Phillip Kingsley Smooth & Shiny Review

You might remember my post last week on how dry my skin on my body had been…well my hair had been feeling quite similar as well. Ever seem I came back from holiday, it has just felt a bit dry and coarse. I think it was caused by all the lovely sunshine and salty water…. not complaining about that but my hair was definitely in desperate need of a fix.

So I picked up the Phillip Kingsley Smooth and Shiny trial pack whilst I was in the M&S beauty hall on Oxford Street recently. A little off topic but have you been in there? If not you really should check it out. They have done such a great job and have a nice range of brands/products.

Now onto the review. It’s no secret that I have a love affair with the Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer and have written about it in the past. I used to use it back when my hair was relaxed. If you don’t know about the brand, you definitely need to check them out.  Phillip Kingsley is one of the most renowned trichologists and has over 55 years of trichological experience. The retail brand is a trichologically driven hair and scalp range and has won numerous awards. The Elasticizer itself was originally created for the legendary Audrey Hepburn and is a hero product for many people.  However since going natural I have been trying a whole range of new products and thought it might be good to see how an old faithful would perform on my now curly afro hair.

Phillip Kingsley Smooth and Shiny Trial Pack

Description : Smooth and Shiny Trial Pack

Re-Moisturising shampoo and conditioner. For coarse, curly or frizzy hair types. Also suitable for Asian, Oriental and similar hair types. Leaves hair soft, shiny, smoother & more manageable.  

Includes the following products:

Re-Moisturising Shampoo (60ml)

Cleanses gently whilst moisturising, leaving hair soft, supple and shiny. Re-Moisturising shampoo contains Elastin to improve the hair's tensile strength, elasticity as well as its ability to retain moisture. The addition of Guar provides natural smoothing and conditioning effects.

                 

Re-Moisturising Conditioner (60ml)

This conditioner has been carefully formulated to produce outstanding results for coarse hair textures.

It deeply penetrates and moisturizes the hair leaving it smooth, shiny and easy to style and control. The use of oat protein improves texture and also enables the hair to retain moisture so that it remains nourished and glossy throughout the day. Re-Moisturising conditioner aims to smooth and add weight, so is therefore not recommended for fine, limp hair types.

Elasticizer (40ml)

The world’s first pre-shampoo conditioning treatment and our hero product. Healthy hair stretches when wet before returning to its original length when dry.

However hair in poor condition snaps and breaks when stretched. Intensely moisturising Elasticizer delivers a rush of moisture to the hair’s cuticle; suppleness, elasticity and bounce appear instantly without weighing down or coating the hair. Visible results from one application that improve with continued use.

How I used it

I started off by dampening my hair with warm water and dividing it into four sections. I then applied the Elasticizer as my pre poo treatment to each section, working it into my hair and paying particular attention to my mid lengths and ends. I then covered it with a shower cap and left it on for about 30 minutes.

I followed this with the shampoo, which I needed to use a couple of times to get my hair completely clean. However a very little amount goes a long way as it lathers up really nicely.

Finally I used the conditioner, which I used up in one go. Again I divided my hair into four sections to make it more manageable. I smoothed the conditioner through and then detangled my hair with the conditioner still in it whilst in the shower. One I had completed all sections I rinsed out the conditioner and went on to twist my hair.

                 

Pros

With the trial kit you get to use all three products, which is great for seeing how they work together.

Even though the shampoo has SLS, which is an ingredient I tend to avoid, I found that it completely cleansed my hair with minimal product and more importantly it wasn’t left feeling dry or stripped.

Once I had finished I found that my hair didn’t feel dry at all, it literally brought the life back to my hair and left it moisturised, shiny and soft to touch.

Cons

Not really a con, but I needed more conditioner! Admittedly I can be a little heavy handed with conditioner but my hair really needs it. I found that I completely finished the bottle and my hair could have done with a bit more.

Verdict

If at all possible I think I heard my hair sigh with pleasure when I put the Elasticizer on it, and even before I put the shampoo on I could tell that my hair seemed stronger. This was confirmed when I started shampooing as I noticed that I had a lot of slip and very minimal shedding. By the time I had rinsed off the conditioner my hair was soft, moisturised, shiny and my curls were popping with no frizziness!

My favourite product was definitely the Elasticizer.  However all three products worked so well together and my hair stayed feeling like that for the whole week.  I definitely got visible results from just one application and overall it replenished my parched tresses and left my hair feeling soft, stronger and bouncier.

I will definitely be adding it to my regular list of products to use. I’m also hoping to try the Elasticizer Extreme as well as Moisture Extreme Shampoo and Conditioner, which have been formulated specifically for Afro Caribbean hair types.

You can find out more about the brand here and the trial kit was £15.00 from Marks and Spencer.

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