Will John Frieda’s 7 Day Volume give you fuller looking hair?
MC Wonders says: John Frieda has a new product out called “7 Day Volume In-Shower Treatment“. They claim this rinse-out gel will create fullness that lasts 3-5 shampoos. The marketing claim about this new technology/approach to volume is hard to resist, but based on the ingredients, do you think it’s even possible or would I be rinsing money straight down the drain and unnecessarily adding a step to my already long shower routine?
Beauty Brains responds:
This question is similar to the one we answered about L’Oreal’s hair thickening products but Frieda uses different technology and has different claims so I think this is worth a look. Let’s start by looking some of the key claims and what they mean.
What are the claims?
In case you didn’t realize, John Frieda is owned by Kao, a very large Japanese cosmetic company. They’re not as large as Procter & Gamble or Unilever but there certainly big enough that they’ve done their homework and you know they’ve researched their products and have solid claim support. So let’s look at what they say about this volumizing product.
- Texturally transforms fine hair— Ok, so it somehow changes the texture of your hair. Is that really meaningful? Not really, any ingredient that can deposit on the hair and change the way it feels could be said to change the texture.
- [leaves hair] full even after multiple washes. Is this an important claim? It depends on quantification. HOW MUCH fuller does it make your hair? There’s a bit of weasel wording here because it’s only claiming to “LEAVE” hair full. That sounds like it just doesn’t take away any volume. It’s not even directly claiming to add volume. And HOW MANY washes does it last through? Multiple could mean 2 which is not a very compelling claim. If multiple means 20, that’s a different story.
- This lightweight semi-permanent treatment establishes a base for volumized styling, enabling her to achieve a look previously viewed unattainable. “Establishes a base for volumized styling” doesn’t mean much at all. The idea of being able to “achieve a look previously viewed unattainable” sounds like puffery to me.
- The treatment works by penetrating into each fiber and amplifying each hair strand for lift that lasts through multiple washes. We talked about this in Episode 79.
- Volume that outlasts your shampoo. That seems to be setting the bar fairly low. It’s just another way of saying it lasts through more than 1 shampooing, I guess.
How does the product work?
Looking at the ingredient list you’ll see several standard styling polymers like POLYQUATERNIUM-37 and VP/VA COPOLYMER. These are used in many, many hair styling products. But there is one ingredient that’s not quite as commonly used and that’s Polyimide-1.
Read On!>>>
INGREDIENTS
WATER, ISODECYL NEOPENTANOATE, PVP, POLYQUATERNIUM-37, VP/VA COPOLYMER, CETYL ALCOHOL, POLYIMIDE-1, BENZYL ALCOHOL, HYDROXYPROPYL METHYLCELLULOSE, FRAGRANCE, SILICONE QUATERNIUM-18, TRIDECETH-6, MALIC ACID, TRIDECETH-12, GLYCINE, STEARTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, GLYCERIN, HYDROLYZED VEGETABLE PROTEIN PG-PROPYL SILANETRIOL, ALCOHOL DENAT., AMP-ISOSTEAROYL HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN, HYDROLYZED KERATIN, METHYLCHLOROISOTHIAZOLINONE, METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE, GREEN 3.
Polyimide-1 is the official INCI name but it’s short hand for it’s much longer, more descriptive chemical name: ”isobutylene/dimethylaminopropyl maleimide/ethoxylated maleimide/maleic acid copolymer.” You’ll also hear it referred to by its tradename which is Aquaflex XL-30.
This material is an amphoteric polymer (which means it can have either a positive or negative charge, depending on the pH.) According to Aqualon it has “unique film properties that has demonstrated benefit in curling, volume boosting and durable hold on hair, and tightening on skin. In addition, in hair care, when used with typical thickeners, Aquaflex XL-30 polymer provides synergistic high-humidity curl retention.”
