Disappointing
I am particularly disappointed because the stylist at the salon "SUPPOSEDLY used this on my hair after a recent highlighting treatment, and it worked great. The version I purchased online-from Birchbox-did not work anywhere near as well. It feels like a different product-much less rich than what was used at the salon. I'm wondering if the salon made a mistake in telling me what they were using. In any case, the "at-home" "Art of Hair" mask left my fine, not particularly damaged hair (other than 4-5 yearly highlighting sessions, I do nothing to my hair-no blow dryer, no curling irons, no hair spray), rather dry. My hair looked dull and slightly brassier after using the illuminating shampoos and mask, which is so weird, as this is not at all what happened in the salon. I am really perplexed and dismayed. Together, the shampoo and conditioner cost me roughly $140, and I feel like I would only use them again in an "I'm all out of every other shampoo/conditioner" emergency. I would not purchase either of these products again (i.e. the illuminating shampoos" or the "Art of Hair" mask). I did everything right- I applied it to damp hair, left in for 12+ minutes, rinsed in cool water....I have no idea what happened. *The only props I can give this product are for its scent, which I'm not that fond of, but which did not irritate my chemical sensitivities, which many products do. Shu Uemura must actually use mostly natural fragrance extracts in its product line. It's the synthetic stuff (the phthalates, etc) that provoke my sensitivities. So, kudos to them for that, but seriously, this product needs to be more shine & moisture enhancing.
1