Hi guys! Today I'm reviewing one of (in my opinion) the best products TIGI makes, Bed Head Superficial Smoothing Liquid For Shiny, Silky hair. I've been on a lot of sites that have reviewed this and it's clear that this is one of those products that some people absolutely love, and some people absolutely despise. I am one of the people who loooove it, BUT only on certain types of hair. Unfortunately there are some hair types that just cannot handle this product, because it's just so super-concentrated - even a little bit can weigh down their hair and make it look flat + dirty. Textbook cases of accidental Product OD. So I'm dedicating this post to anyone with a thick, coarse, unruly mane of hair trying to make it look sleek and healthy with a ton of shine - keep reading!
I actually got this product back in the summer, July I think. It was in this Haul post, actually. I had always seen it on the shelves, and it looked interesting, (especially the metallic letters... oooh shiny...) and it smelled really good, plus I love products that smooth hair, so I gave it a shot. As soon as I started using it on people, I knew that it was seriously strong stuff, and through trial + error figured out which types of hair would respond well to this. This is made specifically for very dry, very coarse hair - and definitely NOT for people with fine hair. I can't stress that enough. No matter how much hair you have in terms of density, this product is just way too strong for fine hair... and even a few people with normal hair might think it's a bit much. Be warned: If you are anti-cone, this product is not for you - it's got a ton.
Before I move on the ingredients, I really want to clarify the differences between different hair types.
- When talking about hair texture, people typically either have coarse, normal, or fine hair. Depending on your genetics, it is possible to be somewhere between the spectrum - like having normal/coarse hair or fine/normal hair. It's also possible to have hair that is especially coarse or fine, again depending on your genes. Hair texture could also refer to whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly, or kinky/overcurly. The same rules apply here too - you can have hair that's super straight naturally, but it can be quite coarse. Or you can have hair that's kinda wavy, or kinda straight, or kinda kinky depending on what day it is - lol! Some people just have the kind of hair that changes all the time.
- Sometimes people get confused when - after they tell me that they have thick hair - I ask what the texture is like. Some people don't understand that they're two different things, and I understand cos it is a bit confusing at first. In terms of hair density, when you say your hair is "thick" you're just saying you have a lot of hair, you're not describing your hair texture. You can have really thick, massive hair, but the actual texture of your hair might be very fine. I see it allll the time. Contrariwise, you could actually have thin hair, but the texture might be coarse. And like hair texture, you could fall somewhere in the middle - like if your hair is pretty normal in texture but a bit denser than the average person, and so on... Hair is tricky like that. Again, it's in your genes - blame your folks.
- There are other factors that affect your hair type + texture: your environment, diet/lifestyle, mechanical damage, heat styling tools, chemical damage, hard water, I mean there are all sorts of things that make your hair the way it is. Knowing your actual hair type and texture is the key when it comes to buying products. Everyone's hair is unique, but everyone is beautiful.
Cyclopentasiloxane is a type of silicone that is used to protect hair against breakage, and to break up other silicones... good thing cos this product is chock full of them. Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate is a film former that adds a ton of long-lasting shine. It's very similar to Phenyl Trimethicone, but it's a liquid instead of a film former, and it doesn't last as long. Dimethiconol comes from silica; it adds shine and conditions hair. C13-14 Isoparaffin is a thickening agent derived from petroleum. Dimethicone is a silicone that conditions hair well and repels moisture. Ethyl Macadamiate = ethyl alcohol + macadamia seed oil. It's used to increase spreadability, and it seems like it may replace cyclomethicone and dimethicone in cosmetics one day. C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a thickener and an emollient. Panthenol (vitamin B5) is used to strengthen the hair shaft, while adding shine + body. Caprylyl Methicone is a carrier for other ingredients and improves the spreadability of a product. Bis-Phenylpropyl Dimethicone is a silicone derivative that enhances shine and adds a silky feel to hair.
See why I don't like this for fine hair? It's just too concentrated and way too strong. But a few sprays of this in coarse hair before blowdrying makes it feel like heaveeennnn. Super shiny, glossy, healthy looking hair. And this is to be used in wet hair only! Usually you wanna towel dry your hair a bit before putting product in - not with this. Just dry it a little so it's not dripping wet, then spray it a few times, focusing on the middle + ends of your hair (don't spray it near your roots), then comb it through and blowdry. Trust me, you will love it. And because it's so concentrated and you need to use so little, one bottle will last you a very long time.
Bed Head Superficial Smoothing Liquid comes in a 100 ml / 3.38 fl oz. bottle, and retails for about $25.
Another review done! I have some big things coming soon, and plenty more reviews so keep reading! Take care of your hair, no matter what type it is!