I’ve never been particularly fond of leave-in conditioners. I have fine hair, and spraying them on after I have already used a thick conditioner in the shower feels gratuitous, not to mention, typically leaves my hair feeling heavy or crunchy. But after I decided to get hair extensions, I quickly realized my new long, thick hair needed a different kind of maintenance than my short, thin hair of the past. And so the arduous journey to find a great leave-in conditioner commenced.
On the path to detangled hair, I tried a couple of different formulas. Most worked just fine and allowed my brush to actually move through the added lengths of my extensions. But really, I wasn’t completely thrilled with any of them. Then, along came Milk_Shake-a hair-care brand from the UK that NewBeauty at Fred Segal just added to the shelves. Naturally, the first product on my agenda to try was the Milk_Shake Leave in Conditioner ($18).
The ingredients first intrigued me. Infused with milk and casein proteins to add strength; fruit extracts, honey, silicon, along with hydrating and conditioning agents are all meant to revitalize and add shine with increased comb-ability. It also contains sun filters, which help keep hair color bright and brilliant.
I sprayed the conditioner liberally from root to end after I hopped out of the shower, and the sugary scent of vanilla wafted over my hair leaving it soft, tangle-free, and possibly smelling the best it has ever smelled. Ever. Seriously, the scent is so deliciously sweet that I considered plopping a straw into the mouth of the bottle and drinking it up…hence the name of the brand. And because I am the kind of gal who appreciates a product that not only makes my hair look better, but smells so good it beckons people to stop me on the street (really, someone behind me in line at Starbucks asked me what perfume I was wearing), I give this leave-in treatment two enthusiastic thumbs up.
If Milk_Shake didn’t smell as heaven-scent, would I love it as much? Maybe, but maybe not. Am I alone here or does the smell of a product affect your perception of it?
