Joico K-Pak Deep-Penetrating Reconstuctor and Intense Hydrator

Whew. Say that ten times fast.

Anywhooo... I picked my Joico products up from my local Chatters salon. The K-Pak Deep-Penetrating Reconstructor contains 250 ml (8.5 fl oz) of product, and the K-Pak Intense Hydrator contains 313 ml (10.6 fl oz) of product. Each cost me about $20 CDN, but sometimes you can find them on sale for a little more or a little less... it just depends, really.

I'd never tried Joico products before, and I'd never really had anyone recommend them to me either. But since my hair has decided to become permanently straight, I have to use heat on it every other day to maintain a somewhat delectable appearance. I wash my hair every other day(ish), and after washing I blow dry it, and touch up the ends with my flat iron. And after a few months of this, my hair was really hurting. I had some serious problems with frizz, breakage and split ends, as well as MAJOR hair loss. At the rate I was losing hair, it was a miracle I didn't have bald patches. Our bathroom floor and the sink and toilet (our bathroom is tres small) were coated in red hair clumps, and it was becoming a little disconcerting. So I did some Google-age, and discovered that many people recommended the Joico K-Pak line of treatment products for severely dry and/or damaged hair.

Joico K-Pak Deep-Penetrating Reconstructor
I initially bought the Deep-Penetrating Reconstructor, which is a protein treatment strictly for dry and damaged hair. It claims to rebuild and improve the structure of hair using "an exclusive blend of low molecular weight and size proteins... to adhere quickly and effectively to ensure maximum protection and reconstruction from the cuticle to the cortex." This product also claims to be safe for color-treated hair.

Let me just say that I ADORE this product. I have noticed a significant improvement in the health of my hair since beginning my treatments several months ago. I feel that my hair is incredibly stronger and less prone to breakage and splitting. It is more manageable and is soft and elastic.

This treatment is meant to be used sparingly, perhaps once or twice a week, depending on the level of damage that your hair is suffering from. When I first started, I used this product twice a week, but now I've moved my treatments down to once a week, or once every two weeks. The product is applied to damp hair, and is left on for 5 minutes - no longer and no less. I typically apply the reconstructor in the shower after I shampoo my hair clean. I feel that the steam from the shower helps it absorb into my sad strands more effectively and efficiently too.

The smell of this treatment is to die for. It smells of coconut and bananas, and every time I apply it, I'm in heaven. I wish they made this scent in perfume form.... <3 font="font">

The consistency of the reconstructor is incredibly strange. It reminds me of overcooked rice that has been semi-mashed in a vat of water. It comes out in uneven globs, because of the texture, but is easily spread and worked through the hair. It rinses out easily and without fuss.

The most important thing to remember when using this product is that after application, you MUST follow up with an intensely hydrating and moisturizing conditioner. The protein treatment will dry your hair out severely and will make it unmanageable and unruly, unless you replace the lost moisture with a conditioning treatment. Additionally, using this product more frequently will not speed up the rejuvenation of your hair - keep your treatments to once or twice a week. If you happen to notice that you aren't benefiting from the treatments any longer, cease using the Reconstructor until such a time as you need to use it again.

Joico K-Pak Intense Hydrator
I picked up Joico's K-Pak Intense Hydrator after a few uses of the Reconstructor. I found that my own deep conditioning masks just were not cutting it, and that my hair was struggling after each treatment instead of showing obvious improvement. 

The Intense Hydrator does not smell nearly as heavenly as its Reconstructor counterpart, but still smells clean and lush. While not being an particularly dense conditioner, it does have a more thick consistency, which spreads quickly and easily throughout hair - evenly coating every strand.

The bottle recommends that you leave the conditioner in for 3 to 5 minutes. When I am conditioning with this product after using the Joico K-Pak Deep-Penetrating Reconstructor, I leave the Intense Hydrator on for at least 5 minutes, if not more. I find that this conditioner replenishes my hair more than adequately and leaves it touchably smooth and soft after drying.

One of the aspects I love most about this conditioner is the fact that I can use it from roots to ends without suffering from a greasy scalp after getting out of the shower. I can use this conditioner every time I wash my hair, and I don't experience build-up or unpleasant effects from using this product on a regular basis. It rinses clean with ease. I love how my hair feels hydrated and happy after a shower, without feeling weighed down and 'product-y.' It has quickly become my favorite conditioner to date.

