WHAT:
Ouidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel
SHORT AND SWEET:
Although it’s called a gel, it’s a serum which adds curl definition without the super crunch of a gel
INGREDIENTS: Water (Aqua), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Lawsonia Inermis (Henna) Leaf Extract, Wheat Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/PVP Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Dimethicone Copolyol, Dimethicone, Polyquaternium-28, Glycerin, PPG-26-Buteth-25, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PVP/DMAPA Acrylates Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Fragrance (Parfum), Methylparaben, DMDM Hydantoin, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone
SMELL:
Soft pleasant smell
HOW IT WORKED
As you know, I like to use products repeatedly and allow time to adequately test them. Out of the three products I’ve tested from Ouidad (shampoo, conditioner, gel), the Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel is absolutely the best one for my hair. I honestly loved it.
It’s called a “…Gel” but the consistency is more of a serum which helps to define your curls (if you have them). Since it’s a serum, it’s a little easy to use more than what you might need. Don’t be afraid though! I’m just telling you to be careful how hard you squeeze the bottle. 😀
The slip is amazing. It’s just right for a curl defining serum. It’s not fall-down-and-bust-your-butt-at-the-ice-rink slippery like what can happen when you use too much Guar Gum while formulating you own DIY products. And it’s not stringy-slippery like what can happen when you use too much Xanthan Gum when formulating your own DIY products. In my opinion, they’ve got the “slip” in the perfect spot.
What’s interesting about this serum…uh, I mean, “gel” is that I get similar results from it the same as when I use my flaxseed gel. But, without the crunchy aftermath of the snotty flaxseed mix. The Humidity Gel also didn’t flake in my hair.
I used the Humidity Gel alone the 1st time. The 2nd time, I used my Honey Sesame Hair Cream as a leave-in cream underneath the Humidity Gel.
Humidity Gel WITHOUT Leave-in:
-My curls were more defined but not quite as soft
-I generally wouldn’t recommend any 4x
[4x denotes (4a, 4b or 4c) – I really hate that hair chart though]
Humidity Gel WITH DIY leave-in cream:
-My hair was softer but a little less defined
-My hair was noticeably shiny without feeling wet (once the serum dried)
There wasn’t a terribly significant difference in comparison to when I used the Humidity Gel alone (right after rinsing out the Ouidad conditioner). than when I used a leave-in conditioner with it. BUT BUT BUT that will depend on how much you use.
It’s super cold this time of year, so I have no idea about how this serum will hold up under heavy humidity. To me, I think 4b/4c curls may require the help of a gel-y gel (Ecostyler, flaxseed, etc) to help during high heat and humidity. BUT BUT BUT like I said, I haven’t tried the Ouidad Humidity gel under those conditions yet. It may be perfect, I just don’t know yet.
WHAT’S IN IT
Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) – Vitamin E is the 2nd ingredient. Vitamin E is said to have many benefits for the hair and scalp. I use oils high in Vitamin E on my hair all the time; Sunflower oil and Safflower oil to name two. Some people use Vitamin E to soothe and nourish the scalp which is said to aid in strengthening hair and allowing it to grow.
Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A) – This ingredient is very often found in expensive creams for the face and hands. It’s typically used in hair products to help improve the look and feel of dry, damaged hair and gives it a nice sheen.
Panthenol (Provitamin B5) – Panthenol is Vitamin B5 which helps to strengthen the hair. It’s also known as a humectant. It’s found in dang near every conditioner ever made that’s worth anything. That’s because there’s a benefit to it which people (myself included) has noticed. You’ll find it in many of the DIY recipes here at curlytea.com.
Chamomille, Kiwi, and Henna Leaf Extracts – These are extracts made from great herbs and fruit. Chamomile is said to be an outstanding herb to use for shine. Kiwi is said to help maintain moisture and fight dandruff as well as dry brittle hair. And Henna is a staple in Ayurvedic haircare. It’s used to help condition and soften the hair.
Glycerin – Glycerin is a humectant, but it’s waaay down on the list. I don’t think you’ll have to worry too much about dew points using this product.
Wheat Amino Acids – Wheat amino acids are said to be from hydrolyzed wheat protein. It’s used as a conditioning ingredient to penetrate the hair and strengthen it from the inside out.
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/PVP Crosspolymer – This ingredient is a hair conditioning, “film forming” ingredient. It’s called a “hair fixative” over at EWG.org’s Skin Deep website. Not sure, but it may be one of the ingredients used to add “slip” to the product, which makes it easier for you to get it through the hair.
Propylene Glycol – Propylene glycol is used as a conditioning ingredient. It is classified as safe to use, but is an irritant to skin when used in certain concentrations. It has a 3 on EWG’s Skin Deep scale and is “associated with irritant and allergic contact dermatitis”. Wha..? Well Propylene glycol is in so many products that if you’ve used other products with it, you may not have a problem.
TIP: Want the benefits of Propylene glycol in your DIY mixes, but don’t want to use a petroleum-based ingredient? Try Naturesilk.
PEG-60 Almond Glycerides – This ingredient is used as an emollient and emulsifying agent. It is a “polyethylene glycol derivative” (wha…? sounds petroleum-y! lol!) The fact it has a 3 on EWG.org’s Skin Deep scale is no laughing matter though. According to that website, there were concerns some sources of the ingredient may contain impurities like “ethylene oxide” and “1,4 dioxane” which are absolutely hazardous. This ingredient is also found in products made by Pantene, Aussie and Herbal Essences.
Dimethicone Copolyol – Dimethicone Copolyol is a water-soluble dimethicone used to enhance “humectancy” (moisture retention). It is used to add sheen to hair and make it look and feel better, however temporary. If you have to use a silicone, try to use the ones which have been altered to make them easier to rinse/wash off the hair.
Dimethicone – Dimethicone is also found in this ingredient. It is typically used to make hair temporarily feel and look better. It is one of those -cones you’ll hear other naturals warning you away from. The choice is yours. Just know that I don’t formulate with Dimethicone but I’ve used products which contain it… especially when doing reviews.
Polyquaternium-28 – Polyquaternium-28 has a 1 on EWG.org’s Skin Deep scale. It’s a ammonium salt made of “vinylpyrrolidoneand dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide monomers”. I know. I said ‘WTF?’ too. It’s used a “hair fixative” and a frizz fighting ingredient.
PPG-26-Buteth-25 – This is an alcohol-based emulsifying and conditioning ingredient used to help improve damaged and dry hair.
SUMMARY
A+ . I loved it.
Has great slip
Is more of a serum consistency instead of a traditional gel
Related
http://cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient/retinol-and-retinyl-palmitate
http://www.all4naturalhealth.com/vitamin-e-for-hair-growth.html
http://www.bliss.com/feed-your-hair-kiwi-fruit-extract-for-dry-hair/
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/703033/HYDROLYZED_WHEAT_PROTEIN%3B%3B_PVP_CROSSPOLYMER/
http://www.goodguide.com/ingredients/209022-peg-60-almond-glycerides-ingredient-information-reviews
http://www.dowcorning.com/content/webabstract/ABS_25-274-92.asp
http://www.experts123.com/q/what-is-dimethicone-copolyol.html
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-dimethicone.htm
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient.php?ingred06=705109
https://www.truthinaging.com/ingredients/ppg-26-buteth-26
