I am on a "good-hair-day" roll lately and Alterna has a lot to do with it.
If I could only use one haircare brand until the end of time - that would easily be Alterna. The brand's Caviar line in particular is hands down my absolute favourite, so it was only a matter of time before I have discovered their Infinite Color Hold range. I have four products to talk about today and if you want to hear more - just keep on scrolling!
My Story
Hair, hair, hair...where do I begin? I rarely talk about this on my blog, but a few years back I really did struggle with my hair. Rapid weight loss, stress and change of climate (that is me moving to Dubai) truly affected an overall health and look of my mane. I went from a girl with lots of hair to a girl, who would wake up on a pillow full of hair. Although this drove me insane, I must confess that for the longest time - I did neglect it. I would blatantly burn, fry, straighten, curl, overspray and pull my hair all the time.
Thankfully, one day I met a nutritionist, who explained how to look after my hair and her tips have forever changed the way I think about my diet and hair products now. I just let my hair "be"; I am no longer obsessed with having a "red carpet blowout" on a daily basis and I choose my haircare products wisely. I do see a massive improvement and am going to share a few more tips with you guys as we move along.
Infinite Color Hold Range
If you are an OG reader (hey guys!) then you probably remember me talk about Caviar line by Alterna. Every single product in this range is infused with natural Omega 3 fatty acids, marine botanicals, essential oils and extracts. There are no parabens, sulfates or synthetic colorants here, which is great news - as those are one of the reasons why your hair follicles get upset in first place.
Infinite Color Hold line, as the name suggests, was created for people with colour-treated hair. It includes: shampoo, conditioner, serum and shine spray. Although I have never dyed my hair, here are a few reasons why anyone can use these products:
1. They are a bit more gentle than your regular shampoo/conditioner, hence won't strip your hair;
2. Since colour-treated hair has more of a porous texture - it also needs a bit more hydration and nourishing. Ideal solution for people with naturally drier, fine, coarse or even coily hair;
3. Considering just how moisturizing "colour-treated" products are, you will experience less frizz, breakage and dryness.
Shampoo + Conditioner
First things first, let's talk about the basics: Infinite Color Hold Shampoo and Conditioner. These come in nearly identical bottles and contain 8.5 oz/ 250 ml each. Infinite Color Hold line is lightly scented; it smells of [sophisticated] berries, which has something to do with raspberry seed extract being one of the key ingredients.
Little goes a long way with these guys and I must admit that when you use them together, they are a dream team. I wash my hair every other day and what normally happens is - my scalp gets quite dry and irritated. This has something to do with sulfates over-cleansing (aka sucking the life out of) my follicles. Sulfates are also one of the reasons why hair dye doesn't last as long, so whether your hair is naturally dry/fragile/prone to breakage or you just went from brunette to blonde in a blink of an eye - sulfate-free haircare is a must!
I find that both shampoo and conditioner are quite gentle and nourishing. Even when I apply no extra styling oil or serum - my hair still feels soft, bouncy and alive; not as dry as it does if I would use a regular shampoo. As some of you might know from my Instagram, I am also a swimmer, so chlorine is yet another reason why a delicate-yet-effective haircare solution is a must for me and I have to say that Alterna nailed the formula and I couldn't be happier. I even got these for my mom (who is verrry blonde at the moment) and she loves it even more than I do: no dryness, no breakage. Only healthy hair, that doesn't appear lifeless or brittle.
Serum + Shine Spray
Now, of course most of us still blow-dry our hair and it is very important to: a. protect it from heat; b. protect it from sun; c. further nourish it. This is when Vibrancy Serum comes in handy. It has got this fine gel-like consistency, which is quite balmy and not sticky in the slightest. Having said that, you still need to be careful and use one-two pumps max. If you use hair straighteners or curling wands, a serum like this is a godsend. Alterna claim that it protects your strands from up to 450 F/ 232 C degrees; while I can't measure "heat", what I can say is that whenever I use this product my hair doesn't get nearly as frizzy, brittle or dry (especially hair ends). If anything, I spend less time blow-drying my hair; it feels like stream of hot air just glides over my locks and as a result hair looks very silky and smooth.
Great thing about this product is that you can also mix it with your conditioner (4-5 pumps are enough) to create your own little hair mask; let it sit for 3-4 minutes and rinse. This is a great technique for those of you with colour-treated hair.
Last but not least - ladies and gentlemen, please meet Infinite Color Hold Topcoat Shine Spray. This spray won't only add shine and leave your hair smelling like a 280 USD blow-dry, but! It will further protect it from UV-rays, which for someone living in Dubai, is great news. Although we don't really think much about how sun can harm our hair, according to my nutritionist (one I have mentioned earlier in this post) sun is one of the key reasons why hair falls out or breaks. My hair, although not coloured, is merely 50 shades of black-brown (and that can only mean that it gets sunburnt too).
The mist on this one is perfect - it distributes just the right amount of product and doesn't glue/weigh down your hair. It also adds a perfect amount of shine, without making you look greasy (of course, use it sparingly!). I love this Topcoat Shine Spray and often use it on a second-day hair, especially if I feel like my head looks a bit mweh and lacklustre. Revives it in 1, 2, 3.
I guess my point is - whether your hair is colour-treated or not, a haircare line like this is perfect to maintain a healthy look of your mane. It is extremely rare when I like everything from one range, but Infinite Color Hold impressed me quite a bit and I can't recommend it enough. If you want me to write a separate, more detailed review on my haircare tips (in general), please let me know in the comments and I will get back to you. Have a great one!
Alterna is available at all the leading salons across the UAE, exclusively distributed by Beautylicious. If you are based in the States - you can find it at Sephora and Ulta.