Since starting this regimen, I've noticed significant and dramatic improvements in the condition and health of my hair. I have noticed that I lose little hair now, if any, during combing and/or styling. The elasticity of my strands has also seen dramatic improvement. Before, if my comb caught and tugged on a strand of my hair at all, it would break off mid-shaft or pull out of my scalp; now my hair is incredibly elastic - springing through the brush instead of snapping off. My hair is incredibly smooth and noticeably less frizzy. It doesn't tangle at all anymore, and maintains style longer (though it's nothing radical...).

These products (used separately or together) do leave a slight reminiscent scent in your hair when styling. It's not overpowering or overwhelming, but it's a beautiful clean smell that lingers slightly throughout the day. If you're not one to enjoy lingering scents in your hair, you may want to stay away from these products. The scent is more noticeable after using heat on your hair, especially during styling, but fades as the day wears on.

One thing I have noticed is that Joico is down-sizing the tubes/bottles of both of these products. My 'large' bottles don't seem to be readily available anymore - the tubes for sale at my local salons seem noticeably smaller with less product. So if you come across larger bottles, grab them! :)

Used together, these products are unbeatable. I will definitely be repurchasing both (and already have) as I have religiously used them from first purchase and am now running dangerously low on both. If you're looking for touchably smooth, silky, untangled, strong hair - look no further. My only complaint is the steep price, but it's definitely worth it, especially if your hair is suffering as much as mine was.

Have you tried out the Joico K-Pak line!? What do you think of it??
A whopping five out of five stars
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Feelin' a little fried...

Hola my beauty lovin' babes!!


I wanted to chat with you guys about the importance of taking care of your hair... Not because I think I'm an expert, but rather because I majorly fail at maintaining the 'happiness' level of my ravishing red tresses.


Before November 2011, my hair was shoulder-length, if not a bit longer.
After November 2011, my hair was cut in an A-line bob. In order to maintain the desired style of said bob, I need(ed) to daily use heat on my hair. Blow-drying, straightening, curling... you name it. 


With time, I've noticed that my hair is getting incredibly dry and very unmanageable. It's frizzy and coarse, the shafts jump and skid through my flat iron plates instead of gliding smoothly. It's rough and tangly, and I lose a lot of hair by gently running a comb or a brush through my locks.


I really got a wake-up call last night when my grandma mentioned that my hair looked "really dry." Ummm.... if your grandma notices it, it's gotta be bad. 


So when we went grocery shopping last night, I spent a half an hour in the hair care section, perusing my options. I've had a lot of success with the Live Clean Exotic Nectar Argan Oil Restorative Conditioning Mask, so I purchased another tube.


In addition, I knew that I needed to be conditioning my hair with every wash, so I decided to try something new - Infusium-23 Repair & Renew Conditioner. I've had positive experiences with Infusium-23's Leave-In Conditioners, so I figured that trying the conditioner couldn't be that bad of a decision.


Finally, I picked up the Joico K-Pak Deep-Penetrating Reconstructor. It was a more pricey expenditure, but at this point, I'm pretty sure my hair needs it. I've heard nothing but rave reviews about this particular product, and I figured it would be a pretty safe bet as far as restoring my hair to a happier state of being.


I do use a heat protectant every time I apply heat to my hair (once before blow-drying, once before straightening), but I feel that my Got2B Guardian Angel lotion isn't doing the trick anymore... So I might need to look into another alternative. I didn't find that anything about the Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray amazing enough to write home about, so if you guys have any other suggestions with regards to sprays/lotions for protecting your hair from heat - please, send them my way!


Now I want to know from you: how do you keep your hair looking/feeling/being its healthiest?


Happy Monday!!
xoxo

Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Gel

I purchased this 200 ml (6.8 fl oz) tube from London Drugs for about $12-$13 CDN, I believe. I also think it was on sale when I picked it up... Hmm. In any event, you can purchase this wherever Paul Mitchell products are sold.


This is a thickening gel. According to PaulMitchell.com, it "pumps up the volume and provides flexible hold for fine hair. [It] creates brush-through body without stickiness or flaking. [And it] makes locks shiny and manageable." It contains aloe, henna, jojoba, and rosemary to add intense shine.


