Aveda Smooth Infusion: Perfect Straight?

I’ve always been a fan of Aveda hair and body products and its Smooth Infusion line called out to me for obvious reasons. In a world obsessed with adding texture to hair, I crave smoothness every time. Any fellow redheads reading will empathise with the fact that our hair comes with built in texture - oh the joys! While mine is naturally strawberry blonde and fine on the surface, underneath it’s traditionally wiry, coarse red hair. Sprinkled throughout this rainbow is more than your average person’s fair share of frizz. I know, I know - I’m blessed.

These products have provided the perfection transition for me following my keratin smoothing treatment two months ago (read about that journey here)… the imminent Return of The Frizz filled me with doom - and these have made that process a lot less painful.

Aveda Smooth Infusion includes a (divinely spa-scented) shampoo and conditioner and three styling products. The in-shower duo moisturises and tames flyaways, but the styling products are the stand outs for me.

Smooth Infusion Naturally Straight is a new addition to the collection, designed to progressively straighten hair with continued use. I have natural waves and don’t actually want straight hair, but was curious to see if this would work. The Science Bit: plant-derived fibres help create a locking layer to help hold your hair straight, while organic cassava root helps form a de-frizzing barrier against humidity. Five consecutive applications should leave hair straight for up to three washes.

How could this possibly work? I thought… so I tried it. After 2-3 uses, my hair looked pretty straight. Bit boring I thought, so I curled it (using my Babyliss Pro Perfect Curl, which gives very defined, long lasting curls). Half an hour later my hair was straight again - the curls had literally fallen right out. Bit annoying to be honest, but I don’t know how much more proof is needed… this works (on me at least).

My holy grail hair is smooth waves, emphasis on the smooth, so rather than continue in pursuit of Perfect Straight, I stuck to the Smooth Infusion Style Prep Smoother. This also contains plant derivatives to protect against humidity and heat styling. The texture is serum-like, which I warm between palms then comb through the lengths of my hair with fingers, concentrating on the ends. It smoothes my hair without weighing it down (something I’m very prone to) and I love that it’s so portable - unlike typical heat defence products in large aerosols.

It also smells gorgeous: ‘a fresh spicy citrus-floral featuring certified organic bergamot, certified organic palmarosa, Bulgarian rose and Australian sandalwood.’  …that’ll be why.

Aveda Smooth Infusion from £17.50

What’s your favourite hair smoother?

 

Masks & Treatments for Dry or Damaged Hair

Anyone else find that their hair needs a little extra TLC at this time of year? If your locks are post-Summer parched, weary of heat styling or just looking a little blah, you probably need one of these in your life…

Phytokeratine Extreme Exceptional Cream has multiple benefits to repair and replenish dry and damaged hair. Applied to clean, towel dried hair, it offers heat protection and acts a bit like a leave-in mask. I’m a big fan of Phyto hair products already, and this one leaves my hair feeling incredibly soft with reduced frizz. I also add a little to mid lengths and ends between washes to smooth frizz and add a moisture boost. Styling cream, heat protection and damage repair in one, the pump bottle is a bonus too.

I’ve talked about the Aveda Smooth Infusion line before (here), so was really happy to discover the Smoothing Masque, which helps tame excess frizz and leaves my hair looking a little less… well, embarrassing! I often dip into this instead of using a regular conditioner as it’s nourishing, yet light enough for regular use and doesn’t weigh my hair down.

 

 Label M Honey & Oat Mask is the one I roll out when my hair is at the end of its tether, or I’m at the end of my tether with my hair. The two often collide. This is a super rich and hydrating mask which really packs a nourishing antioxidant-packed punch to restore and protect hair from further damage. And oh my word the scent… this really does smell like the sweetest honey - sublime. I tend to save this for use before special occasions when I need to know that my hair will behave, or when I just need a fix of that scent and silky softness. If you haven’t tried Label M before, I urge you to give it a go… pretty much everything I’ve tried from this brand has been incredible. 

Bathroom Shelfie: Autumn Edit

 

I have a few Autumn Edits coming up, including skincare and makeup, but today I’m starting with the hair and body products I’ve filtered in since temperatures dropped. I’ve been craving extra hydration thanks to dry shins, ragged cuticles and crispy hair dulling the joy of crunchy Autumn leaves. No doubt I’ll need to take things up a notch again when Winter bites, but for now, this little lot is helping. 

I’ve raved about L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil multiple times and No7 Foaming Shower Oil is the closest formula I’ve tried. Made with sweet almond and grapeseed oil, this has a more subtle scent but very similar texture, with a dense oil that gently foams in contact with water and feels luxurious on the skin. I’m loving the pretty new packaging too.

I’ve been using this most mornings and indulging in NEOM Real Luxury Bath Foam in the evenings. I don’t know about you but I tend to skip baths in Summer and have welcomed the return of deep, candlelit bubble baths on dark nights. I’ve no idea how NEOM managed to bottle an SLS-free bubble bath, but am so happy they did - and it smells incredible thanks to a generous dose of lavender, jasmine and Brazilian Rosewood oils. The scent has been compared to the comfort of cashmere and I total get that; it really is heavenly and seems to help me sleep too.

Post-bath I’ve been using Clinique’s Deep Comfort Body Oil, focusing mainly on my shins and upper arms where I’m prone to dry patches. This is a really unusual new formula in that it’s both lightweight and nourishing, sinking in quickly while chia oil and antioxidants leave my skin extra soft. I really like that it’s fragrance free too, so doesn’t interfere with the lingering scent from my NEOM bath. Although I’ve only been using this for a couple of weeks, I’ve already noticed an improvement in skin texture and am hoping the quick and easy pump bottle and fast absorbing texture help me remain consistent with this one!

My hair hasn’t looked particularly happy lately, which I think is down to a combination of cooler weather and too much heat styling, oops! Boucleme Hydrating Hair Cleanser has helped boost moisture levels via coconut, mongongo, seabuckthorn and camellia oils, gently cleansing without stripping my hair. A dollop of Aveda Smooth Infusion Nourishing Styling Crème on mid lengths pre blow-dry hair = soft and smooth locks that aren’t weighed down. I really struggle to find a product that ticks both of these boxes as my hair craves moisture yet turns lank very easily - and this one gets it spot on.

PS shout out to the Jo Malone London candle in Pomegranate Noir, which I’m utterly smitten with… more on that soon!