It’s known for giving hair the power of long-lasting curl, body and texture without a heavy after-feel. So this is an effective polymer but it’s not technology that’s exclusive to Frieda. We’ve seen this used in other brands, although not very many mainstream products. Here are a few examples:
- Orlando Pita Volumizing and Thickening Hair Mist
- Samy Fat Hair “0” Calories Amplifying Mousse
- Bosley Volumizing & Thickening Nourishing Leave-in
- Jessicurl products
A variety of brands use this technology in a number of different product formats. A “mist”, mousse, leave in liquid, etc. Price points vary.
Let’s take a look at how the product is used.
The instructions tell you to first shampoo and condition your hair and then while you’re still in the shower apply a generous amount of this product and let it sit on your hair for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing.
Now here’s the important part: next you have to blow dry your hair. Why is that so important? Because the heat of the blowdryer essentially melts the polymer and distributes it more evenly across the hair shaft. It also helps it bond to the hair better. Also the blowdry stop creates more volume in your hair. So if you’re not a fan of blowdrying this product is probably not for you.
Finally the instructions say to “Allow 2-3 washes before your next treatment.” “Allow” is strange language. So it sounds like this lasts 2-3 washings. That may be 7 days for some people but only a day or two for others!
So far everything you said is rather theoretical so let’s take a look and see if there is any proof of how this product works.
Is there any proof the product really works?
It would be really unusual to find any published data on a product like this. There’s no patented technology that would show up in the technical literature and there’s nothing that unique about it that the company would really want to crow about. So we have to look to some of the supplier literature to see if they have published anything about this. We did find a couple of pieces of information that help explain the volumizing affects and how well it lasts through shampoos.
Proof it provides volume but not washability
The first is an article that’s really more about methods of measuring hair volume but polyamide-1 is one of the ingredients they screened. This study helps provide a data point but it’s more about showing how difficult it is to measure hair volume in a meaningful way.
So essentially all this means is that if you put this stuff on hair and shape the hair to give it more volume then the ingredient will help maintain that hair shape and therefore maintain your volume. There’s no evidence it works by getting inside the hair, rather it appears to work as a traditional styling agent. Of course traditional styling agents just wash out so what’s more interesting about this technology is that it stays in your hair. Let’s talk about that.
Will it last through multiple washings?
We couldn’t find any published data proving the durability of this polymer but there are two other data points that help make the case. First there’s the information in the supplier literature that talks about it lasting through multiple washings. Even though the company doesn’t provide their data, we know Aqualon is a reliable source so it’s reasonable to assume they’ve got something to back this up.
The reason I’m not too concerned about this is very simple. The claim itself isn’t very impactful. Here’s what I mean by that. If they claimed that the product tripled the volume of the hair and maintained 100% of that increase for a week then I would be impressed and would to see very specific data. But all they’re really saying is it gives you some fullness and it lasts up to seven days depending on how often you shampoo. For that to be true all they really have to prove is that some residue remains on your hair through a couple of shampoo cycles. And in fact we found a patent that demonstrates these kinds of compositions can last through 5 shampoo cycles.
They did a test where they applied the product and then shampooed the tresses every day for 5 days and showed residual effect (smoothness and shine). Of course, these are very small effects and they’re measured on tresses which allow you to take very small measurements. This doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be able to perceive this stuff is still on your hair after 5 washes.
Interestingly this patent shows these compositions can also give hair LESS volume if flat ironed.
So what’s the bottom line here?
John Frieda is using a polymer that can bind to the hair and increase volume to SOME extent. Plus, the technology can stay on your hair though multiple shampoos. It’s not unreasonably priced (about $8 or $9) so if this benefit appeals to you there’s no reason not to try it. If you don’t like the way it feels you can quickly wash it out. I think this is one of those products where individual results will vary greatly. If you have the type of hair that’s very sensitive to having a residue on it and that residue can give you the texture that you get from that residue gives you the type of volume feel that you like then you’ll really like this product.
But for some people that residue won’t be sufficient to really have much of an impact on their volume. Unfortunately there’s no way to predict how well this will work for any given individual, but the good news is the products not that expensive so just give it a try.