First off, I don't know why I picked this up. I originally went to London Drugs to purchase the Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum (which I adore... Blog post on that here), and I think I saw this, thought "Hey! A sale. I 'need' that..." and grabbed it. In hindsight, I probably could've thought that one through a little more.


The packaging is simple. An opaque white tube with simple, easy to read information on it. A plastic cap which snaps open and shut, and the functionality of a squeeze-tube system. Wham-bam-thank-you-mam. However, my tube will last me FOREVER. Literally. I use so little of it every time I style my hair that this bottle will last me at least a year.


The gel itself is clear and pretty thin. It is a 'stiff'/dense enough gel in that it won't slide off your hand after you squeeze some out of the bottle, but thin enough that it spreads evenly with very little effort.


There isn't really a scent to this gel. I mean, it has some sort of a hair-product-y scent, but it basically disappears once you apply it to your hair and style it. I suppose if you had to try and give the scent a name, you'd say it smelled 'clean' or 'professional' (definitely a smell that you'd find in products that your hairdresser uses...)


You're supposed to apply this to clean, damp hair and then style as desired. When I looked up some reviews on this product (post-purchase) I found that some people found more favorable results when they put this in their hair after styling. I've tried both ways and found that I appreciate applying it on damp hair more.


Originally, I hated this. That was back before I chopped my hair off. My hair was past my shoulders, and I tried applying this to my hair and styling it several times. Nothing happened (good or bad). Literally - no extra volume, no thickness, no clumpiness, no flatness. So it seemed like such a waste of money to me. After I cut my hair into this sort of textured, piecey short style, I tried it again - and voila! The results I was looking for.


For me, this product is one that I need to use solely at my roots. If I bring any down the shaft of my hair, I end up with a clumpy, greasy, flattened look which is completely unflattering. I try to keep the bulk of this product towards the crown of my head, and as little as possible in my bangs. I apply two pea-sized dollops to damp hair, after I've put in my detangler and Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum. I really rub this in at my roots, towards the back of my head and then work the remainder around my head. Then I apply my heat protectant and style. You can see the results immediately after blow drying, in my opinion. My hair is massive, or at least, massive-er.


Here are some before and after pics of my hair... pardon my un-done face. It's pretty heinous, I agree haha.

Wet - with Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Gel in.

Post-blow drying.

Post-blow drying. Check out the volume.
Pardon the scary no-makeup face.

Done styling.

After flat ironing. All styled up.

About 8/10 times I use this, I can feel a little bit of an almost 'tacky'ness near my roots (where I applied this product) after I blow dry. It's not a tackiness that weighs my hair down or makes it look greasy or flat, my hair just feels... product-y. Some people might really hate that, even if that's the only side effect of the product overall. I can get over that though... it's not a deal breaker, I'd just prefer a clean feel to my hair post-styling. I mostly find that this tacky/sticky feeling is promiment in my bangs - hence the reason I keep most of this product away from my 'fringe.'


So, 'eh!' to the claim that it doesn't make your hair sticky... I think it makes it sort of sticky, some of the time - if that makes any sense.


This product doesn't affect any part of the styling process in a negative way. It doesn't clump up in my flat iron, or become greasy or flat during the day. It really does last. No flaking, either, which is a huge plus. I don't like looking all dandruffy as the day wears on. My hair is definitely flexible, manageable and brushable after using this product. 


I don't know that I'd say that it adds shine - because I haven't personally noticed my hair being more shiny with this product in particular. Basically, I wouldn't pick it up for it's 'shine-enhancing' qualities.


All-in-all, I'm appreciating this product a lot more since my hair has been short. I feel that maybe the original length was too heavy for the product to do its magic. It's definitely not a 'holy grail' product in my arsenal, but I really love it with my short hair. I love the volume it gives my otherwise fine and limp hair.


I'd definitely recommend it to you if you have fine and limp hair that needs an extra shot of volume. Since this bottle is so frackin' huge, it'll last you forever, so I don't really see it as an 'investment,' because it'll basically pay for itself after a few months. 


I don't know - I'm pretty impressed with my Herbal Essences-esque locks lately. I'm really digging this hair cut, and how nicely it styles with this product. Cha-ching! Super stoked about resurrecting a 'crap' product and making it work for me!!


4 out of 5 stars.
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What hair products do you use for thickening/volume-boosting?