Aging gives hair a whole new set of issues. I talk about this a little in my posts "Does your hair need anti-aging products?" and "Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Hair Products". Everyone is different, of course, but the issues I face are:
- my hair gets drier each day between shampoos
- my blonde highlights are covering some grey now, so that part of my hair is more brittle and less shiny
- using a flat iron can sometimes make my hair look even drier/duller
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A product that I've been using lately - and that I have fallen in love with - is the Light Elements™ Smoothing Fluid from Aveda. It's a styling serum that does several things for my hair that make me very happy. It makes my hair feel less dry and crispy, it gives my hair some much-needed shine, and because it contains silicones, it helps protect my hair from heat.
In the photo below, which was taken earlier this month, my hair is looking fairly smooth and shiny. We were in Florida, and it was about 90 humid degrees out, and I had been outside for almost 2 hours, so I'm surprised my hair was still straight!
In the photo below, which was taken earlier this month, my hair is looking fairly smooth and shiny. We were in Florida, and it was about 90 humid degrees out, and I had been outside for almost 2 hours, so I'm surprised my hair was still straight!
And yes, that is a "We have a wedding to plan" sign you see my daughter, Lulu, and my now future son-in-law, Bruce, holding! They're engaged! It was a beautiful surprise for my daughter, and all of the credit goes to Bruce. We flew to Florida that morning, and his parents drove up from Tampa the previous night. It was a surprise birthday party, but when the cake came out, it said "Will you marry me?". Lulu's favorite thing in the world is cake, so it was perfect! She said yes, we all cried, and now we're planning a wedding!
But back to the Smoothing Fluid...
Here are the ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Tocopherol, Fragrance (Parfum), Limonene <ILN27010>
As you can see from the ingredient list, if you're someone who avoids silicones, this isn't the product for you! If you're someone who doesn't like fragranced hair products, this isn't the product for you. I find that people usually either really love the fragrance of Aveda products, or they really dislike it. I happen to love the scent of this particular product (as well as my favorite firm hold hairspray, Aveda Firmata).
The consistency is fairly thin - similar to BioSilk Silk Therapy Original Cure, but a little thinner - which makes it easy to apply. It never makes my hair feel greasy - only soft and smooth. And shiny!
You can use this product on dry or damp hair - and I do both. After towel-drying my hair, I usually apply a little Living Proof's PhD 5-in-1 Styling Treatment or T.B.D. Multi-tasking Styler and start blowdrying my hair on low. Once my hair is about halfway dry, I apply the Aveda Smoothing Fluid. My hair is pretty long (it hits my bra strap in the back), so I use two pumps on the top and upper back of my hair (this is the highlighted section), and one pump for the ends. If I'm styling second, third, or even fourth day hair, I apply the same amount to the same areas before using the flat iron.
You can use this product on dry or damp hair - and I do both. After towel-drying my hair, I usually apply a little Living Proof's PhD 5-in-1 Styling Treatment or T.B.D. Multi-tasking Styler and start blowdrying my hair on low. Once my hair is about halfway dry, I apply the Aveda Smoothing Fluid. My hair is pretty long (it hits my bra strap in the back), so I use two pumps on the top and upper back of my hair (this is the highlighted section), and one pump for the ends. If I'm styling second, third, or even fourth day hair, I apply the same amount to the same areas before using the flat iron.
I've tried hair oils, and they work somewhat (especially if they have some silicone in them), but so far, nothing has worked as well as the Smoothing Fluid. This one gets two thumbs up from me, so if you have some of the same issues as me, give it a try!
I'm always looking for new products to try - what's your favorite smoothing/shine product? Let me know in the comments or connect with me on Instagram or Snapchat!
I'm always looking for new products to try - what's your favorite smoothing/shine product? Let me know in the comments or connect with me on Instagram or Snapchat!
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