References:
Measurements of hair volume by laser stereometry, JSCC March 2009 issue.
http://www.google.com/patents/WO2012075274A1?cl=en
Entrepreneur
Award Winning Entrepreneur Mama Sue Taylor Talks Being A Cannabis Pioneer & Resource For The Elderly Community
Sue Taylor “Mama Sue”, is a pioneer in the space of wellness and cannabis. Breaking barriers as the first black woman to open and operate a dispensary in Berkeley, California, she has been featured in Forbes, CNN, ABC7, Black Enterprise, MSN and several other publications sharing her incredible journey through cannabis. As she is one of the most influential women in cannabis she continues to utilize her platform to debunk any negativity surrounding the healing plant. As a mother, grandmother, entrepreneur, and advocate, Sue Taylor has made it her mission to be a resource to the elderly community through her Mama Sue Wellness tinctures and series of educational events.
I had the pleasure and honor of speaking with Sue after she was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award from Grammy Award Winning singer Erykah Badu at the 2024 Women in Cannabis Awards. Check it out below.
Sue Taylor Interview
What does it mean to you being a cannabis advocate and how did you get your start in the cannabis industry?
Sue Taylor: If someone had told me 17 years ago that I would be working in the cannabis industry I would have never believed them. I did not choose this, it chose me. My son lured me into the business by convincing me that this is a way for me to have my spiritual wellness center that I have always wanted and that intrigued me. I saw that it was needed because of how I took care of my body when I began to age and I knew the pharmaceutical approach wasn’t working way back then. As I said yes to work with Cannabis, I was actually scared and frightened by it due to the movie Reefer Madness. People in my generation were always told weed was a drug and it was always black people or hispanics and the weed devil and a lot of craziness.
This deterred my generation from cannabis because we simply do not break rules and it was deemed federally illegal. As an African American woman you know there is a stigma around us. I am already judged for being a black woman and I don’t want to be judged again! Being black I am judged everyday even still to this day, so to be taking on something that is extremely stigmatized was scary. But when my son told me I could have my Sue Taylor Wellness facility, I said okay let’s give it a try. Even though I was scared, I knew it was something I had to do to improve the quality of my life. If your dream doesn’t scare you a little bit your dream is not big enough. I was so scared but I was not willing to give up, which has allowed me to live my dream in real time.
Not only are you a cannabis advocate but you are also a pioneer. Can you share with me your vision for your Farmacy dispensary as you are the first and only black woman to own and operate a dispensary in Berkeley?
ST: The journey to opening Farmacy Berkeley was not an easy one. It took us 17 years to get things going. However, I was granted a permit to open Farmacy Berkeley because I had a special niche. Mine was geared to the needs of seniors. I also did my own lobbying to the city council and the mayor. I did it because we really didn’t have the money to do it and we are not equity people. We used our family’s money to get things accomplished. I had another key component Brittany that I want to share. When I went in, they could see that I genuinely cared for humankind. It wasn’t about me. And it really wasn’t just about cannabis. I just saw cannabis as one tool to help people. My pioneer work has helped with the stigma that surrounds cannabis. Recently I received the Lifetime Achievement at the Women in Cannabis Awards for my advocacy work and have also received an advocacy award from Oaksterdam University.
I have been very successful at helping to eliminate the stigma because I don’t fit the mold. I’m a former Catholic school principal. I am also a commissioner on aging. I was the commissioner on aging for Alameda County, where Farmacy Berkeley is located. On top of that, I am certified by the state of California to teach the cannabis program to nurses and help them obtain credits toward the yearly certifications that they need. I’ve had that certification for five years or more. It’s amazing to do that. It has been quite a journey for me. I have also been successful simply because I genuinely care.
When we opened up Farmacy Berkeley, we were open for one month, then the pandemic stopped everything. They sent all seniors home because people were afraid I was going to get covid. So we went away from it and then came back. But before I really got into business, I was teaching seniors. I had a community room where I would educate seniors free of charge, just come in and talk. I even did meditation classes. I did a lot of things there as well. Then that all stopped because of the pandemic. But I want you to be clear on this, we were opened up after we got the license.
