There’s an old saying that goes something like, “When life takes away your internet connection at home, drive around until you find free wireless.”
So I’m writing this from the Tiburon Library parking lot, where I’m sitting inside my car with my laptop and digital camera. 🙂
I’m taking mobile blogging to a whole new level!
But I digress…
You remember how I went to the salon last week to get chocolate highlights and to color my gray roots?
Well, because I don’t want faded highlights the color of hay (“Haaaaaay!”), I’ve been testing some sun-protection hair stuff, including Redken’s Color Extend Sparkling Shield ($11).
It’s a water-resistant, leave-in spray designed to protect color jobs from UV rays and chlorine while enhancing hair shine and shimmer.
First impressions
For just about a week now, I’ve been spraying it on my ponytail before heading outside.
I haven’t been using it for long, but I can say that it didn’t make a great first impression. It feels slick and looks waaaay greasy on my hair, like I haven’t washed it in a week (I have).
I think it may have to do with the amount of silicone it contains. The very first ingredient listed on the bottle (which usually indicates the amount of an ingredient relative to the other ingredients) is cyclopentasiloxane, a compound commonly added to hair products to reduce frizz and enhance shine.
Unfortunately, products with a lot of silicones in them also leave my hair feeling slick and greasy.
I’m not completely against silicones in my hair products, but too much is too much.
Sparkle me
I also wanted to try Color Extend Sparkling Shield because of the sparkles I can see through the bottle. I thought they might make my hair shine, and they do, but it’s a wet-looking shine — not the kind of shine I was hoping for.
On top of the way it makes my hair look and feel, the jasmine, honeysuckle fragrance smells too strong and synthetic to me.
Work much?
In terms of sun protection — the main reason I wanted to try it — I don’t think I’ve been using it long enough to say.
When it comes to color protecting sprays, I think for now I’ll stick with PureOlogy Colour Max ($18) spray. It may not look like much from the packaging, but at least it doesn’t leave a greasy film. That, and I love the light floral scent!
Redken’s Color Extend Sparkling Shield may not have worked for me, but you still might like it if you’re looking for slick, super shiny hair.
Redken Color Extend Sparkling Shield
Price: $11 for a 5-oz spray bottle
Use: Protection for color-treated hair
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: C
You might like Redken Color Extend Sparkling Shield if…
- …your hair responds well to silicones,
- …you’re a die-hard Redken fan,
- …you like hair products with a strong floral scent.
Looks like my laptop battery is about to die, so I’m out of here for now.
I hope you’re having a good day. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Thanks for the review! I just got some red lowlights and want to keep them looking fresh for as long as possible… can’t wait to read about what else you find out there 🙂
Hi Tuprnut,
PRETTY! Hopefully I can find some good stuff. Red is a hard color to keep — I had red highlights a few years ago and they seemed like disappear crazy fast. Do you have a good color depositing shampoo?
karen you are too cute
i pictured you shutting the laptop off and driving off to the wind lol
Hi Yadi,
LOL! That’s what happened… I was in the hurry to get back home and floss my teeth! 🙂
How’s your Monday been?
That’s hilarious. My parents have a house up in Mendocino and they don’t have great internet access there. So sometimes my mom drives down the street to sit in her car with her laptop in front of someone’s house who has wireless 🙂
Vampy Varnish´s last blog post..Duri Nail Polish
Hi Vampy Varnish,
LOL, thank goodness the internet was working again when I got back home. I would’ve been “mobile blogging” all day long!
Mendocino is so pretty! I would love to live there.
HAAAY! I just got my highlights done last month and I’ve been on the hunt for really good color saving products. Just been using the Pantene Brunette Expressions line but I want to find something with SPF too since Summa time is approaching. I probably won’t buy this but thanks for the review!
No, I don’t have a color depositing shampoo!!! Any great suggestions?
My problem is I’m a compulsive hair-colorer (is that a word?).. so I have so many things going on in my hair right now!!! Right before I got out of the stylist’s chair, she reminded me that she’ll never be able to achieve this color again without me bringing a folding table so that we can line up ALL the bowls of color 🙂
where are the pics of ur new do!?
Agree with Mishel. Pics, plz? I’ve been waiting till the end of this KAHRAZZAY semester to finally get my first professional color on my usually JET black hair. Even photoshopping brown highlights on my pics to “test drive” before I buy. Talk about boldly going where this girl hasn’t gone before, heh.
I love the idea of this product. It’s unfortunate that it did not work well. I would love to get something for my color treated hair. great review.
clarissa´s last blog post..happy mother’s day!
Hey Karen — I didn’t like this product either, but I REALLY love Redken’s Color Extend Total Recharge (http://www.redken.com/products/haircare/color-extend/color-extend-total-recharge). I use it all the time and it keeps my color going strong for a long time. (I color my naturally blonde hair red with blonde highlights.) Use this product instead of the sparkly one as it works just as well, will condition your hair, and it won’t feel greasy.
Kelly
Here are my recommendations for color shampoos, especially for redheads: Clarol Shimmer Lights for redheads and brunettes (http://www.sallybeauty.com/Conditioning-Shampoo/SBS-320028,default,pd.html?cgid=Hair01), L’Oreal Professional Colorist series (http://us.lorealprofessionnel.com/_en/_us/products/feature/colorist_collection/index.aspx?Catcode=Axe_Products^Category_Styling^Family_Artec&prdcode=CC5&UsrMd=0), and Wella Color Preserve (http://www.salonsavings.com/wella/).
Kelly