Curly’s question: Are phyto products more effective at reducing frizz or this is just another example fooling us into paying twice the price for the same product? I am particularly interested in the effectiveness of Phytodefrisant, which I’m hoping will tame my long, thick, curly hair.

The Right Brain’s response:
Good question, Curly. Many so called “phyto” or natural products are bogus because they are basically shampoo or conditioner formulas with a plant extract thrown. (For an example, see our previous post on Phytospecific.) But Phytodefrisant is a bit more phyto-ish. (Is that a word?)

How is Phytodefrisant different?

If you take a look at the ingredient list you’ll see that it doesn’t contain any of the chemicals typically found in conditioners. There are no silicones, quaternium compounds, fatty alcohols, or oils. Instead, you see a long list of plant extracts followed by a few chemical preservatives.

So how does it work?

The primary ingredient in Phytodefrisant is Althea Officinalis Root Extract (also known as Marsh Mallow). This extract contains a chemical known as mucilage, which is a thick gooey substance produced by many plants. Mucilage consists of exopolysaccharides, polymers that are made of sugar molecules. (Hey imagine that - a natural ingredient is really a chemical! Wow, who would have known!?!) Because of its polymeric structure mucilage is an effective film former and can even have some mild adhesive properties. So, if you put enough of this on your hair, and leave it there, it can theoretically help smooth frizzies.

Better than store brands?

Does this mean that Phyto is better than regular conditioners that use all those “nasty” chemicals? Not necessarily. It’s an interesting approach but not necessarily more effective than traditional conditioners. And remember, it has to be left in the hair to be effective (in other words, it won’t stick to your hair if you rinse it out.) Because of its sticky nature, it may also make your hair feel weighed down. But if you’re trying to tame very frizzy, curly hair that’s not always a bad thing.

The Beauty Brains bottom line

If you’re looking for a leave in conditioner to calm frizzy hair AND you don’t want to use traditional ingredients like silicones, AND you can afford the $26 bucks, then this product might be an interesting alternative to try. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can buy Phytodefrisant here.

How do YOU feel about taking gamble on new hair care products? Do you take chances or do you play it safe? Leave a comment and share your hair strategy with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.

By the way, if you’re reading this through an RSS feed you really should click through the link so you can see the animation on the Mona Lisa picture. It’s hilarious!