Design Essentials - Quinoa and Bamboo - Review

My hair is generally in a good place right now,  I have a good routine in place and I am actually following it, I am also drinking tonnes of water partly because I am trying to lose weight, so my hair was already pretty healthy before I received these products for free from Design Essentials Natural Quinoa and Bamboo Repair collection.There are 3 products in the Hair Repair Collection and they all work together to repair, strengthen and infuse your hair with moisture 

Step 1 - Shampoo 

Like all of the Design Essentials shampoo's I have used, this shampoo is the same it  does not strip your hair as it cleanses in-fact it felt as if I had co-washed my hair. I found that I could finger de-tangle my hair in the shower with this product in my hair, and once the product was rinsed off my hair was soft from the first wash.  

Step 2 - Masque 

This hair mask is infused with proteins which work to repair the damage and because the proteins are smaller (unlike your eggs, avo and other food items) they can penetrate the hair shaft and coat your hair to fill in the damaged parts, which then makes your hair appear to have less damage. I spritzed the masque on my hair evenly and it felt like a "setting lotion", you know how some of those setting lotions foam, this product did that but ever so slightly, I left it on my hair for the stipulated 5 minutes then I proceed to Step 3

Step 3 - Sealant 

This seals all the goodness in, and it makes your hair soft and manageable, I was a bit concerned about the sizes of these products given how heavy handed I am with products, I spritzed it evenly on my hair then I worked it in with my hands to make sure it was evenly distributed.

For the past 4 weeks I have only used these steps to wash and condition my hair, I have used no other conditioning products.  For my stylers and moisturizers I have used the Design Essentials Coconut and Monoi range. As mentioned earlier my hair was in good condition to begin with, but what I have noticed is that firstly I no longer need to de-tangle my hair after I have rinsed off the shampoo, secondly after I use the  sealant the only product I have used was the Design Essentials Coconut and Monoi Intense Shine Oil Mist and lastly I only re-moisturize my hair mid-week with the Design Essentials Coconut Water Curl Refresher and that's it.  I feel that my hair has definitely retained most of the moisture put in it without the need for LCO or LOC.  I haven't used any heavy butters on my hair at all in the past 4 weeks. 

Thoughts

Initially when I first read the ingredients I was extremely concerned that my hair would be overloaded with protein, for me a four week protein treatment just didn't sound right. Essentially the Quinoa and Bamboo Treatment is exactly that a protein treatment and I was concerned that I would throw the balance of my hair out just as it was doing so well, but what surprised me with these products is that my hair didn't feel like it was getting a protein treatment it felt as though I was getting a deep condition and that my hair was been infused with moisture and these products seem to almost force moisture into my hair (maximum hydration anyone) each time I did the treatment my hair felt better and better.  

Splurge or NOT? 
Would I recommend these products? Most definitely if you are coming out of your protective styles and getting your hair ready for summer this is an absolute essential for your hair, however if your hair is already protein overloaded I believe that this product will not work for you as though it infuses moisture it is a protein treatment.  For a four week treatment the price at R210 is fair, and the bonus with this one is there is no down time at all, the only rinsing that will be done will be at the shampoo stage all the other steps require that you leave the products in your hair, there is no need for plastic cap or any heat, you can literally "wash and go". 

Remember if you are protein sensitive please make sure you do a strand test first before you use this product. 

What new products have you tried?  Have you noticed that we have a lot of products on the market with Coconut?  How have you got your hair summer ready?  How will you be wearing your hair this summer. 

XXX

Isabel 

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I received the products for free from Design Essentials to review.