Philip Kingsley // Elasticizer Review

Philip Kingsley // Elasticizer
RRP £19 for 75ml

This is a 40ml sample that I received a beauty box. I think this is the third or fourth tube I've got from beauty boxes now.

First Impressions:

I remember the first time I got this and when I realised it was a pre-poo treatment I didn't like it. I was very lazy and the idea of wetting my hair, applying this, leaving it and then having to wash my hair again was very unappealing. 

Usage

I'd say a 40ml tube lasts me a good couple of months as I only use it every two washes. But I do use about a third of the tube each time (my hair is down to my butt). I wash my hair every 5 days with one wash day using my mudmasky pre-poo treatment + deep conditioner (that's the hydration wash day with no protein), the second wash day is just a normal shampoo/conditioner and the third is this followed by protein sprays.

Would I buy it: Yes.

Overall Impressions:

When I was 18 I cut all my hair off into a pixie cut and bleached it blonde. I have semi-afro hair in a community where all the hairdressers trained with predominately Caucasian hair. They saw me come in with my straightened hair, chopped it off and then I looked like a toilet brush for years as I desperately waited to grow it out. During that time I was obsessed with this website called the Long Hair Community and I started really taking care of my hair but I was still treating it as though it was straight Caucasian hair. At 24 I decided to go back to Uni and get a degree and in those 3 years I completely neglected myself and only now, almost 5 years later have I started getting back into some sort of self-care routine. I think that's why I initially hated this product.

Last year I found a YouTube channel called Manes by Mell and she has transformed how I treat my hair. It took about 6 months of serious care but for the first time in my life I now wear it naturally curly and it looks great. She taught me that pre-poo treatments are really important for curly hair as well as ensuring the perfect balance between protein and hydration. The elasticizer is a protein deep conditioner so it helps add structure to your hair and my curls are super soft and bouncy afterwards. I don't use it all the time, about once a month, so even though £19 is pretty pricy for 75ml it lasts me a long time. I would be super happy buying this full price. They've even brought out a new vanilla and orange elasticizer...is it payday yet?

As for a routine, I now comb my hair through with a detangler whilst it's dry. Then I wet my hair, apply this and wrap it up in plastic bag/shower cap and apply some heat from my hairdryer for about 5 minutes. I then wash it out and proceed with shampoo/conditioner. As long as you don't let a cotton towel touch your hair whilst it's wet, there will be no frizz. You need to take your time with it but in the end it's worth it.