Welcome to another exciting edition of Haircare Face-Off!, the only online beauty battle in which two similar products, tested on actual salon clients, square off in a fierce head-to-head competition. This battle features two products which claim to thicken the hair, but which one is best for pumping up the volume? That's what we intend to find out. Let's take a closer look at the competitors.
Bumble and bumble's Styling Creme is one of the most versatile products available; it can be used to add body to the hair, and it can also be used to create slick looks or to define curls. Named one of InStyle's Best Beauty Buys in 2011, this cream is a favorite among top stylists, celebrities, and those who demand top performance. Brocato's Swell Volume Full Body Serum is part of the product line created by legendary stylist Sam Brocato, whose name has been among the hairdressing elite since he opened his first salon in 1976.
Both products have been created and tested by some of the top stylists in the industry, but only one thickener can be victorious. This will be accomplished by rating each product on a 1-10 scale in each of the following categories: performance, ingredients, sensory appeal, and value.
Let the battle begin!
Performance: Brocato's Swell Volume serum promises "huge, big, over-the-top results" thanks to hybrid proteins and specific particle size clays (whatever the hell that means). While this product did manage to add volume to the hair of one of my finest-haired clients, the results weren't any more spectacular than many other salon-quality thickening products. After two weeks of using this product I was content with the results, but I can't report seeing any results which could be described as "huge, big, or over-the-top". One thing that did catch my attention, however, was the warning on the label: Do not use or store near heat, and do not smoke until hair is completely dry. Geez, is this a hair balm or a hair bomb?
On the other hand, Bumble and bumble Styling Creme delivered better volumizing results on all types of hair, from stick-straight to wavy and curly. Unlike the Brocato serum, this product didn't leave any residue, stickiness, or gunkiness on my hands or on the hair. Best of all, I didn't have to be afraid of the product causing an explosion. Even if the Brocato Swell Volume Full Body Serum delivered "over-the-top" results (which it didn't), I'd be reluctant to purchase any haircare product which could explode when exposed to heat...especially if that product was designed to be used before blowdrying. Styling Creme wins the opening round with ease. (Bumble and bumble: 10 Brocato: 2)
Ingredients: The Brocato serum contains a few beneficial ingredients such as keratin amino acids and sunflower seed extract, but these ingredients appear in further down the list than most of the other ingredients. The main ingredients, after water, are butylene glycol (which is used as an industrial solvent), cyclopentasiloxane (which isn't as scary as it sounds; it's an emollient found in many cosmetics), and alcohol. Bumble and bumble Styling Creme ingredients may vary depending on the age of the product; the Styling Creme was re-formulated in 2007 in order to comply with new California Environmental Protection Agency regulations. While the "new" Styling Creme isn't quite as miraculous as the old formula (at least in my opinion), it's still one of the best creams on the market. Styling Creme's key ingredients are amodimethicone (an emollient), benzophenone-4 (a sunscreen), and glycerin. (Bumble and bumble: 7 Brocato: 4)
Sensory Appeal: While I prefer the fragrance of the Brocato serum, neither product's fragrance is anything to write home about. They both smell like, well, haircare products. Styling Creme has a silkier texture and seems to absorb into the hair, while Swell Volume Full Body Serum tends to leave the hands feeling slightly greasy. The packaging of both products is attractive, and will appeal to more discerning clients. I prefer the slender shape of the Brocato bottle, which is easier to hold and dispense than the short squat bottle of Bumble and bumble Styling Creme. This round is too close to call. (Brocato: 8 Bumble and bumble: 8)
Value: Bumble and bumble Styling Creme, in the 8 ounce bottle, retails for 25.00, which equates into 3.12 per ounce. Brocato Swell Volume Full Body Serum, in the 8.5-ounce size, has a salon retail price of 17.95, or roughly one dollar less per ounce. (Brocato: 8 Bumble and bumble: 7)
And the winner is....
Bumble and bumble Styling Creme. This battle was close when it came to sensory appeal and value, but when it came down to performance and ingredients, it was no competition. Science has endowed us with a virtually endless supply of chemicals, many of which are not flammable. Why a haircare line started by one of the world's most prolific stylists decided to create a product which can double as an explosive is beyond me. (Final Score: Bumble and bumble- 32 Brocato- 22)
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