I've been a frizzy-haired girl since the beginning of time.
I may live in one of the most beautiful places on earth here in Sydney, but that means I'm at the mercy of what I consider to be merciless weather.
Read: Humid, dry and (for the most part) indecisively hot and cold.
If you are already frizz-inclined like me, you already know that doesn't exactly spell out good news for deliciously brittle locks.
As someone who has been in the haircare game for long enough, I've tried my fair share of products that claim to get rid of the frizz. While I've definitely found some beauties that actually do what they claim, it's difficult to know what actually works without spending a heap of money first.
Enter: JOICO INNERJOI Hydrate Shampoo, Conditioner and Detangler — a trio collection that has come just in time as the cold weather attacks the precious mane on my head.
I must say, I have tried and loved many JOICO products (their K-PAK Color Therapy Glossing Oil? Loved it. Body Shake Texturising Spray? It's literally in my handbag from the weekend). However, I've not had the chance to try out JOICO's new INNERJOI line, which is clean, free from animal testing, vegan haircare that claims not to compromise on good results.
All INNERJOI products are made without silicones, parabens, gluten, SLS/SLES Sulfates, phthalates and mineral oil.
I was intrigued.
In the interest of finding out if the INNERJOI Hydrate collection actually works on frizzy and dry hair, I tried it for myself.
Curious to find out if it did actually work? Here's what happened.
What is the INNERJOI Hydrate collection?
The Hydrate collection is one of four other collections that make up the INNERJOI range (along with Strengthen, Preserve and Style, too), with the Hydrate products specifically formulated to keep locks clean, healthy-looking and nourished.
INNERJOI is completely vegan with formulas made with over 86 per cent naturally-derived ingredients. The haircare line is so committed to doing good for hair and the planet that even the majority of their product packaging is made from recovered and recycled social plastic to support communities in need and help fight ocean plastic.
Big tick in my book.
As for the actual Hydrate collection that I tried, I was pleasantly surprised to find in my research that INNERJOI hasn't sacrificed using quality ingredients in its bid to be sustainable, clean and naturally-derived.
Each of the products I tried has a load of yummy ingredients in it that really made a difference when I applied it to my head.
The Shampoo, Conditioner and Detangler had vegan protein which mimics the protein naturally found in our hair, olive ester to help support healthy-looking hair and aloe for its hydrating properties.
Oh! I almost forgot apple extract which is what really made me curious to try this range. It's a natural humectant (a substance that attracts water) and is widely considered to be a superfood.
It is supposed to make your hair feel strong and is made using sustainable upcycling.
How did you go with it?
Hydrate Shampoo
I never used to really invest much time into my shampoo routine — mostly because I wasn't ultra-concerned with removing all the oils from my hair (I used to think they were the 'good' ones — eugh).
Now that I am older, wiser, and have gotten a few stern talking-tos from hairdresser friends, I know shampoo is not the enemy.
So this is why I gave the INNERJOI Hydrate Shampoo a real good fighting chance.
After applying a dollop to wet hair, I lathered it on and into my scalp before rinsing. My scalp didn't feel tight and squeaky at all. It was a nice, gentle wash and after rinsing, I found that my hair felt clean but not dry or brittle.
Considering that is how the ends of my strands usually feel when damp, I took this as a good sign.
Hydrate Conditioner
I was excited at this step. Mostly because I have A LOT of hair — and it's very curly and very dry. So anything that adds moisture back into my locks is a big plus in my book.
After the Hydrate shampoo, I followed up with the conditioner by using an amount that would equal out to be the size of a 50-cent coin.
Then I spread it evenly on the ends of my hair before running my fingers through the ends to really work that conditioner in.
After spending two or three minutes washing and plucking my face (yes, I do that in the shower), I took some time to rinse allll of it out.
And guys. Talk about feeling nourished and soft. I couldn't wait to get out of the shower and see how it dried.
Hydrate Detangler
When all was said and done, I took this bad boy to my hair before brushing. The Detangler is a leave-in treatment that truly did detangle my head. It felt effortless to run a brush through it by the end.
As someone who has pretty monstrous curls that get knotted very quickly, I was very happy to find it made my hair feel smooth, soft and tiny once my head was styled.
The verdict.
This range is a big win in my book. I truly think the INNERJOI Hydrate Collection might be the most gentle, nurturing haircare out there right now for those wanting real results.
Apart from being sustainably made with naturally-derived formulas, it's also mighty effective.
For me, the ingredients in the Hydrate collection left my hair feeling soft, frizz-free and smooth.
It's the ideal 3-step haircare routine for someone who doesn't want to drop their life savings (read: all of us), but still want good results for their hair.
If you're on the lookout for effective hair care that leaves your hair feeling soft and hydrated, this collection might just be the one for you.
Shop JOICO's full INNERJOI collection of Hydrate, Preserve, Strengthen and Style products from Adore Beauty, Oz Hair & Beauty, My Haircare & Beauty and Price Attack.
Feature Image: Supplied.