Hair: Softness for Coarse Hair

My little sister (hereafter referred to as Squirt, or The Squirt) and I each have jealousy issues regarding the others' hair. I am envious of the way her hair moves like the models in all those shampoo commercials, a smooth waterfall of silken hair. She, on the other hand, is jealous of the fact my hair will not only hold a curl for longer than it takes my hair to cool from the curling iron, but that I can "do things" with my hair while she is limited to pony tails or hanging straight. The one thing I truly don't like about my hair is what my Mom genetically gifted to me.... it's coarse.

Yes, coarse hair holds a curl and, yes, I love being able to make up interesting hair styles, but I'd give a lot to have soft, silky hair when I decide to blow dry it straight. I believe I have, finally, found The Answer to that softness. Herbal Essences Hello Hydration.

Yes, fellow coarse hair sufferers, Herbal Essences Hello Hydration is WONderful! One of it's main ingredients is coconut milk and it's one of the best hydrating, softening agents there is. Once I started using this shampoo and conditioner, my hair was the softest it's ever been since I was a baby!

Then, I discovered a side effect that affects only those of us who must, reluctantly, make friends with either Lady Clarol or Dame Garnier Nutrisse... I speak of dying of the hair. Yes, my mother's second genetic gift was early gray. I've been dealing with it since the age of 16. Not so bad to begin with but, as a red head, it starts to cause a very... ahh... faded look. Red and gray hair do NOT mix! So, I began denying my (premature) aging by dying (the color, not the finale!).

The side effect I discovered with Herbal Essence was that my newly dyed hair color faded faster, and all over, than I thought it should. My hair stylist finally told me the secret to slowing that fade and still keeping that silkiness I craved. Use a color protector/enhancer shampoo and condition with my Herbal Essence Conditioner!
Oh, the joy! Yes, it works!! So, my two new best friends (after my colorist) are Pantene's Red Expressions and Herbal Essence Hello Hydration.

Now, you may wonder why I don't use both Pantene products, shampoo and conditioner. Well, for me, the only Panetene product I can use that doesn't feel like there's a heavy film over my hair is the Red Expressions. Sadly, the other products don't soften, they only coat and weigh down. This is not to say Pantene will not work for you, so go ahead and try it. The Squirt won't use anything but the Red Expressions, either (yes, my parents gave birth to TWO red heads... oh, the horror!) because, since her hair is so fine in spite of it's thickness, Pantene only weighs her hair down. I don't know what the difference is with their color Expressions shampoo vs. their other products, but it doesn't leave a heavy coating or film. And the Red Expressions most certainly keeps my color longer. Combined with my Herbalessences conditioner, it makes me a very happy, soft-haired red head!