to they say that to achieve the Full effect (PUN) you would need to use the entire line of Full products: shampoo, conditioner, lifting spray, cream and mousse. FYI you can get the 2oz travel sizes of Full for $38.00; which is just shampoo/conditioner and cream. Or you can get the entire line, and that would be about $172.00.  Honestly, if you just want some bounce, volume and a little hold, go for the instant texture mist.

Justine Iaboni