Oscar Blandi Luce

Oscar Blandi Luce looks like a conditioner. But it isn't one, as I've learned the hard way.

Luce is a light glossing treatment. I'm all for shine, which was why I picked this cute (but utterly inconvenient) bottle to begin with. But the problems started from the first use. I followed directions and started by washing and conditioning my hair (using the Oribe Signature products), then applied Luce, covered with a shower cap and gave it time to work. As I rinsed it, I could already tell that my hair felt too thick and had a weird texture. The problem with this product is the way it coats, thickens and separates each and every hair. I have too much hair for it to be a good thing, and no amount of goop in the known world could conquer the frizz.

But I'm a beauty blogger. I do my research and I try stuff so you don't have to. Which is why I didn't toss the bottle. I've read that this Oscar Blandi product needs continued use before you can expect to see results, so I kept applying it for another couple of weeks. While there was a little less frizz and my curls looked a bit shinier than usual, it still was not making me happy. I also made the grave mistake to test Luce without using a conditioner first. It was one bad hair day from hell. This product has absolutely no detangling capabilities and it doesn't nourish hair. At all.

I have yet to test Luce before straightening my hair with the styling iron. But frankly, since hair-ironing requires a couple of extra products (protective cream and finishing serum) as it is, I'm a bit reluctant to go this way.

Bottom line: Oscar Blandi Luce is not for me. My hair has enough shine as it is, since I don't color it and I use heavy duty masks and conditioners, so whatever gloss this products adds isn't worth the hassle of an extra step in the shower or the thick, frizzy hair that comes with it.

Oscar Blandi Luce ($25 for 8 oz) is available from Sephora and beauty.com. I bought it online, but can't remember from which one of these two stores.

Oscar Blandi Luce

Oscar Blandi Luce looks like a conditioner. But it isn't one, as I've learned the hard way.

Luce is a light glossing treatment. I'm all for shine, which was why I picked this cute (but utterly inconvenient) bottle to begin with. But the problems started from the first use. I followed directions and started by washing and conditioning my hair (using the Oribe Signature products), then applied Luce, covered with a shower cap and gave it time to work. As I rinsed it, I could already tell that my hair felt too thick and had a weird texture. The problem with this product is the way it coats, thickens and separates each and every hair. I have too much hair for it to be a good thing, and no amount of goop in the known world could conquer the frizz.

But I'm a beauty blogger. I do my research and I try stuff so you don't have to. Which is why I didn't toss the bottle. I've read that this Oscar Blandi product needs continued use before you can expect to see results, so I kept applying it for another couple of weeks. While there was a little less frizz and my curls looked a bit shinier than usual, it still was not making me happy. I also made the grave mistake to test Luce without using a conditioner first. It was one bad hair day from hell. This product has absolutely no detangling capabilities and it doesn't nourish hair. At all.

I have yet to test Luce before straightening my hair with the styling iron. But frankly, since hair-ironing requires a couple of extra products (protective cream and finishing serum) as it is, I'm a bit reluctant to go this way.

Bottom line: Oscar Blandi Luce is not for me. My hair has enough shine as it is, since I don't color it and I use heavy duty masks and conditioners, so whatever gloss this products adds isn't worth the hassle of an extra step in the shower or the thick, frizzy hair that comes with it.

Oscar Blandi Luce ($25 for 8 oz) is available from Sephora and beauty.com. I bought it online, but can't remember from which one of these two stores.

Oscar Blandi Luce

Oscar Blandi Luce looks like a conditioner. But it isn't one, as I've learned the hard way.

Luce is a light glossing treatment. I'm all for shine, which was why I picked this cute (but utterly inconvenient) bottle to begin with. But the problems started from the first use. I followed directions and started by washing and conditioning my hair (using the Oribe Signature products), then applied Luce, covered with a shower cap and gave it time to work. As I rinsed it, I could already tell that my hair felt too thick and had a weird texture. The problem with this product is the way it coats, thickens and separates each and every hair. I have too much hair for it to be a good thing, and no amount of goop in the known world could conquer the frizz.

But I'm a beauty blogger. I do my research and I try stuff so you don't have to. Which is why I didn't toss the bottle. I've read that this Oscar Blandi product needs continued use before you can expect to see results, so I kept applying it for another couple of weeks. While there was a little less frizz and my curls looked a bit shinier than usual, it still was not making me happy. I also made the grave mistake to test Luce without using a conditioner first. It was one bad hair day from hell. This product has absolutely no detangling capabilities and it doesn't nourish hair. At all.

I have yet to test Luce before straightening my hair with the styling iron. But frankly, since hair-ironing requires a couple of extra products (protective cream and finishing serum) as it is, I'm a bit reluctant to go this way.

Bottom line: Oscar Blandi Luce is not for me. My hair has enough shine as it is, since I don't color it and I use heavy duty masks and conditioners, so whatever gloss this products adds isn't worth the hassle of an extra step in the shower or the thick, frizzy hair that comes with it.

Oscar Blandi Luce ($25 for 8 oz) is available from Sephora and beauty.com. I bought it online, but can't remember from which one of these two stores.

