Just Trying: C Michael Trichologica HairomaTherapy affordable hair care

Have you noticed this range of hair care at the local pharmacies yet? I spotted a whole rack at Watson’s recently, and it really is very affordably priced at between RM16.90-RM24.90 (those I saw) So when I was requested to give these a go, I was game. After all, if it works well, it would be a great inexpensive find.

C. Michael is supposed to be formulated in the UK but I can’t find much information about the brand or its products online. It is being distributed here by a local company, so really, I’m not quite sure where it hails from or who C. Michael really is. Still, let’s see how the products fare on my hair alright? 🙂

For reference, I have dry, sometimes frizzy colour treated hair that is naturally full of volume.

Hairomatherapy Luminous Colour Cream Shampoo and Cream Conditioner (yellow – RM16.90/200ml each)

The Hairomatherapy Luminous Colour range is for coloured and permed hair. Perfect! According to the brochure, its ideal for naturally dry or chemically treated hair and is made to moisturize and strengthen dull, dry and fragile hair giving it shine, body and manageability.

Both the shampoo and conditioner have a very thick consistency and a bit of a strange smell. Not unpleasant, just a little unusual. Usually, hair care tend to have a more flowery or fruity scent but these don’t. The shampoo cleans the hair quite well and you don’t need very much conditioner to detangle your hair. The conditioner does not leave your hair and bathroom floor feeling slippery which is great because you don’t have to use a lot. According to the brochure I should have soft hair with increased manageability, volume and shine.

Unfortunately, I don’t quite get that sort of feeling. Used for about a week straight, I find that my hair starts out being very manageable and quite shiny for about 4 days. After that, it tended to take on a more dulled shine and start feeling dry. Used for 2 weeks straight, I found my hair feeling dry, stiff and it had taken on a lot of volume (possibly due to the roughness of the hair) so I was starting to look like a lion. This was when it started to bother me, so I stopped using the line and went on to use a different range of hair care.

When I had tamed my hair, I came back to this one and again, had good hair for about 4 days, before it went haywire again. I’m not sure why this was so.

Here is the ingredient list for the C Michael Hairomatherapy Cream Shampoo

And the ingredient list for the Cream Conditioner

I’m told that there is no Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Silicones or Parabens and from a quick reading I see none. However there is alcohol in there but if you are sensitive to any of the ingredients in there, it would pay to take note.

Hairomatherapy Scalp Improvement Shampoo (Purple – RM18.90/300ml)

The Scalp Improvement Shampoo actually fared a little  better for me. It says that it help control oily scalps and also relieves itchy dry scalps. I don’t have a problematic scalp and this one made my hair and scalp feel clean, but my hair does tangle so I do have to apply a conditioner. The texture isn’t as heavy but after about 2 weeks use, my hair felt a little stiff and frizzy.

Here’s the ingredient list

Hairomatherapy Treatment Mist (Blue – RM19.90/150ml)

The Treatment Mist was supposed to be a product you spray onto damp hair before blow drying or over dry hair to smoothen it. It is supposed to help hair feel more moisturized and smooth and to strengthen the hair.

Personally I didn’t feel any difference to my hair when using this and when I don’t. I blow dry my hair nearly everyday and a few times a week, I apply a hair oil (whether the Kerastase Elixir Ultime or MoroccanOil) prior to blow drying, and I find that it helps my hair retain its softness and manageability. However in the time that I set my hair oils aside and used this treatment mist, I found no real benefit to my hair. It still felt tangled and it wasn’t any smoother than if I didn’t use anything pre- blow dry. I’m afraid I didn’t quite like this one.

Unlike the shampoo and conditioner, this product contains silicones in the form of cyclomethicone. Not saying its a bad thing. Most hair care products contain silicone, but I had been told that this range contained no silicones, so I just had to point this out 😛

Overall Verdict

The C. Michael Hairomatherapy hair care range offers us an alternative to all the more commercial hair care brands we might be used to. Its very affordable and easily found in most pharmacies and even department stores – Jusco Wellness, Watson’s (I saw it here), Isetan and Sogo. It is also not tested on animals, which will please animal lovers.

It however, did not quite work very well on my hair. Perhaps my hair’s just too rebellious or maybe my hair is a snob but either way, I’m having a hard time convincing myself that a lion’s mane is in for Spring 2011 😛 Also, after using this range of hair care, I noticed the skin of my hands drying out and peeling which is a reaction I get to some products so these are off my to-use list for now. If you’ve given it a go, please feel free to let me know your thoughts 🙂

Paris B

C. Michael Hairomatherapy hair care retails between RM16.90-24.90 at Jusco Wellness, Watson’s, Isetan and Sogo.