How did Cannabis change your life?
ST: When I saw the way cannabis was positively impacting the lives of everyone around me that I was working with, that’s when I became open to cannabis. When I started off, I would not touch it, I was simply just doing the work. But after time, people kept coming to me saying that they were no longer using canes, wheelchairs or medication anymore. Seeing the progress in those people, I began to change my mind and became open to cannabis to help with pain or to help me sleep.
I started to think “maybe my son was right this whole time”. I thought he was on drugs, but when I found out what he was doing things changed. He was attending Oaksterdam University learning the entrepreneur side of cannabis. 17 years ago, there were only dispensaries for medical patients and only three in the Berkeley area making the rules a lot stricter. Its incredible how much growth there has been in the industry and the opportunities it’s presenting in helping others, especially seniors. I continued to do the work, myself along with the many hardworking individuals in the cannabis industry see the benefits of being in the business.
What is your mission for helping the elderly connect to cannabis as you have your Mama Sue Wellness products that are specifically geared toward seniors?
ST: Those products were made with love for a group of people that most people have forgotten about. This means everything to me to be able to have wellness products that cater to my demographic.
Seniors mostly come to cannabis for two reasons, because they can’t sleep or they’re in pain. Thats what each tincture was crafted to help with, we have a sleep tincture made with high CBN and CBD and an extra strength tincture which is high-CBD to help with aches and pain. And we have more products coming very soon. These were made with seniors in mind, but I think I might have more young people using the Mama Sue products for sleep and anxiety because the relief tincture, you could use that during the day and still function. They won’t get you high.
What has it been like working with Glass House Brands?
ST: I’ve been a part of Glass House, for a little over 4 years. What many people don’t know is that in the process of building Farmacy Berkeley, we ran out of money. That is when Kyle, Graham and the Glass House team came in, we became partners and they put up the remainder of the money to help build out the dispensary to my specifications. Glass House also helped me develop my tincture products that I’ve always wanted, Mama Sue Wellness. They aligned with my values and are doing things right, that’s why I chose them.
I’m grateful to be part of the Glass House team, they really support my mission in helping change the stigma around cannabis. As a Brand Ambassador we work together to put together these educational events, I travel to our different dispensaries where I get to speak and answer questions for local seniors one on one.
You mentioned your Mama Sue products and how they’re kind of more so geared toward the senior community. What do you feel like is the most important thing about wellness when it comes to cannabis and debunking these misconceptions?
ST: To begin, it depends on the group of people you are talking to. For instance, when me and my fellow cannabis advocates needed to get something done as a cannabis group going up against the city and state, they would always suggest sending me to speak on the group’s behalf. They thought it was like some magic or something, but let me tell you what it was, Brittany. I looked at the cannabis industry and I looked at most of the people who were in that industry at that time. They looked like stoners. I did not. And I was not. And I made a conscious decision that every time I was representing cannabis, I would look like a lawyer. And that’s who they met. They said, oh, you are in the wrong place, lady. I said, no, I’m here for cannabis. I didn’t fit the mold. Brittany, when they looked at me, I didn’t fit their perception of what people who used cannabis look like. Does that make sense?
I know that recently you and Dreka Gates got a chance to connect, can you share the synergy and connection you two ladies share?
ST: It was amazing. It was one of my most amazing ‘Plants Over Pills’ interviews because we connected on so many levels, so many levels. I’ve never met a young person like that, that’s spiritually evolved like her, because she’s young, you know she’s young, she’s only 37. And we just talked like we knew each other. Wait till you see the interview, it’s on the Glass House YouTube channel. I’ve never conducted an interview like that before. The camera crew was saying, oh my God, they were amazed at how easily we connected, and we just kept talking and talking. We connected on such a high level, we’re both spiritual people, we’ve been through a lot, we believe in plant medicine for healing, and she’s now even opening her first dispensary in Mississippi. Dreka talks about all the challenges she went through to secure the permit. We had trouble in California and we’re the most progressive state there is, I can’t imagine Mississippi. We bonded over all of that, opening our first dispensary and our vision to expanding that into our wellness facilities.
