I recently read a post on Instagram from a bottle redhead that was giving up on products to help her maintain her red color in between dye sessions. And I have to admit that for a split second I considered it too. I mean, there’s shampoo and conditioner, using a heat-protect spray when using hot tools, making sure to wear a hat when out in the direct sun, not washing your hair too often and I’m just kind of sick of the maintenance of it all. So-much-so that I also considered going back to being a brunette, however, I really like the bright red and it’s just so much fun… Ah, to be a woman and change your mind 100 times a day, right?

So with all these thoughts running through my brain, I tried the latest from the FEKKAI line that happens to be for color-treated locks. It’s the re-formulated and re-launched Technician Color Care trio comprised of the Technician Color Care Shampoo ($5/2oz, $20/8oz), Technician Color Care Conditioner ($5/2oz, $20/8oz) and Technician Color Care Conditioner Luxe Color Masque ($8/1.69oz, $25/7oz) or pick the full sizes up as a set for $60.

While this set is made especially to keep hair color vibrant and also to help strands give off a multi-dimensional shine, than using hair products not(it) made for color support, I still wonder, why does a shampoo that is supposed to support color-treated hair contain Sodium Laureth Sulfate/Sodium Laurel Sulfate (this one contains the first ingredient listed), which are both known to kill bottle hair color? I’ve brought this topic up a few times on the site in the past and was able to address this question to a Bumble and bumble PR person a few years back and they said that it depends on what ingredients are inside as there are ones that are able to counter act SLS’s in a shampoo. I’m not sure I believe that.

So how do I know that these, especially the shampoo, are keeping my hair color as vibrant as it can be? Well I don’t. I mean I didn’t notice any strong fade in using these in the past 3 weeks that would lead me to believe that these don’t work. But wouldn't the only true way I would be able to fully know that these work to the max is to conduct the following experiment? Used these for a few weeks, then had my hair color dyed the exact same color/depth and then try a different brand and at the end of the time period as the previous test, compare strands. Things that make you go hmmm...

So I guess this review can’t really tell you anything new. If you are a Fekkai user, then you know that these products have been re-formulated and re-launched. If you are not a Fekkai user, then you now know they are here and that’s about all I can say about these since I really can’t share anything measurable with you. So there you have it. All @ target.com. 

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

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In continuing our coverage of great Shea Butter products, I am really surprised at the number of ones that have the word Shea in the name of the product and then the ingredient is waaaaay down on the list. It seems like it was almost an after thought, “Oh we need to put some actual Shea Butter in there since it has it in the name.” Anyway, here are some more recommendations with the ingredient right at the top of the ingredient list.

• CAROL’S DAUGHTER Unscented Shea Body Butter ($20/8oz @ drugstore.com)
• FREDERIC FEKKAI Shea Butter Hair Mask ($22.50/5oz, $32/9oz @ target.com)
• JERGENS Shea Butter Cream ($6.29/7.5oz @ walgreens.com)
• BATH BY BETTIJO 100% Pure Whipped Shea Butter ($16.50/2oz @ bathbybettijo.com)