This week's face-off will feature two popular salon products that can be used for flat-iron styling. These two products will be scored on a variety of criteria, including: Performance, Ingredients, Sensory Appeal (fragrance, packaging convenience and design), and Value. To ensure precise results, I will be using the "gold standard" in flat irons, the CHI Original.
Now, let's meet the competitors.
Redken Spray Starch is a non-aerosol spray designed to protect hair from heat while using a potato-derived starch to hold the style in place, much like using a starch spray when ironing laundry. Since human hair can technically be categorized as a fabric, it makes sense. TIGI's S-Factor Seriously Straight is a maximum-strength aerosol spray which is designed to straighten, tame frizz, and protect the hair from heat.
Let the competition begin!
Performance: When TIGI refers to their Seriously Straight spray as maximum-strength, they are not joking. This is some heavy-duty stuff. This product had no trouble straightening the hair of my ethnic and multi-cultural clients when applied to the hair prior to ironing. However, this product is way too heavy to use on those with fine hair. It is very easy to over-apply the spray, which may leave the hair feeling greasy, and it will make your floor quite slippery (as one unfortunate client found out the hard way). But when used correctly, Seriously Straight can tame even the kinkiest and frizziest hair. Redken Spray Starch delivered awesome results, but only on those with fine to medium hair. This product just wasn't strong or heavy enough for those with ethnic hair types. It is, however, one of the few flat-iron sprays that can be used on those with super-fine hair. Since both products delivered the results they promised (albeit on different hair types), this round is a tie. (Redken Spray Starch: 8, Seriously Straight: 8)
Ingredients: Redken Spray Starch utilizes an exclusive Bonding System which transports potato starch extract to the hair to protect against heat damage and cuticle damage. Unlike most heat-protection products, Spray Starch leaves hair feeling clean and residue-free. TIGI Seriously Straight contains fewer eco-friendly ingredients, and gets its results from propylene glycol, cyclopentasiloxane, and dimethicone. Although none of these ingredients are particularly harmful, this round goes to Redken for their novel use of the common potato. (Redken Spray Starch: 8, Seriously Straight: 6)
Sensory Appeal: Redken's product smells like fresh laundry, and I mean that as a compliment. It's a light pleasant fragrance that is not overpowering or overly-feminine. Redken's packaging has changed a zillion times over the past decade, but they hit on a winner with the red plastic bottles for all of their heat-protection products. Like most other products made by TIGI, the Seriously Straight has a strong fruity smell which is sickeningly sweet and a bit too overpowering for my tastes. The sleek silver can is very trendy and modern in design, however. (Redken Spray Starch: 10, Seriously Straight: 8)
Value: Redken Spray Starch is available in five-ounce bottles, and shopping online can be tricky because the prices range from 10.00 to over 25.00. If purchasing online, make sure you choose the new packaging (red bottle), since some of the products for sale feature the very old white bottles, and the somewhat newer silver bottles. You're not really getting a deal if you pay for a product that is half a decade old. Expect to pay around $12.99 if purchased from a reputable seller. TIGI S-Factor Seriously Straight is available in 6.31-ounce cans, and online prices also range from 10.00 to over 25.00. A reputable online seller might offer this product for around $14.99. Because of the wide gap in online prices for both products, and because the salon price is virtually the same per ounce, this round is a tie. Both products do earn a full 10 points for being affordably priced compared to other similar products. (Redken Spray Starch: 10, Seriously Straight: 10)
And this week's winner is: Redken Spray Starch. Even though TIGI S-Factor Seriously Straight performed better on super-curly and frizzy hair, it does leave a slight residue on the hair, the floor, and the flat iron. While Redken Spray Starch is not as strong, it does have a pleasant unisex fragrance while leaving the hair feeling clean and soft. Ultimately, both products do work, and both are affordable. Use Spray Starch for fine to medium hair, and use Seriously Straight for thick, coarse, and super-curly hair. (Final Score: Redken Spray Starch- 36, S-Factor Seriously Straight- 32)
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