What has been your experience with pills versus plants for healing?
ST: They tried to give me a pill during the pandemic. I’m a spiritual person, and I had anxiety and was having difficult nights of sleep, had so much fear, all that kind of stuff. So, I went to my doctor and she prescribed me pills. I said, you know, I’m not a pill taker. But for some reason she insisted that I just take it. So I took the pills home, I looked it up and researched them before I popped anything. You know what it said on the bottle, they were to help with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia! I called her immediately and relayed my findings to her. You know what her response to me was? Why are you questioning me? You are not a doctor. She said, I give that to all my patients that have anxiety. You know what my response to her was? “I am not all your patients, and I don’t take a pill for anything. You know that I don’t take a pill to manage my health so why would you give me something for schizophrenics? I am not schizophrenic.” So that was it. I had to start looking out for my own health, and wellbeing.
I always make this disclaimer, pills have their place. Pharmaceuticals are not bad. They are not bad for people who need them. Pharmaceutical drugs were made for temporary use. If you get into a car accident or going into operation for eight hours, yes pills are helpful. But most people are using pharmaceuticals just to manage their day to day lives. Like with high blood pressure, with high cholesterol, with even anxiety.You start taking pills for an operation, then you have high blood pressure, then 10, 15 years later, you’re still on those same pills and more. That’s not okay. We have to stay educated about our health and thankfully, our younger generation are getting better at understanding that. The younger generation just doesn’t take what people tell them. You guys research everything. I have three sons so I’m surrounded by all the young people all the time and they keep me sharp.
I just met another guy, he’s gonna open up a wellness facility because everybody is seeing the light, popping a pill is not going to get you healthy. If anything, it’s gonna deteriorate your body because it’s all about the money. Pharmaceutical approach to healthcare. They give politicians money so they continue to push pills on us. We have to look beyond. We have to think for ourselves and find more natural ways to heal and care for bodies, mind and spirit.
Brittany, as I look at your beautiful face today, with that beautiful skin, that beautiful complexion, you have to go within and do what’s best for Brittany. I don’t care what the doctors try to tell you. Trust yourself first, always.
To learn more about Mama Sue Taylor and her journey through cannabis, follow her on Instagram at @suetaylorwellness.
Not everyone can be a winner. Detroit native and hip-hop sensation 42 Dugg is back with a fiery new single, Win Wit Us. The track, a precursor to his highly anticipated album 4eva Us, Neva Them, showcases Dugg’s signature style and lyrical prowess. In the brand new single, produced by FLEXONTHEBEAT, TyMaz, and Marshak, Dugg calls out those who try to ride his wave without putting in the work, cementing his stance in the rap game. The release is accompanied by an official music video directed by Counter Point, where Dugg and his crew dominate the streets and clubs of Detroit, visually reinforcing his message of loyalty and resilience. Dugg raps in the hard-hitting track:
All of sudden they wanna win wit us / But ain’t spin with us.
Dugg previously teased this new era of his music with a trailer featuring Hill Harper, further building anticipation among his fans. “Win Wit Us” follows a series of recent hits including Wock N Red, SpinDatBac, and Go Again. Earlier this year, Dugg made a triumphant return to the stage with a sold-out “Welcome Home” show at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena, featuring appearances by superstars like Meek Mill, Yo Gotti, Lil Baby, and more. Notably, the event saw Dugg unite Detroit’s rival hip-hop factions, Doughboyz Cashout and Team Eastside, in a historic move to end the city’s East-West beef. Fans can expect even more groundbreaking music from Dugg as he gears up for his upcoming album. Don’t miss out on the latest single available for streaming here and watch the music video below. Link up with 42 Dugg on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
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