Ever since I was a little girl people have always paid me compliments on my hair. My brother in law’s sister used to be my hair dresser when I was a ‘tween and teen. She often referred to my hair as a “lions mane” because my hair was very thick. My hair was so thick and full that it was a lot of work to style it.
Fast forward to today. My hair is still thick and course, it’s just not as full as it used to be. I seem to lose a lot of hair every day and that is bothersome.
My hair has always been one of my best features. I try and do what I can to take care of my hair. I might not style it like I used to (my hair is normally in a ponytail these days), but I still want to keep my hair healthy, as well as my scalp.
A few years ago I developed Eczema on my scalp. I used to get Eczema on my hands and arms. It’s since moved to my face and my scalp. I get very embarrassed when I have an Eczema flare up on my scalp because it gives the appearance of dandruff. I don’t have dandruff. I have Eczema. But it looks just as horrible.
Since then I have been very careful about the products I use in my hair and on my scalp. I don’t want to trigger and Eczema outbreak. Even something as simple as hair gel can aggravate my skin and cause my Eczema to flare up and it takes weeks to go away. Sometimes I even have to resort to using special prescription shampoo which costs $40.00 for a very small bottle that barely lasts a week.
I was given the opportunity to try out some haircare products from HairMax. Their sulfate free hair care products are suppose to gently cleanse and condition the hair without stripping essential oils. The natural botanicals in their products are suppose to add shine and make hair more manageable, plus make your hair look fuller, thicker and healthier. HairMax utilizes phytic acid, a natural anti-oxidant to lower the pH and dissolve the build-up of oxidative stress layers on the scalp.
I’m all for more natural products. I hate using products made with ingredients that I can’t pronounce. Even the medicated prescription shampoo I sometimes have to use doesn’t have one ingredient in it that I can pronounce.
I like that the HairMax products don’t stripe the hair of essential oils and is gentle on the scalp. I was curious to see how they worked.
I was sent the following products to review.
Hairmax Enhancing Shampoo – Retail Price: $12.00
Using their vast experience of over 20 years of research and clinical investigation, HairMax has developed a new approach to hair care. The process starts with a sulfate free base to gently cleanse the hair without stripping essential oils. Other shampoos contain sodium laurel sulfate (SLS), a harsh detergent that strips the natural oils from the hair follicle. SLS causes the oil glands to over-react creating too much oil. This excess oil converts to a waxy substance that builds up on the hair shaft and may restrict proper hair growth. HairMax Enhancing Shampoo is sulfate free and does not contain harsh chemicals like SLS. It gently cleanses the hair while combining with the hair’s own natural oils to lubricate and moisturize the hair shaft.
HairMax uses phytic acid in its shampoo system to lower the pH and promote a regenerative action on the base of the scalp, reducing oxidative stress layers. The shampoo system can be used by itself or in conjunction with the HairMax LaserComb. The HairMax shampoo system has a lower pH than most shampoo systems on the market. The company’s research indicates that the oils (sebum) produced in the hair follicle can turn into a waxy substance in higher alkaline environments. This lower pH, phytic acid based shampoo system helps to prevent the sebum build up and promotes the lubrication of the hair follicle to encourage healthier looking hair.
HairMax Revitalizing Conditioner – Retail Price: $12.00
Most conditioners are thick and heavy, weighing down the hair making it look flat and difficult to style. HairMax Revitalizing Conditioner utilizes innovative botanicals that deeply moisturize the hair shaft then rinse free, leaving the hair soft and manageable without heavy build up. The HairMax Conditioner restores and protects the hair shaft while a combination of botanicals and vitamins rejuvenate your hair’s look and feel, leaving your hair smooth and shiny.
HairMax Invigorating Scalp Treatment – Retail Price: $7.50
Healthy hair comes from a healthy scalp. Perspiration, oils, environmental pollution and styling products can build up on the scalp clogging the hair follicle, leaving particle deposits that can clog hair follicles and leave hair looking flat and greasy. Invigorating Scalp Treatment is designed to dissolve these particles, washing them away, making your hair look healthy, clean and full of body. The Invigorating Scalp Treatment contains phytic acid to help reduce the pH of the scalp. When used in conjunction with the Hairmax LaserComb, this facilitates laser absorption from the HairMax into the scalp.
HairMax Hair Fortifier – Retail Price $7.50
Many of us take vitamins to maintain the health of our body. Well our scalp isn’t any different. HairMax Hair and Scalp Fortifier are vitamins for your hair. This product is infused with a special combination of botanical nutrients, DHT blockers and innovative ingredients, like caffeine, oleanolic acid and biotinoyl tripeptide, that are believed to have positive results for healthier looking hair. HairMax Hair and Scalp Fortifying mist is delivered directly to the root of the hair, maximizing the benefits these innovative ingredients may provide.
There is also a laser comb which I did not receive to review.
I wasn’t very keen on the scent of the shampoo. The conditioner didn’t really have a scent. I was OK with the scent since I wasn’t using the products for their scent but rather for what they could do for my hair and scalp.
The shampoo and conditioner worked fine. You use them the regular way, except with the conditioner you have to wait a minute before you could rinse it out.
A few times per week you need to use the Invigorating Scalp Treatment. You squeeze it into your hair and leave it on for a minute then rinse it out. It was a bit hard to use in my hair because it’s long and thick. The treatment is very liquidity, like water. It was hard to only use a little bit. I was afraid too much of it was being wasted.
The last step is the Scalp & Hair Fortifier. It is spray that you put in your hair after you have rinsed and towel dried your hair. You need to rub it into your scalp and leave it on. There is no need to rinse it off. Simply dry your hair and style as usual.
My first impressions was that it was a lot of work to go through all the steps and wait the required time. I’m a busy mom so I need to get in and get out of the shower as quickly as possible. Usually I wash my hair, rinse, throw on a little conditioner and rinse again (I never wait) then towel dry my hair and let it air dry completely then put it in a ponytail. The HairMax products were a bit more involved.
I liked all the products except for the Hair Fortifer (the last step that you leave in your hair). It actually bothered my scalp. Not to the point that my Eczema flared up, but it made my scalp a bit itchy which had me worried. I eventually just stopped using the Hair Fortifier but I continued to use the other products.
I liked the other HairMax products. I think they made my hair and scalp feel clean. My scalp didn’t feel dry or like it hand any left over residue on it. I did notice a difference compared to other haircare products that I use.
Overall I was pleased with the products. I would consider buying them again if they were more readily available, meaning if I could purchase them at the local grocery or drug store. I would also like it if they were less expensive. Paying $24.00 for a shampoo and conditioner (not including the other products) is way too pricey. If they were $6.00 each ($12 for both) then I would certainly buy them again.
To learn more about HairMax products please visit www.Hairmax.com.
Kimberly
*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own.
