The Backstory:
When it comes to hair products, I tend to stick by my old standbys (
Kinky Curly - Come Clean, Knot Today and Curling Custard are staples in my "routine"). While I suffer from the
occasional bout of product junky-ism (mostly if I see a product line with good ingredients -- i.e. low on toxins, high on organics), I tend not to try anything new unless it gets rave reviews. These reviews usually come from Nia and she usually has to mention something to me a few times before I become a believer. Yup, I admit it. I'm a hard headed skeptic.
Earlier this summer I was picking up a few things at Target and decided to pass through the hair care isle just to see what was poppin'. A pinkish bottle caught my eye. I had seen it before, but something about the packaging previously made me pass it by. This time, my eyes focused on the words "paraben free". Oh rrrrrrrreally? These are magic words in my world. I picked up the bottle of KIMBLE HAIRCARE Bounce Back Curl Revitalizer, and while I wasn't wowed by all of the ingredients, I was glad to see others (grapeseed, rosemary, aloe...) Then I noticed that the price was less than $5, so I put the bottle in my shopping cart without another thought. Yup, I admit it. I'm cheap and love a bargain too.
When I got home I googled Kimble Haircare because the name sounded familiar. I realized that was because it's the product line for celebrity hairstylist
Kim Kimble. While she's not the first person I think of when dealing with natural hair, I figured she's a stylist to the stars for a reason, so why not give it a try?
The Review:
As a true skeptic, I didn't expect much when I first got the product home. I gave it a sniff and to be honest, the fragrance is not my favorite. I squeezed out a tiny amount to check out the texture and noticed that while it's a bit sticky, it also looks kind of like Aquafresh toothpaste -- like a gel and a cream were combined to make a cool new substance. I'd been looking for something of similar consistency to use to quickly fluff out my curls when there's no time to wash, detangle, etc., so I was excited to see what this could do. The back of the bottle claims that by using this product you can:
"Bounce back to vibrant, natural looking curls with KIMBLE HAIRCARE Bounce Back Curl Revitalizer. This botanical-infused styling cream smooths and boosts each individual ringlet, enhancing overall body and definition. Hair results in increased shine and dimension. Great for those with naturally curly hair."
I was, in fact, able to easily refresh my curls day after day after day with this product. It smoothed my hair and gave some definition (I dunno about "each individual ringlet", but I have a ridiculous amount of hair, so that's really a lot to ask) without causing the hair to dry out. It also helped to reduce shrinkage a bit, which is kind of amazing in and of itself. As I said, I'm not in love with the smell, and it is a tad sticky, but not overly so. My only real complaint would be a few of the more frightening ingredients and that it tends to flake after a couple of days of use, but that is easily solved with a good rinsing, as it washes out really easily. I'll be buying this again when the bottle runs out.
The Technique:
The only directions on the bottle say: "Apply to wet hair and style as desired." That's not a lot of information to go on, so I decided to just wing it. I used my favorite home-made hair spritz (water, aloe vera juice and vegetable glycerin) to get my hair damp all over, but not sopping wet. I used about a nickle-sized amount in each of four sections of my hair (by sections I mean that I grabbed a bunch of hair in a certain area of my head, not that I took the time to part my hair and clip back each piece) and smoothed from roots to ends. Et voila, jolies boucles! (pretty curls)
I have yet to try this product on freshly (co)washed hair, in place of Kinky Curly Curling Custard and/or gel (Kiss My Face and Eco Styler have been the two I've been using in the recent past). Maybe if I'm feeling experimental in the next couple of weeks, I'll try it out, but in the warmer weather I tend to wear my hair in up-dos and only wear it out for special occasions (which are times when I typically don't feel like trying my luck with new hair techniques). In the meantime, I'll keep using it as I have been, for a quick refresher, either to fluff out my curls and go, or to help smooth my hair into an up-do.
The Rating:
Overall, I'd give KIMBLE HAIRCARE Bounce Back Curl Revitalizer a 4 out of 5.
, 
for facials we did last night. I also got another bottle of my KMF gel and decided to try their conditioner. We're all stocked up on yummy foods and watching the rain come down. But after this blows through, I encourage all my readers in DC to take trip the Glut and Nicey's next door to do some fun and wholesome shopping, while supporting a natural black entrepreneur and a non-profit that feeds back (literally) into their community.