Oscar Blandi Smoothing Hair Cream Trattamento Di Jasmine

My hair has never been happier. Every hair care product I've tested in the last six months has been a success, and the result is a simple, almost minimalistic routine. I wash, condition and use small amount of just one leave-in product, be it a curling mousse or a smoothing serum or cream, and that's it. For someone with the amount of hair I'm sporting, this is a huge improvement that saves time, money and general fuss.

Oscar Blandi Smoothing Hair Cream that also answers to the romantic sounding name Trattamento di Jasmine, is a (very) thick conditioner. The directions tell you to leave it for 3-15 minutes and recommend wrapping your hair in a towel and then covering the whole thing with a shower cap, because it performs better if there's some heat involved. I skip the towel, because there's no shower cap in the world big enough to host both my hair and a towel. I just pin it up with a clip, wear the shower cap and do my thing. In my experience, 5 to 10 minutes are more than enough to get excellent results.

It's a bit odd at first. The cream is thick and the hair feels heavier and texturized after you wash it off, as though you've used a volumizing or a no-grease product, which scared me when I first used it (the last thing I need is more volume. My hair would take the entire Easter Seaboard). But once the hair is dry and everything was in place, with or without a styling product I could tell things are smoother and significantly less frizzy. A good shine and a very pleasant low-key jasmine scent (no sillage, you need to bury your nose in my hair to smell it, but please don't) make this a great product that has earned its place in my rotation.

Oscar Blandi Smoothing Hair Cream ($26) is available at Sephora, online and in store. My original travel size was a GWP, I've bought a full size since.

Image: The Jasmine Fairy by Cicely Mary Barker, shamelessly swiped from an eBay auction.

Oscar Blandi Smoothing Hair Cream Trattamento Di Jasmine

My hair has never been happier. Every hair care product I've tested in the last six months has been a success, and the result is a simple, almost minimalistic routine. I wash, condition and use small amount of just one leave-in product, be it a curling mousse or a smoothing serum or cream, and that's it. For someone with the amount of hair I'm sporting, this is a huge improvement that saves time, money and general fuss.

Oscar Blandi Smoothing Hair Cream that also answers to the romantic sounding name Trattamento di Jasmine, is a (very) thick conditioner. The directions tell you to leave it for 3-15 minutes and recommend wrapping your hair in a towel and then covering the whole thing with a shower cap, because it performs better if there's some heat involved. I skip the towel, because there's no shower cap in the world big enough to host both my hair and a towel. I just pin it up with a clip, wear the shower cap and do my thing. In my experience, 5 to 10 minutes are more than enough to get excellent results.

It's a bit odd at first. The cream is thick and the hair feels heavier and texturized after you wash it off, as though you've used a volumizing or a no-grease product, which scared me when I first used it (the last thing I need is more volume. My hair would take the entire Easter Seaboard). But once the hair is dry and everything was in place, with or without a styling product I could tell things are smoother and significantly less frizzy. A good shine and a very pleasant low-key jasmine scent (no sillage, you need to bury your nose in my hair to smell it, but please don't) make this a great product that has earned its place in my rotation.

Oscar Blandi Smoothing Hair Cream ($26) is available at Sephora, online and in store. My original travel size was a GWP, I've bought a full size since.

Image: The Jasmine Fairy by Cicely Mary Barker, shamelessly swiped from an eBay auction.

Oscar Blandi Smoothing Hair Cream Trattamento Di Jasmine

My hair has never been happier. Every hair care product I've tested in the last six months has been a success, and the result is a simple, almost minimalistic routine. I wash, condition and use small amount of just one leave-in product, be it a curling mousse or a smoothing serum or cream, and that's it. For someone with the amount of hair I'm sporting, this is a huge improvement that saves time, money and general fuss.

Oscar Blandi Smoothing Hair Cream that also answers to the romantic sounding name Trattamento di Jasmine, is a (very) thick conditioner. The directions tell you to leave it for 3-15 minutes and recommend wrapping your hair in a towel and then covering the whole thing with a shower cap, because it performs better if there's some heat involved. I skip the towel, because there's no shower cap in the world big enough to host both my hair and a towel. I just pin it up with a clip, wear the shower cap and do my thing. In my experience, 5 to 10 minutes are more than enough to get excellent results.

It's a bit odd at first. The cream is thick and the hair feels heavier and texturized after you wash it off, as though you've used a volumizing or a no-grease product, which scared me when I first used it (the last thing I need is more volume. My hair would take the entire Easter Seaboard). But once the hair is dry and everything was in place, with or without a styling product I could tell things are smoother and significantly less frizzy. A good shine and a very pleasant low-key jasmine scent (no sillage, you need to bury your nose in my hair to smell it, but please don't) make this a great product that has earned its place in my rotation.

Oscar Blandi Smoothing Hair Cream ($26) is available at Sephora, online and in store. My original travel size was a GWP, I've bought a full size since.

Image: The Jasmine Fairy by Cicely Mary Barker, shamelessly swiped from an eBay auction.