Review: I tried South Korea’s bestselling Yves Rocher Hair Rinsing Vinegar – here’s what I think
As a regular swimmer, I abide by the usual hair maintenance routine, which includes shampoo, conditioner and weekly masks, followed by the daily leave-in moisturiser/cream. Once in a while, I will use detox shampoos to get rid of the accumulated gunk. Unfortunately, despite my religious hair care procedures, my hair has lost much of its shine, no thanks to the perming and colour treatments I have been subjecting it to since the start of the year.
I have heard about the benefits of vinegar for hair and even resorted to home concoctions such as apple cider vinegar (ACV) that I culled from the Internet. Mixing the correct ratio was one thing, but the off-putting smell from the ACV was the main drawback. However, I was recently introduced to Yves Rocher's hair rinsing vinegar range which promises to turn up the shine of my hair. My previous bad experience with the homemade ACV set off trepidations in me. But my investigative journalistic instinct told me to give it a try. So, here’s what I think of the products.
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First impressions: Refresh & Shine
Yves Rocher has two types of hair rinsing vinegar – Refresh (green bottle) promises to eliminate two times more pollutants than water. While Shine (red) is supposed to bring on a "more intense shine than rinsing with water". A quick whiff of the Shine product brought me back to my childhood candy-loving days. It smelt like candy, and I wondered if the saccharine sweetness would linger after rinsing. Refresh, on the other hand, brought to mind freshly cut grass or even the smell of the rain. I was looking forward to trying it out!
Yves Rocher Hair Rinsing Vinegar Shine 400ml
Yves Rocher Hair Rinsing Vinegar Detox 150ml
Origins and ingredients
Based on the belief that “beautiful hair starts with a healthy scalp”, Yves Rocher products are Made in France in beautiful La Gacilly, where nature is aplenty. What I love about its products is that 99 per cent of its ingredients are sourced from natural origin and are silicone-free.
How to use
The instructions on the packaging are to "Apply before the last rinse. Rinse." It was a little too brief to comprehend fully. A quick check with friends showed that I'm not the only one confused by its instructions. Upon some investigation, the usage is so simple. Shampoo and condition your hair as per usual. After rinsing away your conditioner, squeeze excess water from your hair (not towel dry), then apply the Yves Rocher rinsing vinegar to the roots and hair. Massage and spread it all over the scalp and hair, leave on for a few minutes, rinse off and you are done!
Let’s put it to the test
Now that we have gotten the usage directions out of the way let's take a closer look at its packaging. The cap is tight and leakproof but easy to open with one hand. The clear bottle also allows me to quickly see how much of the product I’m left with – a feature which will be greatly appreciated when the time comes to replenish the product. The 400ml bottle is handy, which makes it easy to hold. So far, so good! However, when it came to squirting the product, the absence of a nozzle meant that I couldn't accurately spray at specific spots. However, it didn't matter much to me since I was already in the shower.
Report card
So how did both products fare? I tried both products separately three to five days each, and I have to say, I noticed a greater shine on my hair, especially after using Shine, which reportedly restores shine to dull hair. It was evident when I looked at my selfie – the hair reflected the light from the camera. My hair also felt stronger and cleaner.
Similarly, I liked how clean my scalp felt after using Refresh. I much prefer the scent of Refresh as compared to Shine. However, I did notice that Shine did bring on more brilliance to my hair comparatively. Only after I studied the product packaging in detail did I realise that Refresh was more for cleansing the polluting particles in the hair. No wonder.
As for those concerned about the acidity and smell of the vinegar, rest assured that there was no unpleasant lingering smell. I now look forward to my hair cleansing routine and am eager to see the continued improvement of my hair and scalp.
What else to love?
To the best of my ability, I try to do my part for Mother Nature. I'm happy to share with you, my fellow nature-lovers, that the Yves Rocher hair rinsing vinegar uses 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles for packaging. In fact, for many years, the brand has committed to reducing the environmental impact of its packaging. With that concern out of the way, everyone can play a part in reducing our carbon footprint.
Top hair care tips from beauty expert
Curious about what else to do to enhance the health of your hair? I spoke with Yves Rocher’s Asia Training Manager, Ms Nora Soho, who has 24 years of experience in the beauty industry, to provide hair care tips to my fellow hair-loving beauty junkies. Ms Nora shares her infectious passion for beauty via training of the region’s brand ambassadors. Here are her top tips on maintaining healthy, lustrous locks that will make you the envy of everyone around you.
Hair care Tip 1: Good diet
A good diet will ensure that our hair gets the nutrients for optimal keratin production since our hair receives nutrients from our blood supply to the hair roots. Ensure you consume a good amount of Proteins which may be found in eggs, fish, meat, lentils, and edamame; Biotin, which are found in avocados, mushroom, nuts, and seeds; and Vitamin A, which may be sourced from sweet potatoes and carrots.
Hair care Tip 2: Limit heat styling
Heat styling tools may be essential in managing and styling our hair, but long-term use will ultimately damage the hair cuticles. If you must use heat styling tools, be sure to apply conditioning or protective hair products before applying heat. This will help significantly reduce the damage caused by the heat.
Hair care Tip 3: Scalp massage
Massaging the scalp helps to ensure better blood circulation for stronger, healthier hair.
Hair care Tip 4: Choose the proper hair care routine
Scalp and hair concerns may differ. As such, use specific hair care products to target each need. Weekly treatments such as hair masks and treatments are essential for healthy, shiny hair. Always end your hair wash with Yves Rocher Hair Rinsing Vinegar to clarify and remove trapped pollutants on your hair and scalp that accumulates throughout the day.
Hair care Tip 5: Big no-nos
Never rub the hair roughly with a towel to dry hair. Instead, treat your hair with care. Press gently between towels to remove excess water. Trim the dry ends of the hair regularly to maintain its health.
Hair care Tip 6: Use warm and cool water
Use warm water before massaging in shampoo, then use cool water to rinse it off. A little procedure many tend to neglect is to detangle the hair first before hair washing.
With these hair care tips in mind, go get that shiny hair you deserve today!
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